Uganda has more bird species than anywhere else in Africa, making it one of the most popular birding destinations.
There is a high concentration of bird species in Uganda and it is one of the most popular birding destinations not only in East Africa but throughout the continent.
A total of 1075 bird species can be found in Uganda today. The country has so many birds because it’s located between the East African Savannah, West African Rain Forests, and the Semi-Desert North.
In this article, we bring you the most common, rare, and even endangered bird species and where you can find them. These are the top ten birding destinations in Uganda. They include forests, lakes, rivers, national parks, wetlands, grasslands, and more.
Budongo Forest
More than 350 different bird species can be found in the Budongo Forest, which is located in Murchison Falls National Park on the edge of the Albertine Rift basin. The forest is a well-liked location for chimpanzee tracking as well.
The Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Cassin’s Spine Tail, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, and Nahan’s Francolin are just a few of the bird species found in Budongo Forest.
Lake Mburo National Park
One of the top ten birding destinations in Uganda is Lake Mburo National Park, which is also home to over 351 different species of birds.
The best way to spot birds in Lake Mburo NP is to go horseback riding. Nubian Woodpeckers, Trilling Cisticolas, Bee-eaters, Cheeky Bronze-tailed Starlings, Crested Francolins, Emerald-spotted Wood Doves, Brown Parrots, African Fish Eagles, and Red-necked Spurfowls are just as few of the bird species found in Lake Mburo National Park.
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Over 177 different bird species may be found in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Western Uganda, and the majority of them can be seen while climbing the Rwenzori Mountains.
The Rwenzori Turaco, Blue-headed Sunbird, Golden-winged Sunbird, White-starred Robin, Long-eared Owl, Archers’ Robin-chat, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, and Slender-billed Starling are just a few of the bird species found in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
About 180 different bird species can be found in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is located in the southwestern region of Uganda.
Tourists can track the Nyakagezi Gorilla Family at Mgahinga and observe birds as well. Cape Robin, White-starred Robin, Brown Woodland Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Greater Double-collared Sunbirds, Archer’s Robin-Chat, and many other bird species may be seen in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mabira Forest Reserve
Mabira Forest is situated approximately an hour and a half’s drive from the nation’s capital, Kampala City, along the Kampala-Jinja route in the Buikwe District.
If you want to see as many woodland birds as you can, Mabira Forest is a must-visit location. It is a popular site for birding trips in Uganda.
The most popular birds include the Red-headed Malimbe, Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher, Honeyguide Greenbul, White-throated Greenbul, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Olive Sunbird, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, African Pied Hornbill, Vanga Flycatcher, Western Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-crested Barbet, and the Spot-flanked Barbet.
Mabamba Bay Wetland
Mabamba Bay Wetland is one of the few locations in Uganda where the rare Shoebill Stork may be spotted. It is situated on the edge of Lake Victoria.
A trip in a canoe through Mabamba Bay Wetland is a wonderful way to discover the many different bird species that live there, including the Shoebill Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Pied Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolex, Black-headed Heron, African Open-billed Stork, Black Kite, and African Marsh Harrier, among many others.
Lutembe Bay Wetland
About 4 kilometers from Namulanda on the Kampala-Entebbe route is the Ramsar site and Important Bird Area (IBA) known as Lutembe Bay Wetland.
There are around 200 species of birds in the Lutembe area. Eight of the twelve Ugandan species found in the Lake Victoria biome reside in the wetland.
The best time to go birding and compile a large list at Lutembe is probably from September to March because there are about 26 species of Palearctic visitors during this time, including White-winged Terns, Slender-billed Gulls, Gull-billed Terns, Madagascar Squacco Heron, Greater Cormorants, and Black Heron.
Kibale Forest National Park
One of the best places in Uganda to go bird-watching is Kibale Forest National Park. It has over 375 different species of birds. Due to the high plant cover that benefits bird life, bird-watching safaris are very popular in addition to chimpanzee tracking safaris.
Red-chested Owlets, Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Blue-breasted Kingfishers, Crowned Eagles, Little Greenbuls, Black Bee-eaters, Dusky-blue Flycatchers, Grey-throated Flycatchers, and White-naped Pigeons are just a few of the bird species that may be found in Kibale Forest National Park.
In addition to being a haven for primates, Kibale Forest is one of Uganda’s top ten birding locations.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Many people know Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for its Gorilla Trekking Safaris. However, the park is also home to a variety of bird species.
Bwindi is home to about 350 different bird species, including the Black-billed Turaco, African Green Broadbill, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Fraser’s Eagle, Handsome Francolin, Collared Apalis, and White-bellied Robin-Chat.
Makanaga Wetland
A wetland on Lake Victoria known as Makanaga is regarded as a section of the Mabamba Ramsar site and Important Bird Area (IBA). It is well known as an additional location in Uganda to view the renowned Shoebill.
The Makanaga swamp has demonstrated to offer exceptional, if not better, sightings of the Shoebill and numerous wetland birds on the huge open mudflats and marshes.
However, it is not as well known as the Mabamba wetland, which is the first choice for Shoebill-watching expeditions and wetland birding in Uganda.
Conclusion
Up to 34 Important Bird Areas (IBA) exist in Uganda, several of which have been designed for birding excursions and observing tours.
Additionally, the Ugandan birding community keeps discovering new locations with a high concentration of birds throughout the nation and creating birding trails.
These birding destinations on our list are the most visited spots for birding tours in Uganda. For a better experience, it’s best to hire a local site guide that has been trained in bird identification and can identify all the site’s resident species.
