Birding Tours, Birdingwathing Safaris

Over 1066 bird species recorded in Uganda, Four Endemics, 66 Accidental & 3 Introduced Manually

Birding Tours & Walking Safari Trips

Uganda is one of the top birding destinations in Africa, with over 1066 bird species.

Uganda is famously known as a birding paradise since it harbors over half of the bird species found in Africa, making it one of Africa’s best birding destinations. Around Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, one can find over 300 species of birds in just one day. These mostly migrate from Lake Victoria’s shores, the source of the Nile, and from the Albertine Rift. The Pearl of Africa has several endemic bird species, including the Fox’s Weaver and many other Albertine endemic species found in different parts of the country. The diverse habitats in Uganda’s most ancient forest appear to be the perfect habitat for a diversity of bird species, with 1066 species recorded, four endemic, 66 accidental, and three introduced by humans.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Uganda’s remarkable avian diversity (over 1060 bird species within an area similar in size to Great Britain) can be attributed to its location between the East African savannah, West African rainforests, and semi-desert of the north.
  • The country has only two endemics, which only occur in the country, but if you only consider East Africa, there are 150 species found only in Uganda. Migrant birds are present from November to April.
  • From a birder’s perspective, Uganda is good all-year-round, especially since the main birding interest lies in the resident birds. The climate is the main factor to take into consideration. Uganda is a very wet country. During the Wet seasons, roads and forest trails might be in poor condition, and rains could interfere with birding time.
  • Hike Across Africa’s oldest and richest rainforest, meet some of the rarest species and plants that enjoy the primeval forest amenities.

INCLUDED

  • Transportation and 4×4 vehicle transfers
  • Accommodation and Meals as per itinerary
  • English Speaking Guide and Rangers

We will process the park permits on your behalf from the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

CORONAVIRUS CONCERN

Please carry a pack of N95 Facemask and hand sanitizer with you. You’ll be required to have a negative PCR COVID-19 test certificate issued within 72 hours of your arrival in the country, and keep your mask on when with animals and people crowds. You’re requested to adhere to COVID Operating procedures to keep you safe during your trip.

Top Birding Places in Uganda

Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Birding in Bwindi Forest

While Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is widely famous for harboring more than 440 endangered Mountain Gorillas, This 321 square kilometer pristine forest is an excellent birding site for birding tours Uganda. Located in the far southwestern corner of the country, Bwindi Forest is a biodiversity hotspot. It is home to over 320 species of birds, and 23 of which are endemic to this particular area of the Albertine Rift (90% of all Albertine Rift endemics). Birding enthusiasts are sure not to miss this great destination.

Some of the Albertine endemic bird species include; Ruwenzori Nightjar, Red-throated Alethe, African Green Broadbill, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Short-tailed Warbler, 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, Strip-breasted Tit, Blue-headed Sunbird, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Turaco, Strip-breasted Tit, Kivu Ground Thrush, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, and the Strange Weaver, as well as seven IUCN red data listed species. Easy to see are the African Emerald Cuckoo, Common Bulbul, African Blue, White-tailed Blue Flycatchers, and Red-headed Bluebill. According to their evaluation, these bird species are currently categorized on the IUCN Red List as Least Concern, meaning that its population is not under any risk of extinction or threat.

Point to note, Bwindi has 76 of 144 Guinea -Congo forest biome species in Uganda, especially in the North sector. The site also qualifies for Afro tropical highland biome species with 68 of 86 and the Lake Victoria biome with 4 of 12 species.

Mabamba Swamp Birding Tours

Birding in Mabamba Bay

This swampy area is located at Lake Victoria’s edge and is only an hour’s drive from the City Center. Birding Tours on the swamp are 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.

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 an 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.

Apart from the many birding species found in Uganda, the country offers many other adventurous activities, including; mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee trekking, mountain climbing, cultural exploration, cycling, white water rafting, bungee jumping, and many more.

birdwatching tours in uganda

Birding in Mgahinga

It is also home to over 180 species of birds, inclusive of the Albertine Rift region endemics. Perfect viewing points are the community and or farm trail, the Gorge trail, and the Bamboo trail.

Species found here include Brown woodland Warbler, Kivu Ground thrush, Stripe-breasted Tit, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Rwenzori Turaco, etc.

Birding in Murchison Falls Uganda

Birding in Murchison Falls

The park is home to over 451 bird species. The diverse species include the Albertine Rift Endemics, the Waterbirds, and the Savannah Forest Birds. Shoebill is the major bird attraction that many come to see.

Other species including; Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Martial Eagle, White-faced Whistling Duck, Hugli’s Francolin, Hamerkop, and Rock Pratincole,

