When to Go Birding in Bwindi Forest Park
When to Go Birding in Bwindi: One of the top locations for birding safaris in Uganda is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is due to the fact that the park’s dense tropical forests are home to more than 350 different bird species. As one of the top birding locations in the country, bird enthusiasts on a gorilla trekking safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or a birding safari in Uganda shouldn’t miss the exceptional birding activities in this park.
This park gains fame as one of the top destinations due to its concentration of the majestic mountain gorillas in their natural setting worldwide.
In order to preserve the surviving mountain gorilla species, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and plant species that inhabited the area, the government gazetted the Bwindi Gorilla area in 1991 after evicting the Batwa pygmies from the jungle.
As of right now, the 331 square kilometres that make up the national park are covered in dense tropical rainforest, which is home to both animals and birds, particularly the endangered mountain gorillas and the Albertine Rift endemic birds.
When is the Best Time to Go Birding in Bwindi?
Birding is one of the numerous tourism activities available at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park throughout the year. To enjoy your safari, however, it’s crucial to know when to go birdwatching in the park.
Every year, Bwindi experiences two distinct seasons: the dry season, which lasts from June to September and December to February, and the rainy season, which lasts from March to May and October to November.
All of the aforementioned seasons are suitable for bird watching at Bwindi Gorilla Park, but mid-May, June, and September are the best months to do so due to the abundance of food in the park, which draws many birds, including migratory ones.
In Bwindi Gorilla Park, May and June are also excellent times to see birds because they are nesting and so quite simple to spot.
The walking routes are not too muddy, the foliage is short with decent bird views, and the photography is good when there is little rainfall and little sunshine.
It is not advised to go birdwatching in Bwindi during the rainy seasons of March and May and October to November since excessive rainfall causes the trekking trails to become extremely slick, delaying birdwatching in the park.
The several areas of Bwindi Gorilla Park, Nkuringo, Ruhija, Rushaga, and Buhoma are used for birdwatching. The greatest locations for bird watching in Bwindi Gorilla Park are always Buhoma and Ruhija, according to avid birdwatchers. A variety of paths, including the Buhoma waterfall trail, the bamboo zone, the Ivy River trail, and the Mubwindi swamp trail, are used for bird watching.
Birds to See in Bwindi
The African citril, black-throated seed eater, Oriole finch, African golden-breasted bunting, papyrus canary, streaky seed eater, village indigo bird, black and white manikin, zebra waxbill, bronze sunbird, fan-tailed waxbill, black-crowned waxbill, dusky twinspot, red-heeled bluebill, green-backed twinspot, dusky crimson wing, crimson-rumped waxbill, Abyssinian crimson wing, Shelley’s starling, strange weaver, waller’s starling, and slender-billed weaver are among the common bird species found in Bwindi.
Strange weaver, Ashy flycatcher, dusky blue flycatcher, tit hylia, white-winged tit, banded prinia, green crombec, brown illadopsis, Rwenzori batis, olive thrush, fire-crested alethe, cape robin chat, grey wagtail, mountain wagtail, Masked Apalis, western nectar, russ turaco, red-eyed dove, little grebe, hadada ibis, black kite, African goshawk, lizard buzzard, and marabou stork are some of the park highlights.
Where Can I Stay in Bwindi During Birding?
Visitors who are passionate about birdwatching and would love to spend a night or two can have a comfortable stay in Bwindi based on accommodation options.
These lodging establishments range from Luxury, mid-range, to Budget options such as Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Buffalo Lodge, Elephant Plains, Simba Safari Lodge, Gorilla Leisure Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Clouds Mountain Lodge, Burunga Gorilla Lodge, Trekkers Lodge, Bakiga Lodge, Oruzogo Gorilla Lodge, and Gorilla Mist Camp, among others.
