Updated
Parts of Bwindi were logged, mined or farmed before the forest became a national park in 1991, and these areas are slowly turning back into forest through natural succession. First come fast-growing herbs, shrubs, vines and pioneer trees; over decades, slower-growing forest trees take over. These regenerating areas matter for mountain gorillas, which feed heavily on the herbs and vines that grow in gaps and secondary forest.
Stages of recovery
On cleared land, bracken, grasses and shrubs appear first, followed by pioneer trees such as Macaranga that grow quickly in light. Their shade lets seedlings of mature forest trees grow underneath, often carried in by birds, monkeys and elephants. Full recovery of a mature forest takes many decades, and some areas with dense bracken or invasive plants recover slowly.
Why it matters for gorillas
Bwindi’s gorillas eat more fruit than Virunga gorillas, but they also depend on herbs, leaves and vines, which grow best where light reaches the ground, such as old clearings and tree falls. Some habituated families spend much time in regenerating forest near the park edge, which can bring them close to farmland and raise the risk of conflict and disease.
Seeing it on a trek
On a trek you may pass through tangled secondary growth, which is why some trails are so dense. The gorilla permit costs US$800, or US$600 in April, May and November. See our guides to Bwindi as a World Heritage Site, the history of Bwindi, fig trees of Bwindi and Bwindi.
Frequently asked questions
The natural process by which cleared land gradually returns to forest.
Yes, parts were logged, mined and farmed before 1991.
Yes, they feed on herbs and vines that grow in gaps and secondary forest.
Many decades for a mature forest.
