Bird watching in Bwindi Forest National Park is one of the interesting activity enjoyed during Bwindi gorilla trekking safaris and gives twitches an insight to the rich avifauna in the popular lush rainforest of Bwindi National Park.
There are over 349 extraordinary bird species living in the verdant jungles of Bwindi National Park found in the southwestern in Kabale district in Uganda and is the highest point you can ever be during your bird watching safari in Africa with about 90% of all Albertine rift valley that is rarely sighted in East African region. Visiting Impenetrable Forest for bird watching in Ruhija offers you a chance to view different bird species of Bwindi forest in different regions.
This 331 square kilometre Forest National Park is popular for gorilla trekking but it has more to offer than just the endangered Mountain gorillas it is known for and the birds are one of its beautiful attractions. Of the total bird species that call this Park home, 23 of them are Albertine Rift Valley endemics and this represents about 90% of the overall Albertine Rift endemic birds.BOOK NOW
Crowned Hornbill Bird
Common birds to be spotted during bird watching in Bwindi Forests
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest offers you birding watching experience, be prepared to see the notable birds like the Handsome Francolin, White starred robin, Augur Buzzard, Grey cuckoo shrike, Ayres’s and Cassin’s hawk eagle, Mountain masked, Red throated alethe, Collard, Black and white casqued hornbills, Grey throated barbet, Chestnut throated and black throated apalis, strange weavers, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori double-collared sunbirds, Archer’s ground robin, Mountain wagtail, Dusky turtle dove, European bee eater, Crowned hornbill, Yellow bishop among others. Like what to do in Bwindi, bird watching in Bwindi National Park starts in the morning with a briefing at the Park Headquarters and venturing into the jungle to find some of the residents of the Park. While spotting the bird species, you are likely to see the buffaloes, bushbucks, primates and butterflies that call Bwindi Impenetrable home.
Packing list for bird watching in Bwindi Forests National Park
The packing list for bird watching in Bwindi National Park is closely similar to what to pack on a gorilla trek in Bwindi, this should include a pair of binoculars for spotting the small and far species, a good camera with a good lens and enough memory, a guidebook, bird journal, long trousers and long sleeved shirts to protect your hands from being scratched, a hat, sunglasses, closed shoes, cotton socks, a rain jacket because you can’t predict the rains, a backpack for carrying the items you will need during bird watching, energy giving snacks, drinking water and a first aid kit.
Best time for bird watching in Bwindi National Park
The best time for bird watching within Bwindi National Park is all year round although Bwindi National Park is usually blanketed with mist and forest trails are wet, muddy and slippery during the rainy season in the months of March, April, May, October and November. The rainy season (especially in April and November) is however ideal for sighting the migratory species of birds and this is not look far with the best time to visit Bwindi Forest National Park
Where to stay in Bwindi National Park during bird watching experience
There are numerous places you can stay during bird watching in Bwindi National Park but some of the popular ones are Buhoma lodge, Buhoma haven lodge, Chameleon hill lodge, Clouds mountain gorilla lodge, Engagi gorilla safari lodge, Gift of nature lodge, Gorilla mist camp, Gorilla Resort, Gorilla Valley Lodge, four gorilla lodge and Sanctuary gorilla forest camp among others
How to get to Bwindi Forest National Park
For anyone comes from the main entry known as Entebbe International Air Port, it’s about 48 kilometers from to Kampala Capital City approximately one hour drive. Bwindi Forest is located about 479 kilometers from the Kampala capital city which takes about 8 to 9 hour drive, the journey has a lot to see with stopovers, for example stopping at Equator line to evidence the experiment of the Equator. Equator experience Kayabwe is a milestone that will not be in harry to forget while on your safari in Uganda, and Igongo Cultural Centre is a piece of Cultural that excites all the sense. The road passes through the country’s most visited park known as Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Park provides an opportunity to experience the savannah landscape.
The daily buses operate from Kampala to Kabale, Kisoro as well as Rukungiri via Kihihi. From those towns, you can easily connect to Bwindi or arrange with a local guide to pick you up.
How to access by Air
Flying in Bwindi National Park is the fastest way to reach in Bwindi National Park with approximately one hour and twenty minutes making it luxury gorilla safari in Uganda. Flying in Bwindi National Park is now possible to fly into Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for gorilla trekking/habituation with the new services of Aero link to Kihihi Airstrip or Kisoro Airstrip. Aero link is a domestic flight operator with daily flights to Kisoro Airstrip and Kihihi of Bwindi and it operates two flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kihihi Airstrip