AFRICA’S BIRDING HAVEN

Uganda has over 1,000 recorded species of birds, much more than the whole of Europe combined. With Avian-rich habitants ranging from savannas to wetlands, lowland forests to RwenzoriMountains and the shores of Lake Victoria to the rapids of river Nile. Uganda has for a long time been kept  the best secret in its surfeit of birds, the country is ultimately every orthinologist’s dream, it is indeed still a virgin birding destination and this justifies its ranking as the Africa’s birding haven. Uganda is arguably the onlydestination with such a diversity of bird species and yet also with so much more to offer in terms of wildlife, culture, scenery and adventure. Besides, Uganda’s temperate climate is unmatched, no wonder so many birds can survive. With all year conducive climate, Uganda hosts both native and migrant bird species. Thebig 5 species include shoebill (Balaenicepsrex), African Green Broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena), Green-breasted pitta (Pitta reichenonowi), Africa finfoot (Podicasenegalensis), Green Blue Turaco (Corytthaeolacristata) these can  be found in some of the major birding spots in the country including areas around Lake Victoria, Mamamba Swamp, Queen Elizabeth Park, Murchison fall national park, Budongo forest, Buhoma and Ruhija in Bwindi for both birds and gorillas (The Gorilla tracking permit in Bwindi is required), Kibale forest park, Lake Mburo National Park and kampala and its environs, like Entebbe.

Birding tours include both long (20 days and above) and short birding safaris ranging from one to two weeks. Birding is done all year round though the wetter months (February May and September November) may be recommended for birding as most birds breed during this time and are more active and vocal. On a safari, birders could see up to 500 bird species, as well as other wildlife primates, game including; chimpanzees, gorillas, hippos, crocodiles, snakes, impala, eland, water-burks, zebras, buffaloes, and Butterflies. Apart from the big five, other bird species which can be seen include some of the following; the snake eagle, fish eagle, the rare shoebill, Egyptian goose, the African darter, shoebill stork, Goliath heron, Red-Naked Falcon, saddle billed stork,African pitta, Abyssinian groundthrush, Crowned eagle, Dusky crimsonwing, Black-capped apalis, Collared apalis, Purple-breasted sunbird, Black bee-eater, Yellow spotted nicator, Little greenbul, Black-eared ground thrush, Brown-chested alethe, Yellow-rumped tinker bird, Blue-breasted kingfisher,Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, Grey Kestrel, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, African Wattled Plover, Crowned Plover, Senegal Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Rufous napped Lark, Flappet Lark, White-tailed Lark, Brown-backed Srub-Robin, ZittingCisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-lored Babbler, Grey backed Fiscal, Black-headed Gonolek, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fork-tailed Drongo, Pin-tailed Whydahbirding and many more.