Uganda, often referred to as the "Pearl of Africa," is an East African country steeped in history and renowned as a premier destination for birdwatching safaris. The Republic of Uganda has been a politically stable country for nearly four decades and has seen an incredible surge in tourism.
Uganda is one of Africa’s best places for birding. With over 1,090 bird species, at Bird Uganda Safaris, we help you explore Uganda’s top birding spots with professional local guides who know where to find the rarest birds like the Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, and African Finfoot. Join us for birdwatching tours to famous destinations like Mabamba Swamp, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Murchison Falls National Park
The country ranks as one of the most biodiverse in the world, featuring all of the iconic African mammals, including gorillas, and an extensive bird list of 1093 species (of which we often see around 500 species on our set departure Uganda birding tours), including many exciting Albertine Rift endemics, and probably it is the easiest destination to find the mega Shoebill.
Uganda’s immense biodiversity stems from the wide range of habitats found within its borders that includes almost everything from montane forests to vibrant wetlands and open savanna plains. The country has become widely known as an excellent bird watching destination, with one of its more important sites being the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The name alone inspires a sense of awe, and the rolling hills blanketed in thick mistbelt forest don’t disappoint. This area supports a vast number of special birds, in particular the prized Albertine Rift endemics, which include Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Broadbill, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, the superb Regal Sunbird, and the mythical Shelley’s Crimsonwing, among others.
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The country ranks as one of the most biodiverse in the world, featuring all of the iconic African mammals, including gorillas, and an extensive bird list of 1093 species, including many exciting Albertine Rift endemics, and probably it is the easiest destination to find the mega Shoebill.
Birdwatching boosts Uganda's wildlife tourism
Uganda is renowned as a premier destination for birdwatching safaris, boasting a rich diversity of avian life. Uganda has over 1072 confirmed bird species and therefore expect a great bird list with this bird watching tour to the best birding spots.
This 8 Days Uganda Birding Safari offers the ultimate Uganda birding experience with birding at mabamba swamp to view the elusive shoebill stocks and other bird species. Approximately 50% of Africa’s bird species and 11% of the world’s total can be found in Uganda. This extensive variety is supported by Uganda’s unique ecological zones, making it a haven for both resident and migratory birds.
Top Birding Destinations in Uganda
Uganda is a fantastic destination for birding enthusiasts, offering a range of captivating spots. The incredible diversity of habitats in Uganda is unmatched in Africa and plays a crucial role in supporting its vast bird population. These are are the top birdwatching destinations in Uganda:
- The Queen Elizabeth National Park
- The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Semuliki National Park
- Mabamba swamps, among others.
1. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with 347 bird species. Furthermore, Bwindi is the dwelling place for 76 of the 144 Guinea-Congo-forest biome bird species found in Uganda. The area also qualifies for the Afro-tropical-highland biome bird species with 68 of the total 86. The Lake Victoria biome has 4 of the 12 species.
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Birds are very abundant and very easy to spot; several species connect in mixed feeding flocks that are active all through the day. The main birding trails where birders can catch sight of these fantastic creatures are the Bamboo Zone, the Mubwindi Swamp trail in Ruhija, and the Waterfall trail in Buhoma.
Some species you may spot on a birding safari in Bwindi include the western Green Tinkerbird, African Wood Owl, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Fine-banded Woodpecker, etc.
2. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Apart from mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Mgahinga National Park is also home to over 180 species of birds, including the Albertine Rift region endemics. Perfect viewing points are the community and/or farm trail, the Gorge trail, and the Bamboo trail.
Species you can spot on a birding safari in Mgainga include: Brown Woodland Warbler, Kivu Ground-thrush, Stripe-breasted Tit, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Rwenzori Turaco etc.
3. Murchison Falls National Park
Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 451 bird species. The diverse species include the Albertine Rift Endemics, the Waterbirds, and the Savannah Forest Birds. The shoebill is the major bird attraction that many come to see.
