Hiking Trails in Bwindi – Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda in the districts of Kisoro, Kabale, and Kanungu.
The national park covers an area of about 321 square kilometers. Bwindi was declared a national park in 1991 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
The park was established mainly to protect the endangered mountain gorillas, whose population was decreasing.
The park is also home to other wild animals, such as mammals like African forest elephants, bush pigs, black-and-white colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s guenon, vervet monkeys, and others.
Bird species include the green tinkerbird, red-faced woodland warbler, mountain masked apalis, Ruwenzori batis, and others. The park also has 220 butterfly species and 27 frog species. Hiking is an outdoor activity that involves walking through natural environments like mountains and forests for recreation or exploration.
Hiking in Bwindi requires physical fitness because some areas are very steep, making it challenging to hike.
Hiking takes about 3 to 6 hours or a full day, depending on the trail.
Hiking Trails in Bwindi
Some of the hiking Trails in Bwindi include:
Muyanga Waterfall Trail
The trail is found along River Ivy, starting from Buhoma and leading to Nkuringo.
Tourists will have the chance to spot nature in its habitat, such as birds, butterflies, and monkeys.
This trail requires moderate effort and takes little time to hike.
Rushura Hill Trail
The Rushura Hill Trail is found in the Buhoma sector. Rushura Hill is the highest point in Buhoma, and tourists start from the Buhoma headquarters as they hike up the hill.
Tourists will spot Mountain Rwenzori, the Western Rift Valley, and the Virunga Mountains.
Habinyanja Trail
The Habinyanja Trail leads tourists over River Muyanga to the steep slopes of Habigorogoro and Riyovi ridges.
The Habinyanja Trail is a 4 to 6-hour hiking trail. Tourists will have the chance to spot the Habinyanja swamp and birds like the African black duck, black bee-eater, and Pel’s fishing owl.
River Ivy Trail
The River Ivy Trail is found in the southern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. River Ivy can be hiked starting from either Buhoma or Nkuringo, depending on where you stay.
The trail is a birders’ paradise, as tourists will spot a variety of bird species. Other animals include monkeys and bush pigs.
Tourists will also have the chance to meet and interact with the locals. It takes about 6 hours to hike through the trail.
Hiking trails in Bwindi allow tourists to blend with nature as they spot various wildlife species, creating unforgettable experiences.
