Skip to content
Home ≫ World Birding ≫ Africa ≫ Uganda

Republic of Uganda

Shoebill Balaeniceps rex ©Michael Gwyther-Jones CC BY 2.0 Website

Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The southern part includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, shared with Kenya and Tanzania. Uganda is in the African Great Lakes region, it lies within the Nile basin, and has a varied equatorial climate. It has a population of over 50 million people, in an area of over 241,000 km2 (93,000 square miles). 4.25 million people live in the capital and largest city, Kampala. The next largest city is Mbale with a population of around one million. Its geography is very diverse, consisting of volcanic hills, mountains, and lakes.

The country sits at an average of 3,600 feet above sea level sloping very steadily downwards to the Sudanese Plain to the north. Both the eastern and western borders of Uganda have mountains. The Ruwenzori mountain range contains the highest peak in Uganda, which is named Alexandra and measures over 16,700 feet.

Ruwenzori Mountains – ©Jontycrane CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Much of the south of the country is heavily influenced by one of the world’s biggest lakes, Lake Victoria, which contains many islands. The most important cities are located in the south, near this lake, including the capital. Although landlocked, Uganda contains many large lakes. Lake Kyoga is in the centre of the country and is surrounded by extensive marshy areas. Besides Lakes Victoria and Lake Kyoga, there are Lake Albert, Lake Edward, and the smaller Lake George. Uganda lies almost completely within the Nile basin. The Victoria Nile drains from Lake Victoria into Lake Kyoga and thence into Lake Albert on the Congolese border. It then runs northwards into South Sudan.

Murchison Falls, Nile River – ©Rod Waddington, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

An area in eastern Uganda is drained by the Suam River, part of the internal drainage basin of Lake Turkana. The extreme north-eastern part of Uganda drains into the Lotikipi Basin, which is primarily in Kenya.

Birding Uganda

Uganda has a great variety of habitats, packed into a fairly small area, and has a bird list close to 1100 species, nearly on a par with neighbouring Kenya. Uganda has 60 protected areas, including ten national parks: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Rwenzori Mountains National Park (both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Kibale National Park, Kidepo Valley National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Mount Elgon National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, and Semuliki National Park. There are many less-visited ones, such as Kidepo Valley and Semliki, which offer a good variety of more-widespread African bird species, as well as a good variety of large mammals. The country is home to a vast number of species, including a population of mountain gorillas in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, gorillas and golden monkeys in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and hippos in the Murchison Falls National Park.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – ©Thomas Fuhrmann CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

For birders, Uganda’s main attractions are in its forests and swamps, where many species with restricted range can be found. Whilst it only has one (some think two) endemic species, Fox’s Weaver, which occurs in swamps north of Kampala, it has several species which are endemic to specific habitat areas, shared with other countries.

One such area is the Albertine Rift, an area of lakes, mountains and forests, which stretches from northern Uganda along its borders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Several species endemic to this area are found in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Semilki National Park, Rwenzori Mountains and Mgahinga. These include Green Broadbill, Grauer’s, Grauer’s Swamp and Neumann’s Warblers, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimsonwings, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared, Regal, Purple-breasted and Blue-throated Sunbirds, Rwenzori Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Stripe-breasted Tit and several others.

Semilki National Park – ©Jim Joel CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

In the papyrus swamps around Lake Victoria and other lakes, the enigmatic Shoebill can be found, as well as specialities including Papyrus Yellow and White-winged Warblers, Carruther’s Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Swamp Flycatcher and Orange Weaver.

There are also several highland and lowland forests spread across the country, which offer species which are generally West African. Great Blue and Black-billed Turacos, African Grey Parrot, Green-breasted Pitta, several Woodpeckers, Barbets and Greenbuls, and scarcities such as Weyn’s Weaver, Nahan’s and Forest Francolins all occur.

In addition to the birdlife, a great attraction is the opportunity of trekking for Mountain Gorillas in Bwindi and Mgahinga, as well as Chimpanzees in Kibale.

©Dubi Shapiro

Even if you are only passing through Uganda, a good range of species can be seen within a few hours of Kampala, in Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Mabamba Swamp and Mabira Forest, including several of the sought-after species above. Add to this the fact that there is a very active community of local birding guides, and the tourist board actively encourages birding tourism, and this is a must-visit locality.

