Bird watching trails in Uganda
Are you looking for Bird watching trails in Uganda? Yes, Uganda, with its impressive biodiversity, offers a feast of rare and colorful bird species across a diverse range of habitats. From montane forests to wetlands, agricultural lands, lakes, and savannahs, more than 1063 bird species call Uganda home, which account for 50% of Africa’s total bird population and 11% of all bird species worldwide. Uganda is a birder’s dream. This vast bird list is found in a very tiny area of just 90041 square miles, or roughly the size of Britain; as a result, it has one of the highest bird densities per square km in all of Africa. By focusing on a limited region or spending a brief amount of time birding, birding watching in Uganda might yield simple sightings of numerous birds. Uganda is located in eastern Africa, east of Democratic Republic of Congo, west of Kenya, south of South Sudan, and north of Tanzania and Rwanda.
Uganda hosts a vast variety of birds and attracts a large number of migratory birds throughout the year because of its unparalleled diversity of habitats, which no other region in Africa can equal. With the exception of the sea, Uganda shares all of Africa’s major ecological zones, which are home to a wide variety of bird species, many of which have limited ranges.
Best Bird Watching Spots in Uganda
Up to 34 Important Bird Areas (IBA) exist in Uganda, many of which have been set aside for birding excursions and birdwatching. Furthermore, Uganda’s birding community is always developing new birding pathways and discovering new, bird-rich areas across the country. Most of these sites in Uganda have local site guides who are proficient in bird identification and can name any species that lives in that particular birding region. This puts Uganda in a unique position. Let’s explore some of the best bird watching spots in this beautiful country:
Mabamba Swamp at Lake Victoria: This swamp is one of the best places to catch a glimpse of the highly-prized shoebill. Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater body in Africa, hosts around 260 bird species. Keep an eye out for the shoebill, blue swallow, pallid harrier, papyrus gonolek, swamp flycatcher, pigmy goose, and many Bwindi others! Searching for shoebills in Mabamba Swamp
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park: Bwindi is Africa’s number one bird watching spot, the heart and soul of Ugandan birding. It boasts approximately 350 species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics, 14 of which are not found anywhere else in Uganda. Explore the forest trails around Buhoma for a chance to spot olive long-tailed cuckoo, bar-tailed trogon, dusky tit, Abyssinian ground thrush, and more. Transitional areas like “The Neck” offer opportunities to see black sparrowhawk, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, and other fascinating species
Queen Elizabeth National Park: Known for its diverse ecosystems, including savannah, wetlands, and forests, this park is a birding paradise. Keep an eye out for a variety of species, including raptors, waterbirds, and forest dwellers. The birdlife here is abundant, with approximately 600 bird species recorded. Key areas for birding include the Ishasha sector, the Mweya Peninsula, Maramagambo Forest, and the Kazinga Channel.
Murchison Falls National Park: Along the Nile River, this park offers excellent birding opportunities. Look for the rare shoebill stork, the Goliath heron, and the African fish eagle.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park: While famous for its gorillas, Mgahinga is also home to unique bird species. Keep an eye out for Rwenzori Turaco and Handsome Francolin.
Lazarus Forest: Bethany Land Institute, near Kampala, is a birdwatcher’s paradise. This is one of the few places in Kampala where it is comfortable to go birding and see a large variety of indigenous species, even if the restored forest is the main draw. There are woodlands, gardens, swamps, and wilderness all around.
Murchison Falls National Park: A rich bird life haven is supported by the park’s different habitats, which include riverine areas, savannah, and grasslands. Particularly fruitful locations for birdwatching are the Nile River and Murchison Falls. There is a mixture of savannah and riverine birds along the Nile River. African Fish Eagles, Shoebill Storks, and other herons can be spotted throughout the boat ride to the foot of the falls.
Lake Mburo National Park: A variety of savannah and wetland birds can be seen in this minor park. Combining game drives and boat safaris with birdwatching is a simple task.
Kidepo Valley National Park: Known for its varied bird species and rough terrain, Kidepo is located in a remote area of northeastern Uganda. You can see some excellent dry-country specialties there.
Entebbe Botanical Garden: This botanical garden is a popular site for birdwatching and is close to the capital, Entebbe. It is a great spot to begin or conclude your Ugandan birdwatching expedition.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park: The “Mountains of the Moon,” or Rwenzori Mountains, are an excellent location to see high-altitude bird species that are difficult to identify elsewhere.
Kibale National Park: Kibale, known for its primates, is a great place to go birdwatching. About 350 different bird species, including the Green-breasted Pitta, can be found in the park’s varied environments.
Semuliki National Park: This park, which is situated in the Albertine Rift, is a unique birding destination since it has a combination of East African and Central African species. There is an abundance of birdlife in the Sempaya Hot Springs area. A unique collection of bird species that are difficult to find elsewhere in Uganda can be found in this park, which is a part of the Congo Basin. For birders interested in Congo Basin specialties, the Ituri Forest area is a hotspot.
Other bird watching trails in Uganda
Besides the above trails, there are other bird watching spots in Uganda such as Mabira Forest Reserve, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, Mpanga Forest Reserve, Budongo Forest ( Busingiro and The Royal Mile Trail), Makanaga Wetland for shoebills, Entebbe Peninsula, and others.
Most sought-after birds on bird watching safaris in Uganda and where to easily find them
The Shoebill Stork – Mabmaba Bay
Rwenzori Turaco – Mgahinga and Rwenzori National Parks
Nahan’s Partridge – Mabira, The Royal Mile and Busingiro
Karamoja Apalis – Pian Upe Game Reserve, Kidepo and Toroma Vleis
Abyssinian Ground Hornbill – Murchison and Kidepo National Parks
Puvel’s Illadopsis – Budongo Kaniyo Pabidi area
Green-breasted Pitta – Kibale Forest and on lucky day Semliki National Park
Brown-Chested Lapwing – Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks
Black Bee-Eater – Kibale, Buhoma and the Neck
Jameson’s Antpecker – Buhoma, The Neck and Budongo
Grauer’s Broadbill – Bwindi Ruhija area
Uganda’s birding trails offer incredible experiences and the opportunity to add amazing species to your life list, regardless of your level of skill mostly if you add on the Albertine Rift Area with its endemism. Enjoy your time observing birds! Remember that birding in Uganda requires careful planning, including hiring experienced local guides who are accustomed to identifying and locating the numerous bird species. Birdwatching is best during the dry seasons, which are normally June to September and December to February, when a large number of migratory species are also present.