Many people where the name Bwindi comes from.
Bwindi takes its name from Runyakitara word ‘Mubwindi bwa nyinamuraki’ initially preferred to as Mubwindi swamp and it denotes a place full of darkness. The name is derived considering its dense and vast bamboo mixed with extensive forest hardwoods. Besides bamboo, there are several ferns, vines among other.
Why is it called Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is incredibly one of the rich tropical rain-forest protected areas when it comes to biodiversity. Not only does it support the endangered mountain gorillas, but also several other species that make it an ‘impenetrable’ forest. It is also one of the world’s designated heritage sites due to its biological importance.
Bwindi was established as one of national parks in Uganda in 1991 with primary reason to protect a portion of the endangered mountain gorillas. These rare creatures only range within Uganda in Bwindi and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park; Rwanda in Volcanoes National Park and the Virunga National Park in the DR Congo. It served as a reserve from 1964 and it was designated as the Impenetrable Central Forest Reserve together with Mgahinga Gorilla National Park plus Rwenzori Mountains Reserve. Later, it was named Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and currently, it sits in land area of 331sq.kms.