This page is sponsored by Birding Ecotours

Contributors
Number of Species

  • Number of bird species: 1095

    (As at February 2025)

    National Bird: Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum

Endemics

  • Number of endemics: 2

    Fox's Weaver Ploceus spekeoides
    Karamoja Apalis Apalis karamojae
Checklist

  • Avibase

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist includes all bird species found in Uganda , based on the best information available at this time. It is based on a wide variety of sources that I collated over many years. I am pleased to offer these checklists as a service to birdwatchers. If you find any error, please do not hesitate to report them.

  • Birding Safaris

    PDF List
    List & Status

  • Birding Uganda

    Checklist
    Uganda Bird checklist

  • E-Bird

    PDF Checklist
    This checklist is generated with data from eBird (ebird.org), a global database of bird sightings from birders like you. If you enjoy this checklist, please consider contributing your sightings to eBird. It is 100% free to take part, and your observations will help support birders, researchers, and conservationists worldwide.

  • Wikipedia

    Annotated List
    This is a list of the bird species recorded in Uganda. The avifauna of Uganda included a total of 1088 confirmed species as of February 2023. Of them, one is endemic, and three have been introduced by humans. Three additional species are hypothetical as defined below and are not included in the counts. Unless otherwise noted, the list is that of Avibase.
Useful Reading

  • Birds of East Africa

    | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi | By Terry Stevenson & John Fanshawe | Helm | Edition 2 | 2020 | Paperback | 640 pages, 289 plates with 3500+ colour illustrations; 2 b/w illustrations, colour distribution maps, 4 colour maps | ISBN: 9781408157367 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Collins Field Guide: Birds of East Africa

    | John Williams and Norman Arlott | HarperCollins | 1980 | 415 pages, 48 colour plates, 1 map | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780002191791 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Important Bird Areas in Uganda

    | By Achilles Byaruhanga, Pantaleon Kasoma and Derek Pomeroy166 pages, line illus, tabs, maps.RSPBDistributed by NHBS 2001 ISBN: 9789970714001 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Photographic Guide to Birds of Prey of Southern, Central and East Africa

    | By David Allan, Peter Hayman (Illustrator) Paperback 2nd Edition New Holland Publishers (UK) | Out of Print | ISBN: 9781868725212 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • The Bird Atlas of Uganda

    | By Margaret Carswell, Derek Pomeroy, Jake Reynolds & Herbert Tushabe BOU See Fatbirder Review | Out of Print | ISBN: 9780952286646 Buy this book from NHBS.com

  • Where to Watch Birds in Uganda

    | By Jonathan Rossouw and Marco Sacchi110 pages, col photos, tabs, maps.Uganda Tourist Board 1998 See Fatbirder Review ISBN: 9781898665786 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Birding Aps

  • eGuide to Birds of East Africa

    Apple iOS | Android
    The eGuide to Birds of East Africa is an interactive companion to Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe's Birds of East Africa field guide – the essential guide for birdwatchers visiting this spectacular region. It covers Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

    Covers birds of 5 East African countries.
Useful Information

  • Uganda Bird Guides Club

    Facebook
    Uganda Bird Guides Club was formed one and half years a go by the local bird guides. Our main activities so far have been carrying out sensitisation seminars on bird conservation to the local community living around birding sites outside the protected area. This happened after rescuing 3 shoebill storks from peoples' homes which were hunted and kept for sale. The club has already sent 2 members to attend a course of Trainers of Bird Guides in South Africa. Also from the experience of members, we have designed itineraries that we believe are the best so far for Uganda. These include: Birding Uganda in 7 days, 14 days, 17 days best forest birding, 22 days western circuit, birding the big 6 for Uganda, Birding the small 6 for Uganda, and also Birding special for the Albertine Rift Endemics. Once informed in advance, the members will organise transport, accommodation for any one wishing to bird Uganda. The Club aims at satisfaction for any birder who comes to bird Uganda with its members.Also the Club is now making it easy for birders who come to Uganda for short workshops and meetings. We have established birdwatching trails in and around Entebbe and Kampala. Early this year, the club carried out a Birding Big Day activity in and around Kampala. 270 species were recorded in 24 hours. This gives us hope that once birders are here for any period of time, birding is a must. The life lists of members range from 800+ species to the new beginners. Our website which was designed by a volunteer is now down. We hope when we raise money in the next season we will have it back. It is important for birders around the globe to know that our focus is to make birding a possibility for any budget of any birder. Accommodation here especially in the birding areas, is African traditional banda, ( Round huts); Luxury tented camps, and Hotels. Vehicles used here are 4WD Landcruisers that can take 6 birders to a 4WD matatu min bus, which can carry 10 birders. 6 birders per one guide. The hospitality is the arguably the best in East Africa.
Organisations

