info@gorillaexperiencesafaris.com
+256 700 137 740
Birding is one of the most exciting adventures travelers to Uganda indulge in in the naturalistic habitats scattered all over the country. Uganda is such a sensational bird-watching destination on the African continent and has up to 34 Important Birding Areas. The bird-watching adventure in Uganda takes travelers through thick tropical rainforests, wetlands and bushes to ensure that they spot the exciting endemics.
The most outstanding bird species are the Albertine rift endemics which are scattered and can be observed in the various natural areas all over the country, especially in the forests and wetlands. Some of the many bird species that can be sighted include violet-eared waxbills, lanner Falcons, palm swifts, red-billed teals, sunbirds, barn outs, martial eagles, vultures, rufous checked nightjars, Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee-eaters, cinnamons, egrets, hammerkops, African fish eagles, turacos, grey crowned cranes, marabou stocks and secretary birds.
Birding Destinations in Uganda
Uganda has a variety of birding sites across all the regions, the most outstanding birding destinations in the country include;
Mabamba wetland.
Mabamba is a prime wetland in Uganda known for the beautiful bird species it hosts. It is renowned for the sightings of the famous shoe bill that excites many birders from all corners of the world. This wetland is located in the surroundings of Lake Victoria in the northwest of Entebbe peninsula. It is a celebrated Ramsar site and hosts about 300 bird species.
This wetland is an Important Birding Area made up of papyrus, water lilies and plenty of wetland grasses that are a favorite feeding ground for birds. The birds in the swamps feed on lungfish and worms that they enjoy hunting in the mud. Several birding spots have been developed in the area with state-of-the-art binoculars to help guests watch birds that are both near and far and not miss any exciting species.
Bird checklist at Mabamba wetland;
The famous shoebill stork, Black egret, Orange weaver, Black crake, Lesser jacana, Goliath heron, African fish eagle, Grey crowned crane, Malachite kingfisher, African pygmy goose, Long-toed lapwing, Black crake, Black headed gonolek, Black weaver, Purple heron, White-faced rufous warbler, Black-faced rufous warbler, African pied wagtail, Greater swamp warbler, African openbill, African marsh harrier, Blue-breasted bee-eater
Winding cisticola, Swamp flycatcher, Yellow-billed duck, and White-faced whistling duck.
Endemic birds at Mabamba wetland;
Though there are no bird specific strictly endemic to Mabamba bay, the site has East Africa endemics that include; Papyrus gonolek and Papyrus yellow warbler.
Lake Mburo national park.
Lake Mburo National Park is yet another Important Bird watching area in Uganda that cannot be mentioned. It is located in Kiruhura district just about 240 kilometers from Kampala. The nearest town to the park is Mbarara, roughly a 30-minute drive. The National Park is a favorable habitat for the lives of countless bird species. These live in the surroundings of the lake within the National Park which is also a perfect hunting ground for the birds.
Numerous birds fly over the lake as they look for fish and other edibles in the nearby bushes and forests. The woodlands in the surroundings of the lake further supplement the hunting grounds and it's here that visitors can get the opportunity to spot some of the birds by just a mere drive through the National Park. These birds inhabit the trees and shrubs in the park. Lake Mburo National Park is famous for the shoebills, secretary birds, scavengers, hadada ibis, African fish eagles, turacos and grey-crowned cranes.
Birding checklist in Lake Mburo NP;
Some of the iconic bird species here include; shoebill, Greater painted-snipe, Mosque swallow, Hairy-breasted barbet, Carruthers’s cisticola, Brown-chested lapwing, Red-faced barbet, African finfoot, African scops owl, Tabora cisticola, Bare-faced go-away bird, Blue-breasted kingfisher, Blue-headed coucal, Southern ground hornbill, White-winged swamp warbler, and Yellow-rumped tinkerbird.
Endemic birds of Lake Mburo NP;
Lake Mburo National Park has no endemic bird species, but it has East Africa endemics, that include; Papyrus gonolek, Papyrus canary and Papyrus yellow warbler.
Budongo forest.
