In Uganda mountain gorillas are found in two parks – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Mgahinga National Park – and tracking takes place at 5 locations. All locations combined give a total of over 20 gorilla groups and this figure includes two groups under habituation and one group only for researchers.

Max 8 people are allowed per each gorilla group and for maximum 1 hour.

The minimum age for gorilla tracking is 15 years and there are specific behavior guidelines to follow. Due to the steep terrain, the thick vegetation and the high altitude, a good level of fitness is required.

Trek to the top of the world – 2 to 3 hours
A short walk from Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. You stroll through Nkuringo village and take some small foot paths to the top of the world. Beautiful views overlooking the surrounding mountains, valleys and ridges. A great way to stretch your legs after gorilla tracking. Beautiful in the afternoon when the sun is setting.

Buffer Zone Walk – 2 to 3 hours
A buffer zone is a transition zone between Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the cultivated areas where the people live. Nowadays a lot of tea is grown in the buffer zone because gorillas do not like tea, therefore they go back into the forest instead of eating whatever they can find in the farmers gardens. This walk is great for birding and learning about the rural farming communities

Buniga Forest Trail Walk – 3 hours
This project is run by USAID and the local Batwa community. The Batwa tribe had to leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in 1991 when it was declared a UNESCO world Heritage site for the gorillas only. As the Batwa had been living in the forest as nomads surviving on the flora and fauna around them, moving out and suddenly living in communities with a completely different way of life has proven to be a huge challenge. However, some are managing really well and use their rich heritage to promote their previous life in the forest to earn a living.

Suma Water Fall Walk – 4 to 5 hours
It is also a community walk across villages. The waterfall is found in a village called Suma. It’s a 6 kms walk from Nkuringo. When going to the waterfalls you pass one of the biggest villages in the area; with more than 500 people. The village has a man famous for having 16 wives. The waterfall is surrounded by different species of trees that are home to plenty of endemic bird species, for example, Northern Double Collared Sun Bird, the Violet Backed Starling and the Great Blue Eared Starling. This activity can be done any time but the best time is in the morning hours.

Hike through Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
There are 2 routes through Bwindi Impenetrable forest which take you from Nkuringo in the South to Buhoma in the North. These trails serve to purposes, 1) Trekking through thick primary rainforest with fantastic primates, birding and spectacular scenery, 2) As means of getting from the North to south of Bwindi or vice versa to continue your safari.

Bwindi is a prolific and most certainly one of the best birding locations in East Africa. It is the ideal habitat for a variety of birds, with 350 species recorded, including 23 endemics (90% of all Albertine Rift endemics)

The species regarded by birders as special to the park include Short-tailed Warbler, Blue-headed Sunbird, Black billed Turaco, Yellow eyed black flycatcher, Black bee-eater, and Kivu ground Thrush, Garners Warbler, Bar-tailed blue Trogon, Africa blue and white-tailed blue flycatchers and Red-headed bluebill. Birding takes place along the main trail, the Kashasha river valley and Ivy river trail, the Buhoma waterfall trails, along the bamboo zone, and Mubwindi swamp trail in Ruhija.

A pocket forest known as Nombe is located some 5km and Buniga forest 300meters from Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge. The location has been received by birders that have stayed with us looking for Bwindi forest endemics.

The Buniga Forest Walk is arranged by the Nkuringo Community Conservation and Development Foundation (NCCDF) and the walk starts and finishes at the NCCDF offices in Nkuringo.

The Buniga Forest Walk provides the means for the Batwa to preserve and earn an income from their culture and heritage.

The forest walk provides Batwa guides with employment and enable women sell their crafts to the visitors.

Buniga Plants and Animals:

The Buniga pocket forest is rich with diversity floral; within the forest you will encounter indigenous plant species with medicinal benefits to the Batwa and the local community such as the Giant lobelias and tree ferns and species like Syzygium which provide food to Chimpanzees.

The Buniga forest is often visited by birder for its diverse bird life, with over 100 species of birds identified within and near to the forest. The trail within the Buniga Forest allows visitors the chance to sit and listen to the birds. The forest is also habitat for many mammals species to include;- Duikers, primates like the Black and white colobus monkeys and Chimpanzees.