  • African Bird Club

    Website
    There can be few destinations with a species list of over 600; Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park is one. 350 species have been recorded in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. These two parks alone are among the richest protected areas to be found anywhere on Earth. Accolades for Uganda's birding delights are rarely understated. Nigel Wheatley, in Where to Watch Birds in Africa says: In terms of its size, Uganda is the richest country for birds in Africa.

  • Avian conservation Uganda society

    Facebook Page
    Avian conservation Uganda society provides resident and visiting bird watchers with support and information that is unrivalled for the country and is the largest dedicated regional bird society in East Africa.

  • Nature Uganda

    Website
    The EANHS, P0 Box 27034, Kampala. + 25641 540719 eanhs@imul.com

  • The Avian Conservation Uganda Society

    Website
    The Avian Conservation Uganda Society works to create awareness about the necessity of bird life conservation, participate in the restoration of bird habitats.

  • Uganda Tourist Board

    Website
    Uganda is an ideal destination for a voyage of discovery into the most enthrolling continent in the world. Our country presents a captivating combination of the wonders of nature and cultural diversity which is a result of numerous ethnic entities. - The place to start when contemplating a trip

  • Uganda Wildlife Authority

    Website

  • Uganda Women Birders

    Website
    Empowering women birders worldwide: fostering connections, skills, and conservation efforts, promoting inclusivity, equality, and cultural exchange in birding community.
Reserves

Abbreviations Key

  • *IBAs

    WebpageSatellite View
    Three endemic bird areas (EBAs) lie partly within Uganda: the Albertine Rift mountains; the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo lowlands; and the Kenyan mountains as well as three secondary areas: dry woodlands west of Lake Victoria; north Ugandan swamps and north-east Uganda. Uganda has over 30 restricted range species of which 24 are found only in the Albertine Rift mountains. Uganda has 30 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) covering some 7% of the area of the country…

  • *List of protected areas of Uganda

    InformationSatellite View
    Interactive list of Wildlife Reserves, Sanctuaries, Ramsar sites etc

  • IBA Lake Opeta Ramsar

    InformationSatellite View
    Fox's weaver, Uganda's only endemic bird species, is known to inhabit the wetland, as do the globally threatened vulnerable shoebill, near-threatened papyrus gonolek, and 160 other species.

  • NP Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

    InformationSatellite View
    The birds are Fraser's eagle owl Bubo poensis, dwarf honeyguide Indicator pumilio (LR); African green broadbill Pseudocalyptomena graueri (VU); white-bellied robin chat Cossypher roberti , Kivu ground thrush Zoothera tanganjicae (LR); Grauer's rush warbler Bradypterus graueri, Grauer's warbler Graueria vittata, short-tailed warbler Hemitasia neumanni, yellow-eyed black flycatcher Melaenornis ardesiaca, Chaplin's flycatcher Muscicapa lendu (VU); montane double-collared sunbird Nectarinia ludovicenis and dusky twinspot Clytospiza cinereoinacea; the primate is the mountain gorilla; and the butterflies are cream-banded swallowtail Papilio leucotaenia (VU); Graphium gudenusi and Charaxes fournierae. Bwindi is an important locality for the conservation of Afromontane fauna, in particular those endemic to the mountains of the western rift valley. At least 70 of the 78 montane forest bird species occurring in the Albertine Rift region are found in the forest, including 22 of the 27 endemic species.

  • NP Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

    WebsiteSatellite View
    Welcome to Bwindi Forest National Park in Uganda. This information portal guides you on how to get there, attractions, where to stay, securing a gorilla safari permit, prominent Uganda gorilla safari companies, travel tips, what to wear, when to go ? and recent news about the Mountain gorillas in Uganda.

