Bird watching is such a thrilling experience, revealing bird lovers to a profusion of birds, their sounds and unique characteristics. In Bwindi it is an affair between you and the birds in the calm tropical forest with some trees aged above 100 years. The park is one of the leading bird-watching destinations in the continent of Africa; safe and magnificent worth considering in all travel itineraries.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is one of the oldest natural tropical rainforests at the base of the vast Virunga Chain of Mountains in southwestern part of Uganda, east of the continent of Africa.
Landlocked but gifted by nature, Uganda is one of the prime safari destinations on the continent of Africa; neighbored by Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tanzania and South Sudan.
It was given a national park status in 1991, purposely to conserve the endangered Mountain Gorillas and several other wildlife species. It offers one of the best montane-forest experiences. Bwindi Impenetrable National park has four sectors of which birding can be done in any of them. The regions are Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga sectors.
Bird watching is done in the main trail situated in the bamboo zone, Buhoma waterfall trail, and Mubwindi swamp trail in Ruhija sector. Birding is done on foot and guided by an expert bird guide with a wealth of knowledge regarding different birds. Time is well spent, with camera and your binoculars put to action from the start to the end of the tour.
Tracking pace is set by the birds, as you need to focus more, with each passing minute. Anything can wait during birding.
Birding in Bwindi NP is not restricted to age, color or nationality; everybody is welcome to engage in the experience. You can undertake a birding expedition during your honeymoon, research, weekend vacation or Uganda wildlife tour. There are over 350 bird species recorded in Bwindi, with about 23 birds unique to the Albertine region, such as the blue-headed sunbird, Neumann’s warbler and over 14 species not recorded anywhere in Uganda.
Some of the common non-endemic and endemic birds you will encounter here include; African, Black-billed Turaco, black bee-eater, blue-headed sunbird, cranes, black-faced Rufous warbler, handsome francolin, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Grauer’s broadbill, Neumann’s warbler, Mountain masked Apalis, African harrier hawk, crowned hornbill, African green pigeon, Regal Sunbird, Many-coloured bush-shrike, Olive-breasted greenbul, bull-bull, Turacos, Ruwenzori Apalis, western green tinker bird, purple-breasted greenbul, African Emerald Cuckoo, and Shelley’s crimson wing and the yellow-streaked greenbul among others
Best Time for Bird watching in Bigodi wetland.
Though birding is possible any time of the year, there are those months with the highest numbers of birds, immigrant birds and those endemic to the tropical rainforests of Africa.
For instance, morning hours and late evening are best times for bird watching experience; the time when they are just up to go feed or return to their nests. The rain months could be the best, though hiking tends to be difficult and abrupt rains may interfere with the search.
March and September are ideally the best; whereas May to July receives least rain and are fairly ideal. Food is abundant in September and May to June time for the nest. November and April are often a time for migrants from across the world to come and mate, feed and meet others.
Besides birding, you can do Gorilla trekking, guided nature walks, a cultural experience with the Batwa people and a visit to the magnificent Lake Bunyonyi.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park is one of the finest bird-watching destinations in Uganda. Bird watching is real fun, affordable and unforgettable. Book for your bird watching safari and relax with the birds.
