The biggest draw in Bwindi is its mountain gorillas. Out of around 400 gorillas, more than 100 have become used to humans. Bwindi is home to over 120 species of mammals, mostly small forest animals. While elephants live there, they are rarely seen. You’re more likely to spot bushbucks and different kinds of duikers.

Bwindi is a very important area for conservation because it has many threatened species. It is especially known for its butterflies, with 220 different species, including three that can only be found in the park. The park is also home to 10 types of primates, such as the rare L'Hoest's monkey and the black-and-white colobus. Although chimpanzees live there, they are not used to humans, so they are not often seen.

Bwindi should be on every birdwatcher's list. The park has some of the best mountain forest bird watching in Africa, with around 350 bird species. Fourteen of these species are found only in Uganda. There are also 23 birds unique to the Albertine Rift, which is 90% of all the region's unique birds, including Neumann's warbler and blue-headed sunbird. From November to April, you can also spot migratory birds.

Getting There

Here are four trailheads for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: Buhoma and Ruhija in the north, and Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. They are several hours apart by road. If you’re on a Ugandan tour, Buhoma, the main gorilla trekking starting point, is about 2 to 3 hours from Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha sector) and 5 to 6 hours from the northern areas. It takes 5 to 7 hours by road from Lake Mburo National Park to the trailheads. If you're driving from Entebbe or Kampala, expect the trip to take about 8 to 10 hours. During the rainy season, a 4WD vehicle is needed for some trailheads.

Most visitors arrive at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), located about 46 km (29 miles) from Kampala. You can also take a domestic flight from Entebbe or Kampala (Kajjansi Airfield) to Kihihi or Kisoro, which are close to Bwindi.