  • NP Kibale

    WebsiteSatellite View
    The most accessible of Uganda's major rainforests, Kibale is home to a remarkable 13 primate species, including the very localised red colobus and L'Hoest's monkey…

  • NP Kidepo Valley

    InformationSatellite View
    The Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda's most spectacular parks. It is 1,442 square kilometres and harbours scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa…

  • NP Lake Mburo

    InformationSatellite View
    Lying in the one part of Uganda covered in extensive acacia woodland, Mburo has markedly different fauna to other reserves…

  • NP Mgahinga Gorilla

    WebpageSatellite View
    Mgahinga gorilla national park is located in the south western part of Uganda in Kisoro district and it is the smallest National park of the 3 national parks in the Virunga conservation area the other two parks are Virunga National park in DRC and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and all form 434-sq.km of this conservation area.

  • NP Mount Elgon

    InformationSatellite View
    Mount Elgon National Park is a national park 140 kilometres (87 mi) northeast of Lake Victoria. The park covers an area of 1,279 square kilometres (494 sq mi) and is bisected by the border of Kenya and Uganda. The Ugandan part of the park covers 1,110 km2 (430 sq mi) while the Kenyan part covers 169 km2 (65 sq mi).

  • NP Queen Elizabeth

    WebsiteSatellite View
    From open savannah to rainforest, from dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that QENP boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world…

  • NP Rwenzori Mountains

    InformationSatellite View
    The 120km Rwenzori chain is regarded to be the legendary snow-capped Mountains of the Moon, described by Ptolemy in AD150. Reaching an elevation of 5,109m, it is also Africa's tallest mountain range, exceeded in altitude only by the free-standing Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro…

  • NP Semuliki

    InformationSatellite View
    Semuliki National Park is an eastern extension of the vast Ituri Forest and forms part of the forest continuum during the climatic upheavals of the Pleistocene, this is one of the richest areas for both flora and fauna in Africa. (Especially for birds)…

  • WR Semliki Wildlife Reserve

    InformationSatellite View
    The reserve is highly alluring to birdwatchers: some 462 species have been recorded and it is one of the best places in Uganda to see the shoebill.

  • WS Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary

    InformationSatellite View
    Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary, is an island sanctuary in Uganda, dedicated to the care of orphaned eastern chimpanzees, that have been rescued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
Sightings, News & Forums
Guides & Tour Operators

  • Acacia Safari

    Tour Operator
    With over 1000 bird species, Uganda has almost half of the bird species already recorded on the African Continent.From the source of the Nile on Lake Victoria to the snow capped Rwenzori Range, the montane forests of the Virunga volcanoes to the desert plains of karamoja, bird watching is an exciting experience for the traveller…

  • Advantage Safaris

    Local Tour Operator
    This albertine birding safari offers you the opportunity to get the most out of your Uganda experience. You will visit Mabamba swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, the best place to see the legendry Shoebill, Queen Elizabeth National Park with a bird list of over 600 species and abundant wildlife,.Bwindi impenetrable National Park famous for Mountain gorillas and Alberline Rift Endemic species ,Echuya forest, arguably the best place to see the Grauers - rush Warbler in Uganda. Our safari will end with a visit to Lake Mburo targeting the African Finfot, Papyrus Gonolek other species.

  • Adventure Uganda Safari

    Local Tour Operator
    rrival at Entebbe International Airport. Meet Pearland guide and transfer to your hotel. For the Birders who arrive in the early hours of the day will have a welcome birding afternoon around Entebbe Botanical Gardens or in The Uganda wild life education center. Look out for Slender-billed Weaver, Brown-throated Weaver¸ Golden-backed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Grey-headed Gull, Long-tailed Cormorant, ,Yellow-billed Duck, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, , Broad-billed Roller, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Orange Weaver, Red-chested Sunbird, Ross's Turaco, Pied Hornbill, , Open-billed Stork, Great Reed Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler and many others

  • African Birding Expeditions

    Tour Operator
    Uganda is a beautiful state and is located in East Africa. It is one of the countries Africa highest number of coming into the country for birding which includes bird watching, and also research. Uganda is blessed with so many graphical features and an amazing ecosystem which is pivotal in the survival of these birds. Besides the geographical features in Uganda, there's also a high concentration of fauna and flora.

