Uganda Bird Watching

As luck would have it, Uganda spans several excellent birding environments: the West African rainforest, East African savannah and northern semi-desert. The result? Probably Africa's best birding.

Uganda has a bird list of over 1 000 species - not bad for a country the size of Great Britain - which, compared to southern Africa's 900-odd, all makes for exceptional bird-watching.

Birding begins in the gardens of your hotel or lodge and continues in the many parks and reserves. Uganda is well aware of its attractiveness for birders and, consequently, there are specialist tours and good local bird guides.

Why is Uganda so good for bird-watching? Although there are 40 near-endemics, there are only two species unique to Uganda - Fox's weaver and the Kibale ground-thrush.

However, it's the fact that the western rainforests are packed with West and Central African forest birds that makes the country such a good destination, seeing as the other Central African countries have poorly developed, if any, tourist infrastructure.

Head for the Kibale Forest National Park or Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.

Another factor that makes Uganda so good for birds is the presence of Albertine Rift endemics, species that are only found on the escarpment that runs from Lake Albert to Lake Tanganyika, and all found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park as well as other western forest areas and the lowland forests of the Semliki National Park.

East African species are found in abundance in Queen Elizabeth National Park with its staggering tally of 610 recorded species (more than the entire British Isles) and the Murchison Falls National Park has gained international fame for the best sightings of one of nature's most bizarre birds: the legendary shoebill.

The more adventurous birder will want to check out the semi-desert species and plentiful raptors of Kidepo Valley National Park, although it would be wise to check out the latest security issues for this northern destination.

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