Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Overview

Many safaris offer the Big Five. Adventurers can spot zebras, wildebeest, and giraffes across Africa's national parks. But some people live their entire lives on the continent without ever seeing the endangered mountain gorillas. Booking a gorilla trekking safari to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is an incredible and rare experience of a lifetime. 

Around half of the world's endangered mountain gorillas call the ancient Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park home. However, they are not the only treasure in Uganda's oldest forest. The 127.8 square miles (331 km²) of habitat is a biodiversity marvel, with over 400 species of plants.

The forest also holds secrets of plant life from the past thanks to being a safe having during the ice age. For instance, researchers found Holocene sediments in Btwindi's Mubwindi Swamp and "a partial record of vegetation history since at least 43,000" years ago.

Bwindi is a valuable region with a long history of conservation efforts. It became a forest reserve in 1942, promoted to a National Park in 1992, and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. 

However, there have been many challenges in preserving the mountain gorillas and their precious habitat, including battling poaching. Thus, in 1993, The Mubare gorilla group became the first troop open to tourism. Since then, more gorilla groups have been green-lighted for public viewing. 

Tourism from gorilla trekking helps Bwindi and the gorillas by:

• Funding conservation efforts to the region. 

• Funding rangers who guard the mountain gorillas from invaders and poachers.

• Providing sustainable income to local communities which reduces poaching.

• Spreading conservation messages to create respect for wildlife and their natural habitat. 

For visitors, gorilla trekking in Bwindi is often a bucket list adventure. People who make the journey often call it an "indiscernible" experience and the "highlight" of any trip to Uganda.