THINGS TO SEE and DO IN BWINDI: Gorilla Trekking, Nature guide Walks, Biking tours, a visit to the Medicine Man, a Village walk, Hike through Bwindi, or take on a Life-changing tour to meet up with the fascinating Batwa Pygmies that lived along with the Gorillas before it was turned into a park.
The main activity for most visitors to Bwindi is gorilla trekking, and it is easy to see why. The forest is home to almost half of all Mountain Gorillas found in the world today and the chance to get up close to these amazing animals is an experience worthy of the once-in-a-lifetime descriptor.
However, those who only come to Bwindi for gorilla trekking and leave soon afterward risk missing out on a lot of other things to see and do in Bwindi. If you take a little more time to explore the forest, you’ll discover the unique flora and fauna of the park, find the best hiking trails, and learn about the fascinating Batwa who lived alongside the gorillas in the Forest.
Things to see and Do in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
There are four (04) sectors in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park from which activities are done – Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Nkuringo Sector. Each sector brings out unique aspects of the ancient Rainforest and many visitors who have the chance to stay at one or more sectors get to do the various activities that are unique to the sectors they visit. Let’s look at the top things to see and do in Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park in Uganda.
Gorilla Trekking/Tracking
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest provides an incredible backdrop for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. There are four trailheads from which one tracks one of the gorilla families for which we have obtained permits for you.
There are now 20 Gorilla Families that are habituated for visitors. That means that they are 160 gorilla permits available in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – one of the best places in Africa for gorilla trekking.
Learn More about Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Gorilla Habituation Experience Things to see and Do in Bwindi
It is only in Uganda that you can be with a Mountain Gorilla Family for 4 hours on a Gorilla Habituation Experience along with researchers in Bwindi’s Impenetrable Forest – this amazing experience – to be with a Mountain Gorilla Family as it is being habituated is one of a kind experience in Africa.
There are presently two (02) family groups being habituated, meaning that they becoming used to human contact and will not run away from visitors trekking them.
You can fly into Kigali Rwanda and drive from Kigali to Bwindi Forest in just 5 hours.
Learn more about the Gorilla Habituation Experience in Bwindi.
Visit the Ride for A Woman (charity project in Bwindi – Buhoma Sector)
Ride 4 a Woman which is a community support group that offers mountain bike rentals and guided biking tours in and around Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in the Buhoma sector of the park.
You can even do the Village Walk with a local guide. There are Birding Bike Rides, or simply a ride into the Forest such as the Ivy River Trail. The average Bike Ride is 3 hours or longer in length with much to see along the trail or road.
The local guides are all well-trained, some specialize in birding, others in culture but all know Bwindi Impenetrable Forest which they all love and want to conserve.
Learn More about the Ride 4 a Woman Charity in Buhoma Sector.
Visit the Batwa Experience Things to see and Do in Bwindi
The Batwa People – are pygmies – were hunter-gatherers and lived in the forests of Southwest Uganda and beyond. They left a small ecological footprint on the forest and lived in harmony with nature. You can visit the forest (actually outside of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest) with the Batwa People and learn of their traditional ways of hunting and gathering.
The Batwa Experience takes place in the Buhoma area – if you are in South Bwindi you can visit the Buniga Forest with the Batwa people there.
Learn More about the Batwa experience in Bwindi
Reputable Local Gorilla tour Operators in Uganda
Looking for a reputable gorilla tour Operator to plan and book your Safari to Bwindi with? Browse our list of trusted Gorilla safari companies that operate Private & group tours to Bwindi Impenetrable forest National park.
- Realm Africa Safaris™
- Great Adventure Safaris.
- Encounter Africa Safaris.
- Outback Adventure Safaris.
- Kisoro Tours Uganda.