Birding in Bwindi

Bwindi holds over 350 recorded bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics — birds found nowhere outside this narrow strip of highland forest running through Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and the DRC. For birders, this is one of the most exciting forests in Africa.

The most sought-after species include the African green broadbill, the handsome francolin, and various sunbirds found only in montane forest. The Ruhija sector at higher altitude is particularly rich in endemics and is quieter than the Buhoma entrance. Dawn is the best time — the forest comes alive with calls starting around 6am, and the light filtering through the canopy illuminates species that spend the rest of the day in the shadows.

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Bwindi is a stronghold for Albertine Rift endemic birds — species found nowhere else on earth. The Rift Valley that runs through this corner of Africa separated populations of birds over millions of years, causing them to evolve independently. Of the roughly 40 bird species endemic to the Albertine Rift, Bwindi holds 23. For serious listers, this makes the forest one of the most important birding destinations on the African continent.

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