bwindi

Bwindi commonly refers to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a national park in southwestern Uganda along the Albertine Rift. It lies in Kisoro and parts of Rukungiri District and forms part of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The forest was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 in recognition of its biodiversity and well-preserved montane ecosystem.

The park covers about 321 square kilometers and comprises steep ridges and deep valleys with elevations ranging roughly from 1,190 to 2,585 meters above sea level. It features dense montane rainforest with high rainfall, creating a habitat for a diverse array of flora and fauna.

Bwindi is best known for its population of mountain gorillas, including several habituated groups that are the focus of guided treks for visitors. In addition to gorillas, the forest supports other primates such as chimpanzees and baboons, as well as a wide variety of bird species and countless plants, lichens, and mosses. The reserve is a center for conservation, research, and community-based tourism, stressing habitat protection and sustainable livelihoods for nearby communities.

Access is via road from major Ugandan towns, with trekking starting from patrol posts at Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and other trailheads. Bwindi's combination of high biodiversity, iconic gorillas, and forest scenery makes it a focal point of Uganda's conservation and tourism strategy.