Bwindi Park Rules and Regulations – Bwindi National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, in the districts of Kanungu, Kisoro, and Kabale, on the edge of the Albertine Rift and the western branch of the East African Rift.
The Bwindi forest covers an area of about 321 sq km at an altitude of 1160m to 2607m above sea level. It was gazetted as a national park in 1991 and designated as a UNESCO Natural Heritage Site in 1994.
The major tourist attraction in Bwindi is the mountain gorillas, with a population of about 459 individuals.
There are about 20 gorilla groups in Bwindi, with the Mubare gorilla group in Buhoma being the first to be habituated for tourism.
These magnificent apes are divided between the forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the nearby Virunga ranges, with Bwindi being the major mountain gorilla trekking destination in the world.
Bwindi is a tropical rainforest with temperatures ranging from 7 to 15°C (minimum) and 20 to 27°C (maximum).
The annual rainfall in Bwindi is heavy, ranging from 1400mm to 1900mm.
Tourists can access Bwindi by either air or road; it is approximately an 8 to 9-hour drive from Entebbe or Kampala by road, and a 1-hour flight from Entebbe International Airport to Kisoro airstrip, where tourists are picked up by car to Bwindi National Park.
Rules and Regulations
- Maintain Distance: Keep 7m away from the gorillas. Tourists are not allowed to come near the gorillas as they may feel threatened.
- Hygiene: Tourists are encouraged to be very clean and always wash their hands before trekking activities.
- Group Size: Tourists are advised to keep in groups of 8 people, with only one group allowed to visit a particular gorilla family per day.
- Noise Control: Keep voices low. Noise threatens the gorillas and inconveniences other tourists.
- Littering: Do not litter the national park. Tourists must ensure that whatever they bring is carried back with them.
- Smoking, Drinking, Eating: Smoking, drinking, or eating in the park is not allowed to protect the animals.
- Flash Photography: The use of flash cameras is not allowed as it can threaten the gorillas.
- Behavior: Do not run away if a gorilla charges; it increases the chances of an attack.
- Interaction: Do not play with any wild animals.
- Time Limit: Tourists are allowed to spend only one hour with the gorillas; this can be shortened if the gorillas feel threatened.
- Respect: Respect for wild animals is highly encouraged.
- Age Limit: Individuals below the age of 15 years are not allowed to go gorilla trekking.
- Health: Tourists with diseases are not allowed to trek gorillas as diseases such as flu can easily be transmitted to them.
By and large, all visitors are advised to observe the rules and regulations for a wonderful tour around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
