Birding Safaris in Mount Elgon National Park Uganda | Bird Species

Birding safaris in Mount Elgon National Park – a complete guide to bird watching for you to explore unique bird species. Over 300 bird species reside in Mount Elgon National Park, making it a special birding spot in Uganda.

The bird species in Elgon National Park mainly comprise restricted and endemic species. During the birding safaris in Mount Elgon National Park, expect to unearth the park’s diverse habitats, including grassland and forests. Each of these habitats hold unique bird species of avid birders’ interest during a bird watching tour in Mount Elgon National Park.

Mount Elgon National Park’s Top Bird Species to Explore

Mount Elgon National Park is a vibrant bird-watching destination with bird species such as the endangered lammergeyer, black-collared apalis, & Jackson’s francolins. These can be spotted in the Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre.

Birders can take the Ridge View birding trail to explore a range of birds that reside here. You can also embark on a birding excursion along the Riverine thickets and expect to find birds such as golden-winged sunbirds, Hartlaub’s turacos, and Doherty’s bush-shrikes.

Other bird species to identify on birding safaris in Mount Elgon National Park include Chubb’s cisticola, African blue flycatchers, crowned eagles, Tacazze sunbirds, Jackson’s francolins, and cinnamon-chested bee-eaters.

Best Birding Sites in Mount Elgon National Park

Birding Safaris along Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre.

Kapkwai offers amazing bird sightings, including the Baglafetcht weaver birds, Luhders bush shrikes, white chinned prinia, Chubb’s cisticola, African blue flycatchers, African goshawks, and more.

Ridge View Trail

Embark on a guided bird-watching experience along the Ridge View trail. This trail rewards birdwatchers with amazing montane species of birds.

Mount Elgon National Park also features enriching birding trails like the Chebonet River and Cheptui Falls Area. The forest species of birds to explore in some of the existing trails in Mount Elgon National Park include the African blue flycatchers, Hartlaub’s turacos, Golden-winged sunbirds, cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, Doherty’s bush shrikes, black & white colobus monkeys.

The afro-tropical species to explore in this park include the moustached green tinkerbird, the moorland francolin, and the Alpine chats. Mount Elgon National Park Uganda also supports a range of restricted bird species like Sharpe’s long-claws, Jackson’s francolins, and black collared apalis.

When to go for Birding Safaris in Mount Elgon National Park

It is possible to organize birding safaris or bird watching tours to Mount Elgon National Park at any month of the year. The best time for you to experience most of the park’s birding adventure is around March to May or September to November –the breeding and migration season or months.

The dry season offers excellent views due to low rainfall, and the forest cover is clearer. This allows you to identify your favorite bird species, and besides, you can have a smooth walk through the natural forest. The birding trails remain drier for the extended period of peak dry season.

Where to Stay during Birding Safaris in Mount Elgon National Park

The accommodation choices to retire for a night in and around Mount Elgon National Park include budget, midrange, and luxury. The best lodges to book include Mt Elgon Hotel, Mount Elgon Guesthouse, Sipi River Lodge, Noah’s Ark Hotel, Masha Hotel, Mbale Resort Hotel, and more.

How to reach Mount Elgon National Park for birding safaris

Mount Elgon National Park only takes 5-6 hours for you to access it. Drive off from Entebbe or Kampala on the Jinja-Mbale route. This is one of the best routes to consider when planning the access options to Mount Elgon National Park.

En route, you can have a chance to visit Jinja or make a stopover where you can explore the Nile River. At the Source of the Nile, you can participate in the white water rafting experience, Kayaking, and bungee jumping.

Birding safaris can also be combined with hiking adventures on the Sipi Waterfalls. Or visit Mabira Forest and Ssezibwa Falls.

Wagagai Peak Hikes

Mt Elgon offers memorable hiking or climbing adventures. A guided hike on Mt. Elgon allows you to conquer the Wagagai peak at an altitude of 4321m. A complete hike to the summits of Mount Elgon can last for about 4 to 6 days. Other volcano peaks on Mt. Elgon include Masaba, Mubiyi, Koitobos, and Sudek.