One of the most biologically diverse forests in Africa! Largely owing to its antiquity. Bwindi is a true rain forest, spread over a series of steep ridges and valleys that form the eastern edge of the Albertine rift valley. It lies at a relatively higher altitude and temperature here is cooler ranging from 9 to 18°C. Bwindi boasts because of its habitat of several individuals of mountain gorillas living in 15 troops of Buhoma in the northwest of the park, Ruhija in the east, Rushaga in the south and Nkuringo in southwest. Besides gorillas, Bwindi harbors about 120 species of mammals more than any national park in Uganda apart from Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), including Chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s Monkey, Red-Tailed Monkey, Blue Monkey, Black and White Colobus, Olive Baboons, and Vervet Monkeys. And of the so-called ‘big five’ only Elephants are present. Minimal of the antelopes occur.
Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
Uganda protects about 410 mountain gorillas and boasts of being home to more than half of the entire gorilla world population! Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi ranks one of the absolute highlights of African travel. The exhilaration attached to first setting an eye on a wild mountain gorilla is difficult to describe. They’re enormous animals, yet despite their fearsome appearance, gorillas are remarkably peaceable creatures. More impressive even than the gorilla’s size bearing is their unfathomable attitude to people, which differs greatly from that of any other wild animal that you’ve ever encountered! Anthropomorphic as it might sound, almost everybody who visits the gorilla experiences an almost mystical sense of recognition. Often one of the gentle giants will break off from the business on chomping on bamboos to study human visitor, soft brown eyes staring deeply into theirs as if seeking a connection-a spine-tingling wildlife experience without peer. However, a reasonable fitness is required to trek for gorillas as the hike can be tough going because of downs and ups on the hillsides and valleys before you encounter any group of gorillas. Another variable is the altitude effect in Bwindi which favors unexpected overhead rains and slippery surfaces while trekking, therefore, arguably you’re required to carry along with you trekking gear like jungle boots and rain jackets, wear thick trousers, and long sleeves as protection against vicious nettles Carry some quick calories and water.
Bird watching in Bwindi.
Bwindi is home of about 350 species of birds including 23 Albertine rift endemics! And at least 14 species recorded nowhere else in Uganda! And ranks one of the best forest birding destinations in Africa with local bird guides most of them capable of identifying most species by call, and even calling up the more responsive species by their lips whistles! The likes in this forest include; (Albertine rift endemics) Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-chat, Yellow eyed Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Rockeffeller’s Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimson-wing, Red-collard Mountain Babbler, Chapin’s Mountain Babbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Neumann’s’ Warbler, Prigogine’s Greenbul, Black-faced Apalis, Collard Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer’s Cukooshrike, Red-Billed Helmet shrike, Ruwenzori Batis, African Green Broadbill, Dwarf Honeyguide, Prigogin’s Nght-jar, Albertaine Owlet, Congo Bay-owl, Ruwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin and other birds.-
