Is a Safari in Bwindi Forest Only About Gorilla Trekking?

Is a Safari in Bwindi Forest Only About Gorilla Trekking?

A Uganda safari experience in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is it all about Gorilla Trekking? isn’t entirely on trekking to view mountain gorillas in the wild alone but also to explore and experience unique floral species in and around this pristine protected area’s habitats. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is tucked in southwestern Uganda and expands up to 331 square kilometers. It is comprised of a dense rain forest, which today remains very few in Africa. It is one of the few destinations in Africa where the lowland vegetation zones meet the montane vegetation zones. Unlike other forest protected areas, Bwindi is exceptional the fact that it managed to thrive even during the ice age when Africa never had such dense vegetation cover. It played and still plays a significant role by offering refuge to variety of wildlife species that depend on it for different reasons.

Exploring the Rich Flora and Natural Wonders of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Is a Safari in Bwindi Forest Only About Gorilla Trekking? While on Uganda safari, exploring flora in Bwindi National Park should be a must-do thing. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is prides herself as major water catchment area. Which for long has supported several farming activities in most of the nearby local communities. It is also a source for most water bodies that flow in the park, especially Rivers like River Ivi, Ihihizo. Ishasha, Ntengyere and Munyaga that also drain into Lake Edward. Other rivers such as Shongi, Kanyamwabo, and Ndego flow southwards to Lake Mutanda.

Over 400 plant species are confined in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. It consists of lush, dense rainforest where most of its diverse and iconic wildlife species thrive including over 350 bird species, butterflies. 11 primate species including the rare mountain gorillas as well as several mammal species. A guided nature walk in this park involves exploring not bird species but also identifying different plant species. Especially those that are of medicinal significance. The unique flora is reason behind the lush beauty of Bwindi National Park. A nature walk along River Munyaga takes you the scenic part of the park with beautiful waterfalls, trees, orchids, epithetic ferns.

Vegetation Zones and Floral Diversity Across Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The flora/vegetation type in Bwindi National Park widely range depending on the elevation that from medium to high altitude. At higher elevation, mostly afro montane forest thrives. Bwindi consists of thick herbs, shrubs and vines and because of its dense vegetation cover, it is best described as an impenetrable forest.

About 50 percent of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is comprised of mixed forest including Newtonia. Red stinkwood, East African yellow wood, strombosia scheffleri and symphonia globulifera. Below the forest, there are mainly Neoboutonia, Xymalos, Myrianthus holstii, Monospora and many others.

At elevation of about 1500m, about 10 percent of the area is covered by Parinariexcelsa, 11 percent at 2-00m is occupied by Newtonia buchananii. At 2200m, 8 percent of the area is covered by chrysophyllum gorungosanum while the bamboo trail. Is endowed by distinct vegetation including over 14 distinct vegetation types.

The northern side of the park lies in the lower elevation and consists of Parinari, especially on the Ishasha and Ihihizo River Valleys.  This area supports mainly the Newtonia buchananii and African mahogany. As you get to higher ridges, there are podocarpus among others.

In the southern side, you will get chrysophyllum species, especially the Newtonia, prunus and entandrophragma. On Uganda safari in Bwindi, visitors can explore over 1000 flowering plant species, 110 fern species among others.

Common Tree Species in Bwindi

The park is composed of abundant, lush, fogy rainforests of this type of vegetation. Attract several bird species creating a birders paradise here as well. rich vegetation of tree ferns. Colorful orchids and epithetic ferns contribute to the scenic beauty of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Lowland montane rain forest is covered by mixed forest which is concentrated around its altitudes and it is characterized by canopy from plant species like Red stinkwood, Newtonia, Symphonia globulifera, East African yellow wood and Strombosia scheffleri.

Beneath the main forest there are species like Xymalos, Neoboutonia Macrocalyx, Monospora, Myrianthus holstii, Teclea nobilis and Allophylus abyssinicus

A few of the many tree species Bwindi is known for:

 African brown mahogany tree

This is a very large tree that takes its time while growing up. It can grow up to 70m tall and very much straight up. It produces fine wood and medicine to us the African culture and also commonly known for its beauty that it brings in a farm. This tree creates one of the most expensive woods around the world, though the one for Uganda belongs to the Gorillas.

Ebony tree species

Widely distributed in the tropics, Uganda is privileged to have different types of these in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The best is very heavy, almost black, and derived from heartwood only. Because of its color, durability, hardness, and ability to take a high polish, ebony is used for many things including piano keys. Here in Uganda, ut belongs to the mountain gorillas only.

Chrysophyllum species

Mostly in the southern parts of the forest, you will get different types of chrysophyllunm, especially the Newtonia, Prunus and Entandrophragma. On a Uganda safari in Bwindi, visitors can explore over 1000 flowering plant species, 110 fern species, among others.

About 50 percent of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is comprised of mixed forest. Including Newtonia, red stinkwood, East African yellow wood, Strombosia scheffleri, and Symphonia globulifera. Below the forest, there are mainly Neoboutonia, Xymalos, Myrianthus holstii, Monospora and many others.

At an elevation of about 1500m, about 10 percent of the area is covered by Parinari excelsa. 11 percent at 2 00m is occupied by Newtonia buchananii; at 2200m, 8 percent of the area is covered by Chrysophyllum gorungosanum. While the bamboo trail is endowed with distinct vegetation including over 14 distinct vegetation types.

With all these fresh fruits, trees, streams, fruits a lot of fresh green leaves and foliage among others. That are few in Africa, and the whole world, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park becomes an endemic its itself even before the giant gorillas.

Other tourist attractions explore in Bwindi National Park include bird species that make up a total of about 350. Including among others the African green broadbill, dusky crimson, white tailed blue catchers, bar tailed trogon. Rusty faced woodland, yellow eyed flycatchers, western green tinker bird, black faced rufous warblers; primates including mountain gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys, olive baboons.