Uganda Birding Safaris | Best Bird Watching Tours in Uganda

Join us to enjoy the best Uganda birding safaris in the Pearl of Africa. Uganda is a birder’s haven, boasting a record of approximately 1,080 species of birds.

In Uganda alone, over 50% of the bird species in Africa and 11% of the species worldwide reside, making it a lovely destination for bird-watching. Birding safaris in Uganda promise birdwatchers astonishing bird sightings, including the resident, endemic, and migratory birds.

A total of 34 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are present, making Uganda an ideal birding destination on the African continent. The IBAs in Uganda comprise mainly the 10 National Parks, many reserves, and wetlands/swamps, etc.

Top Albertine Rift Endemic Bird Species to Explore

1. Grauer’s Swamp Warbler (Bradypterus graueri)
2. Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher (Melaenornis ardesiacus)
3. Chaplin’s Flycatcher (Fraseria lendu)
4. Mountain Masked Apalis (Apalis personata)
5. Collared Apalis (Oreolais ruwenzorii)
6. Red-faced Woodland Warbler (Phylloscopus laetus)
7. Rwenzori Nightjar (Caprimulgus ruwenzorii)
8. The Green Broadbill (Pseudocalyptomena graueri)
9. Handsome Francolin (Pternistis nobilis)
10. Archer’s Robin-Chat (Cossypha archeri)
11. Red-throated Alethe (Chamaetylas poliophrys)
12. Dwarf Honeyguide (Indicator pumilio)
13. Rwenzori Turaco (Gallirex johnstoni)
14. Kivu Ground Thrush (Geokichla tanganjicae)
15. Rwenzori Hill Babbler (Sylvia atriceps)
16. Grauer’s Warbler (Graueria vittata)
17. Regal Sunbird (Cinnyris regius)
18. Stuhlmann’s Starling (Poeoptera stuhlmanni)
19. Stripe-breasted Tit (Melaniparus fasciiventer)
20. Dusky Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza jacksoni)
21. Shelley’s Crimsonwing (Cryptospiza shelleyi)
22. Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird (Cinnyris stuhlmanni)
23. Purple-breasted Sunbird (Nectarinia purpureiventris)
24. Dusky Twinspot (Euschistospiza cinereovinacea)

Best Destinations to visit for Uganda Birding Safaris 2026/2027

Explore the best birding safari destinations in Uganda. Each of the bird watching tour destinations below has unique birds to be identified.

Visit Mabamba Wetland or Swamp

Located at the shores of Lake Victoria, Mabamba Wetland is home to 300 bird species. Mabamba is an ideal birding safari destination and perfect for you to start your search for your favorite birds after your arrival at the Entebbe International Airport.

Birds in Mabamba wetland –a recognized Ramsar Site include Eurasian Hobby, Blue swallow, African pygmy goose, fulvous whistling-ducks, shoebill storks, white-winged warblers, lesser jacanas, orange weaver birds, Hadada Ibis, papyrus gonoleks, and African fire finch. Cattle egrets, fork-tailed, African green pigeon, Black-headed weavers, Black-winged stilt, Pallid harriers, African pied wagtail, Banded Martin, Black-crowned waxbill.

Grey woodpecker, feral pigeon, common sandpiper, African water rail, Glossy Ibis, double-toothed barbets, cormorants, papyrus yellow warblers, mosque swallow, gull-billed tern, malachite kingfishers, and red-chested cuckoos.
Other birds to find during Uganda birding safaris in Mabamba Wetland include Ashy flycatchers, Carruthers ’ cisticola, fan-tailed drongo, Eastern grey plantain eaters, black-faced rufous warblers, Angola swallows, and more.
Mabamba Wetland birding safaris can be enjoyed using a traditional canoe or boat. You can have a half day or an entire day while you explore the diversity of birds that reside in the Mabamba Wetland.

Birding Safaris & Tours in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park in Rubirizi to enjoy sights of birds from the forest, savanna, and aquatic species. This park is endowed with more than 620 birds of species. The birds to explore on a birding safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park include long-tailed cormorants, Rwenzori turacos, Malagasy pond-herons, African marsh harrier, and blue-breasted kingfishers. Other birds that reside in the varied habitats of Queen Elizabeth National Park include African skimmers, helmeted guineafowls, rufous-necked wryneck, Eastern goshawks, and lesser and greater flamingoes.

Additional birds to find in Queen Elizabeth National Park include double-toothed barbet, intermediate egrets, Gabar goshawk, chocolate-backed kingfishers, shoebill storks, Nubian woodpecker, banded snake-eagles, compact weaver birds, and African spoonbill.

