Frequently Asked Questions About Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
By answering these Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, your safari plan will be successful. Making a trip to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is all about whom you know and being in the know. The wonderful news is that already reading our article means you are with the best partner. Every safari to the “ultimate gorilla trekking destination” is thrilling and we have compiled some of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s frequently asked questions to help you prepare and get a better understanding.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of the top Safari destinations in Uganda, covering approximately 321 square kilometers. This extraordinary Protected Area is located on the Southwestern side of the country and is a haven for iconic mountain gorillas and many other wildlife species. There are over 120 mammal species (including 11 primate species), about 350 bird species (including 23 Albertine Rift endemics), about 400 plant species, over 200 butterfly species, several fern species, and lots of reptiles and Amphibians. Want to know more about this spectacular Safari destination? Continue to read below for answers to some of our frequently asked questions about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;
How many Gorilla families are in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Am sure you already know that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has the highest ever-recorded number of gorilla families in a single destination. But do you know the number of gorilla families there is? There are presently more than 25 habituated gorilla families, distributed across its four sectors (Buhoma in the North, Ruhija sector in the East, and Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors in the South). These sectors are one to three hours away from each other, hence your choice of accommodation should be determined by where your gorilla permit is based.
How can Bwindi Gorilla Permits be purchased?
Bwindi Gorilla permits are only issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), but you can buy them indirectly through licensed Tour Operators like Native Africa Tours. The first step to purchasing gorilla permits is contacting the tour operator for availability for the dates you are interested in. If it turns out positive, you can request a provisional hold (for at least one week), after which the permits will go back into the system. You can later pay for your permits and pick for your gorilla trekking adventure. For more information about booking gorilla trekking permits in Uganda, click here.
Is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safe?
Yes, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is safe and as a matter of fact, it is one of the safest and most secure Safari destinations worth considering for your Gorilla safaris.
What is the best way to reach Bwindi Impenetrable National Park from Entebbe?
To reach your Bwindi Impenetrable National Park safari from Entebbe, you can take a domestic flight to either Kihihi Airstrip (for those visiting the Northern and Eastern sides of the Park) or Kisoro Airstrip (when visiting the southern sectors of Rushaga and Nkuringo). Alternatively, you can opt for the road transfer, which usually lasts approximately 8-9 hours.
What is the best time of year to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
This is one of the most common questions that we get because every traveler wishes to try and time their visit to coincide with the best gorilla trekking experience. Is there a best time? Well, this mainly depends on your expectations. The simple answer is that Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is open all year round. The dry season (June to September and December to February) offers the best gorilla trekking experience as the vegetation is sparser and the forest floor is less muddy or slippery. This provides a less challenging trekking experience. Temperatures range from 11 Celsius degrees in the morning to 23 Celsius degrees in the afternoon with little or no rain.
While the dry season may be the best time for visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the wet season (between March and May or October to early December) is incredibly beautiful with the verdant rainforest being in full bloom as well as diversity of life and activity. This is known as the perfect time to bird some of Bwindi’s 350 Avians. Being green and verdant, the forest achieves a spectacular landscape as well as jaw-dropping photo opportunities.
What should I pack for a safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Be sure to pack long-sleeved shirts, long safari pants in neutral colors, your travel documents (passport or any other ID Documents), a wide-brimmed hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, energy-giving snacks, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizers, and hand/body lotion), and a personal first aid kit. Bring along a pair/s of binoculars, hiking boots, a rain jacket, gardening gloves, a camera/or smartphone, and extra batteries and memory cards to capture unforgettable moments and memories while on a Bwindi safari.
What is the best duration to go on a safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
The more time you can spend in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the better but the reality is that this Protected Area is not a zoo hence more time is better than a little. From our years’ experience of having guided hundreds of guests on safaris in Bwindi, our recommended minimum duration is 3 nights/4 days. This short but rewarding timeframe allows enough travel time to and from this spectacular safari destination as well as the perfect time to expose visitors to the breathtaking diversity of Bwindi- its plethora of wildlife, birdlife, and heritage/culture of the people. We refer to this as an “unrushed” experience that allows nature lovers to get immersed in the beauty of the Protected Area. Activities you can enjoy within the 4 days/3 nights include gorilla trekking, guided forest walks, the Batwa cultural experience, guided village/community tours, and birding tours, to mention but a few.
Will I have Mobile Phone reception in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
There is undoubtedly limited mobile phone reception in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, although there is a normal signal at some Safari Lodges. Interestingly, the limited signal is part of the Protected Area’s charm as it allows visitors to unplug and take a break from the hustles and bustles of life to relish the wild surroundings of Mother Nature.
What kind of accommodation is available in/around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
There’s a wide range of accommodation options in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, ranging from self-catering Safari Camps, Tented Camps, to Luxury Safari Lodges. Some of these accommodations provide all meals and drinks (except premium/imported drinks) while others simply offer meals and bottled water in rooms. A visitor’s choice of accommodation will be determined by three factors- the budget, your time frame, and the location/gate of the gorilla permit. Outside of Bwindi, several small Towns provide Hotels and B&Bs, and these Towns include Kisoro and Kanungu among others.
If staying in nearby Towns, visitors can have early breakfast or packed breakfast, then proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for their day activities then proceed in the afternoon/evening for overnight. However, this would be a lot of work considering the long drive time (about one to two hours away), coupled with the poor road network and the fact that most activities begin early (by 7:00 am). For this reason, we recommend booking accommodations that are close to the starting points/gates (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo) to catch up with the briefing and activities.
Is it safe to take children on a safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park?
Absolutely! Contrary to unpopular opinion, you can take children on a safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park because there are activities for children of different ages. However, certain activities such as gorilla trekking have a minimum age (15 years for gorilla trekking) for several reasons. Nonetheless, instead of leaving your children to watch TV or play games on your phone, you can bring them along to enjoy activities like community visits/cultural Tours or relax at the Lodge while you head out into the forest to track mountain gorillas.
Conclusively, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an incredibly beautiful and naturally endowed safari destination but questions regarding its diversity, location and how to get there, the best time to visit it, whether children can visit the Park, its accommodation options, the perfect duration to spend, and many others are usually inevitable. We have answers to the frequently asked questions about Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to make your planning process easier.
