Birding in Queen Elizabeth national park; Queen Elizabeth national park is the second largest national park located in western part of Uganda in Kasese, Rubirizi, Kamwenge and Rukungiri districts. Uganda is a home of over 1,000 bird species and Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the best birding destinations in that it’s a home of over 600 recorded bird species including savannah birds, forest birds, migratory birds, and water birds. Queen Elizabeth national park is also known for harboring the famous tree climbing lions and other wildlife species including elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, leopards, waterbucks, bushbucks, warthogs, hippos, primates like chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys among others.
It is done in different areas including Maramagambo forest, Mweya peninsula, Kazinga channel, Ishasha sector, Katwe areas, Kasenyi plains, Lake Kikorongo, Katunguru Bridge among others. During birding, you will be accompanied by an experienced bird guide and follow different birding trails where you will be able to view variety of bird species including African skimmer, black bee-eater, lesser and greater flamingo, papyrus canary, verreaux’s eagle, pink-backed pelican, Chapin’s flycatcher, African broadbill, white tailed lark, shoebill, bar-tailed godwit, white-tailed lark, martial eagle, African fish eagle, white backed pelican, Hammerkop, African jacana, Egyptian geese, pied kingfisher, great egret, water-thick knee, malachite kingfisher, spoon-billed stork, black headed gonolek, squire tailed nightjar, Nubian woodpecker, pygmy kingfisher, swamp nightjar, red-chested sunbird, pygmy kingfisher, blue-napped mousebird, Diederik cuckoo, palm-nut vulture, brown snake eagle, crowned plover, black-crowned Tchagra, grey kestrel, lappet-faced vulture, African crake, Ruppell’s griffon vulture, Bateleur, Senegal plover, double toothed barbet, African green pigeon, yellow-billed oxpecker, ross’s turaco, helmeted guinea fowl, African emerald cuckoo, black bishop, red-shouldered cuckoo-shrike, African finfoot, black coucal, squire-tailed nightjar, slender-billed weaver, pin-tailed whydah, long created eagle among others.
Best time to go for birding in Queen Elizabeth national park
It can be done anytime throughout the year though the best time is during the wet/ rainy season in the months of March to May and October to November because that when breeding is at its peak, and bird lovers will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species from Europe.
Birding 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 birding trails will be dry and passable which makes birding successful.
What to pack for your birding safari in Queen Elizabeth national park
There are various essentials to pack for your birding safari in Queen Elizabeth national park including hiking boots, long sleeved shirt and trouser, insect repellent, camera and extra batteries, a pair of binoculars, bottled drinking water, waterproof rain jacket, field book, backpack among others.
Where to stay in Queen Elizabeth national park during your birding safari
Queen Elizabeth national park has a wide range of accommodation facilities where you can stay during your birding safari. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Elephant plains lodge, Irungu forest safari lodge, Ishasha jungle lodge, Marafiki safari lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Pumba safari cottages, Kasenyi safari camp, Ishasha wilderness camp, Parkview safari lodge, Enganzi lodge, Elephant hub lodge, Simba safari camp, Queen Elizabeth bush lodge, Kyambura gorge lodge, Lake Chibwera camp, Kyambura tented camp, Mweya hostels, Katara lodge, King fisher lodge-Kichwamba, Ihamba safari lodge, Ishasha Ntungwe River camp, Kitandara hippo hill lodge among others.
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 whereby you will drive from Kampala via Kamwenge, Fort Portal or Masaka, Mbarara and then to the park headquarters which takes about 7 to 8 hours’ drive.
Queen Elizabeth national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book charter or scheduled flights from Entebbe international airport to Kasese or Mweya peninsula and then connect to the park or lodge.
Apart from birding, Queen Elizabeth national park offers other interesting activities like game drives, boat cruise on Kazinga channel, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge where you will be able to spend one hour with the chimpanzees in their natural habitat, guided nature walks, lion tracking experience where you will be able to view lions at a close range among others.
