Bwindi, the birthplace of mountain gorilla trekking, is a jungle paradise covered in dense misty Afromontane forest that clings to steep mountain slopes and cloaks secret valleys. This biologically diverse forest enthralls trekkers with its massive trees and dense understory of ferns and vines – hence the name ‘Impenetrable’.

Bwindi is one of three places to trek for mountain gorillas, and hosts almost half of the >1,000 mountain gorillas remaining in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to an astonishing variety of animals, birds, plants and insects – plenty to do in addition to gorilla trekking.

Bird-watchers flock to Bwindi as there are an estimated 350 bird species with 23 endemic to the Albertine Rift and 14 recorded nowhere else in Uganda. Globally threatened species such as African green broadbill and Shelley’s crimsonwing (there is no known photo of this bird taken in the wild, other than those netted during research) are also found here.

Bwindi is a scenic 1-hour charter flight from Entebbe International Airport, or a 7-8 hour drive across Uganda. This trip can be broken up with visits to Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale National Park.