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Bird Watching in Uganda

From the source of the White Nile on Lake Victoria to the snow- capped Rwenzori range, the montane forests of the Virunga Volcanoes to the desert plains of Karamojong. Uganda is an Equatorial country of astonishing contrast.

No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in the ever-burgeoning bird list of over 1000 species. Amongst these are many special birds, such as shoebill and the numerous spectacular endemics of the Albertine rift valley that are difficult or impossible to find else where. The huge bird list is so remarkable given the small size of the country over 235,000km2; it is approximately the size of Great Britain. Making it arguably, the richest Africa birding destination.

Uganda is enjoying unprecedented economic growth and every effort is being made to rejuvenate the once important tourist industry. This has resulted in development of hotel, lodges, access roads and forests trails.

The establishment of bird guides training programmes through the Uganda Bird and Safari Guides Association supported by the UGSTDP- Uganda Sustainable Tourism Development Programme funded by the European Union, has been attained.

We hope this will be a pointer to our country's avian riches amongst residents and visitors. More importantly, however, we hope that this increased awareness contributes to the conservation of natural areas in Uganda through confirming the need for their protection and avian-tourism.

Bird Watching In Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is located in Mbarara district it is 260 km squared, it is believed to have moist acacia savanna, taller mixed woodland, acquatic habitat including lakes and papyrus swamps, grassland rocky ridges. Bird watching can be done all year round, one requires about 1-2 days for the activity as the park is endowed with 315 species of birds.

The key species of birds found in this national park are the African Finfoot, Brown- chested plover, southern Ground Hornbill, spot-flanked, Red faced and Black –collared barbets, White Winged warbler, Papyrus yellow warbler, Carruthers, Cisticolas, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Ox pecker and Northern brown-throated weaver. The woodland lies in the vicinity of Rwonyo which supports many of these widespread species. The more open grassland north of Rwonyo camp particularly along the Zebra track, is worth exploring for species such as coqui francolin, Red-necked spur fowl, black bellied bustard, temminck's courser African wattled plover, rufous –naped and flapper larks, rofous chested swallow, yellow Throat long claw and many more. While on your bird watching safari in the lake Mburo National Park, You can sleep at the Mihingo Lodge which is an up market facility, Kimbla Mantana luxury tented camp is a middle range accommodation facility and there are two beds and 4 bed bandas at the Rwonyo campsite with the camping site. Also Mbarara town which is the neighboring town has many hotels, Like Lake View Regency, Motel Hotel classic and many others.

Bird watching In Rwenzori National Park

Bird watching In Rwenzori(Mountain of the moon) if done on for the shorter foothill hike can take about 3 days and for the usual mountain loop it takes about 6-7 days. Birds are recorded to be found in this park between January- February and July- August as they are the driest months but rain is possible all year round. The park is known to have 195 species of different birds. The snow covered equatorial peaks rise to a height of 5,109m and lower slopes blanked in Moorland and rich montane forest. Most of the park is accessible only to hikers although the magnificent scenery and the 190 Albertine Rift Endemics would be an ample reward for birders.

Some of these bird species are; Albertine Rift endemics, the handsome francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Montane (Rwenzori) Nightjar, Dwarf honeyquide, Arcer's Robin-chat, Red –Throated Alethe, Kivu Ground thrush, Red –faced woodland warbler, montane masked and collared Apelises, stripe-breast tit, Rwenzori batis, sunbirds, strange weaver, Dusky and Shelley's crimson-wings.

Other Lammergier, red-thighed sparrow hawk, barred long tailed cuckoo, African Long eared owl, Western green tinker bird, Olive woodpecker, grey-chested illaposis and many more.

Bird watching In Mt. Elgon National Park

The park is located In Mbale. The best timing for bird watching in this place is March and September; it recorded to have 300 different species of birds. The park habitant is mixed montane Forest (<250m) low canopy montane forest with Bamboo (2400-300m), montane heath (3000-350m) and the moorland (>350m) Time required for bird watching in this park is 1-2 days. The key species of the park are the Jackson and moorland Francolins, Eastern Bronze-naped pigeon, Red-fronted parrot, Hartlaub's turaco, Red Chested owlet, Bar- tailed Trogon, Forest- wood-hoope, Moustatched Green Tinkerbird, Grey-Chested Illadopis, Black-collared Apalis, Purple throated Cuckoo-shrike, Golden-winged and Tacazze Sun birds, Oriole Finch. Accomodation is available in this park. You can sleep at the Kapwai Executive accommodation exists at the forest cottages. Meals are provided on order. Suam & Kapwata guest house offer accommodation plus the forest Exploration centre all with the very basic facilities. Camping facilities can be arranged either at park offices in Mbale or in Budadiri at Roses'last chance.