Budongo Forest Reserve is perched in the northwest of Kampala city, it is just adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park and lies in the escarpment in the northeast of Lake Albert. The forest covers an area of about 825 square kilometres that is made up of hardwood trees, shrubs and thick vegetation which provides a favorable habitat for a variety of bird species.
By just a mere walk through the trails in the forests, tourists can set their eyes on about 100 species of birds. The canopies of the forest are a good habitat for bird life hosting about 400 Albertine endemic species.
Bird checklist at Budongo forest;
Bird checklist for Budongo include the following; Rufous chested swallow, Thrush nightingale, Lesser-striped swallow, Ethiopian swallow, White-fronted black chat, Nubian woodpecker, Sooty chat, Isabelline wheatear, Black lored babblers, Black-capped apalis, Green throated sunbird, Western batis, Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Western nicator, Grey-headed sunbird, Dusky long-tailed cuckoo, Western, black-headed oriole, Fire-crested alethe, Puvel’s illadopsis, White-spotted flufftail, Cassin’s honeyguide, Yellow-billed barbet, Grey-winged robin-chat, Blue throated roller, Yellow-mantled weaver, Grey-winged robin-chat, White-headed woodhoopoe, Yellow spotted barbet, Grey longbill and Sabine’s spinetail.
Endemic bird species in Budongo forest;
There are no recorded bird species that are strictly endemic to Budongo forest, but there are Albertine Rift and East Africa endemics, comprising; Ituri batis, Yellow longbill and Yellow-throated greenbul.
Mabira Forest.
Mabira Forest is another birding site to check out when in Uganda. It is located on the Kampala – Jinja highway in Mukono district. It is home to over 315 bird species that can be seen flying through the beautiful canopies of the trees. Several bird viewing spots have been gazetted in the forest to enhance the birders' experiences and sightings. They are fitted with binoculars to help travelers spot birds that are not only near but also far.
It is a favorite spot to view hadada ibis, African darters, hammerkops, African paradise flycatchers, sunbirds, secretary birds, marabou storks and great blue turacos.
Birding checklist in Mabira forest;
The checklist for bird species that can be spotted in Mabira Forest includes; African grey parrot, African pied hornbill, Blue-throated brown sunbird, Black and white casqued hornbill, African emerald cuckoo, Speckled tinkerbird, Great blue turaco, Green-throated sunbird, Blue-throated brown sunbird, Forest robin, Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Yellow-spotted barbet Cassin’s honeyguide, Yellow-throated tinkerbird, White-spotted flufftail, Grey longbill, Black-breasted kingfisher, Western nicator and Fire-crested alethe.
Endemic bird species in Mabira forest;
The famous endemic bird species in Mabira Forest incudes the Nahan’s francolin.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Ruhija sector).
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is not only good for gorilla tracking but also for bird-watching activities. Sensational bird-watching experiences in Bwindi can be obtained in the Ruhija sector. Ruhija sector is one of the four gorilla sectors in Bwindi located in the eastern part of the park. It is home to over 23 endemics which travelers can get the chance to observe when in the thick rainforests of the park. It is an Important Birding Area where travelers can watch over 150 birds in a day. The sector is about a 10-hour and 15-minute drive from Kampala city.
Birding checklist in Bwindi Impenetrable National park;
Checklist of bird species that could be spotted in and around Bwindi Impenetrable National Park include; Green broadbill, Short-tailed warbler, Black bee-eater, African sooty flycatcher, Blue-headed sunbird, Chapin’s fly catcher, Shelley’s crimsonwing, Dusky twin spot and Great blue turaco.
Endemic bird species in Bwindi forest;
At the moment, there are no bird species known to be endemic to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, however there are a number of Albertine Rift endemics, that include; Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori hill babbler, Rwenzori batis and Handsome francolin.
Mgahinga National park.
Mgahinga National Park is located in the southwestern part of Uganda. It is made-up of thick tropical rainforests and lush flora which form a very comfortable habitat for a variety of bird species. It is an Important Birding Area housing about 300 bird species including the lanner Falcons, hammerkops, African fish eagles, turacos, Abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons, egrets, secretary birds, African paradise flycatchers, shoebills and owls.
