Best 6 Activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Situated in the Rushaga sector, there are several activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park that tourists can undertake during their stay at the Luxury Four Gorillas Lodge. Things to do in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include mountain Gorilla trekking, bird watching tours, Gorilla Habituation Experience, hiking and nature walks. In the surrounding areas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park tourists can have the Batwa Cultural experience.

Four Gorillas Lodge is found in the Rushaga region of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and a top luxury accommodation in the region. Rushaga sector Bwindi is situated in the southern sector of the park with many habituated gorilla families which makes it one of the best choices of the 4 gorilla sectors for gorilla trekking in Uganda which is the main activity in the whole park.

Within the periphery of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Four Gorillas Lodge offers Luxury accommodation that is ideal for relaxation after undertaking the several activities in Bwindi Forest. Here are details on the things or activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park;

• Gorilla trekking / tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

​Bwindi forest is home to almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas habituated for Uganda gorilla safaris. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi is such an experience from the hike to the jungle itself.

Mountain gorillas are habituated (made accustomed to the presence of people), in different families and 8 tourists are allocated to trek a single gorilla family each day. The gorilla families in Bwindi are found in four different sectors and open for any tourist who has purchased a gorilla trekking permit and is above the age of 15.

Having an encounter with these inhabitants of the mountainous and forested Bwindi impenetrable national park in the Rushaga region is beyond word description.

The tracking experience involves moving on foot in the thick forest, cross over rivers, do a little bit hiking in pursuit of the elusive gentle giants.

Lasting for several hours in gorillas’ pursuit, one hour is permitted to all those tracking the giants which is the moment for interacting, observing and capturing the priceless moments. After the gorilla trekking experience, you will feel all the worth of each penny spent on a gorilla tour. A congratulatory certificate is offered to each tourist who successfully completes the gorilla trekking experience.

To have a gorilla safari in Uganda, each tourist must purchase a gorilla permit and this can be booked through the different tour operators in Uganda. After ensuring you have booked a gorilla permit book for accommodation at Four Gorillas Lodge as early as possible.

• Gorilla habituation experience at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is luckily the only habitat where the gorilla habituation experience can be had in the whole of Africa. Mountain gorilla habituation is the process whereby the gorillas are taken through a period of getting familiar and comfortable with human presence.

The process takes about two years. Tourists can join the conservationists on their daily routines for an encounter of the wild mountain gorillas.

Unlike gorilla trekking that offers only a maximum 1 hour in the presence of the gorillas, with gorilla habituation tourists spend four hours with the mountain gorillas.

This is an activity that will see you study the behaviors of mountain gorillas as they get familiar with human beings around them.

Mountain gorilla habituation can be done in the Rushaga sector which makes Four Gorillas Lodge a strategic lodge in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for luxury travelers to stay at when they need to have a gorilla habituation experience. The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi forest should be booked through a tour operator prior and a permit purchased early.

• Birding safaris/ bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s bird watching destinations. The park is home to about 350 bird species including 25 restricted range bird species and 23 of the Albertine Rift endemics.

Offering Africa’s best bird watching tour experience with a vast diversity of bird species, in Rushaga region near the Four Gorillas lodge is home to several bird species including the Albertine rift endemics like:

the Short-tailed Warbler, Rusty-faced woodland Warbler, Bar-tailed Trogon, Gruel’s Rush Warbler, Wilcock’s Honey-guide, Yellow-eyed black Fly-catcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimson Wing, White-tailed Blue Monarch that are almost impossible to see in any other part of East Africa. Your stay at four cousins lodge blend up your birding safari.

The knowledgeable guide will help in identification of all the birds spotted during the safari or stay in the lodge in Rushaga region. Prior bookings for the bird watching safari is necessary.

Birding is possible all through Bwindi Impenetrable National Park but with the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors being the top spots for avid birders. Forest birding and swamp birding are all done by knowledgeable bird guides. Mubwindi swamp in the Ruhija sector is a hot spot for birding with rare bird species and lifers.

Bwindi shouldn’t miss on any birders itinerary when they visit Uganda as the park offers some of the best montane-forest bird watching in Africa. Migratory birds are present from November to April. Birdlife in Bwindi is good all year round but at its best in March and September. However, June and July have the least rain which is a good time for birding as well as gorilla trekking.

• Nature walks.

Take a beautiful walk through various trails in the forest. You can also reach to the river Bubale in the lower parts of the Four Gorillas lodge, listen to sounds birds singing as you move through the forest around the lodge, and have sights of other animal species present in the area. All these can both be locally arranged by the local tour operators.

There are six main nature trails for tourists who would want to explore the impenetrable forest. These include Muyanga waterfall walk, Rushura Hill walk, Muzubijiro Loop, the Ivi River walk, Buhoma-Nkuringo trail and the Habinyanja trail. These trails vary and offer different nature walk experiences with most of them starting from the Buhoma sector.

What could beat the experience of walking within a very natural environment through a jungle that is almost impenetrable and home to very many unique species. For those who would want to relax and have a great nature walk experience, do not hesitate to book the experience and return for a comfortable relaxation moment at Four Gorillas Lodge.

• Hiking.

There are several trails to hike onto in this region. Hiking is done during the gorilla habituation experience, gorilla trekking safari and when determined to reach to the top of water falls found at Rushaga region.

Hiking is usually done from the north to Bwindi to the south. Hiking time usually ranges from 5 to 9 hours or less. For those who need challenging hikes, take the Kashasha River Trail that takes about 5 hours. It involves steeper inclines especially if you take the Buhoma to Nkuringo route which is 600 meters up at the end of the trail.

• Encounter of Cultural tour Experiences: Meet the Batwa: Pigmies 

A batwa cultural tour is one of the activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park especially undertaken by tourists after or before their gorilla tours. Famously referred to as the Pigmies, Batwa tribe is one indigenous tribe in Uganda.

Your stay at Rushaga region at Four Gorillas lodge gives you accessibility to reach to them and encounter the cultural and traditional experience bestowed to them. They lived in this forest apparently gazetted as Bwindi Impenetrable Forest national park for several years. For the opportunity to meet and have an encounter with the Batwa community or people, book with our trusted tour operator partners.

For all the activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, tourists will always have such amazing experiences with the jungle and its inhabitants. For any kind of tour you decide to book in the park, do not hesitate to book Four Gorillas Lodge as your ultimate accommodation in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for luxury.