Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south‑western part of Uganda, on the boundary of the Albertine Rift Valley, at elevations ranging from 1,160 m to 2,607 m. This genuine tropical rainforest stretches across steep ridges and valleys.
Part of the larger Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the park borders the Democratic Republic of Congo next to Virunga National Park and lies along the edge of the Albertine Rift. Covering 331 km² (128 sq mi), the terrain includes both montane and lowland forest, and is accessible only on foot. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, it is believed to have served as a Pleistocene refugium and supports exceptional biodiversity.
In the local Runyakitara language, “Bwindi” or “Mubwindi” means “dark place,” referring to the impenetrable nature of its thick bamboo and hardwood canopy. The park hosts approximately 459 mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei)—about half of all remaining individuals worldwide—notably rising from roughly 300 in 1997 to 400 by 2018 Compared to the Virunga population, Bwindi gorillas have a notably fruit-rich diet, climb trees more often, travel longer distances on fruit days, and build nests in Alchornea floribunda trees (“Echizogwa”).
Bwindi is also among Africa’s richest ecosystems. It contains:
120 mammal species, including forest elephants,
11 primate species (chimpanzees confirmed recently, plus L’Hoest’s, red‑tailed, blue monkeys, colobus, olive baboons),
350 bird species including Albertine Rift endemics,
310 butterfly species, and
over 1,000 flowering plant species, with 200 tree species and 104 fern species
Conservation and research are coordinated by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the Institute of Tropical Forest Conservation (ITFC), based in Ruhija, which conducts ecological monitoring, training, and field research across the Albertine Rift. Gorilla tracking remains the park’s main attraction. As of 2024–2026, trekking permits cost US $800 per person for non-residents (covering park entry, guide, certificate, and community levy) and up to 25 gorilla families are habituated across Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga and Nkuringo sectors. Only up to eight visitors may track each habituated group per day, and strict hygiene and viewing rules are enforced to minimize disease transmission.
Tourists may visit year‑round, though trekking conditions become more challenging during the rainy seasons (April–May and October–November). The park’s conservation success—visible in the gorilla population growth—is closely tied to well-managed ecotourism, community engagement, and anti-poaching measures.