Uganda destinations for birdwatching : Uganda is one of the most effective birding destinations in Africa in that it’s a home of over 1,075 recorded bird species including Albertine rift endemic birds, savannah birds, forest birds, aquatic bird species and migratory bird species making Uganda a birding heaven. There are many different birding safari destination in Uganda and this article will guide you on where to go for bird watching, best time to go for bird watching and what to pack for your birding safari to have a wonderful safari moments.
Mabamba swamp.
One of the best locations in Uganda to go birding is Mabamba Swamp, where enthusiasts can see a variety of birds, including the extinct Shoebill stork, as well as other birds like White-faced Whistling Duck, Papyrus Gonolek, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, Lesser Jacana, Yellow Backed Weaver, Yellow Warbler, Blue Swallow, White Winged Warbler, Wood Sandpiper, White-throated Bee-eater, Swamp Flycatcher, Stripped Kingfisher, Squacco Heron, Spur-winged Lapwing, Saddle-billed Stork, Pygmy Geese, Purple Heron, Red-chested Cuckoo, Ross’ Turaco, Slender-billed Weaver, and Long-tailed Sterling, among others.
Bigodi wetland.
A community-based project close to Kibale Forest National Park is Bigodi Wetland which offers the magnificent bird watching safari. Many bird species can be found in the sanctuary, such as the Great Blue Turaco, Brown-crowned Tchagra, White-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-spotted Fluff tail, Black-crowned Waxbill, Hairy Breasted Barbet, Grey-winged Robin-chat, Black-capped Apalis, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red Faced Woodland Warbler, Collared Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black Bishop, Black and White Shrike-flycatcher, and White-tailed Ant-thrush, among other bird species.
Mabira forest reserve.
With over 315 different bird species, Mabira Forest is a wonderful spot to go bird watching safari in Uganda. Some of the species you can see there are Purple-throated Cuckoo Shrike, Yellow and Grey Longbill, Nahan’s Francolin, Tit Hylia, Jameson’s Wattle Eye, African Pied Hornbill, Green-breasted Cuckoo, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Green-breasted Pitta, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, and Blue-throated Roller.
Queen Elizabeth national park.
The second-largest national park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, is situated in the districts of Kasese, Ruburizi, Rukungiri, and Kamwenge in western Uganda. In addition to being one of Uganda’s top birding locations, Queen Elizabeth National Park is renowned for being home to the tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector. With over 600 different bird species, it is home to the greatest diversity of birdlife. The Kazinga Channel, Kasenyi area, Ishasha sector, Maramagambo forest, Mweya peninsula, Lake Kikorongo area, Katunguru Bridge area, Katwe area, and other sites are among the locations in Queen Elizabeth National Park where birdwatching safari is practiced. A professional bird guide will help you spot a variety of bird species, such as African Skimmer, Swamp Flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, White-winged Tern, Black-headed Gonolek, Martial Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Long-tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Egyptian Goose, African Open-billed Stork, Papyrus Canary, Great White and Pink-backed Pelican, African Mourning Dove, and others, during game drives, boat cruises, and guided nature walk.
Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is situated in Kanungu area in southwest Uganda. The national park is renowned for containing the endangered mountain gorillas and different bird species including the Albertine rift endemic birds, forest birds, migratory birds among others. The Blue-headed Sunbird, Neumann’s Warbler, African Green Pigeon, Cinnamon Chested Bee-eater, Crowned Hornbill, Giant Kingfisher, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Handsome Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Black bee-eater, Mountain Masked Apalis, Grauer’s Broadbill, Ruwenzori Apalis, Western Green Tinkerbird, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, and Olive-breasted Sunbird are just a few of the bird species you can see while birdwatching safari in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Murchison falls national park.
The largest protected area in Uganda’s north is Murchison Falls National Park. The elusive Shoebill Stork, Black-headed Lapwing, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Senegal Thick Knee, Grey Crowned Crane, African Jacana, Denham’s Bustard, Goliath Heron, Palm-nut Vulture, African Qualifinch, Malachite Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Black-headed Gonolek, Black-billed Barbet, Secretary Bird, Speckle-fronted Weaver, and more than 450 recorded bird species can be found in the national park.
Lake Mburo national park.
Lake Mburo national park is the most compact savannah national park in Uganda located in western region in Kiruhura district. More than 315 different bird species can be found in the Lake Mburo National Park, including the Shoebill Stork, African-wattled Plover, Lilac-breasted Roller, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-winged Francolin, White-winged Warbler, Brown Parrot, Rufous-chested Swallow, and Bare-faced Go-away Bird
Semuliki national park.
Another excellent spot for birdwatching is Semuliki National Park, which is situated in western Uganda. More than 441 bird species can be found in the national park, including migratory birds, indigenous species from the Albertine Rift, and species from the Guinea-Congo biome. A knowledgeable bird guide will accompany you on your birding excursions in Semuliki National Park. The guide will assist you in identifying a wide range of bird species, such as the Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Red Rumped Tinkerbird, Crested Flycatcher, Maxwells Black Weaver, Lemon-bellied Crombec, and Swamp Palm Bulbul.
Best time to go for birding in Uganda.
Although you can go birding all year round in Uganda, the best times to go are from May to September and from November to April, this is when the trails are best to navigate and dry hence easy trekking.
What to pack for your birding safari in Uganda?
There are quite a variety of items you’ll need for your birding safari in Uganda including long sleeved clothes, hiking shoes, field guidebook, a pair of binoculars, camera and extra batteries, energy snacks and drinking water, a wide-brimmed hat, insect repellent, waterproof rain jacket, back pack among others.
You can contact us for additional information about birding locations in Uganda or visit our website to make a reservation for a birding tour.
