FOREST EXPLORATION

Several hiking trails start from Buhoma, Nkuringo, Ruhija and Rushaga to lead you to discover the rich flora and fauna of the rainforest. Experienced ornithologists can, for example, go in search of Grauer's very popular eurylaime (do not hesitate to ask for a guide from the UWA in Ruhija if you wish to discover this colourful bird). Note, moreover, that the UWA has the project to develop the butterfly watching in order to flush out the endemic butterflies of Bwindi. Guided walks start, for the most part, in the morning, but the shortest ones can be started in the early afternoon (at 2 or 2.30 pm). Finally, people who combine gorilla tracking and trekking on the same day do not have to pay twice for entry into the park (US$ 40), but must still pay the US$ 30 for the bird watching or nature walk.

The Buhoma Waterfall Trail is one of the most popular bird watching excursions. In 3 hours return, we enter the heart of an area populated by monkeys, giant ferns and orchids, and following the Munyaga River, we reach a 33 m high waterfall. There is also another Waterfall Trail in the Rushaga area (3-4 hours walk).

Boththe Rushura Hill Trail and the Muzabajiro Loop (Buhoma) allow you to climb a few hills in about 3 hours to embrace the view of the forest and the Virunga. The Habinyanja Trail, a little longer, gives the opportunity to see black bee-eater, black duck and Pel's fishing owl.

TheRiver Ivi Trail will take 7 hours for good walkers to take them from Buhoma to the southwest of the forest (or vice versa), in the vicinity of Rubuguri. You may well come across some wild boars on your way... The Nkuringo-Buhoma crossing (or vice versa) takes the same trail (3-4 hrs walk). The two villages can also be reached via the Kashasha River Trail (6-7 hrs), a scenic but slightly more physically demanding variant.

The Mubwindi Swamp Trail (Ruhija) is a bit of a birdwatcher's Mecca. Your walk (4-5 hrs return) to the depression where the eponymous swamp lies could bring you face to face with a gorilla

The Bamboo Trail in the extreme south-east of the park (access from the Ruhija-Kabale trail) will take you to the highest point of Bwindi Forest, Rwamunyonyi (2,607m), for breathtaking views of the area. Count on 6 difficult hours of trekking during which you will cross bamboo groves..