Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Location:

466 km via Masaka – Mbarara- Rukungiri – Kanungu Road.

Air: 361.25 km (224.47 mi) South West of Kampala.

135 km from Mgahinga via Kabale – Kisoro

42.51 km (26.42 mi) North of Mgahinga.

Coordinates: -0.9983320, 29.6212006 (Volcanoes Lodge, Buhoma)

In the mountainous and picturesque landscapes of south western Uganda, on the edge of the Rift Valley, lies a mist- covered ancient rain forest that is one of the country’s oldest and most diverse, dating back over 25,000 years.

The rain forest forms the 331 km² Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO recognized World Heritage site and home to about 50% of the global population of the Endangered Mountain Gorillas, making the park the best place in the world to track our close cousins – the mountain gorillas. Bwindi was gazzeted a National Park in 1991.

The park has a rich fauna and flora community in East Africa with over 100 mammal species, some big some small. The forest also nurtures over 400 plant species.

Apart from gorillas, there over 10 primate species. Other big animals include the elusive forest elephants and several species of antelopes.

Out of 220 butterfly species, 42 are endemic to the Albertine Region. Three butterflies occur only in Bwindi including the Cream – banded swallowtail (Papilio leucotaenia), Graphium gudenusi, Charaxes fournierae and the threatened African giant swallowtail (Papilio antimachus).

Birding in Bwindi

About 530 bird species have been sighted in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park including about 23 (90%) Albertine Rift endemics not easy to see in any other part of East Africa.

Among the birds, 25 are restricted-range species and out of the 23 confined to the Albertine Rift, four are globally threatened namely: African Green Broadbill ( Pseudocalyptomena graueri )-Vulnerable, Grauer’s Rush Warbler (Bradypterus graueri) – Endangered, Chapin’s Flycatcher (Muscicapa lendu)- Vulnerable and Shelley’s Crimson-wing (Cryptospiza Shelley ) – Vulnerable.

In addition, Bwindi hosts three bird species that are the only surviving representatives of their respective genera namely: The African Green Broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri), Grauer’s Warbler (Graueria vittata) and the Short-tailed Warbler (Hemitesia Neumann). The broadbill and Short-tailed Warbler are considered more related to Asian than to African bird species.

Most of the birding activities in Bwindi are around Buhoma along the forest margins and on village paths or in the Ruhija sector where forest birding and swamp birding take place.

Key Birding Trails in Bwindi.

Bwindi’s varied terrain and forest zones mean different park areas offer unique birding opportunities.

Buhoma Trail
The lower-altitude section of the park around Buhoma is known for its accessibility and the chance to see species like the Great blue Turaco, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, and Red-throated Alethe.

Mubwindi Swamp
Located in the Ruhija sector, this trail is rewarding for serious birders as t is the most reliable site in Bwindi for spotting the elusive African green broadbill and other high-altitude species like the Grauer’s warbler and Rwenzori batis.

Ruhija

The Ruhija section of Bwindi has many and easy to spot birds like the Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Handsome Francolin, White-tailed crested Flycatcher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Rwenzori batis, Western Green Tinkerbird, Red-faced woodland Warbler and the Chestnut-throated Apalis among the many.

Rushaga and Nkuringo Sectors
The remote and pristine areas of Rushaga and Nkuringo are home to rarities such as Archer’s Robin-chat, Yellow-eyed black Flycatcher, Stripe breasted Tit, Strange Weaver, Handsome Francolin, Kivu ground Thrush, Cinnamon – breasted Bee –eater, Gruas’s Broad bill, Common Buzzard, Equatorial Akalat, Black faced warbler, Regal Sunbird, Archer’s Robin chat, Rwenzori hill Warbler, Grader’s swamp Warbler, Yellow – eyed Fly catcher, Rwenzori Warbler, Mountain Illadopsis and Blue headed sunbird among others.

Bird list for in Bwindi

Source: ebird

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Birding in Bwindi

Key Birding Trails in Bwindi.

Ruhija

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