There are no huts along the hiking trails and it is necessary to carry all your camping equipment and supplies.

Bird Watching In Kibale National Park

The park is found in the District of Kabarole with a size of 560 kms and has an elevation of 1110-1590m with a habitant of the forest section of about 77% of the park covered with trees by medium altitude moist semi-deciduous forest and lower altitude in the south. The remaining 23% consist of grassland, swamps and some plantations with exotic cinfires. Time required for bird watching in this park is only 2 days and the park is recorded to have 335 species of Birds, the best time to view is March-May and September- November. The key bird species in this park are; The Red winged Froncolin, Red chested fluff tail, White-napped pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta, Africa Pitta, Joyful Greenbul, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied created Flycatcher, Masked and black-capped Apelises, Uganda woodland Warbler, Chestnut-Winged Starling, Orange-tufted and Tiny sun birds, Grey-headed Olive-back.

Accomodation to the birders in this park can be got at the Primates Lodge at Kanyanchu Tourists center which is bushed tented camps and bandas with restaurant.

There is the Up Market Ndali Lodge which overlooks the crater lakes and a few meters from Fort portal town, Safari Hotel, chimpanzee guest house an CVK which is a budget facility located by the road as you drive to Kanyanchu Tourist centre. Visitors to this park can sleep in Hotels in Fort portal there are several of these like; Mountain of the moon, Fort Motel and Rwenzori View Guest house.

Bird Watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park

The park is found in Rukungiri district with a size of 1978 km2. It has a altitude of 900m on Lake Edward to 1845m at the top of the eastern Escarpment of the western Rift. It has a habitant of medium altitude moist semi deciduous forest, moist thicket, riparian forest, rivine bush-land. Open woodland, open grassland, seasonal and permanent swamps, lakes and rivers. The best timing for bird watching in Queen Elizabeth is December to February; it can be done with in a period of 2-3 days and the park records 550species of birds only.

The key bird species in this park are the shoebill, Martial Eagle, Black- rumped Buttonquail African Skimmer, Verreaux's Eagle-owl, Black Bee-eater, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Blue-breasted Kingfisher are also remarkably common here and are best located by their ringing vocalizations in the early morning. A walk down into the gorge may produce widespread forest species such as black and African Emerals Cuckoos, speckled Tinker bird, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Grey Wood pecker, Green Hylia and purple-headed starling although these are all more readily seen at Maramagambo. The attractive white spotted fluff tail is numerous in thickets along the river. Listen in moist grassland adjacent to the gorge, for the far carrying, metallic twink call of Broad-tailed Warbler.

Bird Watching around Kampala and it's Enviros.

Areas around Kampala offer variety of exciting opportunity to birders. Kampala lies on the Northern shore of Lake Victoria, it's well wooded outskirts supporting a wide variety of birds. In fact Kampala provides the best chance of seeing certain species as the Bat Hawk and African Hobby. Both breed regularly in tall trees in the urban areas and are commonly observed overhead at dusk in the city centre (Around Makerere University and around Serena hotel)

In Mabira Forest Bird watching is a major activity and it is amazing done as the forest is endowed with 298 different species of birds and bird watching can be done here for a period of about 1-2 days. The best times for the activity is March, April and September

The key species in this forest are; Joyful Greenbul, Leaflove, Squared-tailed Drongo, Nahan's bill, Tit-Hylia, Capuchin Babbler, Sooty Boubou, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Weyn's Weaver, Purple-Throated Cuckoo Shrike

Accomodation can be got at the Mabira Forest Lodge which has an eco style and flair.

Bandas behind the Forest Visitor's Centre and camping can also be undertaken.

Bird Watching Entebbe

In Entebbe the Botanical Gardens that lie on the shores of Africa's largest lake. They offer a superb introduction to Uganda's bird species and are situated conveniently close to the capital and Entebbe International Airport.

The drive from the airport takes 10 minutes on a perfect tarmac road. The gardens are actually near the Entebbe Botanical Beach Hotel and an entrance fee is charged. The gardens host a variety of open country and woodland species some of these include; the Great Blue and Ross's Turacos, klaas, Diederik cuckoos, Woodland kingfisher Back and white Casqued Hornbill, African Fish Eagle and many more.

