By road

By road, it takes just two to three hours to go to Bwindi Forest from Queen Elizabeth National Park in the north, six to eight hours to get there from Kampala via Mbarara, or one to two hours to get there from Kabale town in the south. Then, only 17 kilometers from the Buhoma entry gate, these routes meet at Butogota.

You need a 4×4 car during the wet season. Every day, a bus travels from Kampala to Butogota via Kihiihi and Rukungiri. We advise using a reputable travel operator to reserve your gorilla trekking safari.

By Air

By Air To get to the modern tarmac runway in Kisoro, travelers can fly from Entebbe or Kampala at Kajansi airport. Furthermore, planes may as well be hired to the grassy Kayonza or Savannah airports.

near fact, Bwindi is well-served by three airfields: Nyakabande near Kisoro for those traveling to track mountain gorillas in the southern region (Mishaya, Nshongi, and Nkuringo) and Kihiihi plus Kayonza for the northern area.

Bwindi is situated in the southwest region of Uganda and is around 7 hours, 35 minutes (463.7 km) away from Kampala via Masaka Road.Road travel is the most convenient way to get to Bwindi.

Kihihi-Buhoma in Queen Elizabeth National Park (Mweya)

As you go through Ishasha on your route to the park, you will be able to witness monkeys and climbing lions.The region of Bwindi is around 160 kilometers from Mweya and 64 km from Ishasha.

Kabale, Kampala, Kanungu, and Buhoma.

The 414-kilometer travel takes five to six hours, and the route is on a tarmac roadway to Kabbala. The following route is almost 120km long and features a Murram road. The trip takes around four to five hours and passes via both Kanungu and Kanyantorogo.A4WD is the most practical car.

Ntungamo, Kampala, Rukungiri, Kihihi, and Buhoma.

Direct travel from Kampala to the tarmac road Rukungiri is the simplest and most practical route; it is approximately 390 km long and includes the Murram Road to Buhoma.

Buhoma, Ruhija, Kabale, and Kampala.

Approximately 95 km2 are covered by this route on the Murram Road, and it takes three to four hours to complete.Only four-wheel drive vehicles are able to travel through Ruhija.

Nkuringo-Kabale-Kampala.

It takes almost four hours to travel the steep Murram Road, which is roughly 105 kilometers from Kabale town. The next 80 kilometers from Kabale until Nkuringo is where many travelers spend the night.The 35km, winding Kisoro road takes around one to one and a half hours to complete. The 4WD is the best vehicle for this region.

Every day, a bus travels from Kampala to Butogota as part of public transportation.The next 17 kilometers to Buhoma can then be taxed.Since Nkuringo lacks public transportation, renting a car from Kisoro is the best option.

Air travel is a another option; tourists can take flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi Airfield and arrive at Kisoro Airstrip. Those who might be interested in visiting Buhoma might board the charter aircraft and land at Kayonza Airport.

Two reasons contribute to the amazing biodiversity seen in Bwindi National Park. In the first place, its slopes cover a wide variety of altitudes, from lowland forest at 1160 meters to the distinctive Afromontane flora over 2600 meters. This explains why a certain degree of physical condition is necessary for Uganda gorilla safaris.

Secondly, it’s quite ancient. Bwindi was one of the few “refugia” that persisted after the majority of Africa’s forests were devastated by the dry conditions of the last ice age (12,000–18,000 years ago).

Given that the majority of forests now are just 12,000 years old, Bwindi’s vegetation has been tangled for 25,000 years, accruing a vast list of species in the process. This includes a staggering 120 different kinds of mammals, including 10 primates, 200 trees, 88 moths, 51 reptiles, and 310 species of butterflies. The latter include chimpanzees, red-tailed primates, blue and L’Hoest’s monkeys, black and white colobuses, baboons, and the mountain gorilla, who is the most well-known inhabitant of Bwindi.

A popular spot for birdwatchers is Bwindi. 90% of the 350 bird species, including seven that are included on the IUCN Red List, are indigenous to the Albertine Rift, making them difficult or impossible to view in other parts of East Africa, particularly during Tanzania safari vacations. Up to 100 species can be easily identified in a single day by a highly skilled bird observer!

Locals
Mos’ and Bafumbira are the locals that live close to the park. There are also small Batwa villages (Pygmy!). With 350 residents, the Bwindi region has one of Uganda’s highest rural population densities.

Getting Around You may drive to any of the several trailheads in Bwindi. However, the park proper has no roadways that are accessible by foot. The Bwindi is aptly termed the “impenetrable forest”; the trails wind through dense undergrowth and can be rather steep. Use the walking sticks that were given everyone at the start of the trek. To travel around, you can also rent a car from a business like Self Drive Uganda.

Bwindi’s climate and ideal time to visit are chilly in the mornings and cool at night, with temperatures ranging from 7°C to 20°C. Actually, June through July is the coldest season in Bwindi, whereas March through May and September through November are the rainy seasons, with 2390 mm of annual rainfall. In reality, the March through May rains are not that heavy. Despite the lengthy periods of light drizzle, September through November sees greater rainfall.

Accommodation

There are several lodging options depending on whatever gorilla troop you choose to follow.

In 1942, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Reserve was established, and in 1992, it was transformed into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.It was recognized as a World Heritage Site in 1994. The word “Bwindi” really means “impenetrable,” and Rukiga is a language that is widely spoken in this region. Bwindi is impenetrable because it encompasses an area of around 327 km2 of tangled vegetation covered in a dense environment of high, slick valleys, and steep, arrogant mountains.

You may find the terrain challenging, but keep in mind that it is part of what makes Africa such an intriguing continent. There are several gorillas in the park. It is generally known that Bwindi is quite chilly both at night and in the morning. June and July are typically the coldest months, with average temperatures ranging from 70 to 200 degrees Celsius.

When it comes to packing for gorilla safaris, please bring thick clothing because Bwindi gets around 2390 mm of rain and is extremely chilly. It has two distinct rainy seasons: March through May sees little rain, while September and November see significant rain.In Bwindi, it takes hours for the rain to cease.