Home » Uganda birding safari destinations for bird lovers
Uganda birding safari destinations for bird lovers
Uganda, the pearl of Africa is home to about 1080 bird species. This makes Uganda one of the best bird watching places in Africa with almost half of the continents bird species. Uganda has an equatorial climate and has the Albertine Rift Valley in the Western part of the country which is host to several bird species. Popularly known as the Albertine rift endemics, this is a top hot spot for birding safaris in Uganda for avid birders to Africa. There several Uganda birding safari spots in the western region of the country but these are the best places to see the Albertine rift endemic bird species;
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park is one of the prime bird watching destinations in Uganda with over 177 bird species which include 19 Albertine Rift endemics. Bird watching is mostly done while on hikes in the forest zones since this is the highest point and popular Uganda birding tour destination. Birds to look out for here include the Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared owl, Archers’ robin-chat, Lagden’s bush shrike, Blue-headed and Golden-winged sunbird, White-starred robin, Slender-billed starling, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Bearded vultures, and swifts.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Second on the list of the 10 best birding safari Uganda destinations is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable has been voted as Africa’s best birding spot by the African Bird Club. Out of the 24 Albertine rift bird species, 23 of them are found in Bwindi Forest National Park Uganda. The forest is home to many rare bird species, some only found here for instance the African Green Broadbill. 350 bird species stay here and these include the 23 Albertine Rift endemics, 14 of which are not recorded anywhere else in Uganda. On a Uganda bird watching tour, look out for the Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black Billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue-Headed and Regal Sunbirds among others. This is also the best destination for a Uganda gorilla trekking safari and both activities can be tailored in a single trip.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest Uganda safaris park popular for Uganda gorilla tours but also a spot not to undermine for birding. It is not only home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, but it is also home to about 180 bird species some of which are the Albertine Rift endemics. Bird species here include the Kivu Ground Thrush, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, White-starred Robin, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin Chat, Olive Pigeon, Black-headed Waxbill, Western Green tinker bird, Cape Robin, White-starred Robin, Brown Woodland Warbler, Stripe-breasted tit, Brown-crowned Tchagra and Scarlet-tufted, Greater double-collared Sunbirds.
Other amazing birding spots include;
Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda
Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an incredible treat to do on your Africa safari holiday in Uganda. A Uganda birding safari gives you chance to explore bird species in Uganda’s most popular and most scenic National Park that contains a variety of habitats that range from savanna to wetlands to lowland forests. The park’s diversity is reflected in the list of over 600 bird species, making it the biggest of any protected area in Uganda. A majority of the bird species found in this area are regarded as famous birds of East Africa and are a must see for birdwatchers in Africa! Take a Uganda safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda for an amazing Africa birding safari. Birds to spot there include; Palm-nut Vulture,Hooded Vulture,African White-backed Vulture,Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture,Lappet-faced Vulture,Brown Snake Eagle,Raptors,African Mourning Dove,Diederik Cuckoo,Squire-tailed Nightjar,Slender-tailed,Nightjar ,Swamp Nightjar and many more.
Jinja source of the Nile
When you get there, birding will even become more special when you know you’re going to see so much spectacular birdlife where the mighty River Nile starts it journey. It has given so much life to so many people across many countries and has helped shape the civilized world as we know it. And guess what? It also gives a huge source of life to all the bird species that call this wonderful place home! What makes Jinja a wonderful birding destination is that the river’s water brings out a wide array of terrestrial and wetland species. You will undertake a boat cruise along the River Nile so you can get up and close to the stunning bird life the area has!
Some of the highlights for Jinja source of the Nile is the Great Blue Turaco (one for any birder’s wish list), Purple Swamphen, Rock Pratencols, Giant Kingfisher, African Open-billed Stork, Green-backed Heron, White-spotted Flufftail, White-crested Turaco, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Western Banded Snake Eagle, African Grey Parrot and many more. Other bird species include; Hottentot Teal, Red-billed Teal, African Pygmy Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Black-billed Turaco, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, White-crested Turaco, Woolly-necked Stork, Shoebill, Crested Guineafowl, Helmeted Guineafowl, African Black Coucal, Blue-headed Coucal, African Rail, African Crake, Purple Swamphen,White-spotted Flufftail, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Red-chested Flufftail, Grey Crowned Crane, African Finfoot, Black-bellied Bustard, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Hammerkop, African Darter, Greater Painted-snipe, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Scaly Francolin, African Marsh Harrier, African Pied Hornbill, Northern Ground Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Red-headed Lovebird, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Crested Francolin, Forest Francolin, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, African Green Pigeon, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Rock Pratencols, Giant Kingfisher, African Open-billed
If you are looking for a rewarding bird watching safari in Africa then Uganda is the best choice.