Bird Watching In Mpanga Forest

Mpanga forest is a stunning patch of remnant medium altitude ever green and swamp forest that lies 37km from the roundabout in Natete along the Masaka Road. Birds are plentiful and Mpanga Forest would be a good introduction to forest Bird watchers in Uganda.

Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.

Uganda's smallest and probably most scenic national park is situated in the extreme South Western Uganda in Kisoro district with 33km and habitant of montane forest with an extensive belt of Bamboo (Arundinaria) and regenerating pastures on the lower slopes. The best timing for viewing the birds in this park is around April- May, October- November with a record of 115 species of birds and bird watching in park can last about 2 days.

The key bird species being; Handsome Francolin , Rwenzori Turaco, montane (Rwenzori ) Nightjar, Alpine Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, White- Tailed Blue Flycatcher, Lagden's Bush Shrike, Scarley-tufted Malachite Sun Bird, Malachite Sunbird, Montane Double-Collared Sunbird. Accomodation in this park is of mid range Travellers Rest hotel, Kisoro Tourist hotel and Virunga lodge.

Bird Watching Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

The park is located in Kabale, Rukungiri and Kisoro, with a size of 321km sq and its habitant is of medium altitude moist ever green forest montane forest with patches of bamboo. You can see many species associating at mixed feeding flocks that are active through that day but with a peak of activity in the mid morning. Bird watching can be done anytime as birds are in plenty and easy to spot. The time birders can spend bird watching in this park is about 2-3 days minimum. An early start give the best chance of finding the Handsome Froncolin, which is seen sunning and feeding on the track in the morning. Cinnamon, chested Bee-eaters are common and can be observed entering their nest burrows in exposed banks along the road. Canopy and mid storey flocks, at eye level, the African Hill babbler (considered by some to be a separate species) banded Prinia, Scaly-throated Honeyguide check the rank vegetation around for the rare and gorgeous Shelley's Crimson wing and many other species.

In this park there is plenty of accommodation, you could sleep at an up market lodge in Buhoma /Bwindi Gorilla Forest camp and Gorilla Resort.

Lake Kitandara Bwindi and Mantana luxury tented camp, Volcanoes Bwindi Camp and Buhoma Homestead Tented camp manage by the community.

Bird watching In Semliki Wildlife Reserve.

Semliki is found in Bundibugyo district and Kabarole with a size of 568km squared. The habitat is of tall-grass woodland, Acacia Savanna, grass-land with extensive patches of Borrassus and wet-lands adjacent to Lake Albert and its tributaries. about 350 bird species the park offers a great opportunity to birders and good bird viewing can be done all year round within a minimum of 2-3 days. The Key bird species in this park are the shoebill, African pygmy Goose, Red necked Falcon, Abyssinian ground Hornbill, blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Piapiac, Leaf love, Black chinned, Quail finch and many others. Bird watchers can sleep at the Semliki Safari lodge which is an up market facility lodge. The lodge can also organise a bird watching boat cruise on Lake Albert at a cost with the help of their resident guides.

Bird watching in Murchison Falls National park

The Park is Found in Masindi and Gulu with a size of 3840 km sq Its habitat is Iron wood forest, rivine forest, dry and moist woodlands an, grassy under storey, Borassus Palm savanna with termitaria, papyrus swamps, lakes and rivers The park is recorded to have 450 species of birds and bird watching in this park can take about 2-3 days but the best time to for it is January – March which tends to be a low tourist season and has plenty of bird activity.

The key bird species that can be viewed in this park are, Shoebill, Secretary birds, bat Hawk, Red-necked Falcon, Heuglin's Francolin, Denham's bustard, Senegal Thick-knee, Egyptian-plover, Rock Pratincole, Black-headed plover African skimmers, Four –banded Sangrouse, Bruce's green pigeon, Vinaceous Dove, White-crested Turaco, Pel's fishing Owl, Long tailed Pennant-winged and standard-winged Nightjars, Red throated, Swallow-tailed and Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian Roller, Black Scimitar, Abyssinian Ground Horn-bill, black-billed Barbet , Brown-backed Woodpecker, and many other

On a bird watching trip to Murchison falls, you can sleep at the up market Paraa Safari lodge or Nile Safari Tented camp. If not sleep at the Red chilli Rest camp in the park.

About the Author

Ahmed Saleh is a free lance author found in Africa with a passion for adventure and conservation of wildlife and nature. More of his articles can be found on Uganda Safari Travel Tips African Safaris
or Uganda safari guide

Condemned: Chapter 1 Silver and Bronze Bird Award Guides