Uganda national parks

UGANDA’S NATIONAL PARKS

Bwindi impenetrable national park
Size:331 sq km
Location:Southwest. The closes large town is Kabale.

Getting There:
Bwindi can be reached both by road and by air. By road;
QENP in the north –Kihihi-Buhoma (2-3 hours),
Kampala-Kabale-Kanungu-Buhoma
Kampala-Ntungamo-Rukungiri –Kihihi-Buhoma

*4x4 recommended during the rains

By air, the tourists can fly from Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip

When to visit:
Any time, though conditions are more challenging during the rainy season. So the rain coats and gumboots are advised.
Accommodation:
There is a wide range of accommodation for both up market and budget visitors including Gorilla forest camp, Mantana tented camp, Volcanoes Bwindi camp, Gorilla Homestead, Buhoma homestead, Lake Kitandara camp and Gorilla resort for up market while Buhoma community campground and Bwindi view canteen and available for budget travelers.
What to do:
Gorilla tracking is the main activity in the park; permits must pre-booked at the UWA office in Kampala. Other guided forest walks are available: one popular trail leads to a pretty waterfall, others focus on birding and monkey-viewing.

Apart from these Great apes, Bwindi boast a large number of other primates (10 species) including chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s monkey, red tailed and blue monkeys, black and white colubus monkey, baboon, 310 species of Butterflies, 88 moths, 51 reptile species and 200 tree species. Other attractions are the Batwa communities that live around the park.

Tracking can take three to eight hours before you visits the gorillas, you should note the following:
ü Your group should be no more than 6 people and they have to be over 15 years of age.
ü Visitors are limited to one hour per gorilla group per day.
ü Always wash your hands before going out for gorillas.
ü If you have cold or any other infections, do not visit the gorillas.
When in the park;

ü Never walk alone and always take a guide.
ü In case of emergency, dig a hole and burry it to protect others’ health.
ü Do not pick or remove any plant or other wildlife.
ü Do not litter in the park.
ü If you are to sneeze, or cough cover your mouth and turn away from the gorillas.
ü Keep a distance away from the gorillas.
ü No smoking.
ü No eating or drinking.
When you encounter the gorillas always remember to be submissive
o Do not look at them straight in the face rather give a sideways glance.
o Do not stand over them-crouch instead, stay in a tight group
o Speak in whispers
o Do not use flash photography
GORILLA TRACKING REQUIREMENTS
Please bring the following for tracking gorillas.
o Hiking boots- ankle level boots are ok but make sure it is something handy.
o Gloves
o A warm cardigan
o Thick trousers and a long sleeved top are ideal for tracking.
o Rain Coat
o Video- filming is allowed in the parks though not outside the park
o Water proof container for their cameras
o A pair of binoculars if you are a keen bird watcher.
o If you prefer wearing a hat, a baseball cap is recommended.

for more information contact elly_kbtours@yahoo.com
www.kbtoursafarisandcarrentalltd.com