Birding Destinations in Uganda and Rwanda
Birding Destinations in Uganda and Rwanda: These are top birdwatching spots with diverse bird habitats. Both countries focus on conserving various bird species and their natural environments, known as “Important Bird Areas.” In Uganda, great birdwatching locations include Mabamba Wetland, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Rwanda has Volcanoes National Park, Nyungwe Forest National Park, Akagera National Park, and Gishwati Mukura National Park.
Birding destinations in Uganda
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Destinations in Uganda and Rwanda. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of Uganda’s most visited national parks, home to vast animal and bird species. With over 600 bird species, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best spots where birding enthusiasts can encounter even the rarest bird species. Most of these bird species can be encountered while on a wildlife game drive through the park or on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. Bird species in Queen Elizabeth National Park include: Swamp Flycatcher, African Skimmer, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Black-headed Gonolek, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Sedge Warbler, White-winged Terns, Grey-capped Warbler, Collared Pratincole, Martial Eagle, Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars, among others.
Murchison Falls National Park
Following birding destinations in Uganda and Rwanda, Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national park, named for the impressive Murchison Falls, where the River Nile rushes through a narrow gorge and drops 45 meters. The park is home to about 450 bird species, which can be viewed during wildlife game drives or boat rides to the base of the falls. Notable bird species include the Goliath Heron, the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and the shoebill, which attracts many visitors. Birdwatching is a key feature of safaris in the park, with other species like the Martial Eagle and Dark-chanting Goshawk also present.
Mabamba Wetland
One of the best places to see the endangered Shoebill Stork is Mabamba Wetland, next to Lake Victoria. Because so many species flourish in this wetland, visiting Mabamba Wetland improves your Ugandan birding tour. During a canoe trip in Mabamba Wetland, you can see a variety of species, such as the African Marsh Harrier, Swamp Flycatcher, and Malachite Kingfisher. Only an hour’s drive from the city centre is Mabamba Bay, one of Uganda’s best places to go birdwatching. Seeing birds such as Pied Kingfishers, African Pygmy Geese, Papyrus Gonolek, and African Jacanas is possible with a three-person wooden canoe.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Due to the abundance of unique bird species, bird viewing is also very popular in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the primary destination for Uganda Gorilla Trekking Safaris. About 350 bird species, including Fraser’s Eagle and Black-billed Turaco, may be found in Bwindi. It is home to 76 of the 144 bird species found in the Guinea-Congo forest biome and contains 24 of the 25 endemic species found in the Albertine Rift. The Waterfall track, Mubwindi Swamp trail, and Bamboo Zone are important birding routes. Many birds are easy to see in mixed feeding flocks throughout the day, so birdwatchers should expect to see species like the African Wood Owl and Western Green Tinkerbird.
Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park is a top bird-watching spot in Uganda, home to over 375 bird species. It is also known for chimpanzee tracking safaris, thanks to its dense vegetation that supports birdlife. Notable bird species include the Red-chested Owlet, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Crowned Eagle. The park is one of Uganda’s top birding locations, close to the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, which has over 350 bird species. Popular birds in Kibale include the Papyrus Canary, Yellow-billed Barbet, Papyrus Gonolek, and Crowned Eagle, among others.
Top Birding Destinations in Rwanda
Nyungwe Forest National Park
Following birding destinations in Uganda and Rwanda, Nyungwe National Park is Africa’s largest and oldest montane forest, featuring over 300 bird species. Bigugu Mountain is a top spot for birdwatching, with visitors able to see birds in the tree canopies. The nearby Gisakura tea estate attracts many birds as well. Notable species include the Red-collared Babbler, Albertine owlet, and Blue-headed sunbird. Visitors can explore Nyungwe by walking or biking along trails or using a 160-meter-long canopy walkway for stunning views. A birding guide is recommended for identifying various species, such as the Archer’s Robin-Chat and Great Blue Turaco. Visitors might also see wildlife like Angola Colobus and chimpanzees.
Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only savanna park, located in northeastern Rwanda near the Tanzania border. It features diverse landscapes like savannah, hills, and wetlands, and is home to over 310 bird species, making it ideal for birdwatching. Within Akagera National Park, Lake Ihema is a top spot for bird sightings, especially during boat rides. Birding is best in the early morning or evening, with common sightings including the Red-faced barbet and endangered Papyrus Gonolek, along with the Grey-crowned Cranes and colorful African Starling. The elusive Shoebill stork is also present but requires patience to spot. The best birding time is during the dry season, from May to September. The park has notable mammals like elephants and lions, with various accommodation options available.
Volcanoes National Park
Following birding destinations in Uganda and Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is more famous for gorilla trekking, golden monkeys, and hiking one of the volcanoes, like Karisimbi. However, this does not change the fact that it is one of the best places for birding in Rwanda. About 200 species can be found in the park. 27 of them can only be seen here in Rwanda, while 16 are endemic to the volcanoes in the Virunga ranges of mountains. Among the species to look out for are the Archer’s ground robin, Cinnamon bracken warbler, Grauer’s rush warbler, Rwenzori batis, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, and Black and white manikin. Volcanoes National Park is bordered by Mgahinga National Park in Uganda and Virunga National Park in Congo, ensuring that some of the species found in these two countries can be seen in Rwanda.
Gishwati-Mukura National Park
Located in the country’s northwest, this is Rwanda’s newest national park. With 395 species available, Gishwati was regarded as one of Rwanda’s top birding locations even before it was designated as a national park. These include the Grey Crowned Crane, the Martial Eagle, the Purple-breasted Sunbird, the Red-throated Alethe, the Regal Sunbird, the Strange Weaver, the Ruwenzori Turaco, the Batis, and the Stripe-breasted Tit. The majority of the species are indigenous to the Albertine Rift or live in forests. For the majority of the year, some people migrate from Congo. Expect to see chimpanzees, blue and golden monkeys, and baboons while keeping an eye out for the birds.
Packing list for birding in Rwanda
Following the birding destinations in Uganda and Rwanda, the ideal birding experience in Uganda and Rwanda requires visitors to arrive prepared with basics like hiking shoes, cameras, waterproof jackets, mosquito repellents, binoculars, extra batteries, pointers, a birder’s book, a water bottle, and a brimmed hat. Always be accompanied by a knowledgeable local guide who can help you identify the species and show you the ideal places to go for birdwatching and the ecosystem at large.
Best time for birdwatching in Uganda and Rwanda
Although it is possible to go birdwatching in Rwanda and Uganda throughout the year, the dry season is the best time to do so, particularly from June to August and December to February. In most Ugandan parks, the dry season (January to February and June to August) is the ideal time of year to see birds. Because the trails are dry and non-slip, trekking may be simple. There will be ample opportunity for you to see birds as well. However, in Rwanda, December through January is regarded as the ideal time of year for birdwatching. During the dry season, hundreds of migrating birds enter the country to avoid the harsh winters in the Arctic and Europe, making these months unique.