The National Park is popular for its mountainous relief in which birdlife flourishes in both the higher and lower spots of the park.
Birding checklist in Mgahinga National park;
The bird checklist of Mgahinga National Park includes; Olive pigeon, Blue-headed coucal, Speckled mouse bird, Fire finch, Stonechat, Archer’s robin chat, Pin-tailed whydah, Olive pigeon, Paradise flycatcher, Grey-capped warbler and Grey capped warbler, Black kite and Yellow-vented bulbul.
Endemic bird species in Mgahinga National park;
There are no bird species endemic to Mgahinga National Park, but there are a variety of Albertine Rift endemics. These bird species include; Kivu ground-thrush, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, Double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori nightjar, and Rwenzori hill babbler.
Birding Destinations in Rwanda
Nyungwe National Park.
Nyungwe National Park is a key birdwatching destination located in the southwestern part of Rwanda. Sitting on an expansive land area of approximately 1,019 square kilometers, Nyungwe is found within the Albert Rift at least 225 kilometers southwest of Kigali, Rwanda’s capital city.
Nyungwe National Park has an altitudinal range that spans from 1,600 to 2,950 meters above sea level, which comprises rugged terrain, towering canopy, and diverse ecosystems. These include montane rainforest, bamboo thickets, swamps, and grasslands to support a myriad species of birds.
Birding checklist in Nyungwe National park;
While in Nyungwe forest, you can look out for birds such as; Blue headed sunbird, Red-throated alethe, Neumann’s warbler, Rwenzori olive thrush, African green pigeon, Purple-breasted sunbird, Mountain masked apalis, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Stripe-breasted tit, White-tailed crested flycatcher, and Archers ground robin.
Endemic species in Nyungwe National park;
There are a variety of Albertine Rift endemic bird species found in Nyungwe National Park, they include; Handsome francolin, Kungwe apalis, Rwenzori batis, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori nightjar, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Rwenzori hill babbler, and Rwenzori double-collared sunbird.
Volcanoes National Park.
The 160 square kilometer Volcanoes National Park in northwestern Rwanda is endowed with over 200 bird species. Lying on altitudes ranging from 2,400 meters to 4,507 meters above sea level, Volcanoes is at least 116 kilometers northwest of Kigali city. The ecosystem of Volcanoes National Park is characterized by bamboo and montane rainforests, and also alpine meadows. These are suitable habitats for a variety of resident and migratory species of birds.
Birding checklist in Volcanoes National park;
There is no list of endemic bird species in Volcanoes National Park, but the site attracts specialized birds that can be encountered on any birding safari. These include; Brown-necked parrot Dusky crimsonwing, Kivu ground thrush, Albertine owlet, Olive woodpecker, White-tailed blue flycatcher, White-tailed crested flycatcher, Red-throated alethe, Blue-headed sunbird, Stripe-breasted tit, Archer’s ground robin, Albertine owlet, and grauer's rush warbler.
Endemic species of Volcanoes National park;
The bird species in Volcanoes National Park endemic to Albertine Rift include; Grauer’s swamp warbler, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori batis, Mountain masked apalis, Rwenzori apalis, Handsome francolin and Rwenzori double-collared sunbird.
Birding in Akanyaru wetland.
Akanyaru wetland spans around 35 square kilometers, and situated in southwestern Rwanda only 30 kilometers south of Kigali city center. Akanyaru wetland is an important ecosystem for a myriad wildlife species. The ecosystems include marshes, swamps, shallow lakes, and seasonal flood plains that offer habitats for at least 54 bird species.
Akanyaru wetland is found along the Akanyaru river, forming part of the border between Rwanda and Burundi. The dense vegetation found along the riverbanks serve as nesting sites and homes to both resident and migratory bird species.
Birding checklist in Akanyaru Wetland;
There are various globally threatened species to encounter at Akanyaru wetland. These include both resident and migratory bird species such as; great egret, African Jacana, Malachite kingfisher, Black-headed heron, African fish eagle, Little egret, Black crake, African openbill, Yellow-billed duck, Squacco heron, Pied kingfisher, Hammerkop, White-faced whistling duck, Lesser swamp warbler, Common moorhen, Black-headed gonolek, White-winged tern, African marsh harrier, and Long-toed lapwing.
