Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is located in the south western Uganda covering an area of 331 square kilometres. The park is bordered by Democratic Republic of Congo in the western side of the park; Kabale town to the southeast is the nearest main town to the park, 29 kilometres away by road.
The park is located at the edge of the Western Rift Valley in the highest parts of the Kigezi Highlands, which were created by up-Wapping of the Western Rift Valley. The topography of the park is very rugged, with narrow valleys intersected by rivers and steep hills.
The neighbouring towns of Buhoma and Nkuringo are busy enough and an interaction with the locals gives you a wider picture of the forest.
The park’s underlying geology consists of Precambrian shale phyllite, quartz, quartzite, schist, and granite. Elevations in the Park Range from 1,190 to 2,607 metres (3,904 to 8,553 ft) above sea level and 60 percent of the park have an elevation of over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft). The highest elevation is Rwamunyonyi Hill at the eastern edge of the park. The lowest part of the park is at its most northern tip. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park’s geology comprises of quartzite, Precambrian shale phyllite, granite, quartz and schist. The topography of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is very rugged, with different narrow valleys connected by rivers which include Ivi, Ihihizo, and Munyaga.
The forest is an important water catchment area. With a generally impermeable underlying geology where water mostly flows through large fault structures, water infiltration and aquifers are limited. Much of the park’s rainfall forms streams, and the forest has a dense network of streams.
The vegetation is moist and evergreen having a dense growth of herbs, vines and shrubs and over 50 percent of the park is occupied by mixed forest that occurs at all altitudes and is characterised by a canopy with various species that often include the Red stinkwood , Newtonia , Symphonia globulifera, East African yellow wood , and Strombosia scheffleri. The under storey commonly includes Xymalos monospora, Neoboutonia macro calyx, Myrianthus holster, Tec lea nobilis and Allophylus abyssinicus.