Uganda birding trips, tours and holiday safaris

Uganda is arguably one of the of the best destinations in Africa for avid birders, the East African country is a home to over 1050 bird species widely spread across the country’s rich habitat, the North eastern part of the country is popular with raptors and some of the rare birds to look out for include the Fox’s weaver and the karamoja Apalis and when you continue down to the country’s rift valley basin you will expect to see the shoebill stork which is a pre historical bird that has had his habitat narrowed down by activities of Man.

The hill sides and mountains of south western Uganda is famous for the Albertine rift endemics which includes the following species.

Dwarf Honeyguide
Black-faced Apalis
Rwenzori Apalis
Grauer’s Swamp Warbler
Grauer’s Warbler
Neumann’s Warbler
Red-faced Woodland Warbler
Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher
Rwenzori Batis
Purple-breasted Sunbird
Regal Sunbird
Blue-headed Sunbird

Stuhlmann’s Sunbird
Strange Weaver
Dusky Crimson-wing
Shelley’s Crimson-wing
Archer’s Robin-Chat
Handsome Francolin
Rwenzori Turaco
Willard’s Sooty Boubou
Stripe-breasted Tit
Grauer’s Broadbill
Red-throated Alethe

Some of the top birding areas in Uganda include Mabamba swamp, Mabira forest reserve, Soroti and Eastern Uganda, Karamoja region and Kidepo valley national park, Murchison falls national park, Kaniyo Pabidi and Royal mile in Budongo, Lugogo swamp in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Kibale forest national park, Semuliki national park, Mountain Rwenzori national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga gorilla national park and Lake Mburo national park which provide excellent birding year in and year out.

Best time for birding in Uganda

Though birding trips can be contacted throughout the year, the dry spell from June to September is considered the best time to see birds and this is also a perfect breeding season for many endemic birds, however specialized bird guides are limited in Uganda and we highly recommend booking way in advance to have the services of some of the country’s most experience bird guides like Saul Ampeire who spend his childhood birding on the trails of Bwindi forest and he is so far one of the best guides in Uganda.