Endemic Bird Species in Akanyaru Wetland;
Bird species at Akanyaru wetland and endemic to either Rwanda or the Albertine Rift include; Rwenzori turaco, Red collared babbler, Albertine owlet, Kungwe apalis and Ruaha chat
Birding in Nyabarongo wetland.
Nyabarongo wetland is a birding haven situated in southeastern Rwanda, spanning around 143 square kilometers. Nyabarongo wetland is about 25 kilometers northeast of Kigali city center, and contains various habitats, mainly comprising swamps and marshes that shelter over 50 species of birds.
There is also river Nyabarongo, which is the longest in Rwanda and a tributary of the Nile River which joins River Akagera and subsequently into Lake Victoria.
Birding checklist in Nyabarongo wetland;
Nyabarongo wetland has plenty of globally threatened species to be found in the site. These are; The papyrus gonolek, White-collared olive back, White-winged scrub-warbler, Papyrus canary, Papyrus yellow warbler, Northern brown-throated weaver, Sharpe’s pied-babbler, Squacco heron, and carruthers’ cisticola.
Endemic species of Nyabarongo wetland;
Endemic bird species here include Grauer’s swamp warbler, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori turaco, red-collared mountain babbler and others are endemic to the Albertine Rift region of East Africa.
Birding in Congo (Kivu province)
The Democratic Republic of Congo is among Africa’s finest bird hotspots because of its diverse habitat and luxurious forests that house about 1,190 bird species, including Congo Bay owl, Congo peafowl and the spotted flycatcher among others.
Democratic Republic of Congo has 2 important Bird Areas, including the eastern Congo plains and the Albertine Rift mountains. These form the central refugium, which is among some of Africa’s most important endemism hotspots, with at least 20 endemic bird species.
Birding checklist in Kivu province;
The Kivu province in Democratic Republic of Congo is an important birding haven situated in the Great Lakes region and on average elevation of about 1,500 meters above sea level. Kivu has a unique combination of montane forests, volcanic lakes, and rugged terrain that create a range of ecosystems for a myriad bird species.
Birding checklist in the Kivu province;
Though there are no official records for the total number of bird species in the Kivu Province, an avid birder can visit the place to spot the following; The great blue turaco, Grey crowned crane, Bar-tailed trogon, African broadbill, Regal sunbird, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Grey parrot, Shoebill stork, Rwenzori turaco, African green pigeon, African fish eagle, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, White-eyed slaty, flycatcher, White-starred robin, Red-throated alethe, Mountain buzzard, black headed heron, Black and white casqued hornbill, Black saw-wing, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, and White-headed saw-wing.
Endemic bird species in Kivu province;
These are some of the endemic bird species you can spot in the Albertine Rift, which encompasses the Kivu Province; Rwenzori turaco, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Rwenzori batis, Kivu ground thrush and Stripe-breasted tit.
Best Time to do Birding Safaris.
Birding safaris in East Africa can be done throughout the year, however this largely depends on your expectations and experiences. The ideal birdwatching seasons typically occur during the breeding and migratory seasons or patterns of the birds. The breeding seasons for birds in East Africa typically occur in the rainy season, especially during the months of March to May. This period is characterized by birds engaged in courtship displays, nest building and raising their young. Birders can visit East Africa to witness these charming behaviors of the lovely birds.
In the rainy season, the vegetation in most East African protected areas becomes relatively denser and surrounded by puddles, pools and seasonal water bodies. These factors are suitable for increased insect activity since they have to breed, feed and shelter on leaves or water bodies. The insects subsequently attract a variety of insectivorous bird species such as warblers, flycatchers and swallows among others, to exploit the abundance of prey, thus nurturing their breeding efforts. This offers higher opportunities for birders to observe and appreciate the bird’s breeding behaviors.
