Birding (bird watching) is one of the popular safari activities in Uganda’s protected areas and today we take you through those 5 best birding spots in the beautiful ‘Pearl of Africa’.
Though most tourists are more impressed with trekking the endangered mountain gorillas and chimpanzees, and also game viewing along with mountaineering, bird watching is also a very memorable activity during your nature walks and other safari activities.
The most sought after bird species in Uganda, and probably Africa entirely, is the rare shoe-bill stork and thus our list will depend on where that bird is found most, and other famous birds by tourists:
Mabamba Bay Wetland:
Perched on the edge of Lake Victoria, northwest of the Entebbe Peninsular, Mabamba Bay Wetland is one of the very few places one can easily spot the rare Shoe bill Stork. Shoe bills are very rare but the most loved birds by not only birders but also every tourist; even gorilla lovers, chimpanzee lovers and game viewing enthusiasts all yearn to see this bird during their excursions.
Sighting the Shoe bill Stork at Mabamba Bay Wetland will make your Uganda birding safari so special since you will be spotting a very special bird. Mabamba’s close proximity to Lake Victoria provides the perfect conditions for birds especially those that like to live near water.
A canoe ride through Mabamba Bay Wetland is a great way to explore the abundant bird species which include; Shoe bill Stork, Papyrus Gonorek, Blue Swallow, Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Pied Kingfisher, African Open-billed Stork, Black Kite, African Marsh Harrier, Black-Headed Heron, among many others.
Murchison Falls National Park:
Murchison Falls National Park is the largest protected area in the mighty ‘Pearl of Africa’, and the Park was named after its chief attraction – the Murchison Falls. Though most famous for hosting magnificent game viewing excursions, Murchison Falls National Park is also one of Uganda’s best birding sites; basically in its Budongo Forest.
Over 450 bird species thrive in Murchison Falls National Park including the birder’s favorite; Shoe bill. On your game drive or boat cruise in the Park, you will spot most of the Park’s several bird species and with luck you may even spot the rare shoe bill.
The other bird species in Murchison Falls National Park include; Goliath Heron, Swamp Flycatcher, Abyssinian Ground Horn Bill, Red-throated Bee Eater, Northern Red Bishop, African Quail Finch, and Giant Kingfishers, among others.
Semuliki National Park:
Nestled in Western Uganda, Bundibugyo District – in the Albertine Rift Valley, Semuliki National park is one of the top birding spots not only in Uganda but Africa entirely. As its nickname states, ‘’The True Birder’s Haven’’, the Park is honestly an ideal spot for any serious birder because it inhabits almost every bird species that a birder will love to see on his/her birding excursion.
The Park resides numerous rarities; 46 Guinea-Congo biome species are found nowhere else in East Africa while another 35 can be seen in only two or three other places in Uganda. Five species are endemic to the Albertine Rift ecosystem.
Among the bird species to look for in Semuliki include; Nkulengu Rail, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Horbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, African Piculet, White-throated Blue Swallow, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed Malimbe, Yellow-throated Nicator, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Dwarf Honeyguide, Great Blue Turaco, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Congo Serpent Eagle, Long-tailed Hawk, and very many others.
Kibale Forest National Park:
Kibale Forest National Park is situated in the western region of Uganda, Fort Portal. It’s a no-brainer, the Park is best known globally for hosting the best chimpanzee excursions in the entire eastern part of Africa. However, there are many other activities carried out from this Park besides the chimpanzee tracking expeditions, and one of them is bird watching.
Kibale Forest National Park is one of the top-notch bird watching spots in Uganda, inhabiting over 375 bird species in its dense vegetation.
Among the bird species to spot in Kibale Forest National Park are; Red-chested Owlet, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Little Greenbul, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, White-naped Pigeon, Crowned Eagle, Black Bee-eater, Grey-throated Flycatcher, and many others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park:
One of the most popular national parks in East Africa and Africa as whole is the remarkable Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda, Kanungu District, and it is chiefly known as the best Park for mountain gorilla excursions.
Although trekking the endangered Mountain Gorilla is more popular in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park than any other activity, bird watching is also an enjoyable activity here due to the abundance of rare bird species.
Among the bird species available in Bwindi are; the Black-billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, African Green Broadbill, White-bellied Robin Chat, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Collared Apalis, and many others.