Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Deep in the mist-shrouded forests of southwestern Uganda, one of the world's most profound wildlife encounters awaits. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is home to approximately half of the world's remaining mountain gorillas�around 400 individuals living in habituated family groups that can be visited by small groups of trekkers.

Mountain gorilla trekking

The trek to find gorillas can take anywhere from one to eight hours through dense, tangled vegetation at altitudes up to 2,600 meters. The terrain is steep and challenging, the undergrowth thick with nettles and vines. Yet the moment you encounter a gorilla family�perhaps a silverback reclining in the undergrowth while juveniles tumble playfully nearby�every step becomes worthwhile.

Beyond gorillas, Bwindi's biodiversity is staggering. The forest shelters over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. Chimpanzees and several other primate species inhabit the canopy, while forest elephants move silently through the understory. The forest itself, one of Africa's oldest, has survived ice ages and climate shifts that claimed most of the continent's rainforests.

The Batwa people, traditional forest dwellers who once called Bwindi home, now share their culture with visitors through village experiences that provide insight into their remarkable forest knowledge and spiritual connection to these ancient woods.