TOP UGANDA BIRDS YOU’RE LIKELY TO SEE EASILY

  • Archer’s robin-chat
  • Black-lored babbler
  • Blue-headed sunbird
  • Chapin’s flycatcher
  • Dusky crimsonwing
  • Dwarf honeyguide
  • Fox’s weaver
  • Golden-winged sunbird
  • Grant’s bluebill
  • Grauer’s broadbill
  • Grauer’s cuckoo-shrike
  • Grauer’s swamp warbler
  • Handsome francolin
  • Hartlaub’s turaco
  • Jackson’s francolin
  • Neumann’s warbler
  • Oberlaender’s ground thrush
  • Purple-breasted sunbird
  • Red-faced barbet
  • Red-faced woodland warbler
  • Red-throated alethe)
  • Regal sunbird
  • Ruwenzori apalis
  • Ruwenzori batis
  • Ruwenzori double-collared sunbird
  • Ruwenzori nightjar
  • Ruwenzori turaco
  • Shelley’s crimsonwing
  • Strange weaver
  • Stripe-breasted tit
  • Turner’s eremomela
  • Ansorge’s greenbul
  • Black bee-eater
  • Blue-throated roller
  • Equatorial akalat
  • Great blue turaco
  • Ituri batis
  • Jameson’s antpecker
  • Lühder’s bush-shrike
  • Magpie mannikin
  • Masked apalis
  • Olive long-tailed cuckoo
  • Papyrus gonolek
  • Pennant-winged nightjar
  • Red-chested owlet
  • Shoebill
  • White-bellied crested flycatcher
  • White-bellied robin-chat
  • White-naped pigeon
  • Yellowbill
  • Nahan’s francolin
  • Uganda woodland warbler
  • Yellow-eyed black flycatcher
  • Uganda woodland warbler
  • Yellow-eyed black flycatcher
  • Red-tailed ant thrush
  • Rufous flycatcher-thrush
  • Karamoja apalis

Birding in Queen Elizabeth NP

Birding in Queen Elizabeth NP

The species range from the forest and woodland dwellers to the 54-raptor species, the water birds, and those that migrated from other areas. There are different sections in this park, with each section harboring different bird species.

The best birding tour spots in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the Kasenyi area with over 60 species, the Mweya peninsula, which has over 70 species, Katunguru bridge area, Lake Kikorongo, Ishasha sector, Katwe area, and Maramagambo Forest.

The park in total has got over 600 bird species, and some of these include; Hooded Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Wattled Plover, Black-bellied Bustard, Black-lored Babbler, White-tailed Lark, etc.

Bird watching in Kibale Forest

Birding in Kibale

The 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 species found here include; Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, White-collared Olive back., Crowned eagle, Yellow-billed Barbet, and more.

The park in total has got over 600 bird species, and some of these include; Hooded Vulture, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Wattled Plover, Black-bellied Bustard, Black-lored Babbler, White-tailed Lark, etc.

Variable Sunbird Semuliki birdwatching

Birding in Semuliki

This park harbors over 400 species of birds with 9 species of Hornbill. It has exceptional watching points at Nandi, Sempaya, and River Kirumia area.

Species include; Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue, Ross’s Turacos, Piping Hornbill, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, and Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Xavier’s Greenbul, etc.

African fish Eagle

Birding in Lake Mburo NP

The birding spots here 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.

Rwenzori mountains bird watching tours

Birding in the Rwenzori Mountains

The mountains are home to close to 217 species. 19 of these are the endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley Region. Species that are likely to be seen here are 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.

Birding in Jinja at the source of the nile

Birding in Jinja, Nile Source

Birding along the Nile River banks on a boat cruise, and it harbors over 60 bird species. Species here include; Giant Kingfisher, Green-backed Herons, African Open-billed Storks, Rock Pratencols, and Great Blue Turacos.

Birding in 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.

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; Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Spotted Greenbul, Blue-throated Roller, Fire-crested Alethe, Rufous-crowned Elemomela, and White-thighed Hornbill.

Birding in Ziwa Sanctuary

This 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.

Birding in 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.

Request a quote

Explore your options, request for a quick quote

    Pick a trip date*

    What lodging (with meals) can you afford?*

    How long is your trip (days)?*

    With how many people?*

    Travel safely

    Please make sure you have your facemask on when in contact with animals, especially the endangered creatures. Without a negative PCR Covid Test, you’ll not be allowed into the country. You’ll spend most of your time in open spaces away from human crowds, with that there’s minimal to no infections of the COVID virus.


    Flexible booking terms

    Your booking can be extended up to 12 months ahead with no extra fees, in case of any emergency (based on accommodation availability). Reservations are accepted after we receive a 30% deposit on the trip and the full payment for gorilla tracking and chimp tracking permits for each tour participant. For more details on our booking terms, please read our Terms and Conditions.

    Call us: +256 77 480 5580 / 702 805580
    or send an email to info@nkuringowalkingsafaris.com

    Active Birding Tours

    Explore our collection of birding tours, walking safaris, hiking trips, and active adventures that can be privately tailor-made to suit your travel needs, dates, and budget. These example active trips don’t have to be cut out for everyone; use them as guidance routes.

    Request a quote

    Explore your options, request for a free quote

      Pick a trip date*

      What lodging (with meals) can you afford?*

      How long is your trip (days)?*

      With how many people?*

      Travel safely

      Please make sure you have your facemask on when in contact with animals, especially the endangered creatures. Without a negative PCR Covid Test, you’ll not be allowed into the country. You’ll spend most of your time in open spaces away from human crowds, with that there’s minimal to no infections of the COVID virus.


      Flexible booking terms

      Your booking can be extended up to 12 months ahead with no extra fees, in case of any emergency (based on accommodation availability). Reservations are accepted after we receive a 30% deposit on the trip and the full payment for gorilla tracking and chimp tracking permits for each tour participant. For more details on our booking terms, please read our Terms and Conditions.

      Call us: +256 77 480 5580 / 702 805580
      or send an email to info@nkuringowalkingsafaris.com