  • African Pearl Safaris

    Tour Operator
    …We had a wonderful time not only seeing plenty of big game and fabulous selection of bird life but also the gorillas at Bwindi…

  • Age Safaris

    Website
    AGE Safaris who are an indigenous East African safari company based in Kampala specializes in Uganda safaris and tours and with a commitment to conservation and presenting the beauty of Uganda in its various forms

  • Avian Safaris

    Tour Operator
    Personalised Birding Adventures with Expert Guides Across East Africa

  • Baksimba Tours

    Local Tour Operator
    Uganda is one of the top birding destinations in Africa with in excess of 1,050 species in protected areas alone

  • Beads Safaris Collection

    Tour Operator
    Beads Safaris Collection is a Destination Management Company operating tours and travel services all over Eastern Africa destinations including: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar. We specialize in offering the best and most unique properties and locations for our guests’ safety, enjoyment and tailor-made to their needs.

  • Bird Uganda Safaris

    Local Tour Operator
    We have a proven record of successful tours. We pride ourselves in our good organisation and we are pleased that clients appreciate the flexibility we offer when running our tours

  • BirdQuest

    Tour Operator
    SHOEBILLS & GORILLAS OF UGANDA – Plus Green-breasted Pitta, Albertine Rift Endemics and Chimpanzees

  • Birding Africa

    Tour Operator
    Our Uganda Tours to Bwindi, Kibale and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, have had 100% success rates in seeing Green-breasted Pitta, African Green Broadbill and Shoebill.

  • Birding Ecotours

    Tour Operator
    Uganda is only half the size of Kenya and yet has almost the same number of bird species (about 1000!). During our 23-day birding adventure, we look for the over 20 Albertine Rift endemics inhabiting Uganda and Rwanda, spectacular birds such as African Green Broadbill, African Grey Parrot and Shoebill and literally hundreds of other bird species.

  • Birding In Paradise Safaris

    Local Tour Operator
    Professional tour guides, conservationists and eco-tourism

  • Cisticola Tours

    Tour Operator
    The Uganda Birding Tour can be combined with our Masai Mara Wildlife Safari.

  • ConQuest Adventures

    Tour Operator
    ConQuest Adventures Ltd is a specialist tour operator in East Africa, offering top class bespoke, birding safaris, bird photography, and wildlife tours in Kenya , Uganda and Tanzania We are well-known for great birding in East Africa; we offers and organize unrivaled Day Birding tours, as well as wholly-inclusive multi-day birdwatching, wildlife and photography safaris across East Africa.

  • Credit Uganda Tours

    Local Tour Operator
    Credit Uganda Tours is run by Miriam Magada, a very experienced tour and safari guide and an expert on Ugandan wildlife, especially the birds. Miriam spent 1 year working with Uganda National Parks before spending 3 years with the Uganda Wildlife Authority followed by 6 years experience working as a bird guide. Experienced in conducting tours and safaris for both budget and luxury travelers in Uganda and Rwanda the company offers a first class service. Itineries shown are examples of what we offer, we will be pleased to tailor safaris to your requirements. Our values are integrity, trust and customer satisfaction…

  • Eagle-Eye Tours

    Tour Operator
    Uganda, once referred to as the pearl of Africa, has long been famed as a “Bird Watcher‘s Delight” supporting at least one thousand species and all within a small area.

  • Epic Uganda Vacation

    Local Tour Operator
    Bird watching safaris in Uganda are thriving with a vast gemstone of over 1,000 bird species that have attracted attention in recent years.

  • FieldGuides

    Tour Operator
    Shoebill, Gorillas, Chimps & Albertine Rift Birding

  • Gorilla Tours Africa

    Featured Tour Operator
    Gorilla Tours Africa helps put together amazing gorilla trekking tours and birding excursions in the different parts of Uganda. Are you planning to observe the mighty Shoebill Stork at the vast Mabamba wetlands? Do you want to visit all of Uganda’s famous birding spots while also encountering other wildlife? Explore the Pearl of Africa with us!

  • HeatherLea

    Tour Operator
    A wonderful East African safari, combining top birding with big game, Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees.

  • Insight Safari Holidays

    Tour Operator
    Uganda is home to over 1000 bird species, visit Mabamba Bay, Lutembe, Bwindi forest, Kibale National Park as well as other birders hot spots that mark this country a birder’s paradise. We are an indigenous company, run by locals with vast experience in the tourism sector. Since its inception in 2000, Insight Safari Holidays has grown to handle clients of both large and small groups. Our specialty is in arranging private tours for our client…

  • Lakato Safaris

    Tour Operator
    Choose from our top Uganda safaris (Gorilla Safaris,Uganda safari adventures etc) on this list. Uganda is one of the best safari destinations in Africa, home to the endangered mountain gorillas as well as the source of the Nile. Parks like Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls has great and amazing safaris with the best wildlife encounter whether you go visit the forests and have a game drive through the Savannah.

