Uganda was named “The Pearl of Africa” because of its naturally gifted different touristic features which included wildlife primates, mammals and Species (Plants, birds, insects and animals), physical features like Mountains, Rivers, Lakes, Falls, Hot springs, Rift valleys, forests, and swampy areas, cultural heritage sites and tribes.
It has its major sightseeing where all these listed features are located; these sightseeing include national parks, Sanctuaries and Game reserves. Wild animals in Uganda include African big fives (Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards, Lions and Rhinoceros), Antelopes, Giraffe, Zebras, Kobs, impala, Elands, Sitatunga, big cuts like Cheetah, Primates include Chimpanzees, Golden Monkeys, Black & White Colobus Monkeys, Red Colobus Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys, Vervets, Baboons, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Apes include Mountain Gorillas, insects include Butter flies, tsetse flies, mosquitoes, bees and more, Reptiles include Snakes like Black cobra, python, Gabon vipers, lizards, tree species like Acacia and more.
Mountains in Uganda include Mountain Rwenzori and Mountain Elgon, Rivers include river Nile, river Sezibwa, lakes include Lake Victoria, Lake Kyoga, Lake Albert and more, Falls include Murchison Falls and Sipi falls, Hot springs include Sempaya hot springs and Forests include Mabira forests, Maramagambo forest, Budongo forest and Zika forest.
Uganda is located in the Eastern part of the African Continent bordering Kenya in the East, South Sudan in the North, Rwanda and Tanzania in the South and Democratic Republic of Congo in the West, Birders like Uganda and consider it as a birders’ haven because of its wide range of different bird species with over 1061 bird species recorded sightable in its top major bird spotting sites.
Listed below are the genuine and exciting best birds spotting sites. While on your birding tours in Uganda don’t miss visiting the areas mentioned below.
Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is Uganda’s finest as far as bird watching safaris; it is located in the South western part of Uganda recorded with over 600 bird species including the uniquely spotted species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is characterized with wet and dry thick tropical rain forest, Savannah grasslands and woodlands, plus fertile swampy areas where all these recorded species feed and dwell from.
The best way of reaching Queen Elizabeth National Park in the western part of Uganda is by use of a strong 4×4 wheel drive Safari jeep via Kampala – Masaka – Mbarara highway with en-route stop over at the equator for some simple briefing about the equator, photographs and snacks thereafter continue with the journey up to the gate of the park, if not road transport you can travel luxuriously by air transport means where by always private charters are arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajjansi airstrip up to Mweya airstrip in Queen.
Queen Elizabeth National Park has its four major best spotting sites which include the southern Ishasha sector, Maramagambo forest, Kyambura gorge side where the rare chimpanzees are residents and the Kazinga channel mostly characterized with water birds.
Murchison Falls National Park. Popularly located in the North western part of Uganda this park is ranked to be the biggest in Uganda covering about 3,893 km² of Area
This park is characterized with thick tropical rain forest, Savannah grasslands & Woodlands and Swampy areas rated to be among the best bird watching sites in Uganda with over 451 bird species recorded sightable.
Other attractions in Murchison include wild animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Antelopes, Kobs, Aquatic species like Hippopotamus, Crocodiles, and Primates like Black & White Colobus monkeys, Red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Vervets, Baboons and more but some are rarely seen during some seasons. Game driving around the park plus launch trip along the waters of the fall is the best way of sighting most of these based bird species usually in the morning or evening time.
Kidepo Valley National Park. This is located far in the North Eastern part of Uganda characterized with dry Savannah grasslands and Woodlands, tropical rain forest and swampy areas, this is a unique place where birders go with interest of sighting different bird species habituated in the jungles plus swampy areas.
Keep it in mind that before entering the park you have to pay $40 USD per 24 hours as park entrance fees, the best way of reaching this Park is by use of a strong 4×4 wheel drive Safari Jeep via Kampala – Masindi – Gulu highway or you can luxuriously by use of air transport means and private charters are arranged from Entebbe airport or Kajansi airstrip up to Apoka airstrip in Kidepo. Bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park costs $30 USD per person.
Semliki National Park. Semliki named one of the newest National Parks in Uganda is also located in the Western part of Uganda characterized with tropical rain forest and Swampy areas, it has a huge portion of different bird species which are recorded sightable although it’s popularly known for the Sempaya hot springs.
The best way of sighting these bird species is by Nature Walks or Forest Walks in the Jungles following the well permanently established routes. Other attractions in this park include Wild animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Leopards, Lions, Antelopes; primates like monkeys which include Black & White Colobus, Red Colobus, Blue Monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, Vervets and Baboons but some are rarely seen.
Lake Mburo National Park. This is also located in the Western part of Uganda near Mbarara town commonly known for the big game which include Zebras, Buffaloes, Leopards, Hyenas, Aquatic species like Hippopotamus, Crocodiles and more, besides that this Park is known of being one of the best sites in Uganda for bird watching with different uniquely spotted species. Over 350 bird Species are recorded in this park.
Kibale Forest National Park. When you talk about Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda, this park comes to every one’s mind because it’s generally known for these primate species although it’s also a good place for bird watching safaris, its located in the Western part of Uganda near Fort portal town. You can better reach it by use of Kampala – Mityana – Mubende – Fort portal highway using a suitable 4×4 wheel drive Safari jeep which is about 358 kms from Kampala, this park is characterized with ever green tropical rain forest, Savannah grasslands and swampy areas.
Bird watching in Kibale is usually done in Bigodi wetland which is near the suburbs of the park and surely this Wetland is characterized with different bird species including the rare shoe bill, Bigodi walk throughout the Wetland is usually started in the morning.
Zika Forest. This is a tropical rain forest found along Kampala- Entebbe airport as you are heading to Entebbe airport, this forest is composed of different big tree species, shrubs and evergreen vegetation, it is also known for habituating different bird species therefore visitors mostly birders usually go there with interest of seeing these bird species plus canopy viewing. Other attractions in this forest include primates like Monkeys, insects like butter flies, tsetse flies, Bees, Reptiles like Snakes and more.
Mabira Forest. This is one of the biggest tropical forests in Uganda located along Kampala- Jinja highway characterized with big tree species, shrubs, ever green vegetation and more. Huge boost of different bird species is situated in this forest and are usually best sighted while on Forest Walks.
Other touristic features in this forest include Primates like monkeys which include Black & White Colobus, Red Colobus, Blue Monkeys, Vervets and Baboons, insects include Butter flies, tsetse flies and more, Reptiles include snakes, lizards and more.
Mabamba Swamp. This is a Swampy area located in the suburbs of Entebbe along the shores of Lake Victoria, this swamp is popularly known for hosting different bird species including the rare shoe bill species and usually birders visit this place with interest of seeing the rare shoe bill. Usually, this place is accessed by use of a boat since it’s located along the shores of Lake Victoria.
Entebbe Botanical Gardens. These gardens are located along Kampala- Entebbe highway characterized with tropical rain forest in some parts, Savannah grasslands plus some areas covered with swamps where different bird species feed from.
Most of travelers visit this place with interest of seeing different bird species plus enjoying the cool associated air in the reserved compounds and big tree species when resting. These gardens are also used for hosting different events which include wedding ceremonies, birth day parties, graduation parties and more.
