Bwindi national park is famously known for its mountain gorillas that can be trekked from all the four sectors that makes up the park, these sectors include Rushaga, Buhoma, Nkuringo and Ruhija. Beside gorilla trekking, you can also go for gorilla habituation at Rushaga sector where you can be allowed to spend four hours with gorillas.
However, gorilla trekking and gorilla habituation are the main activities carried out in the park, but they come at a high cost and cannot be categorized as budget activities. Gorilla trekking permit goes for 800 dollars while the gorilla habituation permit goes for 1500 dollars. I think that is slight a huge investment.
Does that mean that a budget traveler should not visit Bwindi national park, the answer is no, the park has got more to offer that you shouldn’t miss out beside gorillas, and we have identified the seven most popular activities beside gorillas that you can try out while at Bwindi national park.
Summary activities to do at your Bwindi visit
- Birding
- Batwa cultural experience
- Forest walks
- Mountain biking
- Buhoma community walk
- Lake mutanda visit
- Pangolin trekking
Details of the Bwindi national park activities
Birding in Bwindi national park
Bwindi national park is the home to over 350 birds, 23 species endemics to Albertine rift valley and 13 not recorded anywhere around the world. visiting the park will bring is every bird enthusiast dream as it will bring you closer to both small and big birds. Some of the birds you are likely to encounter include doherty’s bushstrike, Rwenzori nightjar, blackbilled turaco, black bee eater, montane oriole, handsome francoline, kivu ground. Experienced birder is likely to sport over 100 birds per single day
Batwa cultural experience
You will also be able to know the background of the people who are endemic to the Bwindi Forest. They used to live in the forest until recently when the forest was gazzeted for gorilla conservation. Batwa people where displaced and became squatters to the surrounding area, visiting the will let you know how they used to share the forest with animals. You will further get to know how they could use the vegetation as a medication. They will show you a different skill of lighting fire using small sticks
Furthermore, they will sing and dance for you their traditional music. If interested, you will be invited to join them and practice together with them to see how their tradition was beautiful.
Forest walk in Bwindi national park
Walking through the forest is led by an experienced guide together with the armed ranger to ensure that your safety is protected against any animal that might charge towards. The walk last for about three to four hours and you will be able to encounter different animals including the forest elephant, on lucky day you can even encounter the chimpanzees in the forest. Other primates, birds, small animals and insect can be seen through the forest. You will also be able to enjoy the fauna of Bwindi Forest.
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is majorly organized by drive for women. A community organization that will rent you the bicycle to drive. The driving take place through a well-established rout. Other lodges in area can also arrange the mountain biking which will still also give you a great experience and add excitement to your stay at the park
Buhoma community walk near Bwindi national park
With the help of the local guide, you can arrange to visit Buhoma community next to Bwindi national park, you will be able to offer a helping to hand to the places you can visit around the area. Places likely to be visited include schools, hospitals and the needy people in the area.
Visiting these people will give you a chance to get to know how the community people go about their daily life. During the walk, even your guide will keep updating you about the history and the wellbeing of the people you are visiting. The visited people might arrange for you the traditional music and dance performances that will give you another dimension of adventure
Lake mutanda visit
Most of the activity we have seen including gorilla trekking are hard activities. It can’t be that bad to have a little bit of relaxation while on the waters of lake mutanda. The lake is blessed with a several islands that can be adventured on the canoes. The sunset at lake mutanda is one to remember and you shouldn’t miss out on such experience.
Pangolin trekking at Bwindi national park
Pangolin is locally known as ‘olugave’ and they are divided into 8 species. Uganda is blessed with 4 of those endangered species and you can encounter them at Bwindi national park. The species that you can encounter on your Ugandan safari are Tree/ White bellied pangolin – Phataginus tricuspis, Giant Pangolin – Smutsia gigantean, Cape/Temminck’s Ground Pangolin – Smutsia temminckii, and the Long tailed- Black Bellied Pangolin – Phataginus tetradactly. Adding pangolin trekking on your bucket will also help in the conservation effort of these endangered nocturnal. The cost of pangolin trekking is $75 dollars and the activity take about two hours
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