From Kigali, you may explore Bwindi Forest National Park, which offers a wealth of attractions. Towards the south of Uganda is the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. This park is one of only two in Uganda that allows visitors to go on treks and see the critically endangered mountain gorillas in their native environment.

Half of the world’s mountain gorillas call Bwindi Forest National Park home, and there are plenty of habituated gorilla families that welcome visitors for gorilla trekking. Gorillas in Uganda are amenable for habituation, even if they are semi-habituated.

Bwindi Forest National Park is home to five distinct gorilla families: Rushaga, Nkuringo (in the park’s southern section), Ruhija (in the park’s northeast), and Buhoma (in the park’s northern region). Many visitors have come to Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali in the last 20 years to go gorilla trekking, but there is a lot more to see and do than that.

The travel to Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali takes around four or five hours by car. Depending on when you land at Kigali International Airport, you may begin your adventure either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Because you will be driving over international borders on your way to Bwindi Forest National Park, you will be subject to the visa regulations of both Uganda and Rwanda. At Cyanika and Katuna, you may cross the border into Bwindi Forest National Park.

Top Things to See and Do in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali.

Bwindi Forest National Park is a great day trip from Kigali because of all the sights and activities it offers. While gorilla trekking is the main draw for visitors to Bwindi Forest National Park, there is a plethora of other attractions as well.

A Gorilla Trek in Bwindi National Park

There are half as many mountain gorillas as there are people on Earth, so if you visit Bwindi Forest National Park, you have an almost 98% chance of witnessing these primates in their native environment. In Bwindi Forest National Park, mountain gorillas may be found in four distinct areas: the southern parts, Rushaga and Nkuringo, and the northern and eastern parts, Ruhija and Buhoma.

Depending on your trip dates and the availability of permits on the day of your trek, tourists interested in trekking the mountain gorillas in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali must obtain a gorilla permit in advance. This will ensure that they have a spot for their trek.

There are a total of eight permits available for each gorilla family, so if you want to go on a gorilla trek with a group of eight, you’ll need to book your permit months or even days before you fly into Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali. Simply let us know when you would like to go gorilla trekking when you book an all-inclusive Gorilla Safari with Katland Safaris.

We will go online and see if permissions are available. Your permit will be provisionally reserved and you will be invoiced if space is available. You will get scanned copies of receipts from the Uganda Wildlife Authority when we pay for your permit. If you book an all-inclusive gorilla or Uganda safari with Katland Safaris, we can only arrange your Bwindi Forest National Park gorilla permit.

Take a look at our Uganda safari packages that depart from Kigali and include a visit to Bwindi Forest National Park; then, please get in touch with us so that we can provide you with a price. In addition, we are able to modify your safari according to your preferences, needs, and timeline.

Embark on a trip from Rwanda to see the gorilla habitat.

Only in Uganda’s Bwindi Forest National Park is it possible to participate in a gorilla habitat. You get to spend four hours in the company of habituated mountain gorillas on this adventure.

Because of the limited capacity of Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda (only four individuals are permitted each habuation session), it is essential that you reserve your habuation permit in advance to ensure your spot. Depending on how long it takes you to locate them, the experience may start and conclude at any point between half a day and a full day.

Exploring the Bwindi Forest for Bird Watching

You can go birding in Bwindi Forest National Park after your gorilla trekking if you have time, or set aside a full or half day to explore the park’s unique avian inhabitants, which include the Albertine Rift Endemic birds.

Birding in Bwindi National Park is a great way to see a wide variety of birds, including the Handsome Francolin, the Rwenzori Nightjar, the dwarf honeyguide, the African green broadbill, the Archer’s Robin-Chat, the red-throated alethe, the yellow-eyed black-flycatcher, the red-faced woodland warbler, the short-tailed warbler, the Grauer’s warbler, the Mountain Masked Apalis, the collared apalis, the stripe-breasted tit, the Rwenzori Batis, the blue-headed sunbird, the grand sunbird, the strange weaver, and the dusky crimsonwing.

Please review the following birding trip packages that depart from Kigali and include a stop at Bwindi Forest National Park; we would appreciate it if you could respond with a price. Your birding excursion to Bwindi Forest National Park may be customized to suit your interests, budget, and availability.

The Batwa people and their journey through Bwindi Forest National Park, beginning in Kigali
For a long time, the Batwa people—also known as the pygmies—lived in Bwindi Forest National Park. However, in recent times, they were relocated to the nearby settlements in order to facilitate mountain gorilla conservation and tourism.

From Kigali, you may reach Bwindi Forest National Park, where a route leads you to the ancient homes of the pygmies, the sites of their hunting and gathering practices, and an exploration of the forest itself. They will perform dances for an audience and talk about how they made it out of the jungle and into everyday life. You may also perform this adventure after going gorilla trekking or on the same day you arrive from Kigali. This activity may be booked ahead of time or when you arrive at the resort.

I am a Rwandan volunteer working in the Bwindi Forest National Park.

Many settlements surround Bwindi Forest National Park, and among them is a sizable population of Batwa people, who were formerly the forest’s residents. These villages near Bwindi Forest National Park have unique hardships, similar to other African communities. Many have lost hope, and some children are orphaned or afflicted with severe ailments.

Helping out orphans as a volunteer may have a positive impact on their mental health in many ways, including providing them with food, school supplies, and English language instruction. Send us an inquiry, and we will arrange a package for you that includes volunteering in Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali, in addition to gorilla trekking.

Adventure Bicycle Tours in Bwindi.

When visiting Bwindi Forest National Park from Kigali, be sure to include a bike ride as an experience because of the park’s high-altitude locations. On a bicycle safari around Bwindi, you can see the locals and get some exercise while taking in the sights of Bwindi Forest National Park and the surrounding area.

Staying at a resort near the gorilla trekking start site also makes it possible to reach the starting point by bicycle. Send us a query and we will customize a package for you that includes bicycle transportation from Kigali to Bwindi Forest National Park, gorilla trekking, and any other activities you may choose.

Rwandan Nature Walking Safaris to Bwindi

The tropical forest that makes up Bwindi Forest National Park is one of the world’s oldest, having been there for at least 300,000 years. The park is home to several rare and endangered tree species, some of which are unique to this particular forest. Bwindi Forest National Park is well-known for its thick canopy, which makes nature walks enjoyable.

On a nature walking safari, you can learn about different tree species, spot different birds, and, if you’re lucky, see animals like chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, and rare forest elephants. You can also visit the park’s beautiful waterfalls and rivers, further immersing yourself in nature.

From Kigali, you may take a day excursion to Bwindi Forest National Park or any of the other national parks or interesting tourist spots in Uganda or Rwanda offered by Katland Safaris. We will make the necessary arrangements for you as soon as you send us an email. Both TripAdvisor and SafariBookings have nothing but praise for Katland Safaris. By booking a safari with us, you may join our joyful family as well.