park. The park provides habitat for some 120
species of mammals, 348 species of birds, 220 species of butterflies, 27
species of frogs, chameleons, geckos and many endangered species. Floristically
Bwindi is amongst the most diverse forests in East Africa, with more than 1,000
flowering plant species including 163 species of trees and 104 species of
ferns. The northern (low altitude) sector is rich in species of the
Guineo-Congolian flora. These include two species internationally recognised as
endangered, Brown mahogany and
Brazzeia longipedicellata. In particular
the area shares in the high levels of endemisms of the Albertine Rift.
The park is a sanctuary for colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and
many birds (such as hornbills and turacos). It is perhaps most notable for the
340 Bwindi gorillas, half the world's population of the critically endangered Mountain
Gorillas. There are four habituated Mountain Gorilla groups open to tourism:
Mubare; Habinyanja; Rushegura near Buhoma; and the Nkuringo group at Nkuringo