Birding Safaris in Uganda are one the famous activities done in the economy of Uganda and it has an impact on tourism in Uganda. Birding Safaris are best done in the continent of Africa and here in Uganda it is so marvelous . Travelers who enjoy the bird watching activity are advised to visit Uganda’s tour destinations so that they can experience more in different species of birds in the savanna grasslands, water areas, Albertine rift valley, lowlands, volcanoes, mountainous area, rainforests, semi desert of northern area. Uganda is well known as the best destination for birding safaris in East Africa and in the whole of Africa because of its nature and vegetation with fertile soil which is a diverse of more than 1010 species of birds.
As you are busy spotting a number of birds in some of the birding destinations, you can certainly get an opportunity to encounter a number of wild animals that will turn your bird watching into an amazing experience. You will never forget the birding safaris tour you carried out in uganda. Birding Safaris in Uganda can be best done in such places like Budongo forest, which is the largest forest in East Africa with unique tree species not found elsewhere, Mabamba island, Kibale forest National Park, Bwindi impenetrable National Park and Botanical gardens which is situated close to the capital city of Kampala a distance that takes about 40 minutes. Below we give you some of the birding safaris destinations where you can have a great budget safari in Uganda.
Birding in Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison falls national park is situated in the north western part of Uganda surrounded with districts of Buliisa, Masindi, Nwoya, Kiryandongo which covers 283 kilometers of the total distance and it takes 3 hours and 30 minutes by road. The park is the largest and the oldest park in Uganda and in East Africa composing 3893 square kilometers of its low land, spreading with waterfalls of Victoria Nile, Lake Albert and up streams of Karuma falls. The park was gazetted in 1952 as a forest reserve to become a home of various species of over 450 fauna and flora and its protected by Uganda wildlife Authority.
Birding Safaris in Murchison falls national park can be best done in the morning hours and evening hours in Budongo forest which ranges over 59 endemic birds. These bird species include dwarf kingfisher, goliath heron, white thighed hornbill, great blue turaco and many more. As you are enjoying your move with bird watching, you can encounter different species of wildlife like monkeys, buffaloes, colobus monkeys, chimpanzees and many more.
The park boosts with more than 450 species of birds and these are only found in Uganda not elsewhere in Africa. By engaging in bird watching you will have a great opportunity to spot these unique birds such as silver bird, blue naped mousebird, chestnut crowned sparrow weaver, white seedeater and many more. You can as well spot nocturnal birds which are not spotted elsewhere except here in this park on your enjoyable evening boat cruise on Victoria Nile along paraa road. Some of these include the spotted versus eagle owls, long tailed birds, pennant winged, pel’s fishing owl, white bellied night heron and many more.
There are various species of birds which can make your birding safaris enjoyable and memorable and these include Martial, yellow billed stock, long tailed night, sandpiper, Rock pratincole, black billed barbet, Red winged grey warbler, Africa jacana, giant heron, red throated bee eater, secreted bird, African barter, Osprey, black headed lapwing, weaver bird, blue headed coucal, grey checked crane, the rare shoebill stork and many others. The park also supports high population of wildlife such as lions, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, giraffes, baboons’ primates like Chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, water animals like crocodiles, hippopotamus and tree species along budongo forest and many others.
Birding in Lake Mburo National park.
Lake Mburo national park is the only national park in uganda which is closest to the capital city of uganda Kampala City and surrounded with beautiful town known as Mbarara. The park is found in kiruhura district in western part of Uganda, approximately a 4 hours drive to reach it. It is the smallest park where one can easily access it on foot. The park is the home of various species of birds which are habitats in the acacia grassland such as southern red bishop, long tailed cisticola, black throated barbet. Since it is a swampy area it is the best place to locate the papyrus birds such as the papyrus yellow warbler, papyrus canary, white winged warbler and many others. The park is well known for being a home to a number of antelopes and these include eland, sitatunga, warthogs, zebras, hynes, tops, impalas and crocodiles. It happens to be a big birding safaris destination in Uganda.
Birding Safaris in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western region of uganda in Kasese district and it covers a total area of 1,978 square kilometers on its lowland. It borders the Crater dotted foot hills of Rwenzori in the north and also to the shores of Lake Edward to the remote ishasha river in the South. The park was gazetted in 1952 as a game reserve and forest reserve to protect various species of over 500 birds on its largest area. In this park you may be able to encounter a large number of birds such as black loved babbler, Marsha tchagra, broad warbler, shoot chat, Ruppell’s griffon vulture and many more. The park also supports the highest population of mammals such as climbing lions, elephants, Uganda kob, leopards and many others.
Birding Safaris in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi impenetrable national park is situated in the southwest of Uganda and offers the best tropical rain forest in Africa. The park offers 24 Albertine endemic birds such as olive long tailed cuckoo, Equatorial Akalat, western napped bronze pigeon, blue headed sunbird, bar tailed trogon, handsome francolin, red throated alethe and many more. Bwindi impenetrable national park is also famously known as the best park with over 400 species of great ape known as mountain gorillas. It offers gorilla trekking as best done activity in the whole world. The park is under the management of uganda wildlife Authority and is a world heritage site.
Bird watching can be enjoyed throughout the year and there are seasons like the dry and wet seasons. The Dry season is from the month of August, September, December to February and wet season from the month of March, April, June and October.
Birding safaris is best done in the morning and evening hours and the things to carry when going bird watching include the proper clothing, binoculars, cameras, proper clothing, insect repellent and mineral water.