Things to do and see in Bwindi from Kigali

What are the top things to do and see in Bwindi from Kigali? People from Kigali city and intending to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park need to know that they have selected the best choice for their safari. Visiting Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a dream come true for many of the travelers in the world. The park is home of the highest population of mountain gorillas left in the world and is located in the southwestern part of the country in Kabale, Kisoro, and kanungu districts.

People from Kigali will have to access Bwindi impenetrable forest national park in southwestern Uganda using Katuna border in Kabale and Cyanika border in Kisoro which might take them only 4-5 hours. The park being a home of mountain gorillas means that mountain gorilla related activities are the most done in the park with mountain gorilla trekking leading and done in the 4 regions of the park, mountain gorilla habituation in Rushaga and Nkuringo sector, and then other activities like birding, nature walks, and Batwa cultural experiences do come last.

The following are some of the top things to see and do in Bwindi from Kigali Rwanda;

Spending 1 hour with mountain gorillas in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park from Kigali

Mountain gorilla trekking is the most done activity in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park so travelers from Kigali can be part of this amazing activity. If you are in Kigali and intending to visit Bwindi and trek mountain gorillas, you will have to inform your tour operator in advance so that they book for you a gorilla trekking permit from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.

The mountain gorilla trekking permit for those from Kigali is the same as for those from any other part of the world. It goes for $700 foreign non-residents, $600 foreign residents and shs250,000 East African citizens. The trekking activity in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is done in 4 sectors of the park namely Rushaga, Nkuringo, Buhoma, and Ruhija.

Trekking starts early in the morning with a briefing at the park headquarters where the trekkers are taught about the dos and don’ts of the activity and from there well trained UWA ranger guides lead these trekkers into the jungle to look for the mountain gorillas that are fully habituated. During the search, they are likely to see different park animals, birds, and vegetation covers and on meeting the mountain gorilla family, they are given 1 hour to be around this mountain gorilla family and they will get to learn about their habits, watch the members do daily activities and take photos.

Spend 4 hours with mountain gorillas in Bwindi from Kigali

This is one of the top things to do and see in Bwindi from Kigali! Tourists from Kigali in Rwanda can be part of the unique mountain gorilla habituation experience on their safari in Bwindi. To be part of the habituation they need to have secured themselves a gorilla habituation permit in advance from the Uganda Wildlife Authority at a fee of $1500 foreign non-residents, $100 foreign residents, and shs750,000 citizens of East Africa.

Mountain gorilla habituation in Bwindi is done in Rushaga and Nkuringo and on the day of trekking, the tourists will be expected to be at the briefing points very early in the morning to listen to what the rangers have to say. During the briefing the rangers to teach the trekkers about the dos and don’ts of the mountain gorilla habituation activity and after this only 2 groups not exceeding 4 people are accompanied by rangers, researchers, and conservationists into the jungle.

While searching for Bushaho or Bikingi mountain gorilla families, the trekkers get an opportunity of seeing some of the park animals, birds, and different vegetation types. Upon finding the semi habituated mountain gorilla family that you have been looking for, the trekkers are given 4 hours to be with these mountain gorilla families as they make them get used to the human presence around them, watch them do daily activities, and take photos.

Encounter birds in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park from Kigali

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to over 350 bird species with some being endemic to the Albertine region so tourists from Kigali can be part of the great birding activities in the park. Ensure to move with your birding book and a pair of binoculars to see some of the bird species such as Turner’s Eremomela, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Buff-throated Apalis, African Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Cardinal Woodpecker, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Neumann’s Warbler, Lagden’s Bush-shrike, Common Bulbul, Compact Weaver, Blue-headed Sunbird, Coppery Sunbird, Evergreen Warbler, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Dark-backed Weaver, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, and Stripe-breasted Tit.

Other notable species in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include; Green-headed Sunbird, Wood Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Strange Weaver, Cassin’s Honeybird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Rwenzori Turaco, Dusky Tit, Stripe-breasted Tit, Dusky Crimson-wing, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Grauer’s Warbler, Grey-throated Barbet, Tiny Sunbird, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-headed Malimbe, Fork-tailed Drongo, Red-throated Alethe, Great Blue Turaco, Grey Apalis, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Green Crombec, Grey-headed Sparrow, Yellow-crested Helmet Shrike, Crowned Hornbill, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Brown Woodland Warbler, Montane Masked Apalis, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collared Apalis, White-breasted Negrofinch, Honeyguide Greenbul, Klass’ Cuckoo, and Collared Sunbird.

Batwa cultural experience in Bwindi from Kigali

Tourists from Kigali in Rwanda can visit the Batwa people on their safari in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The Batwa are the initial inhabitants of the Bwindi impenetrable forest national park but they were evicted out of the park by the government of Uganda to protect the remaining species of mountain gorillas. A visit to these people will help you to know more about their way of living, get to listen to their old stories, and see their way of living as of today.

The Batwa cultural visit in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is led by the Batwa people who take the tourists around the forest showing them how they used to live in the jungle, kill animals using arrows and bows, gather fruits, collect honey, and use plants as local medicine. The cultural experience will also take you to the Batwa communities where you will get entertained by the local people through traditional dances and drama and at the end of it all, you can support the women by buying some of their souvenirs.

Accommodation in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park from Kigali

Tourists in Kigali that are intending to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for different activities don’t have to worry about where they will stay for the park has different accommodation facilities spread in the 4 sectors of the park.

Some of the accommodation facilities in the southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park include Gorilla Safari Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Safari Lodge, Four Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla havens lodge, Nkuringo Gorilla Camp, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Gorilla Valley Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Bwindi Back Packer’s Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Safari Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, and Crested Crane Bwindi lodge among others.

What is the best time to book top things to do and see in Bwindi from Kigali?

Tourists in Kigali intending to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for any activity can do so at any time of the year although there are some months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best for a visit in the park the fact that during this season, there is little or no rainfall in the park, the trekking trails are dry, the vegetation in the park is thin giving clear views of the park animals and the roads leading to the park are passable. If you are intending to visit Bwindi in the dry season and you want to trek mountain gorillas, you are advised to book the permit in advance of 3-4 months to avoid inconveniences.

Tourists in Kigali can also visit Bwindi in the rainy season of March to May and October to November for any activities but they need to know that during this there is plenty of rainfall which makes the roads leading to the park impassable, the trekking trails muddy and slippery, and the vegetation in the park is always thick giving unclear views of the park animals. The only advantage that tourists from Kigali can get when they visit Bwindi in the rainy season is the huge discounts on accommodation and some of the park activities.

What to do with Africa Adventure Vacations?

Africa adventure vacations is a tour company based in Uganda licensed by the Uganda Tourism Board and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators. Booking with Africa adventure vacations provides you safety and confidence during your safari courtesy of well-trained safari driver guides who are well conversant with all routes and tourism destinations in Africa. You can book with us any of the activities you want to do in Africa such as mountain gorilla trekking, mountain gorilla habituation, Chimpanzee trekking and habituation, birding, golden monkey trekking, game drives, hiking, nature walks, and community tours among others. Booking things to do and see in Bwindi from Kigali can be done at any time of the year.