Best 7 bird watching spots in Uganda – where to go for bird watching tours in Uganda.

Uganda is well known as a birding destination in Africa, with up to 10% of the total world’s bird species population found here! Birding in Uganda is one of the most exciting safari activities. Uganda is one of the best bird-watching destinations and perhaps the number one choice in East Africa – Uganda has about 150 different bird species that cannot be found anywhere else in the region – a great reason for choosing Uganda Bird watching safaris over the rest of the countries in the region. In this article, we talk about the 7 best birding sites in Uganda – where you should go for your Bird Watching Tours. Here are the Best 7 bird watching spots in Uganda that you should visit for incredible bird-watching experiences.

Best 7 bird watching spots in Uganda

The top bird-watching sites in Uganda – Best 7 bird-watching spots in Uganda

The Best 7 bird watching spots in Uganda are the best places to go for bird-watching tours while on your safari in Uga for a remarkable bird-watching experience.

1. Mabamba Wetland swamp, Lake Victoria

Mabamba wetland swap is one of the best bird-watching sites in Uganda, especially for those in search of the shoebill stork. About 260 different bird species can be found in and around Lake Victoria, the biggest freshwater basin in Africa. While on your birding Uganda safaris, you will grab opportunities to visit this amazing birding site with plenty of species. The most commonly spotted include; papyrus gonolek, swamp flycatcher, pigmy goose, lesser jacana, white-winged warbler, Viellot’s weaver, grosbeak weaver, palm-nut vulture, black-headed weaver, northern brown-throated weaver, Clarke’s weaver, and Carruther’s cisticola. Bird-watching trips in Mabamba can be tailor-made with other top bird-watching spots around Uganda.

2. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a breathtaking safari destination in Uganda, famous for habituating the most endangered gorilla species, the Mountain gorillas. On top of the famous mountain gorillas, the park is also home to an impressive number of birds with up to 320 bird species registered here. While on your Uganda bird-watching trip in Bwindi, you are likely to encounter the Western Green Tinker bird, African Wood Owl, Archer’s Robin-chat, Red-throated Alethe, Fine banded Woodpecker, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Montana Oriole, Flycatcher, and African Green Broad. Bird watching safaris are one of the other top activities in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and one to think about when planning a trip to Uganda

3. Murchison Falls National Park

The other bird watching site that makes the list of the Best 7 bird watching spots in Uganda is Murchison Falls National Park. Uganda’s largest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park is named after the impressive Murchison Falls, where the River Nile rushes through a 7-meter-wide gorge before tumbling 45 meters downstream, forming one of the most magnificent waterfalls in the world.

The top way to experience bird life in the park is by taking a boat ride to the base of Murchison Falls or a wildlife game drive around the park. You will encounter several bird species with up to 450 bird species that have been recorded here. Bird-watching Tours in Murchison Falls National Park are really exciting as you will also grab opportunities to spot other resident wildlife in the park. The commonly encountered species include; Goliath Heron, Swamp Flycatcher, Abyssinian Ground Horn Bill, Red-throated Bee Eater, Northern Red Bishop, African Quail Finch, and Giant Kingfishers, among others

4. Lake Mburo National Park

Despite having an impressive number of different wildlife species, there are approximately 350 different bird species in this relatively small protected area, Lake Mburo National Park. The park is a great bird watching site in Uganda and is a well-known destination for birdwatchers and nature lovers. Adventures on birding safaris can be experienced on foot, on a boat, or even in a car. The White-winged Warbler, Papyrus gonolek, Red-faced Barbet, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Verreaux’s eagle, Saddle-billed stork, and the African finfoot are some of the species that are easiest to discover on a birding safari in Lake Mburo National Park.

5. Queen Elizabeth National Park

One of Uganda’s most popular national parks, Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to a wide variety of animal and bird species. With more than 600 different bird species, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best places for birdwatchers to see even the rarest bird species.

The majority of these bird species can be seen while taking a boat tour along the Kazinga Channel or a wildlife game drive through the park. the commonly spotted species include; Swamp Flycatcher, African Skimmer, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-headed Gonolek, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Sedge Warbler, White-winged Terns, Grey-capped Warbler, Collared Pratincole, Martial Eagle, Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars among others.

6. Semuliki National Park

Semuliki National Park is located in the far west however, a top place to see some of the endemic and rare bird species of Uganda. There are over 440 different bird species registered in this amazing National Park – a birding paradise for any bird lover. The checklist here includes species like the breasted ibis, Hartlaub’s duck, Congo serpent eagle, chestnut flaned goshawk, and red-thighed sparrowhawk, western bronze-naped pigeon, Iyre-tailed honey guide, Shoebill, dwarf honey guide, Yellow throated Cuckoo, yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue and Ross’s turaco, purple breasted sunbird, orange weaver, white crested hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, African Piculet, Swamp Palm Bulbul,  among others.

7. Kibale Forest National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is not only home to the wild chimpanzees but also home to an impressive number of birdlife – actually one of the Best 7 bird watching spots in Uganda. the National Park is home to 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. The checklist here includes; Red-chested Owlets, Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Blue-breasted Kingfishers, Crowned Eagles, Little Greenbuls, Black Bee-eaters, Dusky-blue Flycatchers, Grey-throated Flycatchers, White-naped Pigeons are just a few of the bird species that may be found at Kibale Forest National Park.

For the ultimate experience on your vacation in Africa, contact Acacia Safaris Limited to help you customize your journey to best suit your interests. We offer tours to Uganda, Rwanda Tanzania, and Kenya. Let us show you the beauty in the wilderness of Africa.