Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is one of Uganda’s most visited national parks by visitors on Uganda safari tours, was crowned the world’s third-best adventure destination.

It is at the TOURISE Global Tourism Awards event that happened in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, on November 10, 2025, that Bwindi National Park emerged as the third-best adventure destination.

Bwindi National Park is the third-best adventure destination, following the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador (second) and the Ancash region in Peru (first).

Reasons Why Each of the Tourist Destinations Retained Its Position

Ancash Region in Peru (First)

The Ancash region was ranked the first adventure destination for its extraordinary natural landscapes, like the Cordillera Blanca mountain range and glacial lakes within Huascarán National Park. These create a dramatic and beautiful backdrop for adventure.

Galápagos Islands in Ecuador (Second)

The Galápagos Islands in Ecuador were ranked the second-best adventure destination for their exceptional biodiversity, including unique and fearless wildlife, volcanic landscapes, and overall visitor experience.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Third)

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was crowned the world’s third-best adventure destination for its unique conservation-led tourism model and exceptional biodiversity, including the highest population of mountain gorillas in the world, making it the best place for gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Prior Accolades Won by Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

1. Africa’s number one birding site by the Africa Bird Club in 2012
2. The most beautiful place globally by CNN Travel in 2019
3. Rated among the 23 best hiking destinations in the world according to CNN Travel on 3rd April 2019.

Why Does Bwindi Stand Out? 

The following are some of the reasons that earned Bwindi National Park this prestigious recognition.

• Mountain gorilla trekking

This is the famous wildlife experience that Bwindi National Park is known for. The park is home to over 459 mountain gorillas that are grouped into 25 habituated gorilla families that are worth seeing on Uganda gorilla tours.

Visitors who visit the park for this interesting activity are allowed to spend one hour with gorillas once they are located to observe their behaviors.

• The unique ecosystems and terrain

The park is made of a dense and ancient rainforest that is believed to have been in existence for over 25,000 years.

The forest is composed of tangled vegetation, including thick undergrowth plants, vines, and short and tall trees that form the canopy. It is for this reason that Bwindi is called an impenetrable forest.

The park has rugged terrain with steep slopes and misty hills, offering a challenging but rewarding hiking experience for seasoned adventurers, who may take up a safari to Uganda.

• Rich biodiversity

Bwindi National Park was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 for its exceptional biodiversity, including the endangered mountain gorillas, over 120 mammal species, and 350 bird species, among other wildlife species, worth seeing when on safaris in Uganda Africa.

The Conservation-Led Tourism Model 

While at the event in Riyadh, Professor Kalema James, the chairman of the Uganda Wildlife Authority, said that “this accolade is a powerful endorsement of Uganda’s commitment to conservation-led tourism.

He added that Bwindi demonstrates how protecting nature can create meaningful adventure experiences while empowering communities and sustaining national development.”

The conservation-led tourism model that contributed to the Bwindi National Park ranking as the third-best adventure destination emphasizes the following.

1. Community Involvement and Benefit Sharing—A portion of revenue generated from tourism, specifically 10% from each gorilla permit and 20% of the park entrance fees, is shared with the community.

These funds are used to extend social services to locals around the park, as well as to support their projects, such as beekeeping. This deters many from engaging in activities like poaching and encroachment on the park’s boundaries.

2. Strict Gorilla Guideline—During gorilla trekking safaris in Uganda, strict rules and regulations are followed to minimize disease transmission. Some of the rules include

• Maintaining a minimum distance of seven meters from the gorillas
• Limiting the visit duration to one hour with a specific gorilla family
• Restricting the number of visitors per day
• Following the designated trails in the multiple trekking sectors like Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga, and the Nkuringo sector

3. Adoption of eco-friendly practices by lodges around Bwindi National Park through carrying out waste management, use of sustainable building materials, use of solar power, and other practices.
4. Implementation of Robust Anti-Poaching Measures—The continuous health monitoring is done by veterinary doctors, and research programs are being conducted to protect animals like mountain gorillas and other ecosystems in the park from human-related diseases.

Why Bwindi’s Recognition Matters?

• Attracting more adventure travelers will lead to an increase in tourism revenue, especially from the iconic mountain gorilla trekking.
• Boosting Uganda’s visibility on the world stage and the recognition of Bwindi as the third-best destination in the world reinforces the country’s brand as the Pearl of Africa.
• Strengthening UWA’s continued efforts in promoting sustainable tourism.
• Community empowerment and development. This will be achieved through revenue-sharing programs where part of the revenue from the sale of gorilla permits and park entrance fees is used to support communities.
• Diversification of tourism. Though mountain gorilla trekking is the primary activity, the recognition also shines light on other activities like bird watching, nature walks, and cultural interactions with the Batwa people, among other things to do in Bwindi National Park.

Conclusion

Discover why Uganda shines as a top global travel hotspot with Bwindi’s recognition at the TOURISE Global Tourism Awards. Embark on thrilling Uganda tours for an unforgettable adventure filled with gorilla trekking and more exciting activities in the Bwindi National Park, the third-best travel destination globally.