Bird watching in Uganda is on verge of being among the top and popular touristic activities done by most of visitors to Uganda because of different bird species recorded sightable.
Uganda is located in the Eastern part of the African Continent nearing Kenya in the East, South Sudan and Central African Republic in the North, Democratic Republic of Congo in the West, Rwanda and Tanzania in the South.
When it comes to birding in Africa Uganda is among the major dominating destinations to visit with over 1030 bird species recorded sightable while on your birding tours in Uganda. Some of the bird species in Uganda include Ostriches, Ducks, geese, Waterfowl, Guinea fowl, New world quail, Pheasants, grouse, allies, Grebes, Flamingos, Storks, Cormorants, Darters, Pelicans, rare Shoebill, Hamerkop, Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Ibises, Spoonbills, Secretary bird, Osprey, Hawks, Kites, Eagles, Rails, Gallinules and Coots, Flufftails, Finfoot, Cranes, Thick knees, Egyptian plover, Stilts and Avocets, Oystercatchers, Plovers and Lapwings, painted snipes, Jacanas, Sand pipers and allies, Buttonquails, Pratincoles and Coursers, Gulls, terns and Skimmers, Sandgrouse, Pigeons and doves, Turacos, Cuckoos, Barn-owls, Typical owls, Nightjars, Swifts, Mousebirds, Trogons, Hoopoes, Wood hoopoes, Ground horn bills, Horn bills, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Rollers, African barbets, Honeyguides, Woodpeckers and Allies, Falcons, Old World parrots, African and New World parrots, African and green broadbills, Asian and Grauer’s broadbills, Pittas, Wattle-eyes, Vangas helmet shrikes, Bush shrikes and allies, Cuckoo shrikes, Shrikes, Old World orioles, Drogo’s, Monarch fly catchers, Crows, jays, ravens and magpies, Nicators, Larks, Swallows and martins, Fairy flycatchers, Tits, Penduline-tits, Treecreepers, Bulbuls, African Warblers, Bush Warblers, Leaf Warblers, Reed Warblers, Grassbirds and allies, Cisticolas, Sylviid Warblers, White-eyes, Ground babblers, laughingthrushes, Dapple-throat and allies, Hyliotas, Old World flycatchers, Thrushes, Starlings, Oxpeckers, Sun birds and Spider hunters, Wagtails and pipits, Old World buntings, Finches, euphonias and allies, Sparrows, Weavers, Wax bills, Indigo birds and more. Below are some of the best birds watching sites in Uganda.
Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is located in the South Western Part of Uganda bordering Kibale Forest National Park in the North; it is characterized with tropical rain forest, Savannah grasslands and woodlands and some parts covered with fertile swamps. Although Queen Elizabeth National Park is popularly known for the Tree Climbing Lions in the Ishasha sector it’s also among the best bird watching sites in Uganda with over 600 bird species recorded sightable which are mostly found in the suburbs of Maramagambo forest, Kyambura gorge, Ishasha sector and the Kazinga Channel. You can easily reach this Park by use of Kampala – Masaka- Mbarara highway with en-route stop over at the equator.
Kidepo Valley National Park. This is located far in the North Eastern part of Uganda characterized with thick tropical rain forest, Savannah grasslands and woodlands plus swampy areas where most of its wild animals, primates and species reside. Over 475 different bird species are recorded sightable in this park and this rates it to be among the best bird watching sites in Uganda, Some of Wild animals in this Park include African big fives like Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards and Lions, big game like Giraffe, Zebras, others include cheetah, Impala, Oribi, Eland, Bush babies, primates include Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Vervets, Red tailed Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Baboons and Some Chimpanzee primates but are rarely seen, insects include Butterflies, Bees, tsetse flies, mammals include Bats, owls, and more, different bird species in the park include African Jacana, Warblers, Yellow billed stork and more.
Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison is one of the major attracting destinations in Uganda strategically located in the North Western part of Uganda popularly known for its great Murchison falls flowing from the higher altitudes where heavy rocks are located down to the lower altitudes, Murchison Falls National Park is characterized with tropical rain forests, Savannah grasslands and Swampy areas. Some of the Wild animals in this park include African big fives like Elephants, Buffaloes, and leopards, primates include Chimpanzees which are found in Budongo forest, Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Vervets, Blue monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys and Baboons, insects like Butterflies, Reptiles like Snakes an d different bird species. The best way of reaching this park is by use of Kampala- Masindi- Gulu highway with a stopover in Nakasongola- Nakitoma for the Rhinoceros in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, over 451 bird species are recorded sightable in this park.
Lake Mburo National Park. This is also among the best bird watching sites in Uganda strategically located in the South western part of Uganda characterized with swampy areas, tropical rain forest, green vegetation, Savannah grasslands and woodlands. Some of the mammals, primates and species in this park include Elephants, Buffaloes, Eland, Impala, Leopards, oribi, Zebras, Hippopotamus, Hyena, topi, reed buck, and Defassa water buck, and over 350 bird species recorded sightable in this park.
Mabamba. This is a fertile swampy area found in the central part of Uganda with in the suburbs of Entebbe along the shores of Lake Victoria; this place is generally known as the best site for seeing the rare shoe bill although other species of birds are also found there.
Entebbe Botanical gardens. These gardens are located along Entebbe Road on your way to Entebbe airport, this place is characterized with Swampy areas, Savannah grasslands, big tree species, shrubs and also, it’s along the shores of Lake Victoria, it is also among the best bird watching sites in Uganda with different bird species recorded sightable mostly found in the Swampy areas.