
Best time to go Birding in Uganda
Best time to go birding in Uganda: A country known for its unique temperature zone and diverse range of birdlife, Uganda is a top destination for birdwatchers, home to around 1096 different species of birds, which can be seen all year round. Approximately 150 birds are exclusively found in Uganda, and just two endemic species that are unique to East Africa can be found there. Together with a wide variety of magnificent natural ecosystems, such as pristine lakes, rivers, wetlands, and tropical rainforests, it offers unmatched natural beauty. From Lake Victoria’s shorelines to the highest snow-capped peak of the Rwenzori Mountains at 16,795 feet (5,107 metres).
The temperature in Uganda is moderate, varying during the day from 65 to 90 F, or 18 to 33 C. There are two wet seasons and two dry seasons all year round due to its tropical and hot environment, which straddles the equator. While Kibale National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Semliki Forest Reserve are known for their lush forests and abundant wildlife, including mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, some parks, like the powerful Murchison Falls National Park and Kidepo Valley National Park, experience seasonal variations and relatively arid conditions.
Top bird species in Uganda
Besides the best time to go birding in Uganda, the following are some of the key birds any visitor coming to Uganda can spot on a fascinating birdwatching safari:.
Fox’s Weaver, the only endemic bird species to Uganda, is mostly seen in the far East, Handsome Spurfowl (Francolin), Grauer’s Cuckoo-shrike, Turner’s Eremomela, Karamoja Apalis, Nahan’s Spurfowl (Francolin), Ruwenzori Turaco, Neumann’s Warbler (Short-tailed) , Oberlaender’s Ground-thrush, Purple-breasted sunbird, Red-faced Barbet, Red-throated Alethe, Red-faced woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Regal sunbird, Chapin’s flycatcher, Ruwenzori Apalis, Ruwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Black-lored Babbler, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimsonwing, Strange Weaver, Stripe-Breasted Tit, Uganda woodland warbler, Blue-headed sunbird, Archer’s Robin-chat, Bar-tailed and Narina Trogon, Blue-breasted and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher and others.
The sought-after Shoebill Stork, Ituri batis, Papyrus Gonolek, Grauer’s Broadbill, Red-chested Owlet, Fox’s weaver, Golden-winged Sunbird, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, White-bellied Robin-chat Grant’s Bluebill, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Jackson’s Francolin, Dwarf Honeyguide, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Black bee-eater, Equatorial Akalat, Great Blue Turaco, Jameson’s Antpecker, Lühder’s bush-shrike, Magpie mannikin, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Masked Apalis, White-naped Pigeon, Yellowbill, Rwenzori, Standard-winged and Pennant-winged Nightjar, Fraser’s or Rufous flycatcher-thrush, White-tailed and Red-tailed Ant Thrush, and Blue-throated Roller, Black-collared, Red-faced and Black-breasted Barbet, among others.
Best time to go birding in Uganda
The climate is a crucial consideration when organising any birdwatching adventure. The two seasons that Uganda encounters are the dry season and the wet season. The roads leading to various birdwatching locations and hiking forest trails are frequently muddy and slick during the rainy season, which sometimes interferes with traveller movements and disrupts birdwatching opportunities, especially when planning for the best time to go birding in Uganda.
In Uganda, late May through September is usually the ideal time to go birdwatching. Uganda has less rain during this time, and food is always plentiful. In May and June, the Albertine Rift endemics’ primary breeding seasons are observed in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The Green-breasted Pitta of Kibale National Park and Semliki National Park is displaying around this time of the year, and the Grauer’s (African Green) Broadbill is also nesting around this time of the year. Uganda experiences its most rainy season from mid-April to mid-May, which typically affects a lot of safari activities. For your safety, you might occasionally have to skip out on events. While it is unbearably hot in Murchison Falls National Park, Toro-Semliki experiences comparatively dry weather in February and the first part of March. When planning a safari that includes wildlife and birding tours, December to January is the best time to go birding in Uganda. The nation receives less rain during this time.
The dry seasons of June to August and December to February are ideal for Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Kibale National Park, together with the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve, respectively. During this time, you may also enjoy incredible wildlife viewing in all of Uganda’s savannah national parks, including Murchison Falls National Park, the largest of all, Lake Mburo National Park, the nearest to the capital; Queen Elizabeth National Park, the second largest in Uganda; and the Kidepo Valley National Park.