  • Magic Safaris

    Local Tour Operator
    Uganda is considered by some specialists to be the richest country for birds in Africa. Nigel Wheatley, for instance, in Where to Watch Birds in Africa (1995) said: In terms of its size, Uganda is the richest country for birds in Africa. And this immense volume and diversity occurs miraculously in a space which keen birders can cover in a relatively short visit

  • Magical Gorilla Adventures

    Local Tour Operator
    Uganda birding safaris, bird species and birdwatching destinations...

  • Mission Africa Safaris

    Tour Operator
    Mission Africa Safaris is a leading tour company registered in Uganda. We help put together exciting safaris in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and DR Congo. Our expereinced and knowledgeable guides/office personnel will ensure you have a memorable time while on your tour. Our packages include bird watching, game drives, nature walks, mountain hiking, gorilla tracking. cultural visits among many other. We give affordable rates to our clients and incorporate a personal touch and quality while dealing with our clients - You can be one of them.

  • Naturalist Journeys

    Tour Operator
    Naturalist Journeys is pleased to offer Uganda nature tours that explore a country rich in bird and mammal life.

  • Nature Trails East Africa

    Tour Operator
    Uganda, a bird watching paradise

  • Nkuringo Safaris

    Local Tour Operator
    With over 1.000 bird species found in Uganda, bird watching has brought in growing numbers of hobby ornithologists from around the world but even within has ‘birding’ found new friends.

  • Rainbow Tours

    Tour Operator
    With 1008 recorded bird species, Uganda provides the richest birding on the continent. The country has the greatest variety of primates anywhere in Africa, including chimpanzees and the famous mountain gorillas…

  • Rockjumper

    Tour Operator
    Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats, and this richness is reflected in its incredible bird list of over 1,000 species. Amongst these are many highly sought-after birds, such as the unique Shoebill and the numerous endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley. The huge bird list is even more remarkable given the small size of the country making it, arguably, the richest African birding destination. Rockjumper is proud of our incredible depth of experience in Uganda; we have successfully arranged and guided over 30 tours to this country in the past ten years.

  • Shoebill Safaris

    Local Tour Operator
    Welcome to the Uganda Travel guide & Directory! Please notice that we are not a travel agency. This comprehensive resource of hundreds of pages, provides assistance to anyone planning travel to Uganda or aiming at Uganda Safaris and tours

  • Standard Safaris

    Tour Operator
    Birds being met by each twist of the eye; Uganda and Rwanda are one of the top birding destinations in the continent of Africa; together with over 2060 unique bird species; and 10% species of the world’s total bird population. Think of the rare; Shoebill stock, sitatunga, Ostrich, cranes, Turacos, falcons, caracaras, eagles, buttonquails, kites, papyrus yellow warbler, and so much more; Uganda; the pearl of Africa is the Place to be; located east of the continent of Africa, neighbored by Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi.

  • Terrain Safaris

    Tour Operator
    When it comes to bird watching in Africa, Uganda is the number one birding destination in the East African Tropics.

  • The Sustainable Birding Company

    Tour Operator
    Our Uganda birding tours highlight an exhilarating blend of great apes, big game, and Uganda’s prized birding gems, the Albertine Rift endemics.

  • Travel Hemispheres

    Tour Operator
    In terms of size, Uganda is the richest country for birds in Africa. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in its ever-burgeoning bird list of over 1000 species. Amongst these are many special endangered birds such as shoe bill stork, standard winged Nightjar, the great blue Turaco, the Green broad bill and numerous endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley that are rare to find elsewhere.

  • Tropical Birding Tours

    Tour Operator
    Despite being small and having no ocean coastline, Uganda supports more than 1000 species, which has earned this country its deserved reputation as a “birder’s Eden”.

  • Twinspot Tours

    Tour Operator
    Twinspot Tours and Travel specializes in providing exceptional birdwatching experiences in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda showcasing the diverse avian life that our beautiful region has to offer.

