Bird Watching Safaris

Bird Watching Safaris

Bird Watching Safaris, Uganda is unquestionably a birding paradise according to different reckonings boosting over 1073 bird species. It’s a hearthstone to over 50% of the continents bird species. Unveil a chance to birding by visiting Uganda the top birding paradise in Africa. Delve into different incredible diversity of habitants re known for bird watching in Uganda. Ranging from open savannahs, mountains, swamps, valleys, forests, lake and rivers, national parks and wildlife reserves. And while here you will be able to hark the sweet melodies from different bird species. And gain yourself a remarkable life time birding memory.

The favorable climate of Uganda and the vegetation is the greatest reason. That inspires a number of migrant birds to fly in all year round. The 10 high ranking bird species in Uganda include the rare shoebill stork, African green broadbill, the Rwenzori turaco, Karamoja Apalis. Nahan’s francolin, green breasted pitta, brown chested lapwing, Puvel’s Illadopses, and Jameson’s antepecker, black bee eater. Not limited to only this there are many more other bird species and these are Nubian wood pecker, white napped pigeon, marabou stork. Crested crane, great blue turaco, ostriches, dwarf honey guide, martial eagle, owl, cape robin, swamp flycatcher, handsome francolin, giant king fisher, ituri batis to mention but a few.  And all these found in in a small territory of about 90041 square miles making Uganda  the home to the highest concentration of birds per square kilometer.

Best birding time in Uganda.

Birding is open all year round however the wet season is the most rewarding from late May – September. During this season there is little rain which favors birding.

The dry months of June to September and then December to February. During these months the trees shade leaves which enables easy viewing and high chances of sighting the bird species. That nest in high tree canopies like the ituri batis.

Birding destinations in Uganda.

The best dominant birding spots in Uganda are as cited below;

Mabamba bay wetland.

Mabamba bay wetland is among the top most ranking birding destination. Located in wakiso and mpigi district on the margin of Lake Victoria. It’s being close to lake Victoria offers flawless conditions mostly to water birds  and other bird species. Which include the black billed turaco, the rare shoe bill stork, papyrus gonolek. Pied king fisher, swamp flycatcher, malachite king fisher among other species.

Queen Elizabeth national park.

It is located in western Uganda in Kasese, Rubirizi and Rukungiri district close to Rwenzori mountains. The park is famously know for the tree climbing lions. However it has more to offer due to its biodiversity and among these we have bird watching due to the presence of over 600 bird species. Namely the black crowned Tchagra, pygmy kingfisher, shoe bill stork, flamingos, martial eagle, papyrus gonolek, white tailed lark, hooded vulture, nightjar, pink backed pelican, blue napped mouse bird and many more species.

Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western Uganda in Kisoro, lubanda and Kanungu districts covering approximately 333square kilometers. It is popular for being the home of almost half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. However besides these gentle giants it’s also a haven to over 350 bird species of which 24 are Albertine rift endemics. The bird species in the park include handsome francolin, African green broad bill, chapins flycatcher, collared apalis, white bellied robin chat and many more.

Murchison falls national park.

The park suited on the shores of Lake Albert in north western Uganda in Masindi, Buliisa, Nwoya and Kiryandongo districts about 370 km from Kampala the capital city of Uganda. The park famously known for having the most powerful water falls in the world. But besides that it’s a home to over 450 bird species including the Albertine endemics among the birds  spotted in Murchison falls we have dark chanting goshawk, martial eagle, shoe bill stork, swamp flycatcher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, giant kingfisher, northern red bishop, rock particle and many more.

Mgahinga gorilla national park.

Besides mountain gorillas and golden monkeys the park is also a haven to over 180 bird species including white stared robin, greater double collared sunbirds, waxbills, Rwenzori batis, brown woodland warbler, kivu ground thrush Rwenzori turaco and many others.

Semuliki national park.

The park is located in western Uganda on the foothills of Rwenzori Mountains south of Lake Albert. It harbors 441 bird species of which 5 are Albertine rift endemics. And these include yellow throated nicator, piping hornbill, dwarf honey guide. Great blue turaco, shoebill stork, red chested owlet, cheeked waxbill, western bronze napped pigeon among others.

Kibale forest national park.

Kibale forest national park is suited in the western part of Uganda in kyenjojo and Kabarole districts about 348 km from Kampala. This beautiful tropical rain forest is a home to 350 bird species. Including white winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, crowned eagle, little green bul, grey throated flycatcher, blue breasted king fisher, black bee eater among others.

Lake Mburo national park.

The park is located in western Uganda in Kiruhura district. It is small but blessed with various habitants ranging from bush thickets, swamps, rocky outcrops. Which enables it to harbor over 351 bird species which include white headed barbet, grey crowned crane. Nubian wood pecker, emerald spotted wood dove, crested francolin, African fish eagle and many more. Spotted in Rubanga valley and the swampy valleys of miriti and warukiri.

Rwenzori mountains national park.

The park lies in western Uganda in districts of bunyangabo, Kasese and Bundibugyo about 437 km from Kampala. The park is a home to over 177 bird species and the likely to be spotted bird species include the Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, white starrers robin, archers robin. Long eared owl, golden winged sunbird, cinnamon chested bee eater, black eagles and many more.

Budongo forest.

Budongo forest is in north western Uganda just close to Murchison falls national park on the top of the Albertine rift valley. It harbors over 350 bird species and these include the blue breasted kingfisher, spotted green bull, chestnut capped flycatcher, ituri batis, African dwarf king fisher. Nahan’s francolin, blue throated roller, fire crested alethe among others.

Above are the top birding destinations in Uganda.  But it’s important to note that some birds are endemic and can only be found in specific regions. For a truly rewarding bird watching safari you can combine different destinations in order to encounter a variety of bird species.