Welcome to the mountain gorilla centre of the world! The mystical highland jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to half of the world's mountain gorilla population. People flock from all over the world to see this powerful, elusive animal in this natural safe haven. It's not only gorillas you can see here. Bwindi has around 350 bird species and is home to other primates such as chimpanzees, and colobus monkeys.
One of its best kept secrets is the Ivy Trail, a 15km hiking trail that crosses the entire national park from north to south. Most people start in the south at Nkuringo You descend from an altitude of 2200 metres into the forest to reach Buhoma at 1500 metres on the other side. At times you've got amazing views across the thick primary forest, often shrouded in clouds. The first stretch of trail can be a little rough, but after crossing the bridge across the Ivy River it's easy cruising through this magical place. And if you're lucky, you may spot the star resident of Bwindi, the mountain gorilla.
Private car
Nkuringo is relatively far from the tarmac road at Kisoro. The road can be very bad, especially during rainy season. Arranging a private 4X4 with driver is highly recommended for safety and reliability. We can help you with organising a suitable private vehicle. If you drive yourself, take the Google recommended route from Kisoro.
Public transport/taxi
For those on a budget, it is possible to reach Nkuringo by boda (motor taxi) or local taxi. You should only do this when the roads are dry, as it can be very dangerous to move on a washed out dirt road. It's only 35km from Kisoro, but it takes a while to get there. A boda takes about 2 hours and will cost around $20 or 80,000 Uganda Shillings. A local taxi still takes 1.5 hours and count on $30-$40 or 110,000-150,000 Uganda Shillings.
Important note
The hike from Nkuringo to Buhoma is a one way hike. That means you need to organise your transport out from Buhoma. With a private car with driver you can make these arrangements fairly easily. However, it's quite tricky when you bring your own car. You would either get a local taxi or boda to get you back to the car. Or you could hike the same way back the next day. Organising a driver to take your car from Nkuringo to Buhoma is probably the best option. We can arrange this for you, see the inquiry form below. If you traveled by public / local transport you can take a boda, local taxi or matatu (mini-bus) to Kihihi on a fairly decent road. It's 38km or 1 hour.
Normally you don't need to book the hiking tour for the Ivy Trail. Arrangements can be organised quickly on the spot. You do need to show up at the Nkuringo UWA office on time, so the Uganda Wildlife Authority can round up the ranger guides to take you to the top. For more information see here for the UWA website. Hiking Uganda can organise this tour for you with one of our partners, see our inquiry form below.
The Ivy Trail is a moderate hiking route of 15km. The trail can be rough at the first 6km, which can drain your energy. So you need to be reasonably fit for this hike. Most of the route goes downhill, with 960 metres of downhill and only 270 metres of vertical gain.
Temperatures are pleasant, it is never really too cold or too hot thanks to the shady forest. But, as Bwindi is a rain forest there is a good chance it will rain. Thunderstorms also occur frequently.
The weather in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is changeable. You can get a downpour of rain and bright sunshine in a single hike. You need to be prepared for both. Below is a suggested pack list for the Ivy Trail.
Day hike
- Quick drying (not cotton) t-shirt
- Long sleeve thermal shirt
- Hiking boots
- Pair of long trouwers
- Breathable rain jacket (like Gore-Tex)
- Waterproof trousers (optional)
- Hiking socks
- Walking poles
- Day pack (20-30 litres)
- Small first aid kit
- Smartphone / photo camera
- Plastic bag or dry bag to keep your electronics and valuables dry
- Lunch and snacks
- Water bottle (2 litres minimum)
- Sunscreen/hat/sunglasses