Uganda birding tours ; Fact, Uganda is truly great location for birders and the best way to enjoy Uganda birding in involving in over three weeks ‘’21 days or 10 days’’ the choice is yours, this can be done by help of a trained professional birding guide from Africa Birding journey in the diverse ecosystems and habitats ,hovers into a fairly small area estimating 90,041 square miles , which is incomparable to any birding destination in the entire world as in days ,regarding a given good timing ,luck perseverance ,weather and openness of the birding group. Ideally, to the keen birders can have a record over 500 bird species can be spotted around from all over the world -depending on the guide’s information.
Birding habitats in Uganda
Unlike other birding destinations around the world – Uganda is gifted with different habitats with range from tropical to afro -montane rain forest , grasslands savannahs ,wooded ,mashes to papyrus swamps ,arid to semi-arid areas not leaving out the clear blue skies all these making Uganda a convention ,home to both residents and migratory species of birds , which include wintering Palearctic migrants such as the Peregrine Falcon ,Lesser Spotted Eagle , Intra African migrants both vertical and horizontal and the breeding resident species within the major habitats which leads Uganda to the apex of birding all finding refuge in the forests and swamps both high altitude and low range are viewed.
Special Bird Species in Uganda;
It’s unique Uganda to have only one endemic bird species named as the dark backed Fox’s Weaver which can be spotted in the mashes of Eastern Uganda near Lakes Opeta and Bisinia, the Awoja swamp and even in Mount Elgon National Park have been recently spotted there, interestingly a pair of them were seen nesting near Bulmbuli a few kilometers from the main road off Mbale Kapchorwa and several other nests within Pian Upe game reserve. Most of birding guides have spotted numerous of them in this area and there breeding months tends to happen in the months of January, February and Match. Take note, this weaver which is similar to the Speke’s which are inhabits of central Northern Tanzania, South Western Kenya and Northern Kenya.
Uganda a birding destination has got several bird species which are endemics to specific habitat within the Albertine Rift that ranks Uganda on the World’s Birding Map -this area is characterized by high altitude lakes and swamps, mountain and tropical rain forests, it also stretches from the south of Lake Albert way down through the southwestern corner connecting to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park as well as connecting to the Ntungwe Forest of Rwanda.
Albertine Rift Endemics in Uganda;
Truly, Uganda is an adrenaline birding area with beautiful bird species within, Semiliki National Park is the only area in Uganda that hosts Guinea Congo Biome endemics in Central East Africa, Rwenzori Mountains National Park and also part of Queen Elizabeth National Park the second largest and home rich in diversity of wildlife species -number of tourists prefer visiting it because of the unique tree climbing lions. They can also be spotted with the corridor to Kibale Forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest bordered with very productive birding forests like the Echuya forest reserve as well as Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Some of the bird species endemic here to see include African Green Broadbill marked with a pale blue throat and always highly sought after by birders of all walks who come to Uganda, the typical leaf Red-faced Woodland Warbler with an un mistaken brick-faced wash to the supercilium ,Neumann’s Warbler with its olive flanks and whitish belly always viewed along the fast forest flowing rivers within the Buhoma region of Bwindi National Park , the Graauer’s Swamp Warbler that inhabits swamps and it ranges between 1950 -2600 meter above sea level , the dark slaty grey Yellow -eyed Black Flycatcher, the Creepy Strange Weaver , the largest Shelley’s Crimson wing whose viewing were lucky to have recently with twitcher Henk from the Netherlands around the neck of the Mgahinga gorge, the dark grey as well as reddish plumaged Dusky Crimson wing – they can easily seen crossing back and forth around the Mgahinga gorge and a shy hard find in the Ruhija section of Bwindi.
You can decide to take a walk around the swamp or driving slowly can be seen making swift crosses of the main road about 3 kilometers to the park offices of Ruhija ,birds to see ;Rwenzori Blue Headed sunbird ,the Regal Sunbird easily seen in the highland forests including edges and clearings ,the Superb painted Rwenzori Turaco easily viewed on the Rwenzori mountains and Mgahinga -these species can be seen Rwenzori Double -Collared Sunbird and the unique Purple-breasted Sunbird that shines appears in variation of gold ,purple ,violet ,copper and green colorations ,the Handsome Francolin pairs and small flocks easily watched on the drive between the Ndego and Ruhija gate of Bwindi along the Bamboo thickets ,Black faced Apalis ,Rwenzori Batis ,Kivu Ground Thrush , Archer’s Robin -Chat easy to see in Mgahinga National Park than in Bwindi where its mostly heard than seen.
Then in Kidepo Valley a home to untouched wilderness ,there are many species to see which includes ;Stripe-breasted Tit ,the Collared Apalis , Semliki with variety of Hornbills ,Green bulls ,Bluebills with Malimbes and lake Mburo home popular to the Red-faced ,Crested ,Black-collared ,White-headed and Spot-flanked Barbets and Livingstone’s Turaco recently sighted around the fig trees near the Rwakobo Rock Lodge ,there is less visited reserves and important Birding Area to maximize on the species of birds while encountering variety of large game.
Note; Above all, tourists on African Birding Safaris – choose Uganda as your best safari destination to go for birding Safaris, this is because Uganda ranks more than 1200 bird species recorded in an area.
Best time to do a birding safari in Uganda
Depending on your interest, you can do a bird watching trip to Uganda any time of the year. Though the best visiting time of the year to spot numerous populations of bird starts from June through September and December to February are generally good months without disturbance of heavy rain. The best memorable time for birding starts as early as at 6am or in the evening when there is no much sunshine to limit you from spotting birds as many as possible along your birding days.
What to pack with you on a birding trip to Uganda?
They include useful essentials like;
Right clothes such as long-sleeved shirts, Rain jacket and rain pants ,2 short sleeved shirts /t-shirts ,2 pairs shorts ,1 sleeveless shirt, Fleece pullover, Light jacket, Rain jacket, rain jacket and rain coats ,4 pairs mid- calf socks, A wide-brimmed hat is handy for protecting your head from the scotching sunshine in the tropics you are likely to experience on the day long walking safari or on open boat tour in Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls National Park.
Medication and First aid kit -must be containing lip balm with sunscreen, Aspirin, Ibuprofen, plaster, tape, anti-histamines, antibacterial get, antiseptic cream, insect repellent, Sewing kit, iodine and hydrogen peroxide for minor injuries among others.
Other items include; Field guidebooks, Waterproof shoes, Water bottle, Pair of binocular and spotting scope, Flash light, documents among others
Get started now!
