Safari Activities
Gorilla tracking
Have an early morning breakfast, carry packed lunch, go for registration at the park offices and be ready for briefing at 8:00am. Walk up the steep densely forested hills before coming across the gorillas’ camouflaged in the vegetation. Looking deep into the expensive brown eyes of these gentle giants is surely the most exciting and poignant wildlife encounter that Uganda has to offer. Two groups are habituated in Ruhija.
This trek requires a reasonable degree of fitness as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Sit in the forest among the Gorillas listening to them grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male. It is amazing to think that there only 800 individuals of these beautiful creatures left in the world.
Bird watching
The forest ranks with the best in Uganda with 23 highly localized forest Albertine Rift endemics. A walk into the forest interior will expose you to your dream forest bird species. Ruhija is the highest peak of the forest, checking at the birding good spots may produce rare species such as white starred robin, grey cuckoo shrike, strange weaver, banded Prinia, brown chested Alethe, slender billed Greenbul, yellow streaked Greenbul, white browned Crombec, mountain Illadopsis, Ludher’s bush shrike, grey bush shrike, grey green bush shrike; all these and many others are among the 345 species recorded in this park. Visit the Mubwindi swamp a rewarding steep mountain as you drop from 2400m to 2050m. Birding in the bamboo zone is good for handsome francolin, archers robin chat, stripe breasted tit, purple breasted sunbird, mountain Greenbul, duikers, warblers, chestnut winged starling, dusky Crimsonwing, mountain Illadopsis, mountain yellow warbler to mention a few. Birders who come with camping equipment can camp at Ruhija campground.
Forest walk
A walk into the forest will expose you to Bwindi’s broad biodiversity. The national park has 90 mammal species including 11 primates including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, blue monkey baboon, while the black and white Columbus with its lovely flowing white tail is prominent. The shoddy trails will expose you to an array of butter flies 310 species have been recorded, 88 species of months, 51 species of reptiles, 200 species of tree species, the bamboo forest, flowers and many other attractions. The Ruhija ridge top route offers visitors the insight of a deep valley containing the un disturbed rain forest as they watch for the duikers, primates and both forest and grass land bird species. Visitors can also climb through the bamboo zone to find afromontane vegetation and panoramic views towards Lake Bunyonyi and Mafuga forest.
Buhoma
In Buhoma, there is the a for tracking three gorilla groups with a range of other walks that provide more relaxed opportunities to sporting birds and monkeys.
• Munyanga river trail in the valley below Buhoma provides an ideal short walk to view birds and primates along the forest edge.
• Water fall trail leads through a pristine track of rain forest passing beneath tree ferns, epiphytic ferns and orchids to visit three sparkling water falls.
• Rushura hill trail provides expansive views across the plains of the western rift valley to the west Lake Edward and to the North Ruwenzori mountain
• Muzabajiro loop climbs to the summit of Rukubira Hill for breath taking views of Bwindi forest, western rift valley and virunga volcanoes.
• River Ivi trail follows an old road through beautiful forest immerging near Nguringo on the southern edge of the forest, it is highly recommended for bird watchers.
• Buhoma community walks. This goes through homesteads, the traditional healer, banana beer brewery and Batwa community. Local dance groups also perfom traditional dance.