Birding destinations in Uganda

Birding destinations in Uganda; Uganda is one of the best birding areas 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 which makes Uganda a birding paradise. There are various birding 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.

Top birding destinations in Uganda

Mabamba swamp

Mabamba swamp is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda where bird lovers will get an opportunity to spot different bird species including the prehistoric Shoebill stork, other birds like Papyrus Gonolek, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, Lesser Jacana, Yellow Backed Weaver, White-faced Whistling Duck, 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, Long-tailed Sterling among others.

Bigodi wetland

Bigodi wetland is a community based project that is located near Kibale forest national park. The sanctuary is a home of different bird species including the Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-billed Barbet, Superb Sunbird, Brown-crowned Tchagra, White Breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-spotted Flufftail, 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, White-tailed Ant-thrush among others.

Mabira forest reserve

Mabira forest is another birding destination in Uganda that harbors over 315 bird species including 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, Blue-throated Roller among others.

Queen Elizabeth national park

Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park located in western part of Uganda in Kasese, Ruburizi, Rukungiri and Kamwenge districts. Queen Elizabeth national park is famously known for harboring the tree climbing lions in ishasha sector and also one of the best birding destinations in Uganda due to the fact that is harbors the highest number of bird species which is over 600 bird species. Birding in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in various areas such as Kazinga channel, Kasenyi area, Ishasha sector, Maramagambo forest, Mweya peninsula, Lake Kikorongo area, Katunguru Bridge area, Katwe area among others. Birding in Queen Elizabeth national park can either be done during the game drives, boat cruise and guided nature walk with a n experienced bird guide who will help you to spot variety bird species including 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 among others.

Bwindi impenetrable national park

Bwindi impenetrable national park is located in south western part of Uganda in Kanungu district. The national park is famously known for harboring the endangered mountain gorillas and different bird species including the Albertine rift endemic birds, forest birds, migratory birds among others. During birding in Bwindi impenetrable national park, you will be able to view bird species such as 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, Olive-breasted Sunbird among others.

Murchison falls national park

Murchison falls national park is the largest protected area located in the northern part of Uganda. The national park is a home of over 450 recorded bird species including the illusive 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, Silverbird, Swamp Flycatcher, Secretary Bird, Speckle-fronted Weaver among others.

Lake Mburo national park

Lake Mburo national park is the smallest savannah national park in Uganda located in western region in Kiruhura district. Lake Mburo national park is a home of over 315 bird species including the Shoebill Stork, African-wattles Plover, Lilac-breasted Roller, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Black-bellied Bustard, Greenwood Hoopoe, Red-winged Francolin, White-winged Warbler, Blue-napped Mousebird, Brown Parrot, Rufous-chested Swallow, Bare-faced Go-away Bird among others.

Semuliki national park

Semuliki national park is another top birding destination located in western part of Uganda. The national park is a home of over 441 bird species including Guinea-Congo biome species, Albertine rift endemic birds, migratory birds among others. During birding in Semuliki national park, you will be accompanied by an experience bird guide who will help you to spot variety of bird species including Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red Billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Red Rumped Tinkerbird, Crested Flycatcher, Maxwells Black Weaver, Crested Malimbe, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Swamp Palm Bulbul among others.

Best time to go for birding in Uganda

Birding in Uganda can be done all year round though the best time is during the rainy season in the months of May to September and November to April because during this period there is plenty of food for bird species which gives you an opportunity to view variety of bird species and also you will be able to view migratory bird species.

What to pack for your birding safari in Uganda?

There are a number of items to pack 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.

For more information about birding destinations in Uganda, you can reach out to us at Achieve Global Safaris or visit our website to book a birding safari.