Also known as the Impenetrable Forest, Bwindi is one of Uganda's most recently created national parks. The park, which covers 331 sq km, encompasses one of the last remaining habitats of the mountain gorilla, and is where almost half - an estimated 330 individuals - of the surviving mountain gorillas in the world live.

A major conservation effort has been going on here for a number of years to protect the gorillas' habitat. Gorillas are not the only animals to have benefited from this project. The park contains about 20 forest elephants, at least 10 species of primate (including chimpanzees, colobus monkeys and baboons), duikers, bushbucks and the rare giant forest hog, as well as a host of bird and insect species. It is one of the richest areas in Africa for flora and fauna.

A visit with the gorillas is an incredible experience but it can be difficult to arrange and the walking is not for strollers. All bookings must be made through the UWA office (041-346287) in Kampala, and only 32 permits per day are available for Bwindi.

The terrain in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is mountainous and heavily forested and you might be walking for up to four hours before you sight the gorillas. Be sure to prepare well and take fast film to get good photos in the shade of the forest.