  • Uyaphi

    Tour Operator
    The Uganda birding safari at Murchison Falls National Park and the Queen Elizabeth National boasts a staggering site bird list of 615 species with specialities such as such as Black-headed and Papyrus gonoleks, Blue-breasted and White-throated bee-eaters, Blue-breasted Kingfisher Black Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher and Finfoot…

  • Volcanoes Safaris

    Tour Operator
    There are about 2,300 bird species in Africa. Uganda, a country the size of Britain, with more than 1,000 species recorded is one of the richest African birding destinations and has remarkable avian diversity. This is due to its location near the East African savannah, the West African rainforest and the semi-desert of the north.

  • WINGS

    Tour Operator
    Uganda: Shoebills to Gorillas

  • Wild Birding

    Tour Operator
    Uganda, celebrated for its incredible biodiversity, is home to the complete array of iconic African mammals, including gorillas and chimpanzees

  • abira Safaris & Tours Africa

    Tour Operator
    Uganda Birding Safaris: The Authentic Guided Bird Watching Tours
Trip Reports

  • 2017 [06 June] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    We recorded 551 bird species for which the guide and either one or both participants saw 507, 29 heard and 15 seen by guide only. 57 mammals seen, 2 heard and 1 seen by guide. Reptiles and a number of butterflies were also identified.

  • 2017 [06 June] - Wayne Jones - Uganda & Tanzania

    PDF Report
    Africa is blessed with an incredible range of birdlife and unrivalled megafaunal diversity. On this trip of a lifetime we witnessed life as it once was, with thousands of mammals roaming freely across the plains of the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater and Maasai still living traditional lives. In Uganda, a country renowned for its birdlife, we saw one of the world’s strangest birds the Shoebill...

  • 2017 [07 July] - Crammy Wanyama

    PDF Report
    This was a 22 day Uganda birding and Nature customized trip for three. We covered the African continent’s most important birdlife biomes – Albertine Rift Montane Forest, East Sudanian Savannah, Northern Acacia-Commiphora Bushlands and thickets, Northern Congolian Forest-Savanna Mosaic, Victoria Basin Forest-Savannah Mosaic, and Zambezian Flooded Grasslands, among others. We did well with local specialities; getting some of Africa’s most sought-after species- Shoebill, Grauer’s Broadbill, Green-breasted Pitta, Eastern Mountain Gorilla and Common Chimpanzee.

  • 2017 [07 July] - Crammy Wanyama (Crammy Wanyama)

    PDF Report
    Covering Africa's most important biomes – Albertine Rift Montane Forest, East Sudanian Savannah, Northern Acacia-Commiphora Bushlands and thickets, Northern Congolian Forest-Savanna Mosaic, Victoria Basin Forest-Savannah Mosaic, and Zambezian Flooded Grasslands, among others.

  • 2018 [01 January] - Ella Maria

    PDF Report
    We chose Uganda because of the rich wildlife and birdlife of East Africa. Two years earlier we went on a classic safari in Kenya’s highland with focus on the big mammals of Masai Mara and the birds at the big lakes. This time we wanted to enjoy the very rich birdlife of neighbouring Uganda’s forests and lakes.

  • 2018 [01 January] - Leif Bisschop-Larsen

    PDF Report
    This time we wanted to enjoy the very rich birdlife of neighboring Uganda’s forests and lakes. The wish list included Shoebill, Skimmer, Chimpanzee and the endemic bird species of the Albertine Rift.

  • 2018 [07 July] - Dylan Vasapolli

    PDF Report
    This private, comprehensive tour of Uganda focused on the main sites of the central and western reaches of the country, with the exception of the Semliki Valley and Mgahinga National Park. Taking place during arguably the best time to visit the country, July, this two-and-a-half-week tour focused on both the birds and mammals of the region.

  • 2018 [08 August] - Crammy Wanyama

    PDF Report
    The diversity of habitats we covered produced a successful twenty-six days customised birding and nature tour for a group of enthusiastic American birders. We were delighted to encounter 564 bird species and an impressive mammal record of 66 species among other treasures of nature.

  • 2018 [08 August] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    With simple words, our twenty-six days customised birding and nature tour of four plus me, as the leader was very successful. We saw lots of great birds, forest wildlife and the various small and big game of the African savannah and woodlands.

