Best Birding spots in Uganda.

Best Birding spots in Uganda.

Best Birding spots in Uganda. Uganda is a premier destination for birdwatchers, with over 1,000 bird species recorded, making it one of the best birding spots in Africa. The country’s diverse habitats — from dense rainforests to savannahs, wetlands, and montane regions — provide excellent opportunities to spot both endemic and migratory bird species.

Here are the best birding spots in Uganda:

1. Mabamba Swamp

• Highlight Species: Shoebill Stork, Papyrus Gonolek, Blue-breasted Bee-eater.
• Best for: Wetland birds, including the iconic Shoebill, one of the most sought-after species for birders.
• Location: Near the shores of Lake Victoria, about 40 km west of Kampala.
• Birding Tip: Explore the swamp by canoe to spot the elusive Shoebill along with other waterfowl.

2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

• Highlight Species: African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Black Bee-eater, and many Albertine Rift endemics.
• Best for: Forest bird species and Albertine Rift endemics.
• Location: Southwestern Uganda, on the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
• Birding Tip: The Buhoma and Ruhija sections of the park are especially good for birdwatching, and it’s a great spot to combine birding with gorilla trekking.

3. Queen Elizabeth National Park

• Highlight Species: African Skimmer, Great Flamingo, White-winged Tern, Martial Eagle, African Fish Eagle.
• Best for: Savannah, wetland, and woodland bird species.
• Location: Western Uganda, near the Rwenzori Mountains.
• Birding Tip: Boat trips on the Kazinga Channel offer great views of waterbirds, and game drives are ideal for savannah species.

4. Murchison Falls National Park

• Highlight Species: Shoe-billed Stork, Rock Pratincole, Goliath Heron, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater.
• Best for: Waterbirds along the Nile, as well as woodland and savannah species.
• Location: Northwestern Uganda, on the banks of the River Nile.
• Birding Tip: Take a boat cruise along the Nile for close encounters with birds like the Shoebill and Goliath Heron.

5. Kibale National Park

• Highlight Species: Green-breasted Pitta, Black-capped Apalis, Blue-throated Roller, Yellow-billed Barbet.
• Best for: Forest birds and primates.
• Location: Western Uganda.
• Birding Tip: The Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, just outside the park, is a birding hotspot, especially for wetland species.

6. Semuliki National Park

• Highlight Species: Congo Serpent Eagle, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Black-wattled Hornbill.
• Best for: Rare species found only in the lowland forests of Central Africa.
• Location: Southwestern Uganda, on the border with Congo.
• Birding Tip: This park provides some of the best birding in Uganda, with over 400 species recorded, many of which are not found anywhere else in East Africa.

7. Lake Mburo National Park

• Highlight Species: Red-faced Barbet, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, African Finfoot.
• Best for: Wetland and acacia-associated species.
• Location: Southwestern Uganda, along the highway between Kampala and Bwindi.
• Birding Tip: Lake Mburo is one of the best places in Uganda to spot the African Finfoot, especially along the lakeshores during boat safaris.

8. Mount Elgon National Park

• Highlight Species: Jackson’s Francolin, Black-collared Apalis, Tacazze Sunbird, Moorland Francolin.
• Best for: Montane species.
• Location: Eastern Uganda, on the border with Kenya.
• Birding Tip: The higher altitudes are excellent for montane species, and the park is less crowded, making for peaceful birding.

9. Rwenzori Mountains National Park

• Highlight Species: Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared Owl, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike.
• Best for: Endemic montane species.
• Location: Southwestern Uganda, along the border with Congo.
• Birding Tip: The higher elevations are the best places to find unique species, but birding here can be challenging due to the rugged terrain.

10. Budongo Forest Reserve

• Highlight Species: Puvel’s Illadopsis, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, White-thighed Hornbill.
• Best for: Forest birds.
• Location: Near Murchison Falls National Park.
• Birding Tip: Budongo is particularly famous for the Royal Mile, a renowned birding track where you can spot several forest specialists.

11. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

• Highlight Species: Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimsonwing, and other Albertine Rift endemics.
• Best for: Albertine Rift endemic birds.
• Location: Southwestern Uganda, on the border with Rwanda and Congo.
• Birding Tip: Birding in Mgahinga is often combined with gorilla and golden monkey tracking.

12. Echuya Forest Reserve

• Highlight Species: Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Dusky Crimsonwing, Montane Oriole.
• Best for: Rare Albertine Rift species.
• Location: Southwestern Uganda, near Bwindi and Mgahinga.
• Birding Tip: This lesser-known forest is excellent for serious birders interested in more elusive species.

13. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

• Highlight Species: Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Shoebill, Brown Parrot.
• Best for: Wetland birds and savannah species.
• Location: Central Uganda, along the Kampala-Gulu highway.
• Birding Tip: Ziwa is one of the best places in Uganda to see Shoebills, especially on guided walks in the swamp areas.

14. Nyamuriro Swamp

• Highlight Species: Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Papyrus Canary.
• Best for: Papyrus endemics.
• Location: Near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• Birding Tip: The swamp is great for birding after a gorilla trek in Bwindi, offering a chance to see rare wetland species.

Best Time for Birding in Uganda:

• November to April: Migratory birds from Europe and North Africa are present, and the weather is favorable.
• All year-round: Resident species are visible throughout the year, but the dry seasons (June to September and December to February) offer better conditions for trekking and birdwatching.

Uganda is a paradise for birders, offering a chance to spot rare and endemic species across its various landscapes. With its rich avian diversity, Uganda guarantees a rewarding birdwatching experience!