Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
The dense forests of Bwindi in the south-west corner of Uganda are home to over half of the world’s small population of the endangered mountain gorilla.
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is 331 km² and supports almost half the world’s population of mountain gorillas. It is one of Africa’s richest rainforests and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Bwindi is more than 25,000 years old and ranges in altitude from 1,160m to 2,607m above sea level.
The forest’s age and altitude give Bwindi abundant biodiversity. More than 320 tree species have been recorded here, which are home to 310 butterflies, 88 moth, 51 reptile and 120 mammal species, including a further nine primates, such as chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabey and blue, red-tailed and L'Hoest monkeys. The forest is alive with birdsong (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has been named as one of Africa’s top 10 birding destinations by the African Birding Club).
Gorilla safaris
An expert guide to seeing gorillas in the wild
Gorillas are the world’s largest living primates. Adult silverbacks stand as tall as the average male person, and might be three times as bulky thanks to their muscular physique and prominent pot belly. And yet despite their fearsome appearance, these King Kong-lookalikes are among the most Zen of creatures, spending most of their time chilling on the forest floor and nibbling on whatever vegetarian titbit takes their fancy...read more