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Other species you may see on a bird-watching safari in Murchison include 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 range from the forest and woodland dwellers to the 54-raptor species, the water birds, and those that migrated from other areas. Queen Elizabeth National Park, in total, has over 600 bird species, and some of these include the hooded Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Wattled Plover, Black-bellied Bustard, Black-lored Babbler, White-tailed Lark, etc.
5. Semuliki National Park
Semuliki National Park harbors over 400 species of birds, with 9 species of Hornbill. It has exceptional watching points at Ntandi, Sempaya, and River Kirumia area. Species include; Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue, Ross’s Turacos, Piping Hornbill, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Xavier’s Greenbul, etc.
6. Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park neighbors the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary with over 350 species of bird. The Bigodi wetland sanctuary is in Kanyanchu and Magombe swamp and has over 138 bird species observed by the birders’ broad walk trails. The main bird species you may spot in Kibale Forest include Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, White-collared Oliveback, Crowned Eagle, and Yellow-billed Barbet.
7. Lake Mburo National Park
The birding spots in Lake Mburo National Park include the marshy areas of Miriti at the salt lick and in the forest of Rubanga and Warukiri, the waysides amongst the landing stage, and the 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, etc.
8. Rwenzori Mountains National Park
The Mountains of The Moon are home to close to 217 species. Nineteen of these are the endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley Region. Species you likely spot on a birding safari in the Rwenzori Mountains include the Golden-winged and 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.
9. Nile River Birding in Jinja
Birding along the Nile River is done with a boat cruise. An adventure along the Nile will lead you to over 60 bird species. Species here include Giant Kingfishers, Green-backed Herons, African Open-billed Storks, Rock Pratencols, and Great Blue Turacos.
10. Echuya Forest Reserve
This forest reserve has over 150 bird species, and 18 of these species are endemic. Notable species include; Archer’s Robin-Chat, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Dwarf Honeyguide, Collared Apalis, and Strip-breasted Tit.
11. The Royal Mile- Budongo Forest
The Royal Mile in Budongo Forest near Murchison Falls National Park is home to over 250 bird species. The main bird species include the blue-breasted Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Spotted Greenbul, Blue-throated Roller, Fire-crested Alethe, Rufous-crowned Elemomela, and White-thighed Hornbill.
12. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is home to the rare shoebill stork. The other species include; African Black Crake, African Fish Eagle, Black-crowned Waxbill, African Grey Hornbill, African Golden Oriole, African Darter, and African Broad Bill.
13. Lutembe Bay
Lutembe Bay is in the Lake Victoria Basin and is home to millions of all kinds of Palearctic migrant and Indigenous birds. It is a habitat for more than 200 bird species. Of these, 26 are migratory. These include 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.
14. Mabamba Swamps
This swampy area is located at Lake Victoria’s edge and is only an hour’s drive from the City Center. A birding adventure is done with a 3-person wooden boat canoe. You can expect to see; Shoebill Stork, Pied Kingfishers, Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, African and Lesser Jacanas, and African Pygmy Goose.
Top Birds To Watch on a Birding Safari in Uganda
These are the top 10 bird species that many birders are interested in while on their birding safari in Uganda.
- The Shoebill: This is found in Murchison Falls or Mabamba Island, one of the few indefinable and uncommon bird species sited.
- The Great Blue Turaco: They are large birds often hunted for their meat and feathers.
- Shelley’s Crimson-wing: These are rarely sighted.
- The Standard-winged Nightjar: They are usually identified with flying foxes (fruit bats).
- The Short-tailed Warbler: Often identified as the Neumann’s Warbler.
- The African Green Broadbill: It’s an endangered species globally and is often identified as the Grauer’s Broadbill.
- The Green-breasted Pitta: They are hard to spot but are found in the tropical forests’ soggy lowlands.
- The Doherty’s Bushshrike: They can be heard but never seen.
- The Bar-tailed Trogon: They live in forests.
