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Uganda Birding Tours
Is Uganda good for birding?
Uganda is a birdwatching paradise. The tropical climate and diverse landscapes attract all sorts of birds. Drive just a few hours, and the scenery changes completely. Forests give way to wetlands. Savannah turns into mountains. This rich variety makes Uganda Africa’s top birding destination. The country has over 1,080 bird species, representing over 50% of all bird species found in Africa. Uganda also has the highest number of professional bird guides in East Africa. New bird species are still being discovered in Uganda every year.
The beauty of birding in Uganda?
During your Uganda birding tours, you can explore the whole country. Every national park in Uganda is worth a visit for birders. So, apart from seeing your dream birds, it is a fantastic trip where you see and get to know a unique country. If you like, you can also combine your birding tour in Uganda with other activities, such as gorilla trekking or chimpanzee tracking.
Everything is tailored to you, as a bird watcher
If you are coming to Uganda for a birding tour, we will tailor your trip specifically to your needs. We will use seasoned birdwatching guides. We will plan your route so you can check off all the birds on your list. As a birdwatcher, you will often visit areas that other tourists avoid, such as Semuliki National Park, Budongo Forest, and Bugoma Forest.
We will select lodges with convenient locations. The vehicle you will travel in will be spacious, giving you plenty of freedom to capture stunning images. Moreover, the vehicle is equipped with charging stations, so you will never run out of power.
Uganda's most iconic birds
In Uganda we have birds that you won’t easily find anywhere else in the world. These birds shouldn’t be missing from your list:
Sheobill
The shoebill is one of the most remarkable birds on Earth. It looks like no other bird alive. Its huge bill and prehistoric stare are unforgettable. This bird can stand up to 1.6 meters tall. Yet it lives quietly in just a few wetlands in East Africa.
Sadly, these fragile habitats are under growing threat. The shoebill is also famously hard to spot. In Uganda, your best chance is in Mabamba Swamp, home to the country’s largest population. As your boat glides closer, the bird stands perfectly still. For a moment, you may wonder — is it real, or a statue? Want to know more? Read more about the shoebill.
Green-breasted pitta
The green-breasted pitta is one of the most beautiful birds to see in Uganda. It sits high on many birdwatchers’ wish lists. Why? Because it is famously hard to find. You need luck. A sharp eye. And an excellent guide. This shy bird hides deep in the lush green forest. It stays quiet and well concealed. Spotting one feels like a real achievement. Want to try your luck? Your best chance is in Kibale National Park, where sightings are most frequent.
Great blue turaco
The great blue turaco is a bird with beautiful blue feathers. They are also called the “lipstick bird” because they have a red tip on their beak. There is a great chance you will see a great blue turaco during your Uganda birding tours. They even live in Kampala, but you will see them especially often in southwest Uganda. They prefer lush, green habitats and forest edges.
Grey Crowned Crane
This is Uganda’s national bird and a prominent symbol featured on the national flag and coat of arms. It is known for its elegant appearance, with a golden crown of stiff feathers, a grey body, and an elaborate courtship “dance” involving bowing and jumping. It is commonly found in wetlands and grasslands across the country.
These birds should also not be missing from your list:
- The Shelley’s crimson wing
- The standard-winged nightjar
- The short-tailed Warbler
- The Doherty’s Bushshrike
- The bar-tailed trogon
- The black breasted barbet
- Blue-headed sunbird
- Dusky crimsonwing
- Fox’s weaver
- Golden-winged sunbird
- Grauer’s broadbill
- Grauer’s swamp warbler
- Grauer’s warbler
- Handsome francolin
- Jackson’s spurfowl
- Nahan’s francolin
- Red-faced barbet
- Red-throated alethe
- Regal sunbird
- Ruwenzori turaco
- Strange weaver
Of course, there are also many other beautiful, colorful birds worth seeing on your Uganda birding tours. Think of parrots. Or waterfowl. The African grey parrot. Or the African finfoot.
Plan a birdwatching trip to Uganda
Interested in a birdwatching tour in Uganda? Give us a call or email us . We would be happy to plan your trip for you.
