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Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is one of Africa’s best birding forests, with around 350 recorded species, including more than 20 Albertine Rift endemics that are found almost nowhere else. The top target for many birders is the rare African green broadbill on the Mubwindi Swamp trail in the Ruhija sector. Even if you are not a dedicated birder, an early-morning walk on a rest day after your gorilla trek can be a highlight.
Bwindi’s mix of altitudes and ancient forest makes it a magnet for specialist birds of the Albertine Rift, the mountain chain along Uganda’s western border. Here is what makes it special, the best places to look and how to combine birding with gorillas.
Where to bird in Bwindi
| Area | Habitat | Notable birds |
|---|---|---|
| Mubwindi Swamp trail, Ruhija | High montane forest and swamp | African green broadbill, Grauer’s rush warbler, many Albertine Rift endemics |
| Ruhija bamboo zone | Montane forest and bamboo | Rwenzori batis, stripe-breasted tit, montane species |
| “The Neck”, between Buhoma and Ruhija | Mid-altitude forest along the road | Mixed flocks, sunbirds, forest specialists |
| Buhoma main and waterfall trails | Lower-altitude forest edge and valley | Turacos, greenbuls, hornbills, forest robins |
Why Bwindi has so many special birds
Bwindi stretches from around 1,160 m to over 2,600 m, so it contains a continuous range of forest types, from lower, warmer forest to cool montane forest with bamboo and swamps. Each altitude band supports different birds. The forest is also thought to have survived the drier periods of the last ice age, when much of Africa’s forest shrank, and has remained a refuge for species that disappeared elsewhere. The result is a high number of Albertine Rift endemics: birds restricted to the mountains running from western Uganda and Rwanda into eastern Congo and Burundi.
Birds to look for
The African green broadbill, also called Grauer’s broadbill, is the bird that brings many specialist birders to Bwindi. It is small, green and easy to miss, and it lives in a very limited range, with the Mubwindi Swamp area in Ruhija the most reliable place to look. Other Albertine Rift specialities include the Rwenzori turaco, handsome francolin, Rwenzori batis, Grauer’s rush warbler, Shelley’s crimsonwing, regal sunbird and blue-headed sunbird, some common and some extremely hard to find.
You do not need to be a specialist to enjoy Bwindi’s birds. On any walk, you are likely to see or hear great blue turacos, black-and-white casqued hornbills, colourful sunbirds feeding on flowers, and noisy flocks moving through the canopy. Even during a gorilla trek, the first part of the walk often brings good birds along the forest edge.
Combining birding with gorilla trekking
For serious birders, Ruhija is the best sector to trek from, because the Mubwindi Swamp trail and the bamboo zone are on your doorstep; book your gorilla permit for Ruhija and add a full day for birding. The swamp trail involves a long descent and a steep climb back, so do it on a separate day from your trek.
Driving between Ruhija and Buhoma through “the Neck” gives another productive morning. If your permit is for Buhoma, the waterfall trail and forest edge around the village are good for lower-altitude species. See the Ruhija sector and Bwindi’s sectors compared.
Tips for birding in Bwindi
Start at dawn, when bird activity is highest and mixed flocks move through the trees. A specialist bird guide makes an enormous difference to finding the endemics; Uganda Wildlife Authority and local community guides near Buhoma and Ruhija know the calls and the best spots, so book one through your lodge or operator.
Bring binoculars, a waterproof jacket and good boots, as trails are often wet. The wetter months bring breeding activity and, from roughly November to April, migrant birds, while the drier months make trails easier. For seasonal planning, see the best time to visit, and for the wider forest, Bwindi as a World Heritage Site.
Frequently asked questions
Around 350 species have been recorded, including more than 20 Albertine Rift endemics.
On the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Bwindi’s Ruhija sector, with a specialist guide and an early start. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Ruhija, for the montane endemics and Mubwindi Swamp. Buhoma is good for lower-altitude forest birds.
Lightly, on the walk and around the lodge. For serious birding, especially Mubwindi Swamp, plan a separate day.