- The Black-breasted Barbet: They have big heads and a hefty bill that is fringed with hackles.
Albertine Rift Endemic Bird Species in Uganda
These are some of the Albertine Rift endemic bird species to watch out for on your birding expedition in Uganda:
- Fox’s Weaver
- Blue-headed Sunbird
- Short-tailed Warbler
- Ruwenzori Nightjar
- Rwenzori Turaco
- Red-throated Alethe
- African Green Broadbill
- Red-faced Woodland Warbler
- Handsome Francolin
- Collared Apalis
- Mountain Masked Apalis
- Archer’s Robin-Chat
- Dwarf Honeyguide
- Grauer’s Warbler
- Dusky Crimson wing
- Rwenzori Batis
- Purple-breasted Sunbird
- Regal Sunbird
- Shelley’s Crimson-wing
- Stripe-breasted Tit
- Grauer’s Rush Warbler
- Kivu Ground Thrush
- Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher
- Strange Weaver
- Chapin’s Flycatcher
Things to Carry and Best Time for a Birding Safari in Uganda
It is advisable to carry the requirements that will help you on your birding safari in Uganda, including Binoculars, a map of the location, long-sleeved trousers and shirts, enough drinking water, and many more.
Although bird watching can be done all year round, the weather can be a limiting factor for some birders. The best time for bird watching would be the dry season in most parks, between January to February and June to August. The trails are dry and not slippery; thus, trekking can be easy. You will also have enough time for bird-watching.
However, some would say the most ideal time is between late May to September when there’s less rain, and the food is abundant. From November to April, migratory birds can be found in the parks. Birding is best done early in the morning and it’s easy to spot many bird species at that time. The parks tend to be crowded in the high season with many visitors coming in between June to September.
Sample Birding Itinerary
The first day of your birding trip starts early arrival at Entebbe International Airport or pick up from a lodging facility in Entebbe. After meeting and greeting with your safari guide, you then embark on the drive to Mabamba wetland on about 2-3 hours drive.
From Kampala, your Uganda birding tour guide will ensure your transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You will have a stop at Kako swamp before reaching the park in time for lunch. Early morning, you will be up to watch early risers even before your breakfast. After bird watching at Lake Mburo you return to your lodge for lunch then after embark on the drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
From Queen Elizabeth National Park, you will have breakfast then embark on a drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive offers you a chance to go birding along the ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth Park famed for tree climbing lions.
This day is planned out for full day bird watching along the waterfall loop and forest trails searching for Albertine rift endemics and other species. This second morning at Bwindi, you have breakfast then transfer to the Ruhija sector for birding. You have a slow drive on the transfer from the Buhoma sector to Ruhija for bird watching. Birding in Ruhija offers another chance to see more of the Albertine rift endemic birds. You spend the whole day bird watching and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi in the evening.
On the last day of your trip, you have breakfast at Lake Bunyonyi then after transfer back to Entebbe International Airport for a departure flight.
Why Choose Uganda for Birding?
Uganda birding tours offer great apes, fantastic Albertine Rift bird endemics, and many charismatic dream birds as part of a classic African wildlife safari which is sure to leave you wanting to see more of this incredible country.
Not only did we see a huge number of bird species (between 450 and 500 for all trip participants), but we also had amazing close encounters with Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees and other Africa wildlife. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
An excellent tour with a great range of activity from easy roadside birding to a couple of good long day walks. The itinerary was excellent, the accommodations were pleasant, and the guides were outstanding.
The birding was intense but fun. There was a relaxed atmosphere despite the intense birding. My partner, a birding novice, loved the trip.
Bird Uganda Safaris
At Bird Uganda Safaris, we create unforgettable Uganda birding safaris for bird lovers, nature photographers, and explorers from all over the world.
Our local expert guides know every bird call, trail, and hotspot - helping you see Uganda’s most special and rare bird species. We take care of everything - guiding, transport, accommodation, and park fees - so you can focus on the joy of watching birds.
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