Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Top Wildlife to See in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: Bwindi National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uganda, is well known for the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, one of the few surviving rainforests in Uganda. Bwindi is in southwestern Uganda in Kanungu District near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo; it also forms a crucial conservation zone. It is renowned the world over for its mountain gorillas, so it ranks as a premier spot for primate tourism and gorilla-trekking safaris.
The park’s thick forest provides a sanctuary for the endangered primates and other wildlife species. Adjacent to Virunga National Park in the DRC, its ecological value and shared complex biodiversity are underscored. The park has 120 species of mammals, including chimps, elephants, and various monkey species, as well as 350 bird species, over 200 species of butterflies, and various reptiles.
Primates
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park on a Uganda safari has approximately 11 primate species, with some of the notable ones being the mountain gorillas; black and white colobus (Colobus guereza); the endemic L’Hoests’ monkeys (Cercopithecus lhoesti); blue monkeys (Cercopithecus mitis); red-tailed monkeys (Cercopithecus ascanius); baboons (Papio anubis); and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Out of the total, the eastern chimpanzees are listed as an endangered species and are scientifically referred to as ‘Pan troglodytes schweinfurthi’.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park also has nocturnal primates such as the potto (Perodicticus potto), Demidoff’s galago (Galagoides demidoff), and the spectacled galago (Galago matschiei). This variety of primates in the park indicates the park’s critical role in providing a habitat for both the endangered
Mammals
Key mammals in the area are forest elephants, African golden cats, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted duikers, yellow-backed duikers, and clawless otters. All of these animals are a reflection of the natural wealth of this area, and it is safe to say that this is a must-visit place for all those who are crazy about wildlife and safaris.
Butterflies
In addition to the primates and mammals, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also harbours about 220 species of butterflies, with 42 species being Albertine Rift endemic species. There are only 3 butterfly species that are uniquely different and special in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, and they are the cream-banded swallowtail (Papilio leucotaenia), Graphium gudenusi, Charaxes fournierae, and the African giant swallowtail (Papilio antimachus).
Amphibians
recorded and documented in the park. Eleven (11) are Albertine Rift endemic species, and the 6 are of global conservation concern and include the Western Rift Leaf-Folding Frog (Afrixalus orophilus) and Ahl’s Reed Frog (Hyperolius castaneus).
Reptiles
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is also home to many species of reptiles. The park has 14 species of snakes, and 9 are endemic to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. In addition to that, there are 6 species of chameleons and 14 species of lizards.
Birds in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
The park is home to over 350 bird species, of which 23 are Albertine endemics. In addition to the famed mountain gorillas, Bwindi boasts birdwatching safaris that are the best for tourists who want to spend their time in the Bwindi Forest. The Handsome Spurfowl, White-Streaked Robin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, African Water Rail, White Bower Crombec, Red-Chested Flufftail, Rwenzori Nightjar, Bar-Tailed Trogon, Blue-Headed Sunbird, Little Green Sunbird, Striped-Breasted Tit, African Broadbill, Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird, Black-Faced Rufous Warbler, White-Headed Woodhoopoe, Grauer’s Broadbill, Little Green Sunbird, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Western Green Tinkerbird, Handsome Francolin, African Emerald Cuckoo, Regal Sunbird, Tailed Blue Flycatcher, Double-Toothed Barbet, Many-Coloured Bush Shrike, Hairy-Breasted Barbet, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Western Bronze-Naped Pigeon, Red-Faced Woodland Warbler, Western Citril, Fine-Banded Woodpecker, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Tambourine Dove, Grey-Chested Kakamega, Rwenzori Apalis, Red-Tailed Greenbul, Sooty Falcon, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Sharpe’s Starling, Ansorge’s Honeyguide, Banded Prinia, Striped-Breasted Tit, Cape Wagtail, Equatorial Akalat, Red-Tailed Bristlebill, Velvet-Mantled Drongo, Yellow-Spotted Barbet, and Joyful Greenbul. African Emerald Cuckoo; Faint-Bellied Illadopsis; Chestnut-Throated Apalis; Slender-Billed Starling; Northern Puffback; Brown-Capped Weaver; Red-Headed Malimbe; White-Headed Saw-Wing; Dark-Capped Bulbul; Red-Headed Bluebill; Jameson’s Antpecker; Grey-Winged Robin-Chat; Bocage’s Bush Shrike; Black-Billed Turaco; African Stonechat; Black-Faced Apalis; Sooty Flycatcher; Black Bee-Eater; Rwenzori Hill Babbler; Albertine Boubou; Purple-Breasted Sunbird; Neumann’s Warbler; Ross’s Turaco; Cinnamon Bracken Warbler; Dusky Tit; Dwarf Honeyguide; Tit Hylia; Rwenzori Batis; Fine-Banded Woodpecker; Carruthers’s Cisticola; Chapin’s Flycatcher; Great Blue Turaco; African Black Dart; Red-Chested Fufftail; Yellow-Eyed Black Flycatcher; and Barred Long-Tailed Cuckoo, among others.
When is the best time to visit Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?
The best time to visit and see animals in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park to track gorillas is in the dry months of January, February, June, July, August and September when there is minimal rain. However, as it is a tropical forest and it rains all year round, you can see wildlife anytime during the year. One should bear in mind too that this is a good time to see animals, as they have much to eat and it’s easier to spot a gorilla. It is also good to know that you should buy your permit in advance since it is a sellout more during the dry season.
How many families of gorillas are there in Bwindi for gorilla trekking?
There are 19 habituated gorilla families in Uganda, all of them found in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park, and all of them are for gorilla trekking. Bwindi has 18 habituated gorilla families for gorilla trekking, while Mgahinga has 1 habituated gorilla family for gorilla trekking.
In Bwindi, there are different sectors, each of them having gorilla families that are named and have each day of the year booked for visitors to come for gorilla trekking. Buhoma has the Mubare Gorilla Family, the Habinyanja Gorilla Family, the Rushegura Gorilla Family, and the Katwe Gorilla Group. Ruhija has the Bitukura Gorilla Family, the Oruzogo Family, the Mukiza Gorilla Family, and the Kyaruguriro Gorilla Family. Rushaga has the Nshongi Gorilla Group, Mishaya Group, Bweza Group, Bikyingi family, Kahungye family, Busingye family, and Mucunguzi family. Nkuringo has the Nkuringo family, the Bushaho family, and the Christmas family.
How to get to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for wildlife viewing
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is situated in the southwestern part of Uganda and is reachable by many routes. Most people travel by road from Kampala, the capital of Uganda, which is a trip of 8 to 10 hours either by private car or by shared shuttle. The route is through the picturesque rural landscape and mountains along the way, and you can also make stops at some of the various towns.
Alternatively, visitors can fly into Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield and then arrange for a transfer to Bwindi.
Where to stay while on a wildlife safari in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Tourists, while on a wildlife safari in Bwindi Forest, shouldn’t worry about where to stay in Bwindi. The park offers a variety of stunning accommodations ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury, all situated in its 4 sectors. Some of the accommodation options include Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Rushaga Camp, Icumbi Gorilla Lodge, Gorilla Safari Lodge, Gorilla Heights Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Four Gorillas Lodge and Gorilla Valley Lodge
