Is It Safe to Visit Bwindi? Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in southwestern Uganda, covering the districts of Kabale, Kisoro, and Kanungu.
The park is divided into four sectors: Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga, all of which are open for trekking. Bwindi is one of the major destinations for gorilla trekking in Africa and worldwide.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was established as a national park in 1991 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.
The park is home to a variety of wildlife species, including 120 mammal species such as duikers, elephants, and buffaloes, 350 bird species like the black bee-eater, Grauer’s broadbill, mountain oriole, regal sunbird, handsome spurfowl, black-billed turaco, and Kivu ground thrush, as well as over 20 frog species, geckos, and chameleons.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is governed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the body responsible for tourism activities within the park.
The park experiences a tropical climate with heavy rainfall ranging from 1,400mm to 1,900mm per year. The temperature ranges from 7°C to 15°C minimum and 20°C to 27°C maximum.
Is It Safe to Visit Bwindi?
There have been concerns about the safety of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park due to the 1999 Bwindi Massacre, where Rwandan rebels killed a group of tourists, including two from New Zealand, two from the United States, four from the United Kingdom, and four Ugandan citizens.
Another incident occurred when Rafiki, a dominant silverback of the Nkuringo gorilla family, was killed by four poachers.
However, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is currently a safe place to visit due to the tight security measures in place. During gorilla trekking, tourists are accompanied by two well-armed park rangers and tourist police to protect them from outsiders and dangerous wildlife.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is during the dry season, from June to September and December to February. During this period, the trails are dry and not muddy, making gorilla trekking easier.
Cost of Gorilla Permits
- USD 800 for foreign non-residents
- USD 700 for foreign residents
- UGX 300,000 for East African residents
By and large, Bwindi is a safe place for tourists to visit, offering wonderful experiences on a gorilla safari.