Waterfall trail in Bwindi

Waterfall trail in Bwindi: Bwindi is one of the world’s national parks harboring endangered mountain gorillas. The national park is found in the southwestern part of the country and it was gazetted in 1991 by the government of Uganda to protect mountain gorillas from extinction and the vegetation.

Bwindi national park is popular for mountain gorilla trekking activities but there are other activities that are done in the park such as birding, and nature walks. Hiking and nature walks have been popular in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where travelers explore the thick forest on foot using numerous trails that are inside the park.

The Waterfall trail in Bwindi is among the best trails in the park that offer travelers an opportunity to explore the vast wilderness on foot. Found in Buhoma sector of the park, the waterfall trail gives tourists an opportunity to explore different animals, birds, plants, vegetation, and hills. The trail is 3 hours long and it’s the professional guides who always led you through the whole hiking.

Some of the animals you are likely to encounter while using the waterfall trail include chimpanzees, gorillas, buffaloes, elephants, duikers, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, red-tailed monkeys, grey checked mangabeys, olive baboons, and bleu monkeys among others. The trail favors bird lovers because there are chances of seeing birds such as bat hawk, long-crested eagle, African fish eagle, hadada ibis, sacred ibis, African crowned eagle, great blue turaco, common cuckoo, mottled swift, yellow bill, and narina tragon among others.

Waterfall trail in Bwindi was once planned to be a road connecting to Kisoro town but this deal didn’t succeed because the government wanted to conserve the mountain gorillas and the vegetation. Tourists through this trail will always mee local people moving from one area it another on this trail.

Things to pack

To successfully walk through the waterfall trail in Bwindi, you need to pack things such as long-sleeved shirts, long-sleeved pants, waterproof hiking shoes, long cotton stocks, a pair of gaiters, gardening gloves, a sweater, a rain jacket, a hat, insect repellents, a camera, a pair of binoculars, drinking water bottle and energy giving snacks among others.

When to hike waterfall trail in Bwindi

Tourists can visit Buhoma sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for hiking activities at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months are the best to visit Buhoma for hiking and nature walks because they are characterized by little or no rainfall that keeps the trail dry, the vegetation in the ark is short and thin with good views of the animals and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Travelers can still visit Buhoma for hiking and nature walk activities in the rainy season of March to May and October to November since the park is open. Travelers should however note that during this season, the trail is muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall with great views of the Bwindi mountain gorillas and the roads leading to the park are passable.

Accessing Buhoma

Buhoma sector can be accessed in a single day using air transport or road transport. The sector can be accessed using air transport from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kihihi airstrip in 1 hour and 45 minutes. Flights are conducted by Fly Uganda, Bar Aviation Uganda, and Aerolink Uganda and to fly you need to book a seat in advance.

Travelers can as well as Buhoma sector of Bwindi for hiking and nature walks using road transport from Kigali or Kampala. Travelers from Kigali can access Buhoma using Katuna border in Kabale to the park and this takes 4-5 hours. Travelers coming from Entebbe/Kampala can access the region through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale and Kanungu to the sector.

Accommodation in Bwindi

Travelers that want to explore Bwindi using the waterfall trail must book accommodation in Buhoma region since that is where the trail is found. Some of the accommodations in Bwindi include Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Ride 4 Women Guest House, Buhoma Lodge, Haven Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Bwindi Forest Lodge, Bwindi View Bandas, Mahogany Springs Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Volcanoes Bwindi Lodge, and Buhoma Rest Camp among others.