What to See

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park extends to about 331 square kilometers and it is UNESCO heritage site. Bwindi’s biodiversity is undoubtedly the most sought after in Uganda-East Africa, popularly inhabiting the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas; forest birds, plant species, reptiles, butterflies, mammals and numerous primates that can you think about.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is proud of being a home to Eastern chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, L’Hoests Guenon, Baboons, Vervet monkeys, Red tailed Guenon, nocturnal prosimians, Forest elephants with hairy bodies, smaller in size, smaller tusks with one additional toe on their foot; small antelopes like Duikers, bush pigs, giant forest hogs as well as countless cats.

Birds

The tropical montane forest of Bwindi has a record of 350 estimated bird species including 14 bird species found nowhere else in Uganda and 23 endemics of the Albertine rift valley.

Some of the notable birds include Mountain masked apalis, Olive-breasted greenbul, Western green tinkerbird, Purple-breasted sunbird, Neumann’s warbler, Regal sunbird, Ruwenzori apalis, Sherry’s crimson wing, Yellow-streaked greenbul, Short tailed warbler, Blue-headed sunbird, Grauer’s broadbill, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Handsome francolin, Many-colored bush-shrike, African broadbill, Black bee-eater, Black-billed turaco, Black-faced rufous warbler, Black-faced warbler, Ruwenzori turaco, giant king fisher, African green pigeon , African Harrier hawk among many others.

Other unique birds to see include the African green broadbill and Shelley’s crimson wing, Francolins, Cinnamon chested bee eaters, green tinker bird, mountain and yellow streaked green buls, Mountain masked and Chestnut throated Apalises, Red faced Woodland warbler, White browed Crombec, White tailed fly catcher and Ruwenzori Batis.

The park is also composed of 220 butterfly species, 27 forest frogs’ species, Chameleons, Geckos. Hiking through Bwindi, means exploring beyond gorilla trek specifically on wild primates, wildlife, birds and butterflies.

Batwa community

The Batwa are known as the first ancient people who lived in the forest. They have a unique physical appearance being short. Bwindi forest was once their home before they were evicted out in 1991 to introduce gorilla tourism. All their time, they depended on the forest for food, shelter, medicine. They co-existed in harmony with nature however after eviction they were settled out side the park. Of today they remain tour attraction in Bwindi because they have historical and fond memories of the forest. Batwa experience is when you visit their community and learn how they survived on the forest for basic needs as their demonstrate. They are majorly found in Buhoma and other sectors.

Explore Bwindi

Discover what is inside the jungles of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest within a day or even beyond from North to South (Nkuringo trailhead) where you will retire for a night and then catch up in the next morning to view the stunning scenic beauty of Lake Mutanda. Below is a list of hiking trailheads to reward you with fantastic nature experiences in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.