Top Uganda Birding Destinations: Best Places for Bird Watching

The Best Places for Bird Watching in Uganda

Uganda is recognised as a leading location for bird watching safaris, featuring a remarkable diversity of avian life with over 1,066 documented species, or around 50% of Africa’s bird species and 11% of the global total.

This diverse assortment is facilitated by Uganda’s distinctive biological zones, rendering it a sanctuary for both resident and migratory avifauna. The nation’s small dimensions, approximately comparable to Britain, facilitate a significant concentration of avian species across its many ecosystems, encompassing rainforests, savannahs, marshes, and hilly areas.

Uganda’s unparalleled environmental diversity is essential for sustaining its extensive avian population. The country contains numerous Important Bird Areas (IBAs) designated for avian observation and conservation initiatives. Local guides proficient in avian identification augment the experience by assisting guests in locating both prevalent and uncommon species.

Prominent birding locations encompass Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, renowned for its endemic species, and Mabamba Bay Wetland, recognised for observations of the rare Shoebill stork. Bird watching safaris in Uganda provide diverse experiences customised to specific interests. Visitors may participate in nature hikes in verdant forests, do wildlife drives in savannah parks, or relish boat cruises on lakes and rivers.

Uganda’s various ecosystems, abundant wildlife, and experienced local guides render it an outstanding locale for bird watching safaris. The premier bird watching destinations in Uganda are as follows:

Best Uganda Birding Destinations

1. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Bwindi is an avian enthusiast’s haven, featuring 347 bird species. It hosts 24 of the 25 indigenous bird species of the Albertine Rift. Moreover, Bwindi serves as the habitat for 76 of the 144 bird species belonging to the Guinea-Congo woodland biome present in Uganda. The region is home to 68 of the 86 bird species characteristic of the Afro-tropical-highland biome. The Lake Victoria biome has 4 out of the 12 species.

Birds are plentiful and easily observable; numerous species congregate in mixed feeding flocks that remain active throughout the day. The primary birding trails where enthusiasts can observe these remarkable species include the Bamboo Zone, the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija, and the Waterfall trail in Buhoma.

Species observable on a birding trip in Bwindi include the Western Green Tinkerbird, African Wood Owl, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, and Fine-banded Woodpecker, among others.

2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

In addition to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Mgahinga National Park hosts more than 180 bird species, including endemics of the Albertine Rift region. The optimal vantage locations include the community and/or farm trail, the Gorge route, and the Bamboo trail.

Species observable during a birding tour in Mgainga include the Brown Woodland Warbler, Kivu Ground-thrush, Stripe-breasted Tit, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Brown-crowned Tchagra, and Rwenzori Turaco, among others.

3. Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park hosts more than 451 avian species. The varied species comprise the Albertine Rift Endemics, Waterbirds, and Savannah Forest Birds. The shoebill is the primary avian attraction that draws several visitors.

Additional species observable on a bird-watching tour in Murchison encompass the Dark Chanting Goshawk, Martial Eagle, White-faced Whistling Duck, Hugli’s Francolin, Hamerkop, and Rock Pratincole, among others.

4. Queen Elizabeth National Park

The species encompass forest and woodland inhabitants, 54 raptor species, aquatic birds, and migratory species from other regions. This park comprises various areas, each hosting distinct bird species. The sections comprise;

• Kasenyi area with over 60 species.
• Mweya peninsula has over 70 species.
• Katunguru bridge area,
• Lake Kikorongo,
• Ishasha sector,
• Katwe area
• Maramagambo Forest.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to more than 600 bird species, including the Hooded Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Wattled Plover, Black-bellied Bustard, Black-lored Babbler, and White-tailed Lark, among others.

5. Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park hosts more than 400 avian species, including 9 species of Hornbill. It features outstanding observation sites in Ntandi, Sempaya, and the River Kirumia region.

Species include the Yellow-throated Nicator, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Piping Hornbill, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Xavier’s Greenbul, among others.

7. Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park adjoins the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which has over 350 bird species. The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, located in Kanyanchu and Magombe Swamp, boasts over 138 bird species documented along the birders’ boardwalk trails.

The primary avian species observable in Kibale Forest comprise the Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, White-collared Oliveback, Crowned Eagle, and Yellow-billed Barbet.

8. Lake Mburo National Park

The avian observation locations at Lake Mburo National Park encompass the marshlands of Miriti at the salt lick, the forests of Rubanga and Warukiri, the pathways near the landing stage, and Camp Rwonyo. Species include the rare Red-faced Barbet, Grey-crowned Crane, Rufous-bellied Heron, White-headed Barbet, Common Scimitarbill, Bateleur, Coqui Francolin, Green Wood-hoopoe, among others.

9. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Mountains of the Moon host approximately 217 species. Nineteen of these species are unique to the Albertine Rift Valley Region. Species commonly observed on a birding safari in the Rwenzori Mountains include the Golden-winged Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, White-starred Robin, Long-eared Owl, Slender-billed Starling, Archer’s Robin-chat, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Laden’s Bush-shrike, Bearded Vultures, and Black Eagles, among others.

10. Nile River Birding in Jinja

Birdwatching along the Nile River is conducted via a boat tour. A journey along the Nile will reveal more than 60 avian species. The species present include Giant Kingfishers, Green-backed Herons, African Open-billed Storks, Rock Pratincoles, and Great Blue Turacos.

11. Echuya Forest Reserve

The forest reserve contains more than 150 bird species, of which 18 are indigenous. Prominent species comprise Archer’s Robin-Chat, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Dwarf Honeyguide, Collared Apalis, and Strip-breasted Tit.

12. The Royal Mile- Budongo Forest

The Royal Mile in Budongo Forest adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park hosts more than 250 avian species. The principal avian species comprise the blue-breasted Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Spotted Greenbul, Blue-throated Roller, Fire-crested Alethe, Rufous-crowned Elemomela, and White-thighed Hornbill.

13. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary houses the rare shoebill stork. The additional species comprise the African Black Crake, African Fish Eagle, Black-crowned Waxbill, African Grey Hornbill, African Golden Oriole, African Darter, and African Broadbill.

14. Lutembe Bay

Lutembe Bay, situated in the Lake Victoria Basin, hosts millions of various Palearctic migratory and indigenous avian species. It serves as a habitat for over 200 avian species. Among them, 26 are migratory species. The list comprises the African Pygmy Kingfisher, Holub’s Golden Weaver, White-winged Black Tern, African Green Pigeon, Lead-colored Flycatcher, Sooty Chat, Tropical Boubou, and Brown-backed Scrub Robins.