Also, East Africa is a significant region as a migratory corridor for a myriad bird species undertaking epic journeys between their breeding sites in Europe and Asia and their wintering grounds in Africa. As the birds escape the harsh weather conditions, they find a relatively warmer safe haven in the Great Rift Valley during the periods from October to March. During these months, birders have the perfect opportunities to witness the spectacle of countless migratory bird species, including the blue-billed teal, northern pintail, pallid harrier, European honey buzzard, and the Eurasian reed warbler among others.
Our Partners
Uganda Tourism Board
.
Uganda Wildlife Authority
.
The Buhoma Gorilla Camp
.
The Bwindi Kids Charity
.
What our customers Say ?
Headspun2023-07-16Unforgettable Rwanda Emerald tailored our 5 day trip to Rwanda to all our many and frequently changing requests without any fuss. Chris, our driver/guide for the duration, could not have been more helpful and professional
Nic2022-10-25Amazing holidays! Great holidays! Even my special wishes were included into the planning although time was short. Our guide and driver City Tyson Magezi was caring and responsible. We traveled for four weeks and stayed in different accommodations from hut to tent to amazing hotels.
Susanne2022-08-19Just amazing It felt so safe and comfortable and exciting to travel with emerald. Our guide was so caring, so experienced and always friendly and an a great mood. He showed us so many animals included lions and leopards. That was just amazing . We saw wonderful landscapes like waterfalls and had contact to people . No Uganda or Eastern Africa without emerald . I m deep in love with Uganda and will come back as soon as possible.
Jose Murta2022-05-13Memorable Family Trip in Uganda Fantastic Trip that exceeded our expectations! Travelled to Uganda with wife and 2 children (9 and 10y old) for 7 days. Since the start (at planning stage) got a great support from Bob (company owner) and Edmund (our guide) via WhatsApp. They tailored a program to our needs including the unforgettable mountain gorillas hike, general hikes to waterfalls, safari including boat trip to see hipos!! Edmund, our guide, always super polite and the kids enjoyed him a lot! All our hotels, meals included in the package so no hassle on this….we just paid for drinks! The only regret I have is not staying one extra day in the Mburo National Park to explore a bit more ;) Memorable trip with so much nature and a super-humble people that made the experience even more enjoyable!! Super recommend!! The whole family just feeling we need to get back to explore more ;)Dwayne B2022-05-13Great Experience With Emerald!! It was an amazing experience! My guides Lucky and Hillary made me feel as if I was family and took care of everything I needed. They were very knowledgeable as we trekked to gorillas in Bwindi and a ride a wildlife safari through Queen Elizabeth. I learned so much from them about the animals, the terrain and the surrounding people. They we also incredibly helpful in helping me find activities around Buhoma, where I stayed, all of which were great. By the time I left I knew I had made friends who I will continue to stay in touch with. Can’t wait to come back with my family!
Dávid B2022-05-12Feeding python - 9 lions on a tree - leopard vs. lion We saw all animals and extremely special situations in a short period of time, good organization and friendly guide Paul with lots of knowledge.
Rachmurta2022-05-10Unforgettable trip! We spent one week in Uganda travelling by the guidance of Gorilla Experience safari. The whole experience were definitely above our expectations. Edmand was a friendly, polite and kind guide the whole time!
Vit Siv2022-04-22Ultimately Unique Experience of Uganda! It was unbelievable unique experience, one in a life time. Everything right from arrival to minor ditals was taken care of, too service! Itinerary was compiled/tailor to our wishes and needs as well as to include as much activities as possible. Tyson was our guide. He is an amazing guide, but even better person. He did an incredible job to put this all together, and make it all happen. We managed to do everything we wanted and even more. Definitely a trip to remember!!
Emmanuel OKalany2022-01-08A rewarding experience for a family visit to queen Elizabeth National Park My family and I had an excellent guided tour to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The itinerary planning provided was good and the costing of items was realistic. The care and hospitality of the team was excellent. They were also flexible to make time adjustments brought about because of traveling with children
Gordon Y2021-06-23Trip to Kaiso Tonya Game Reserve The guide/driver was too keen to find out my interests. That way, we always had something to talk abouts. Thank you
