Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park; Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the most visited national park in Uganda located in western region. The national park is the top birding destination in that it’s a home of more than 600 recorded bird species including migratory birds, endemic species, forest birds, savannah birds and aquatic birds. Queen Elizabeth national park also harbors 95 mammal species including the tree climbing lions, buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, leopards, waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks and primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, olive baboons among others.
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is done in various areas like Maramagambo forest, Ishasha sector, Mweya peninsula, Kasenyi plains, Kazinga channel, Kyambura gorge, Katwe area, Kikorongo area and around Katunguru Bridge. During bird watching, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide who help you to spot different bird species like African emerald cuckoo, blue-breasted kingfisher, slender-tailed nightjar, African mourning dove, swamp nightjar, hooded vulture, African white-backed vulture, brown snake eagle, Ruppell’s griffon vulture, black-bellied bustard, African crake, helmeted Guinea fowl, African wattled plover, yellow-billed oxpecker, grey-backed fiscal, palm-nut vulture, long-created eagle, kittlitzs plover, martial eagle, Senegal plover, Bateleurs, lappet-faced vulture, African crake, black-crowned tchagra, swamp flycatcher, collared pratincole, Pel’s fishing-owl, shoebill, broad-billed roller, black bee-eater, African skimmer, great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, pink-backed pelican, Heuglin’s gull, rufous-bellied heron, white-backed night heron, shoebill, spotted redshank, western banded snake eagle, yellow-throated cuckoo, crab-plover, common sand martin, Ayres’s hawk eagle among others.
Best time to go for bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is done all year round though the best time is during the wet season in the months of March to May and October to November because that’s the best period when bird lovers will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park can also be done in the dry season during the months of June to September and December to February because during this period there is less rainfall in the park therefore access roads and bird watching trails will be dry and passable.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means where by you will drive from Kampala via Mubende, Fort Portal or Masaka, Mbarara and then to the park headquarters which takes about 6 to 7 hours’ drive in a 4WD safari vehicle.
Queen Elizabeth national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book scheduled or charter flights with Aero link Uganda or Bar aviation from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Kasese or Mweya peninsula and then connect to the park headquarters.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park has several accommodation facilities ranging from budget, midrange and luxury where you can stay during your bird watching safari including Elephant plains lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Savannah resort hotel, Marafiki safari lodge, Ishasha jungle lodge, Kasenyi safari camp, Pumba safari cottages, Ishasha wilderness camp, Elephant hab lodge, Parkview safari lodge, Enganzi lodge, Simba safari camp, Buffalo safari lode, Irungu forest safari lodge, Queen Elizabeth bush lodge, Kyambura gorge lodge, Kyambura tented camp, Katara lodge, Ishasha tented camp, King fisher lodge Kichwamba, Ihamba safari lodge, Kitandara hippo hill lodge, Ishasha jungle lodge among others.
What to carry for your bird watching safari in Queen Elizabeth national park
There are a number of items to carry for your bird watching safari in Queen Elizabeth national park including hiking boots, field guide book, long sleeved shirt and trouser, drinking water, waterproof rain jacket, insect repellent, a pair of binoculars, backpack, camera and extra batteries.
Other activities in Queen Elizabeth national park
Apart from bird watching, Queen Elizabeth national park offers other interesting activities that visitors can engage in during the safari including
Game drives where you will be able to explore the park in a comfortable pop up safari van with a professional driver guide. During the game drive, you will follow different trails in Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula and Ishasha sector where you will be able to view different animals like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs, topi, bushbucks, giant forest hogs among others.
Boat cruise which is done on Kazinga channel a waterbody that connects Lake Edward and Lake George. During the boat cruise, you will be able to view large concentrations of hippos and Nile crocodiles in water and animals like buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, warthogs among others drinking water along the shores.
Chimpanzee trekking is Kyambura gorge also known as the valley of apes where you will be able to spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat which gives you an opportunity to learn about their behaviors, habits, watch them feed, breastfeed, fight, hunt, play, rest, take photos and record the incredible moments.
Nature walk/ hiking where you will be able to explore the national park on foot with the company of an experienced park guide and armed park ranger. During the guided nature walk, you will get up-close and personal with different animals, primate species, enjoy the cool breeze, listen to sweet sounds of bird species among others.
