Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Uganda · mountain gorillas · rainforest · endangered animals

Mountain gorilla home. Bwindi forest protects about half of all the mountain gorillas left in the world. These massive, gentle apes live nowhere else on Earth except in this forest and a few nearby mountains.

Impenetrable jungle. The forest got its name because it's so dense and tangled that you cannot travel through it except by walking on special trails. The trees and plants are so thick that sunlight barely reaches the ground.

Feet only allowed. There are no roads or vehicles in Bwindi National Park, so visitors must hike on foot through the forest to see the gorillas and explore. It's a real adventure that takes patience and strong legs.

UNESCO treasure. The United Nations recognized Bwindi as a World Heritage Site because it's one of the most special and important forests on the planet. The forest is home to thousands of other rare animals and plants too.

Mountains and valleys. Bwindi sits along the edge of the Albertine Rift, where the land rises and falls dramatically, creating steep mountains and misty valleys. The forest covers 321 square kilometers of both lowland and highland areas.