Discovering Kibale Forest’s Birding Secrets
Discovering Kibale Forest’s Birding Secrets: It is an amazing adventure for avid birders, which provides a singular chance to experience one of the world’s most renowned birdwatching locations. It is a tropical rain forest situated in western Uganda, boasting over 375 bird species. Though the park is renowned for Chimpanzee trekking, the twirling sounds of the jungle produced by the forest will introduce you to a wide range of forest avian species, such as the colourful and rare Green-breasted Pitta, Red-capped and Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, and Forest Francolin, among others.
About 70 different mammal species can be found in Kibale National Park. Of these, 13 are primates, including the uncommon L’Hoest Monkey, the Red Colobus, and a sizable population of 1,450 Chimpanzees. In Kibale National Park, there are also Olive Baboons, Red-tailed and Blue Monkeys, Bush Babies, Pottos, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, and Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys.
Discovering Kibale Forest’s Birding Secrets
Bird Species to see in Kibale Forest National Park
You may be discovering Kibale Forest’s birding secrets. A variety of habitats, including grasslands, thickets, marshy valleys, tropical rainforests, and undergrowth plants, are embedded within the forest. Therefore, they provide shelter to a number of several bird species, such as the striking Green-breasted Pitta, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Grey-winged Robin-chat, African Olive, Afep and White-napped Pigeon, and Grey-headed (Grey-throated) Barbet. The river is also home to the Shining-blue Kingfisher, Mountain Wagtail, Cassin’s Flycatcher, African Black Dark, and at times the Giant Kingfisher, White-collared Oliveback, Superb, Blue-throated Brown, Little-green, Grey-headed, Green-throated, Tiny and Olive-bellied Sunbird, Waller’s, Narrow-tailed and Stuhlmann’s Starling, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Blue-shouldered and Red-caped Robin-chat, among others.
Other species include the glossy blue Purple-headed Starling, Splendid Glossy Starling, Purple-breasted Sunbird, African Black Duck, Eastern Olive Sunbird, Tiny, Yellow-spotted and Yellow-billed Barbet, Black-headed, Village, and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, the majority of which are constantly constructing their nests, Red-chested Sunbird, Green Hylia, and Black-necked Weaver, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Honeyguide Greenbul, Chattering Yellowbill, Yellow-throated, Yellow-rumped, and Speckled Tinkerbird.
Red-faced Cisticola and Little and Joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged and Snowy-headed Robin-chat, Bronze, Magpy and Black-and-white Mannikin, Toro-olive Greenbul. The best views of Great-blue Turaco, Yellow-billed, Double-toothed, Yellow-spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbet.
Other activities to do in Kibale National Park
A number of trees are over 200 years old and reach a height of 55metres. Besides chimpanzee tracking and birdwatching, the park offers a variety of other activities, including cultural encounters, habituation, guided nature hikes, forest walks, primate walks, and camping, among others.
Chimpanzee trekking
Besides discovering Kibale Forest’s birding secrets, along with seeing and interacting with habituated groups of chimpanzees, you will encounter several bird and butterfly species during this excursion, which involves a trip into the forest. You will spend an hour observing the behaviours of a family of Chimpanzees and witnessing them swing in the tree canopy. A variety of butterflies and primates, including L’Hoest monkeys, vervet, red, black, and white colobus monkeys, may also be spotted.
Nature walks
While discovering Kibale Forest’s birding secrets, explore the forest’s distinct habitat and fauna by going on guided nature hikes. It will be possible for you to witness primates such as L’Hoest monkeys, Mangabeys, Black and White Colobus monkeys, Bush infants, and more.
Cultural encounters and performances
Get an intimate understanding of the locals’ customs, values, and performances by getting involved in community activities. Considering how the locals do drumming, singing, and traditional dances, this is really thrilling.
Other activities include chimpanzee habituation, hiking, forest walks, camping, research work, and restoration, among others.
Best time to go birding in Kibale National Park
The ideal months to go birdwatching are March through May and September through November, while our birding tours in Kibale Forest National Park in Uganda may be booked at any time of the year. June through September is the best time of year to go birdwatching because there is an abundance of food and active fruiting. Because bird species are always in their breeding plumage, a lot of birds are drawn to this time of year. In Kibale, migratory birds can be observed from November to April.
Low rainfall occurs in the park from December to February and June to July, but severe rains are expected from March to May and September to November. The latter may result in road closures and slick hiking routes, but with strong hiking boots and supporting gadgets from the potters, this becomes a myth.
Accommodation and Discovering Kibale Forest’s Birding Secrets
As you are discovering Kibale Forest’s birding secrets, Kibale National Park is a home away from home for its incredible lodging facilities, ranging from high-end, mid-range, and budget options. Such as Turaco Tree Tops, Crater Safari Lodge, Chimpundu Lodge, Guereza Canopy Lodge, Primate Lodge, Chimpanze Forest Lodge, Isunga Lodge, Kibale Forest Lodge, and Kyaninga Lodge, the nearby Fortportal town also has a great choice of hotels, guest houses, and motels to choose from, including Mountains of the Moon Hotel, Ataco Country Resort, Tooro Motel, and Rwenzori View Guest House, among others.
It is possible to extend this trip to more other destinations with interesting activities such as excursions in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for gorilla trekking and further birdwatching, and Queen Elizabeth National Park for birding and wildlife viewing, not leaving out the Toro Semlike Wildlife Reserve and the Semliki National Park, which is very popular for the rare Guinea-Congo Biome endemics.