Uganda is home to over 1060 recorded bird species. It is a small country the size of Great Britain or the state of Oregon. It has contrasts of bird habitats which range from forests, swamps, agricultural lands, water bodies, savannah and woodlands. Uganda is crossed by the Equator and has the Albertine rift valley in the West side of the country. The birding opportunities are immerse catching your attention even in the crowded city of Kampala. We encourage birding enthusiasts to consider visiting this beautiful country. Here are our best birding spots in Uganda, not in order of preference;
Mabamba Wetland Sanctuary on Lake Victoria – Uganda
Mabamba wetland has a 90% chance of viewing the Shoebill. Lake Victoria being the largest fresh water body in Africa is home to numerous water birds. Birding at Mabamba bay offers easy sighting in canoe and the surrounding areas. Look out for the Shoebill, Swamp flycatcher, Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Black headed Heron, Black Kite, African Open billed Stork, African Jacana, Lesser jacana, Winding Cisticola, Vieillot’s black weaver, Grosbeak weaver, black headed weaver African Marsh Harrier etc.
Bwindi impenetrable forest voted Africa’s best birding by Africa Bird Club spot owing to the rare bird species. It is easily accessible for birding with maintained birding trails in the forest that sometimes lead to streams. It is home to about 350 species of birds including 23 Albertine Rift endemics of which 14 recorded nowhere else in Uganda. Bird species to look out for include; the African Green broadbill, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black bee-eater, Black billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds etc.
Murchison falls is Uganda’s oldest and largest national park named after the mighty ‘Murchison Falls” – the world’s strongest waterfalls formed as the Nile is forced through a 7 –meter gorge. The park was voted ninth of the best birding spots in Africa, by Africa bird club. It is home to over 450 bird species. Birding in this savannah park can be done while on game drive, launch trips (on River Nile) and nature walks with a ranger guide. Some of the bird habitats in the park include forests, swamps, riverine woodland, savannah and acacia trees. Look out for the elusive Shoebill, Swamp flycatcher, Goliath Heron, Abyssinian Ground hornbill, Northern red bishop, Red-throated Bee-eater and African-Quail Finch, Red-throated bee –eaters, Pied, malachite and Giant Kingfishers etc.
Queen Elizabeth national park is an important Birding Area (IBA) and a birdwatcher’s haven with over 600 bird species. It is located in southwestern Uganda with diverse habitats for birds; savannah, waterbodies, forests and woodland. The birds are relatively easy to easy and you can expect great photo shots as you explore the park. The bird species to look out for include; African mourning dove, Swamp flycatcher, Grey headed kingfisher, African Skimmer, White-winged Terns, Grey-capped Warbler, Collard Pratincole, Pin-tailed Whydah, Martial Eagle, Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars, Black-headed Gonolek, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Sedge Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Great white and Pink-backed Pelicans, African Mourning Dove and Yellow-billed Stork. Look out for the flamingos at the salt lakes of Katwe and Bunyampaka.
Mgahinga Gorilla national park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is home to about 180 bird species with some of the spectacular Albertine rift endemics. It is located in the southern part of Uganda bordering with Rwanda and DR Congo. Mgahinga offers excellent bird viewing opportunities along the Gorge trail, bamboo trail and farm/community trail. The bird species in Mgahinga gorilla national park include Kivu Ground Thrush, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, White Starred Robin, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin Chat, Olive Pigeon, and Black headed waxbill, Western Green Tinker bird, Cape Robin. More species include; White-starred Robin, Brown Woodland Warbler, Striped breasted Tit, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Scarlet-tufted, Greater Double collard Sunbirds etc.
Semliki national park located in western Uganda in the Albertine rift valley has a record 441 species in its riverine, forest and grasslands avian habitats. It hosts Guinea-Congo biome species in its low land forest, which are found only here in East Africa. The species to look out include, African Piculet, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed Malimbe, Yellow-throated Nicator, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Nkulengu Rail, Piping Hornbill, blue-billed malimbe, Yellow-throated Cuckoo and Leaf-love etc. More species include, dwarf honeyguide, yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s turaco, purple-breasted sunbird, orange weaver, white crested hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, African Piculet, Swamp Palm Bulbul etc.
Kibale Forest is a prime birding spot with over 375 bird species including six endemics to the Albertine Rift area. It is an excellent birding spot with varied habitat and dense vegetation. The number 1 sought after bird in Kibale Forest is the Green breasted Pitta. The bird species to look out for include; Red-chested owlet, Purple breasted sunbird, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, little Greenbul, Black Bee eater, White-naped pigeon, and Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Yellow-throated Nicator, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Red Headed malimbe, Yellow-spotted barbet, Dusky-blue Flycatcher etc. Other species include Grey-throated Flycatcher Grey-winged Robin, Crested Flycatcher, Blue shouldered Robin Chat, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black-billed Turaco, White-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Fluff tail, Tiny Sunbird
Lake Mburo national park offers easy birding with numerous habitats for birds. The best spots for birding are near the swampy places like Warukiri, Rwonyo jetty, viewing platform, which overlooks the salt lick. The park is home to 315 bird species which include Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away bird, Red necked Spur, common Quails, Black-billed Barbet, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Bee-eaters and the Cheeky bronze-tailed starling and the majestic crowned crane etc. You have chances of sighting the rare African Finfoot, shoebill, African fish eagle, malachite, and pied Kingfishers, while on the boat safari on Lake Mburo.
Budongo forest has two main sections, Kaniyo Pabidi found in Murchison falls national park, and the Royal mile and Busingiro areas found south of the park. It lies at the edge of the Albertine rift valley protecting the largest natural forest area in East Africa. It is home to more than 350 bird species, with the most sought-after birds in this area being Cassin’s Spine tail, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Nahan’s Francolin, Black Collared Lovebird, Brown twin spot, Chocolate-baked, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is a premier birding destination in northeastern Uganda. It is home to the sought after Fox’s weaver – the only Uganda endemic bird. Pian upe wildlife reserve hosts over 240 bird species providing a beautiful birding experience in its savannah plains and semi-arid landscape, swamps and hotsprings. Look out for the endemic Fox’s weaver, Karamoja Apalis, Black throated wattle-eye, Buffalo weaver, Jackson’s Hornbill, Green Bitta etc.
Some birding itinerary safaris for Uganda
9 Days Birding Uganda For Albertine Rift Endemics
14 Days Birding Uganda Safari for Endemics