Bwindi Impenetrable forest

Bwindi Impenetrable forest is derived from the Runyakitara word “Mubwindi” and means “a place full of darkness” this name comes from the extensive stands of bamboo interspersed amongst the larger forest hardwoods.

The presence of bamboo and thick undercover cover of ferns, vines, and other plants’ growth severely hinder direct access on foot to the forest. The forest is situated on the edge of the western arm of the Great Rift Valley, only a few kilometers from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) border and about 25 kilometers (equivalent to 16 miles) north of the Virunga Mountains.

The forest is one of the most biologically diverse areas on earth where half the world’s population of critically endangered Mountain Gorillas lives in their natural habitat. The forest has been recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site for its biological significance.

The forest has been described as “raven by disputes and crosshatched by historical, political, biological borders” by the researcher of Craig Stanford, co-director of the park’s Jane Goodall Research center. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park was established was in 1991!

Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable forest