Birding Tours in Uganda

Birding Tours in Uganda : Birding in Uganda is a fantastic opportunity for bird lovers to discover the country’s remarkable birdlife across various destinations. With more than, 1080 bird species distributed in Uganda and varying destinations, birders on Uganda birding tours have a higher chance to encounter their favorite birds with ease. The different birding destinations in Uganda are characterized by swamps, savanna grassland, forests, and wetlands. Below, you’ll find some of the best places to go birding in Uganda, organized by Salt Holidays, your trusted partner for birding and wildlife adventures in Uganda.

Top Birding Destinations in Uganda

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Besides its abundant wildlife, including African elephants, African buffalo, Ugandan Kob, hippopotamus, topi, waterbuck, warthog, giant forest hog, Nile crocodile, leopard, spotted hyena, chimpanzees,

and the tree climbing lions. The park is also one of the best birding safari destinations in Uganda, housing over 600 species of birds.  The parks diverse habitat including savanna, forests, swamps,  lakes, are habitats for birds such as African emerald cuckoo, Black coucal, Black-bee eater, Barbets, Red-throated wryneck, Little Grebe, Yellow bill, Blue-throated Roller, Brown-eared woodpecker, Honeyguide Greenbul, Dark-capped warbler, Red-shouldered Robin-chat, Green Crombec, African paradise Flycatcher, Brown IIIadopsis, Sulphur-breasted Bush shrike, Western Black headed Oriole, Marsh Tchagra, Black Bishop, White-breasted Negrofinch, Brubru, Bateleur ,Long-created Eagle ,Martial Eagle ,Rupp ell’s Griffon vulture ,Grey Kestrel ,Black-bellied Bustard ,Temminck’s Courser ,African wattled plover ,Senegal plover ,Crowned plover ,Kittlitz’s plover ,Rufous napped Lark ,African Crake ,Flappet Lark ,White-tailed lark . The iconic birding sites in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the Katwe area, Maramagambo Forest, Kasenyi plains, Mweya Peninsula, Lake Kikorongo, Ishasha, and Katuguru Bridge.

Mabamba Bay Swamp and wetland 

Mabamba Bay swamp and wetland is a home of over 300 recorded bird species, including globally threatened species, 7 of the 12 Lake Victoria biome restricted species and wetland species which makes it one of the best bird watching areas in Uganda.  It is one of the top tourist attractions in Entebbe town. In 2006, the swamp was chosen as a Ramsar Site and wetland of international importance because of the rare and attractive bird species like the Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex), Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) and Sitatunga (swamp antelope) among others. You’ll also expect to spot other bird species such as Papyrus Gonolek, Blue Swallow, Pallid Harrier and White-Winged Warbler. Other species found in the swamp include the Yellow-throated Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Ducks, Yellow-backed Weaver, Yellow warble, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-Billed Stork, Yellow-billed duck, Yello-billed Kite, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Grey-headed Gulls, Grey-crowned Crane, Grey Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Grey Parrot, Grey Heron, Green Cuckoo, Woodland Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Winding Cistocola, White-winged Warbler, White-winged Black Terns, White-throated Bee-eater and White-shouldered Tit among others.

Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is renowned as a birdwatcher’s paradise, boasting over 400 bird species, and also features the unique Sempaya hot springs, making it a popular destination for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. Birdwatching in Semuliki National Park is done on different trails especially edge the forest reserves of Bundibugyo, Kirumia river trail, and Sempaya. While on your birding safari here, expert to spot birds such as chocolate-backed, chestnut-flanked Goshawk, forest thrushes, red-chested owlet. There is the ground hornbill, the Nkulengu rail, yellow-throated Cuckoo, piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, African Piculet, White-throated Blue Swallow, Yellow-throated Nicator, Leaf-love, and Swamp Palm Bulbul among others.

Kibale National Park

Besides the primates, Kibale National Park is also known as a birding destination in Uganda. The park is home to over 375 bird species including forest, Albertine rift endemic, and resident bird species. The special bird species to find in Kibale include Yellow-spotted Nictor, Yellow- ramped Tinker bird, Speckled Tinker bird, Little Greenbul, Superb Sunbird, the African Pitta, White-thighed hornbill and Grey-winged Robin. Birders won’t miss Blue shouldered Robin Chat, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black-billed Turaco, White-naped Pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta and Purple-headed Starling, among others. The best birdwatching spot is the Bigodi wetland sanctuary– a community project where experienced guides take you on a four-hour trail. Migratory birds are usually present from November to April.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Known not only for its rare mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, Mgahinga is a rich birding destination with more than 180 bird species. The majority of the Mgahinga birds comprise Albertine rift endemic species and resident species. Mgahinga bird species include Rwenzori Turaco, Crowned Hornbill, Black Kite and Crowned Crane, Handsome Francolin, Dusky Turtle Dove, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Montane Double-collared Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird; there are also the Rwenzori Batis, a huge number of Black-headed Waxbill as well as the Streaky Seedeater, among others.

Murchison Falls National Park

Although Murchison Falls National Park is famous for being home to the world’s most powerful waterfalls, where the Nile River plunges through a narrow gorge, creating a thunderous roar and a permanent mist, as well as for its diverse wildlife and stunning landscape. The park is also a home to 451 bird species, and it is one Uganda’s best birding destinations.  While on your bird watching tour, you’ll have the chance to spot different bird species such as giant Kingfisher, giant Heron, shoebill stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Nightjars, Marabou stork, Black headed lapwing, and Back-bellied Bustard, Gray crowned cranes, Goliath herons, and black headed lapwings among others can be spotted.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lying in western Uganda, Lake Mburo National Park protects over 350 bird species including terrestrial and aquatic species. The park’s diverse birds include Africa finfoot, red-faced barbet, Tabora cisticola, black bellied bustard, brown chested wattled plover, emerald spotted wood, Carruthers’ cisticola, grey crown crane, papyrus yellow warbler, bare faced go away bird and coqui francolin among others.

When to visit Uganda for birding tours

If you’re thinking about going birdwatching in Uganda, you can do it any time of the year. However, the best months to visit are March, April, May, and November. During these times, many migratory birds settle in different areas of Uganda, giving you a fantastic opportunity to see them alongside the local birds.