While visiting in Uganda and you love bird watching make sure you drop by any of these places and view these amazing creatures soaring up above!
Check list for top bird spots in Uganda.
Mabamba Swamp
Is a lush swamp situated on shores Lake Victoria is famous for the rare and charismatic species, Shoebill stork (also known as the Whale headed stork).
They are found in only nine African countries and places range from southern Sudan, through Uganda and western Tanzania to Southeast democratic republic of Congo (DRC) and Northwest Zambia. In Uganda, the Shoebill has become a major tourist attraction and is highly sought after by visiting ornithologists. The swamp is accessed opposite the Mpanga forest 30kmsouthwest of Kampala.
The Kazinga Channel
This is a channel which joins Lake Edward to Lake George with 33-35km. It acts as a breeding ground for a variety of birds, fish species as well as hippopotamus’s and buffaloes. Over 300 species of birds are recorded and these include: the African Jacana, Yellow ox-pecker, Black Crake, Little eaglet, the Grey heron, others
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi has a diversity of bird species and 346 species have been recorded. Birds viewed include the Great blue Turaco, the Grover’s, thrush wolber and the African green broad bill, Buhoma-Ruhija-Black bee eater, African Green Broad bill.
Budongo Forest Kaniyo Pabidi
This forest not only famous for the chimps and nature walks but also birds species and they include; the Purvels IIIdopsis, Shinning Blue Kingfisher, White Crested Turaco among others.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
This park is located on the slopes of the Virunga Mountains, in the extreme corner south west of Uganda and around the camp ground is a bird sanctuary and species include; Ibis, Speckled mouse bird, Fire finch, Stone chart, Crowned horn bill, Rwenzori turaco, grey chapped warbler, the black kite, wax bills and yellow vented bulbul.
Murchison Falls National Park
Within the largest park in Uganda is a bird sanctuary and the famous species are, the rare shoebill stork, Denham’s bustard, and the Red fronted bee eaters.
Mabira Forest Reserve
This forest reserve stands at an altitude of 1070-1340m above sea level and harbors 46% of Uganda’s birds which include; blue swallow, papyrus gonolock, nahari’s franklin, bat hawk, hawk eagle and endemic titlogblia. With the help of a guide, try spotting these bird species and top up your list!!
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
Besides the nature walks this wetland sanctuary has to offer visitors, this lush papyrus swamp is famous for birds like the Black billed Turaco and White spotted crake among others.
Lake Mburo National Park
This park has a variety of vegetation ranging from grasslands to wetlands to acacia woodlands harbouring 357 bird species!!
Bird watching is usually done along the Kigambira loop and the most common birds are the Hawks, Marina’s trogn, crowned crane, Marabou stock Grey backed cameroptera, the double- toothed barbet and the green pigeon found in Rubanga forest.
Rwenzori Mountains
These magnificent misted mountains famously called the mountains of the moon are the highest mountains in Africa and have unique bird species among which are the Rwenzori Turaco, francolin and olive pigeon.
Semiliki National Park
This is the only valley park in Uganda which consists of a tropical lowland forest and harbours 435 bird species which is approximately 34% of Uganda’s total recorded, 40 of these species are Congolese found nowhere else in Uganda.
Kibale Forest National Park
This rain forest lies in the northeast of Queen Elizabeth National Park and its vegetation consists of grassland, woodland and swamp. The park hosts over 325 species of birds which include; the great blue turaco, the great white heron, the crowned eagle, the little green bul, the yellow spotted nictator, Green Breasted Pitta and many others