Bwindi’s Impenetrable Forest is ‘Tarzan’s Jungle’ and it is mysterious and awesome! It is filled with dense undergrowth; vines and other vegetation make it almost ‘impenetrable’. T
BWINDI IMPENETRABLE FOREST NATIONAL PARK

Bwindi’s Impenetrable Forest is ‘Tarzan’s Jungle’ and it is mysterious and awesome! It is filled with dense undergrowth; vines and other vegetation make it almost ‘impenetrable’. The lowland rainforest and montane forest vegetation constantly struggles to reach heights that will allow it to receive more light. Huge trees are festooned with creepers and parasitic plants such as mistletoe and orchids. Giant thickets of bamboo thrive in the humid atmosphere and, where sunlight breaks though, the elegant heliconia, or lobster claw, spreads
its colourful petals.

The park is located in south western Uganda, covering parts of Rukungiri, Kisoro, and Kabale Districts It was gazetted in 1991 with an area of 331 sq kms.

Without doubt, your first impression of the dense jungle will be its almost audible silence. Jungle creatures are very, very shy, but, as you pick your way along the trail, through the dense undergrowth, you’ll realise that the jungle is alive. Thousands of living organisms are discreetly watching and waiting whilst you pass through their protective home and, from time to time, the complete tranquillity will be shattered by a darting forest bird or group of chattering monkeys leaping through the stands of ancient trees, disturbing the secretive residents and setting up a chain reaction. Now, the ever-wary jungle comes to colourful and noisy life for a moment, until silence reigns again.

This is one of Africa’s richest ecosystems and at least 120 species of mammal are found here including mountain gorillas, chimpanzee and 8 other species of primate. There are elephant, bush pig, giant forest hog, many species of bats and rodents and at least 346 species of birds including rare forest birds. The numbers go on and on … 27 species of frogs and toads, 6 chameleons at least 202 species of butterfly.

This forest is a sanctuary for almost half the world’s population of mountain gorillas (about 330 of 600). Established as a safe habitat for several families of mountain gorillas it is now the location of an important scientific conservation program.

VISITING THE GORILLA’S

Report to the ranger station at 8.00am where two groups of 6 to 8 travellers meet their local guides and head out into the forest. The trek can take from half an hour to five hours so a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes. You sit in the forest among the gorillas listening to them grumble at each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male, the silverback.

You will be told that if the big male silverback charges at you, you should look down and remain exactly where you are in a submissive pose. These words of wisdom are directly opposite to your natural instincts, but luckily a ranger is there to grab you should your feet disobey the instructions. The noise of the silverback pounding his chest during this mock charge is akin to overhead thunder and more than enough to make your knees knock and heart miss a beat. As the gorillas grow more accustomed to human presence, the charges do not happen so often. Each gorilla group is only visited for one hour a day.

Children under 15 cannot visit the gorillas as they are susceptible and usually die of the childhood illnesses (such as chicken pox) that we all endure.