Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a magnificent swath of ancient rainforest draped over the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley. The dense forest is one of the few in Africa to have flourished throughout the last Ice Age and is regarded as one of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa. Bwindi is home to about 460 mountain gorillas. The population has increased in recent years under strict conservation efforts and makes up nearly 50% of the total mountain gorilla population in the Virunga Transboundary Collaboration area. In addition to the famous gorillas, the park is a birding hotspot with 347 species recorded and 22 of the 36 endemics. Hiking through the ancient forest imparts a sense of true wonder on any visitor.