The Size of Bwindi Forest National Park currently is not what it used to be before being gazetted into the Conservation Area that it is today. Two blocks of Bwindi Impenetrable forest were established as Crown Forest Reserves in 1932 with the southern block being Kasatora Crown Forest Reserve while the northern block as Kayonza Crown Forest Reserve. These two combined Reserves covered only 207 square kilometers (80 square miles). BOOK NOW
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Size of Bwindi Forest National Park, found in South-Western Uganda in three districts Kanungu, Kabale and Kisoro, and is one of the few Parks in the world where mountain gorillas trek. The Park shelter to at least half of the World’s population of these giant apes. In terms of size, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park extends for an area of 331 square kilometres. The vast size of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is mainly comprised of lowland as well as a montane rainforest. It is the third smallest National Park in Uganda only larger than Semliki National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
In 1942 the two Crown Forest Reserves were combined and increased to form one Protected Area as well as attained a general name of “Impenetrable central Crown Forest” extending for an area of 298 square kilometres. It was then managed by two Conservation entities-Forest and Game departments. Twelve years later it became an animal Sanctuary to protect the Mountain Gorillas that were already facing extinction. Two years later the Protected Area was expanded to a size of 321 square kilometres although still controlled as a Forest Reserve and Game Sanctuary.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was designated in 1991 after combining the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve, Rwenzori Mountains Reserve, and Mgahinga Gorilla Reserve to a size of 330 square kilometres but three years later more 10 square kilometres were added, later being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its management also changed to Uganda Wildlife Authority that still manages it until today.