Birding tours in Uganda reward travellers with a feast of extraordinary and magnificent species of feathered beauties in addition to providing visitors the golden opportunities of achieving their life dream of improving species’ diversity. Over 1080 species of birds live in varying natural habitats that range from Tropical rainforests, savannah woodlands and grasslands, agricultural lands, wetlands to Lakes and Rivers. There are a million and one reasons to start your birding safari in Uganda but the fact that the country is on the Equator and is separated from Rwanda and DRC by the Albertine Rift Valley means biodiversity is expected. There, we bring you the list of best birding destinations in Uganda that includes;

Queen Elizabeth National Park

When you talk diversity, Queen Elizabeth National Park takes the crown with over 600 bird species hence making it every birder’s Paradise. This Park boasts of varying habitats that include a dense forest, vast savannah plains, dense wetlands, Lakes and thickets  that shelter the lesser black-backed gulls, northern black flycatcher, African jacana, shoebill storks, great white pelicans, Black and white shrike flycatcher, African Crakes, Hammerkop, Red-chested sunbirds, Grey-headed gulls, African fish eagles, pink-backed pelicans, flamingos and the Sooty chats among others.

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park doesn’t receive the attention it deserves as one of the best birding destinations in Uganda, yet it is haven to about 475 species of birds including some of the region’s endemic species such as Karamoja Apalis as well as the ones endemic to the Somali-Masai Biomes as well as the Sudan-Guinea savannah biomes. This Park is situated in the north-east of the country, bordering South Sudan and Kenya. The must see species are ostriches, Kori bustard, Clapperton’s francolin, Black-breasted barbets, Black Coucal, Scarlet-chested sunbirds, Marsh Tchagra waxbill, Superb starlings, Nubian woodpecker, Little weavers, Red-cheeked cordon-bleu, African Moustached warblers and many others.

Murchison Falls National Park

Known for hosting the World’s most powerful waterfalls, this Protected Area is also an excellent birding destination in this spectacular country with a rough total of about 450 species of birds. While undertaking a boat cruise to the bottom of the Murchison falls or even during a game drive, make sure to spot different bird species. The verdant swamps, palm savannah, riverine, woodland, Rivers and Acacia-dotted savannah plains are all excellent habitats for birds that include the Shelley’s Rufous sparrow, white-crested Turaco, Abyssinian ground hornbills, Black-headed batis, Senegal lapwing, standard winged nightjar, shoebill storks and Puvel’s Illadopsis among others.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Some say Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the birding Paradise in Uganda but we say it is the heart and soul of birding adventures with over 345 bird species of which 23 species are Albertine Rift endemics and 14 species that aren’t found anywhere else in the country. Each of the four trekking regions/sectors features extraordinary birding trails where a plethora of bird species can be spotted. Expect unmatched views of Kivu ground thrush, Jameson’s antpecker, red-throated alethe, Black bee-eater, Northern double-collared sunbirds, Neumann’s warblers, White-bellied crested flycatcher, Grey-chested Illadopsis and bar-tailed trogon that are common along Buhoma birding trails. Ruhija especially around Mubwindi Swamp is another excellent birding spot in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with views of Grauer’s broadbill, Rwenzori nightjar, Rwenzori hill-babblers, Western tinkerbird, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori batis, Purple-breasted sunbirds and many others.

Mabamba Bay Wetland, Lake Victoria

A birding trip in Uganda that doesn’t include Mabamba Bay Wetland is obviously incomplete. This Wetland is found around Lake Victoria, largest freshwater Lake in the African Continent with over 260 species of birds. It is a widely known fact that the wetland is a stronghold for shoebills storks in addition to the Clarke’s weavers, Swamp flycatcher, Pygmy goose, Blue swallow, Carruther’s Cisticola, Papyrus gonolek, Viellot’s weavers, Black-headed weavers, lesser jacana, African jacana, Great blue Turaco, Swamp flycatcher and many others.

Kibale Forest National Park

Besides being the primate Capital of the World, Kibale Forest National Park is another wonderful birding destination in Uganda with over 375 species of birds. The varying habitats that include savannah, woodland, dry and wet tropical forest, open space and wetland are home to the grey-spotted barbets, African grey parrots, Black bee-eaters, Toro Olive greenbul, African finfoot, Black-capped Apalis, green-breasted pitta, Abyssinian ground thrush and others.

Lake Mburo National Park

Bird watching is one of the reasons why travellers throng Lake Mburo National Park, a 370-square kilometer safari destination in the western side of the country. The hot spots here are Rwonyo, Warukiri swamp although other habitats such as the Rocky outcrops, the dense savannah and hillside are amazing birding places in this small savannah Park. The Yellow-throated leaf love, Nubian woodpeckers, white-backed night herons, Barefaced go-away bird, Papyrus canary, Papyrus gonolek, Coqui francolin, Tabora Cisticola, Narina Trogon, Red-headed lovebird, Southern red bishop, Golden-tailed woodpecker and many others are some of the species you can expect while birding in Lake Mburo National Park.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest National Park in Uganda covering only 34 square kilometers and is situated within the south-western side of the country, bordering Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park and Virunga National Park of Congo. There are about 180 bird species including a number of Albertine Rift endemics. Enthusiastic birders can expect western green tinkerbirds, Rwenzori batis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Handsome francolin, Red-throated alethe, Stripe-breasted tit, Blue-headed Coucal, Kivu ground thrush, to mention but a few.

Semliki National Park

Semliki National Park enjoys seclusion and rich biodiversity with over 440 bird species within the Albertine Rift Valley, western Uganda. Of these birds, visitors can see the Guinea-Congo Biome species within the lowland forest, grassland, riverine and grassland dwelling species that include Capuchin babblers, Blue-billed Malimbe, Congo serpent eagles, Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Long-tailed hawks, Swamp palm bulbul, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, African Piculet, Nkulengu rail, Red-billed dwarf hornbills, Dwarf hornbills and many others.