Wilder.
Forested hills of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Uganda
Photo: Thomas Fuhrmann, CC BY-SA 4.0

National park · Uganda

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Wildlife Checklist

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in south-west Uganda protects steep, misty rainforest that is home to around half of the world's mountain gorillas. Gorilla trekking runs all year, and the forest also holds monkeys and many birds found only in the Albertine Rift. This checklist covers 32 animals, from gorillas to turacos and sunbirds. The drier months, June to August and December to February, are easiest.

Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and trekking starts from four sectors: Buhoma in the north, Ruhija in the east, and Rushaga and Nkuringo in the south. Your permit is for one sector, so book lodging nearby.

Tick them off in Wilder Print the checklist

Free A4 PDF, no sign-up. Wilder is free to start and works offline.

See all 32 animals
The Bwindi checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
32
Where
Uganda
Best time
Jun to Aug, Dec to Feb
Mountain gorillas
About half the world's

Gorillas and forest stars of Bwindi

  • Mountain Gorilla, one of the animals to look for in Bwindi

    Mountain Gorilla

    The mountain gorilla. A permit gives you one hour with a habituated family, after a trek that can take anything from under an hour to most of the day, depending on where the gorillas are.

    Photo: Giles Laurent, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • L'Hoest's Monkey, one of the animals to look for in Bwindi

    L'Hoest's Monkey

    A dark monkey with a bright white beard, often on the forest edge and trails around Buhoma. It spends more time on the ground than most forest monkeys.

    Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Black-and-white Colobus, one of the animals to look for in Bwindi

    Black-and-white Colobus (Guereza)

    Look for its long white cape and bushy tail in the canopy. Colobus leap between trees with long, falling jumps.

    Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0

  • Blue Monkey

    A grey-blue monkey with a pale brow, common in the canopy around the park headquarters and on the Munyaga River trail at Buhoma.

  • Great Blue Turaco

    A huge blue, green and yellow bird the size of a chicken. Noisy and easy to see in the tall trees around Buhoma.

  • Rwenzori Turaco

    An Albertine Rift endemic of the higher forest around Ruhija. Watch for its crimson wings when it flies.

  • Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill

    Big, noisy and easy to find: listen for the loud whoosh of its wingbeats as pairs cross the canopy around Buhoma.

  • African Crowned Eagle

    A powerful eagle that hunts monkeys in the canopy. Listen for its loud, whistling call over the forest in the morning.

All 32 animals to spot in Bwindi

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Primates 7

Forest birds 21

Birds of prey 3

Reptiles and amphibians 1

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in Bwindi

Gorilla trekking runs all year in Bwindi, but the weather changes how hard it is. The drier months, June to August and December to February, are the most popular: trails are less muddy and steep slopes are easier. They are also the busiest, so book permits months ahead. The wetter months, roughly March to May and September to November, bring heavy rain and slippery paths, but the forest is lush, there are fewer visitors, and permits are easier to find. The gorillas do not migrate, so your chance of seeing them is high in any month. For birders, the breeding season around the rains brings more song and colour. Rain can fall at any time in a rainforest, so pack a waterproof jacket.

  • Dec-FebDrier; good trekking conditions, busy around Christmas
  • Mar-MayLong rains; muddy trails, fewer visitors, lush forest
  • Jun-AugMain dry season; peak demand for permits
  • Sep-NovShort rains; quieter, good for birding

Tips for spotting wildlife in Bwindi

  1. Book your permit early

    Gorilla permits are sold by the Uganda Wildlife Authority for a set date and sector, and the dry months sell out months in advance. Trekkers must be 15 or older.

  2. Follow the gorilla rules

    Keep at least 10 metres from the gorillas, speak quietly, and do not trek if you have a cold or other illness, because gorillas catch human diseases. Wear a mask if your guide asks.

  3. Hire a porter and bring gloves

    Trails are steep and muddy. A local porter carries your bag and helps on slopes, and garden gloves protect your hands from nettles and thorny vines.

  4. Walk the Buhoma trails for monkeys

    On a free afternoon, the Munyaga River and waterfall trails near Buhoma are good for L'Hoest's monkey, red-tailed monkey and great blue turaco.

  5. Go to Ruhija for birds

    Ruhija sits at about 2,300 metres and holds most of the Albertine Rift specials, including Rwenzori turaco, regal sunbird and handsome spurfowl. Hire a local bird guide.

The Wilder app

Take Bwindi with you

Trekking in Bwindi? Take this list on your phone and tick off gorillas, monkeys and turacos on the trail, even with no signal. Wilder is free to start.

  • Tick off as you goOut in the field with no signal, too.
  • Add your photosEach sighting keeps its date and picture.
  • A summary of the tripEverything you saw, day by day.
  • A passport stampOne for Bwindi, kept in your Wilder passport.
Start Bwindi in Wilder
Or scan with
your phone

Free to start. This list and the printable PDF are free.

The Bwindi checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

Bwindi wildlife FAQ

What animals live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest?

Bwindi is home to mountain gorillas, several kinds of monkey, including L'Hoest's, blue, red-tailed and black-and-white colobus, and more than 350 bird species. This checklist covers 32 animals, with a focus on primates and forest birds. The forest also has chimpanzees and forest elephants, but they are shy and rarely seen, so they are not on the list.

What else can you see on a gorilla trek?

On a gorilla trek you may also see monkeys such as L'Hoest's, blue and red-tailed monkeys, and forest birds such as the great blue turaco, black-billed turaco and sunbirds. Look out for chameleons on low branches, including the Rwenzori three-horned chameleon. Your guides move fast to reach the gorillas, so the walk back and nature walks are better for other wildlife.

When is the best time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi?

The best time for gorilla trekking in Bwindi is during the drier months, June to August and December to February, when trails are less muddy. Trekking runs all year and your chance of seeing gorillas is similar in any month. The wetter months, March to May and September to November, have more rain but fewer visitors and easier permit availability.

What birds can you see in Bwindi?

Bwindi has more than 350 bird species, including many Albertine Rift endemics found in no other region. Highlights include the great blue turaco, Rwenzori turaco, handsome spurfowl, black bee-eater and regal sunbird. Ruhija, in the higher east of the park, is the best area for endemics, and the Mubwindi Swamp walk is a classic birding day.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

Nearby checklists

All Africa
Save them to Wilder