What Are The Top Birding Destinations In Uganda?

What Are The Top Birding Destinations In Uganda? Uganda, which is often referred to the pearl of Africa, is also considered to a birders paradise that are usually spotted in a relatively small geographical area. In addition, this country is surrounded with varied landscapes, which include; dense forests, expansive wetlands, savannah grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, rain forests, water bodies, towering mountains hence providing a good natural habitat for an extensive array of birdlife. In addition, in the essay below we will explore about the top birding destinations where tourists can visit while on a birding safari in the country.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Bwindi impenetrable national park is well known for its hosting a large population of about 800 endangered mountain gorillas however, it is also considered as a prime birding destination. This national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which harbours around 350 bird species that tourists can spot including 350 bird species. In addition, some of these other birds include; African broadbill, Shelley is crimsoning, handsome great blue turaco and many others. More so, Bwindi Impenetrable national park is a dense forest, which has mist-covered hills that provide a magical backdrop of bird species.

 And there are Notable birds in Bwindi national park which include; the Dusky twin spot, Black-headed Heron, Black-billed Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Kivu Ground thrush, Rwenzori Nightjar, African Green Broadbill (Grader’s broadbill), Doherty’s Bushrike, Black Bee-eater, Rwenzori Batis, and Handsome Francolin. Other notable species include; the African Wood-owl, Bar-tailed Trogon, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Dwarf Honeyguide, Western Green Tinker bird, Red-throated Alette, Mountain Yellow Warbler, and Grauer’s Warbler, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Archer’s Robin-chat and so many others.

Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth National park is located in the western region of Uganda and this is a protected area, which has a diverse ecosystem, and it is surrounded with perfect beautiful physical features, which include; wetlands, savannahs, crater lakes and many others. Therefore, this national park boasts an impressive bird list of over 600 species hence making it a favorite spot for bird lovers to visit.

Mabamba Bay Wetland.

Mabamba bay wetland is situated on Lake Victoria within the Northwestern part of Entebbe and it is a perfect destination where to spot the rare shoebill stork. Many birding enthusiasts also consider it as one of Uganda’s most sought-after bird and non- birders due to the fact that it harbours around 260 bird species. Mabamba Bay wetland covers over 16,500 hectares of thick papyrus, wetland grassland, and water lilies which all act as good natural habitats to many bird which include resident, endemic, and globally threatened species. In addition, the Key protected bird species in Mabamba include the Shoebill, Papyrus Gonolek, and Blue Swallow. However, there are many other birds to see such as; the Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, rufous-napped Lark, Grassland Pipit and Lesser Jacana, Sooty chat, and African Purple Swamphen, Squacco Heron, White-faced Whistling duck, African Pygmy Goose, and African Jacana. Species that are more notable included Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Winding Cisticola, Goliath Heron, Common Moorhen, and White-winged Warbler, Spur-winged Lapwing, and Malachite kingfisher among others. A range of migratory Palearctic is also present from October to March.

Kibale National park.

Kibale national park is famously known for its chimpanzees and ranked to be among the fantastic birding destinations in the country because it is a home to over 370 bird species. In addition, some of the birds to see within this national park include; Cassin’s Spinetta, Blue-headed Bee-eater, Masked Apalis, and Nahan’s Francolin. The Park also hosts species like the African Pied Wagtail, Great Blue Turaco, Slender-billed Weaver, African Pitta, Tropical boubou, Abyssinian Ground thrush, Crowned Eagle, Afep Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, etc.

Attached to Kibale National Park is the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which hosts a variety of bird species that are more than 138 bird species. In addition, the Bird species in Bigodi include; Papyrus Gonolek and Purple-breasted Sunbird. The wetland also hosts many Cuckoos, Weavers, flycatchers, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, and Hornbills.

Semuliki National Park.

Semuliki national park is a game park that is particularly known for its bird species and it is located in western Uganda in the Albertine Rift Valley. The Park hosts more than 441 recorded bird species. It is surrounded by grassland, rainforest, and riverine habitat, which are home to the Guinea-Congo biome species. These can be spotted while birding on the lower slopes of the Park. Because of its unique location. And the Bird species in Semuliki National Park include; Yellow-throated Nicator, Piping Hornbill, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-chested Sunbird, Ituri Batis, and Yellow-throated Cuckoo. Others include; Orange Weaver, Maxwell’s black weaver, Blue-billed Malimbe, Dwarf Honeyguide, Swamp palm bulbul, African Piculet, White-crested Hornbill, Capuchin babbler, and Nkulengu rail, among others.

Murchison Falls National Park.

Murchison falls National Park is famously known as Uganda’s largest national park and it is a treasure trove for bird watchers. More so, this national park is divided by the Nile river and many other beautiful features such as the spectacular waterfalls, banks of the Nile and it is surrounded with varied landscapes hence attracting a diverse range of birds. This national park is recorded to be hosting over 450 bird species such as;  the famed Shoebill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Red-throated Bee-eater, Northern Red Bishop, the African Jacana, Black-billed Barbet, Goliath Heron, Denham’s Bustard, Pied Kingfisher and so many more. More species in the Park include; Senegal thick-knee, Piapiac, Palm-nut Vulture, Silverbird and Black-headed Gonolek, among others.

Lake Mburo National Park.

Lake Mburo national park is the smallest savannah park in Uganda located in Western Uganda. Despite its small size, the Park has a diversity of wildlife and bird life. Lake Mburo is home to more than 350 bird species both native and migratory bird species. and here some of the Notable bird species  that tourists can be able to spot within Lake Mburo; Red-faced Barbet (only found in Lake Mburo), Papyrus Gonolek, Grey-crowned Crane, Brown Parrot, African Fish Eagle, Yellow-breasted Apalis, African fin foot, Black-bellied Bustard, Long-tailed Cisticola, Saddle Billed stork, White-winged Warbler, Green Wood hoopoe, Emerald-spotted Wood dove, and Brown-chested Lapwing.

More so, there other bird species in Lake Mburo which include the Ross’s Turaco, Redheaded Lovebird, and Common Scimitar bill, Nubian Woodpecker, Rufous-bellied Heron, White-headed Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away bird, and Brown-chested Wattled Plover among many other species.

Best time for Birding in Uganda

Birding safaris in Uganda take place throughout the year. The dry and wet season each, have a different positives. In the dry season, June – September, there is generally less rain and plenty of food for the birds in the wilderness. If you are looking for migrant birds, November to April is the Best time to visit Uganda for birding and it is the time when most birds are mating.

Contact our trusted tour operators for more information about the top birding destinations in the country and then book with our tours and travel companies such as; Achieve Global safaris who offer the best tour packages while on your birding safari in Uganda.