BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK.

The name Bwindi derives from the local phrase “Mubwindi bwa Nyinamukari” which referred to the Mubwindi swamp in the south east of the park rather than the forest itself. The story behind this name goes back to about many years ago when it is said; a family migrating northwards from kisoro area found themselves standing at the southern end of a seemingly impenetrable swamp. The parents asked the swamp spirits for guidance and were told that only if they sacrificed their most beautiful daughters Nyinamukari, would the rest of the family cross without mishap. After 2 days of deliberation, the family decided that they could not turn back south and so they threw the girl into water to drown and went on their way safely to the other side. When news of the sacrifice spread, people began to avoid the swamp calling it Mubwindi bwa Nyinamukali. (Dark place of Nyinamukali).

The forest was proclaimed as the impenetrable Forest Reserve in 1932, its official name until 1991 when it was gazette as a National Park and named Bwindi. It is regarded to be one of the most diverse forests in Africa. It is a true rainforest spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys that form the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift valley.

When getting there from Kampala, the best route to Buhoma entails following the surfaced road towards kabala as far as Ntungamo 60km past Mbarara. At Ntungamo, turn right to a newly surfaced road for 45km to Rukungiri. From here, you will need to follow dirt roads through Kambuga. Travellers coming from northern destinations such as Kasese, Fort Portal or Queen Elizabeth National Park can use two routes to Buhoma.