Bamboo trail in Bwindi

Bamboo trail in Bwindi: Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is a tropical rainforest located in the southwestern part of Uganda. The national park is known for harboring endangered mountain gorillas that are said to be more than half of those surviving in the world. Gorilla trekking is the main activity done in Bwindi but there are other interesting activities are done in the park such as birding, nature walks, and Batwa culture experience

Nature walks in Bwindi are activities put in place to enable travelers explore the park on foot and different trails have been made in the park. Bamboo trail is one of those trails in Bwindi found on the eastern side of the park. Travelers visiting Ruhija sector are the ones that can use this trail to encounter different plants, water sources, animals, and birds.

Bamboo trail is one of the strenuous trails in Bwindi taking you up to 2607 meters which is the highest peak of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The bamboo trail is located in Ruhija sector and takes 7 hours to be completed making it one of the longest trails in the park. The trail takes you through different vegetation covers which include bamboo vegetation, afro montane vegetation, and tropical vegetation.

Travelers who use Bamboo trail will get an opportunity to encou8nter different plant species, mammals, primates, birds, Lake Bunyonyi, Mafuga forest reserve, and some of the Virunga volcanoes. Some of the animals you are likely to come across while using this trail include elephants, duikers, olive baboons, bushbucks, chimpanzees, giant forest hogs, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys among others.

Bird lovers through bamboo trail will get an opportunity to spot some of the bird species in Bwindi and among them include the brown snake eagle, African harrier hawk, marabou stork, woolly necked stork, bat hawk, augur buzzard, cassins hawk eagle, olive pigeon, great blue turaco, and African jacana among others. Walks through bamboo trail are led by professional armed ranger guides that take protect you from dangerous animals.

Things to pack if you are intending to go through bamboo trail in Bwindi on your safari include waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, long-sleeved pants, long-sleeved shirts, a rain jacket, a sweater, a light backpack, insect repellents, a camera, a pair of binoculars, energy giving snacks, packed lunch and a drinking water bottle.

Accommodation in Bwindi

Travelers who would love to Bwindi using bamboo trail are advised to book accommodation facilities in Ruhija sector because that is where it is located. Travelers can still book accommodation in Bwindi Buhoma region because it takes 1 hour to connect to the trail only if those of Ruhija aren’t available.

Some of the accommodati0n facilities in Ruhija include Gorilla Mist Camp, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Ruhija Community Rest Camp, Gift of Nature Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Broadbill Forest Camp, Cuckoo Land Tented Lodge, Agandi Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort, Ecomarvels Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Trekkers Tavern, and Ruhija Safari Lodge among others.

When to have nature walks through bamboo trails in Bwindi

Travelers can have nature walks through bamboo trails in Bwindi bamboo trail at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months of June to September and December to February are the best to visit this park for nature walks because there is little or no rainfall that makes the trail dry and passable, the vegetation along the trail and the park is short and thin with clear views of the wild animals and roads leading to the park are passable.

Travelers especially budget travelers can visit the park for different activities including nature walk in the rainy season of March to May and October to November to enjoy huge discounts on accommodation facilities. The rainy season is however characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thin with unclear views of animals and the roads connecting to the park are in poor conditions.

Accessing Bwindi national park

Travelers visiting Bwindi to explore the park using bamboo trail can get to the park using air transport or road transport. Air transport is the quickest way to get to Bwindi and different airline companies organize a flight to the park such as Aerolink Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Fly Uganda. Flights start from Kajjansi airstrip/Entebbe international airport to Kisoro airstrip where you connect to Ruhija sector.

Accessing Bwindi national park byroad:  one can get to Ruhija sector of Bwindi from Kampala or Kigali. From Kampala, travelers can get to Ruhija by going through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale to the gorilla trekking sector and those from Kigali can get to Ruhija sector by crossing to Uganda using Katuna birder in Kabale where they connect to the park.