Uganda the pearl of Africa is not just a home to the mountain gorillas but also a variety of bird life making it between the top and best birding destinations on the African continent. Uganda has various birding destinations where a birder can have the best out of a birding safari and these include the following
The Mabamba Swamps
These are situated on lake victoria in Masaka and the best place to see the shoebill stork one of the rare birds in east Africa. The shoebill stork prefers swampy areas where it can easily hunt its prey (lung fish). At the Mabamba swamps, shoebill storks are usually spotted in a pair or three of them as they keep on the look for the prey. There are many other birds that can be spotted while on a birding tour include the white winged terns, the yellow billed egrets, the pied kingfisher, the blue-breasted bee-eater, the African jacana, the cape wagtail, the long toed plover and many others.
Trips to the Mabamba can be taken in a dug out canoe, which offers a very unique experience and coupled with great scenic views.
The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
This is situated in southwestern Uganda and a home to the endangered mountain gorillas. Extensively covered with a tropical rain forest, Bwindi impenetrable is a home to over 350 bird species with 13 bird species endemic to the forest and therefore found in no other place in Uganda. Some of the birds that can be seen while on a forest expedition in Bwindi include the great blue and black billed Turaco, the red chested fluff tail, the regal sunbird, the northern olive thrush, the striking handsome francolin, the green tinker bird, the white crested flycatcher, the pink footed puff back and many others.
Tourists see most of these birds as they hike the forested mountains and can easily also go for a gorilla safari within the forest to meet the great apes as a supplement to their nature walks. The national park can be accessed by road transport in a 10 to 11 hours drive or by air transport using a charter plane to Kihihi and Kisoro airstrips.
The Mabira Forest Reserve
This is one of the natural forests in Uganda situated along the Kampala Jinja highway. The forest covers a land area of 360-kilometer squares with over 350 bird species, 200 butterflies, 200 plant species, over 20 mammal species as well as many reptiles and other small insects. The forest has well developed trails that led tourists on birding excursions to the different parts of the forest as they enjoy the great sights and sounds.
Some of the birds that can be sighted while in the Mabira forest reserve include the paradise flycatcher, the grey-capped warbler, the green tailed bristle bill, the grey long bill and many others. Mabira forest can be accessed by road transport in about an hours drive from the Kampala city center.
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens
These are situated in Entebbe on the shores of lake victoria. The gardens have various plant species that act as habitants of the different bird species that shelter in them. There are over 200 bird species here some of which including the orange weaver, the little swift, the ross and great Turaco, the yellow backed weavers and many others.
The Kibale Forest National Park And The Bigodi Wetlands
Kibale forest national park is situated in western Uganda with over 350 bird species including some species endemic to the Albertine rift.
The Bigodi wetlands are situated near Kibale forest national park in western Uganda. Tourists on nature walks usually see birds here where they view a number of bird species that include the great blue Turaco and many others.