Are you a birder and looking for the best destination for birding experience? The Republic of Uganda is a fantastic destination for birdwatching enthusiasts, as it is home to over 1,070 bird species. With a total area of about 241,038 square kilometers, the country encompasses varied habitats, including forests, wetlands, and savannas that provide excellent opportunities to observe both resident and migratory birds. For the best birding safari, here are some of the popular and best destinations in the Pearl of Africa;
Mabamba swamp
Mabamba is a wetland on the edge of Lake Victoria, located northwest of the Entebbe peninsula in the village of Kasanje. Covering a total area of about 2424 hectares, the bay is is known for its water-loving birds that can be seen around during the boat rides. Among the bird species include; the iconic shoebill stork, papyrus gonolek, blue swallow, and the pygmy goose.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park
Though Bwindi National Park is most famous for its population of endangered mountain gorillas, it also offers excellent birding opportunities. With a total surface area of about 331 square kilometers, Bwindi is a UNESCO site located in the southwestern part of the country on the border with Democratic Republic of Congo next to Virunga national park and on the edge of the Albertine rift. With its dense montane rainforest, the park is a home to over 350 bird species including the Albertine rift endemics like the African Green Broadbill. Other birds in the forest include the black bee-eater, mountain oriole, regal sunbird, Shelley’s crimson wing, Doherty’s bush shrike, kivu ground thrush and many others.
Queen Elizabeth national park
In the western part of Uganda, Queen Elizabeth national park is another birding destination that any bird lover can opt for. The park stands as the second largest protected area in Uganda after Murchison falls national park with a total surface area of about 1,978 square kilometers. Adjoining different game reserves like Kyambura to the east, which itself adjoins the Kigezi game reserve (including Maramagambo forest), Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to over 600 bird species and these include; African skimmers, martial eagle, pink backed pelican, long crested eagle, African fin foot, yellow-bellied wattle-eye, black and white casque and many others. These birds and many others can be seen during different park experiences like game drives and boat safaris on Kazinga channel.
Murchison falls national park
Located in north-western part of Uganda, Murchison falls national park is also among the birding destinations in the country. The park stands as the largest national park in the country stretching over a total surface area of 3,893 square kilometers.
Murchison falls national park is famous for protecting the magical waterfalls that squeeze in a 7m gap to form thunderous falls. But the park also features over 450 bird species and among these include; shoe-billed stork, dwarf kingfisher, goliath heron, white-thighed hornbill, the great blue turaco, red-throated bee-eater and many others.
Kibale forest national park
Kibale is another great spot for bird species protecting the moist evergreen rainforests in western part of Uganda. With a total surface area of 766 square kilometers, Kibale is mostly known for protecting the highest population of primates like chimpanzees, Uganda mangabey, red colobus monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, black and white monkeys, blue monkeys and others.
Apart from the primates, Kibale is also a home to about 325 bird species including the olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinkerbird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted), dusky crimson wing, red-faced woodland warbler, black-capped apalis, collared apalis and the grey parrot. Also, the park features some endemic bird species like the ground thrush.
Semuliki national park
Known as a birders haven, Semuliki national park located in the western region of Uganda is another destination in the country for bird watching. With a total surface area of about 219 square kilometers, Semliki protects over 400 bird species where 216 of these are true forest birds like the rare Oberlander’s ground thrush, sassi’s olive greenbul, and 9 hornbill species.
Apart from birds, Semliki national park also provides habitat to over 60 mammal species like; African buffalo, leopards, hippos, mona monkey, bush babies, African civet and many others.
Best time for birding in Uganda
Uganda can be visited all year round for birding but the best time is during the rainy season which is in the months of November to April and then June to August.
For the best birding safari, you should book through authorized local tour operators like Primate Safari Experiences Limited or specialized birding companies. These tours typically include experienced guides who are knowledgeable about the local bird species and their habitats, enhancing your chances of spotting and identifying various birds.