Queen Elizabeth birding safaris can be experienced in the Kasenyi Plains or sector, Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo Forest, Kazinga Channel, and Katuguru. Guided bird watching safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be experienced together with game drives, boat or launch cruise tours, and nature walks or chimpanzee tracking.

Birding Safari Adventure in Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is sitting in the northwestern part of Uganda and is not popular for game drives but also for birding tours. A guided birding safari in Murchison offers you a chance to explore a range of species that make up 451 birds in this park alone. The diverse birds to identify during the birding safari in Murchison Falls National Park: swamp flycatchers, rock pratincole, giant kingfishers, marabou storks, veracious doves, Denham’s bustard, sandpipers, Senegal thick-knee, and white-tailed lark.

Other martial eagles, standard winged nightjars, long-toed plovers, osprey, secretary birds, Abyssinian ground hornbill, yellow-fronted thinker-birds, silver birds, saddle-billed storks, giant heron, red-throated bee-eaters, and weaver birds.

Accessing Murchison Falls National Park for birding safaris can be done using a 4WD car. You depart from Kampala or Entebbe city and take at least 6 to 7 hours. Connection to Murchison is also possible from Fort Portal city, where you can drive for 7-8 hours.

Birding Safaris & Tours in Kidepo

Kidepo is home to a total of 475 bird species. The park’s birds include Verreaux’s eagle, fan-tailed raven, Egyptian vulture, Karamoja apalis, Purple grenadier, Little green bee-eaters, Ethiopian swallows, black-breasted barbet, and Abyssinian rollers. Kidepo National Park is also blessed with birds such as African swallow-tailed kite, Ostriches, secretary birds, pygmy falcons, African moustached birds, crimson-rumped waxbill, scarlet-chested sunbird, and more.

Birding tours in Kidepo introduce you to prime sites such as Lonyili Mountain, Kanangorok, Namamukweny, Mt Morungole, and Narus Valley. Apoka Camp and Lomej Hills also offer excellent birding safari experiences in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Semuliki Birding Safaris

Visit Semuliki National Park, a premier birding safari destination in Uganda. Embarking on Uganda birding safaris in the Semuliki allows you to explore birds such as the Guinea Congo species.

A total of 441 bird species have been registered in the Semuliki National Park, along and include the great painted-snipe, gray-capped sunbirds, black-wattled hornbills, crested flycatchers, red-billed dwarfs, orange weaver birds, purple-breasted sunbirds, and African piculet. Other birds include African golden oriole, shoebill storks, chestnut-breasted negrofinch, and yellow-throated nicator.

Uganda birding safaris in Mabira Forest Reserve

Mabira Forest supports over 300 species of birds. They include European honey-buzzards, Hadada ibis, black-headed herons, great blue turacos, yellow-billed kite, reed cormorants, and grey parrot. Other birds to expect on the Mabira Forest birding tour include African darters, Narina trogon, tit hylia, black and white casqued hornbills.

Uganda Birding Safaris in Mount Elgon National Park

Visit Mountain Elgon National Park, home to more than 300 species of birds. The diverse birds to explore on a birding tour in Elgon National Park include Lammergeyer, Jackson’s francolins, Moustached green tinker, black-collared apalis, and moorland francolins.

Birding Safaris in Lake Mburo National Park

About 350 species of birds inhabit Lake Mburo Game Park. The birds to find during the Lake Mburo birding safari include black-bellied bustards, papyrus gonoleks, shoebill storks, African wattled lapwing, African fin-foot, grey-crowned cranes, and African fish eagle. Namaqua doves, Ross’s turacos, bare-faced go-away, and lilac-breasted rollers.

Best Time for Uganda Birding Safaris

The off-peak/wet or rainy season offers an excellent time for birding in Uganda. The renowned off-peak months to consider for birding include March, April, and May, or consider planning a birding tour in October and November.

How to pack for Uganda Birding Safaris

Checklist of essentials to pack for birding safaris in Uganda includes waterproof hiking shoes or boots, a camera, a daypack, a pair of binoculars, and a first aid kit.

Other birding safari destinations in Uganda include Lutembe Bay, Rwenzori Mountain National Park, Kibale National Park, Maramagambo Forest, to mention but a few.

Conclusion: Uganda Birding Safaris offer you astonishing sightings of birds ranging from endemic to resident species. Trust Flawless Adventure Planners Ltd for all rewarding birding safaris in Uganda. Book with us your unforgettable bird-watching tours to explore a myriad of bird species.