Mountain Gorilla trekking/ Gorilla tracking safaris
Gorilla tracking is done inside Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park. This is a very captivating, unforgettable experience in one’s lifetime which repays more than the effort spent while trekking through the forest. Trekking takes a minimum of 1 hour to many hours and all depend on where the gorillas will be located in your course of movements. Gorillas live in families and it’s out of these group families that are habituated that are tracked by tourists. Gorilla tracking started at the Buhoma families of the Mubare group, Habinyanja, and Rushegura. Later gorilla trekking expanded to other group families that were later habituated now takes place other than Buhoma, there are Nkuringo groups of mountain gorillas, Ruhija Gorilla groups, and Rushaga groups of gorillas.
Nature Walks at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park
Bwindi National Park is rich Forest dense with many layers of tree canopies. It’s under these canopies that gorilla trekking takes place in search of mountain gorillas. Other natural walks are done inside the park other than tracking gorillas, natural walks will provide more relaxed opportunities to spot birds, monkeys waterfalls, botany explore lots of flowering plants. Bwindi is another Birding watching area in Uganda. All this will be done taking on nature walks at different nature walk trails that include:
BOHOMA AREA
Buhoma is located at the northern park of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest park, Here we have
Munyaga River Trail: The walk takes place at the river bed along this river and provides an ideal short walk to explore bird watching and watching other primates.
The Popular Water Fall Trail
The waterfall trial provide an attractive feature s of a natural forest providing chance to learn on many tree species, plants of ferns, orchids, and beautiful butterflies’ life cycle that give delight sights. The falls also give another fascinating attraction in the this park. Water is here very sparkling white freshwater crystal clear waterfalls.
The Rushura Hill Trail
This trail commands expansive views across the Rift Valley floor. It commands great views of Mount Rwenzori, Lake Edward, and the Congo Basin. To the West will view the Congo National park des Virunga in Congo.
The Muzabajiro Loop Trail
The trail offers spectacular views of Bwindi Impenetrable Fore national park to the western part of the forest including The Western Rift Valley and the Virungas. While on the trial will witness hundreds of prehistoric trees and ferns will climb some of the hilltops to capture nice views of the forest.
River Ivi Trail
This Trail is the longest and follows the old road connecting to Nkuringo from Buhoma on the southern edge of Bwindi Forest national park. It is good for bird watchers to be explored and will avail more bird species.
Bamboo trail
This trail is situated at the highest point at an elevation of 2,607m/8,550ft above the sea level at Rwamunyo forest taking approximately 6 hours to reach the endpoint. The bamboo trail enables travelers to walk through different vegetation types which include bamboo forest, alpine vegetation until when you will the afro montane vegetation which is at the highest point.
Kashasha river trail
The trail starts at Buhoma point and will be ending in Nkuringo and takes 5-6hopurs to the end of the trail and is roughly 600 meters above the sea level.
Altogether you take part in forest nature walks in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park taking you to different tourist spots in the park hence rewarding you with a memorable experience. This trail is inside the forest and about walking from Buhooma to Nkuringo and several bird species, plants/flowers, and trees especially ferns can be spotted. If you want to enjoy the most stunning views, then go through this trail. It is more interesting to use this trail from Buhooma to Nkuringo, taking 7 hours or more. The trek from Nkuringo to the Buhooma Park headquarters while using this Kashasha River Trail is just 5 hours. Kashasha River Trail is one of the most interesting trails because it offers an intimate experience of the natural wonders within this misty rain forest environment
The Habinyanja trail
This trail is amazing after or before you have tracked mountain gorillas around the Habinyanja group. It is a 4 to 6-hour trail. It passes River Munyaga from where visitors can link up to a very steep ascent of the Riyovi and Habigorogoro ridges that directly overlook River Buhoma. It is from here that you can explore the legendary African corner that derived its name from the piece of rock whose shape resembles the African map. The trail takes visitors up to the great Habinyanja swamp. And for bird watchers, this is the best site for you to see African black duck, black bee-eaters, and Pel’s fishing owl and others.
Mountain Biking/ Cycling.
This is a new activity at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park. Mountain cycling inside Bwindi is an initiative by communities near Buhoma and popularly refers to it as “ Ride for a woman” It is arranged by women communities of the Buhoma area sector and takes 13 kilometers to depart from park headquarters in the morning and trail round-up takes around 6-7 hours. The trail may help you see bushbucks, black and white Colobus and red-tailed monkeys, and enjoying lots of forest canopies.
Mubwindi Swamp Trail
Mubwindi Swamp is located at Ruhija side and is famous for the bird-watching trail. Will be able to view or to watch many bird endemic species. This may take 4-5 hours a fantastic trail goes along a path in the jungles and slopes/descends through the magical rainforest with breathtaking viewpoints along the way of rich valleys and the Virunga massif. While on the Mubwindi Swamp trail, tourists are likely to encounter some primates especially the Chimpanzees and monkeys, numerous bird species, forest elephants, luckily even the mountain gorillas, and the bush pigs because the majority of that wildlife are found within this area of the Forest. Unlike other trails, tourists using this trail need to first seek permission/authorization from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Bird watchers will find this trail the most favorable and perfect for their adventure.
Bamboo trail
Hiking through the Bamboo Trail takes 7 hours and involves climbing a steep area of up to the highest point in Rwamunyonyi hill at 2607 meters above sea level. As you hike using this trail, you will encounter different vegetation and plant species that include the Bamboo forest with over 14 different plant species until when you reach the Afro-montane vegetation zone. During this trial, you will encounter different birds and plant species. The viewpoint of this trail (top of Rwamunyonyi Hill) rewards hikers with a spectacular view of Lake Bunyonyi and the breathtaking views of the Virunga Volcanoes and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is one of the mind-boggling trails and worth your time and effort. Since this trail is conducted from Ruhija sector/area yet it is about one hour from Buhooma, tourists are always advised to stay in the Ruhija sector so that they can connect easily and faster for the activity.