  • 2018 [08 August] - Dani Lopez-Velasco - Uganda & Rwanda

    PDF Report
    ...a good selection of Albertine Rift endemics, with such megas as Grauer´s Broadbill or Green-breasted Pitta, as well as other difficult western African forest species.

  • 2018 [08 August] - Jason Boyce

    PDF Report
    We then made our way to the Albertine Rift Endemic hotspots Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Highlights here included cracking sightings of Rwenzori Turaco, Archer’s Ground Robin, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Red-throated Alethe, as well as confiding Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, to name but a few. Queen Elizabeth National Park was our next stop, and we ended the tour in the home of Green-breasted Pitta, Kibale National Park.

  • 2018 [08 August] - Tjeerd Burger

    PDF Report
    Uganda offers some great central-Africa birding, including some really appealing species like Shoebill, Grauer’s Broadbill and Green-breasted Pitta. In addition, you can do some safari as well, and best of all, you get the chance to see Gorilla’s and Chimpanzees. It is also an ‘easy’ country to visit since eco-tourism is well developed, the country is in general quite safe and most people speak English.

  • 2019 [02 February] - Scott Kampmeier

    PDF Report
    Paul Tamwenya, African Birding Journeys, http://www.birdinginuganda.com/. My excellent experience began with quick and detailed responses to my e-mail inquiry.

  • 2019 [03 March] - Sue Greer

    Report
    Uganda is possibly the best country in Africa for birdwatching and seeing wild primates.

  • 2019 [07 July] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    We got to the Shoebill, that was a few feet away from us. This highly-sought-after African endemic has only a few spots where it can be found, and Uganda's places are trendy because of the 80% chances ability.

  • 2019 [08 August] - Birding Ecotours

    PDF Report
    Interestingly enough this was one of the “birdier” Uganda tours that I have been on. Birds were generally in good voice, and fair numbers of birds were seen at most of our hotspots. Cuckoos were a little less vocal, but widowbirds, bishops, and weavers were in full breeding plumage and displaying all over the place. There were really good numbers of waxbills, cisticolas, and other agricultural and savanna species throughout the trip.

  • 2019 [08 August] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    This is a report for one of our Eastern to North-eastern Uganda bird watching adventures, much of it is deferent from what we cover on the traditional Uganda birding tours that go to the western part of the country.

  • 2019 [08 August] - Peg Abbott

    PDF Report
    Early birding on the hotel grounds was productive, we added Gray-capped Warbler to our growing list for Bouma Lodge. The African Wood Owl was in his roost spot and seemed to enjoy soaking up the sun as it rose. A bird party was happening on the lawn with about twenty Northern Brown-throated Weaver, interrupted by White-browed Robin Chat and Black-headed Gonoleks, a species boldly patterned with a shocking crimson breast.

  • 2019 [09 September] - David Karr

    PDF Report
    Entebbe, Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo National Park & Mpanga Forest Reserve

  • 2020 [02 February] - Pat Leuders

    PDF Report
    We gathered in the courtyard of the lovely Bona Guesthouse with Judith Mirembe and quickly found a beautiful pair of Ross’s Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, and Speckled Mousebirds. Male Northern Brown-throated and Village Weavers were busy building nests to attract a mate, and the brilliantly colored Scarlet-chested Sunbird fed amongst the beautiful plantings. What a wonderful introduction to the local birds of Entebbe!

  • 2021 [02 February] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    ...we were pleased to stop and observe a few uncommon sightings by the dustless roadsides. At one stop, we registered the third confirmed record of Red-footed Falcon for Uganda...

  • 2021 [07 July] - Crammy Wanyama (Avian Safaris)

    PDF Report
    This is a gorgeous nearly-orange breast with very lovely headlights. Around the same place, we had a couple of adults and a freshly fledged Yellow-lored and the Red-tailed Bristlebill.

  • 2021 [08 August] - Birding Ecotours - Dylan Vasapolli

    PDF Report
    Our annual 19-day set departure Uganda birding and primates tour covers some of the best birding regions in Uganda. Concentrating on the main birding circuit, that focuses on the western half of the country, this tour is specifically set up to maximize chances of finding as many of the Albertine Rift bird endemics as possible, along with making allowances for other highly prized and sought-after species such as Shoebill and Green-breasted Pitta. Of course, Uganda’s main mammalian attractions are not ignored, with this tour making time for them – namely Chimpanzee and Eastern (Mountain) Gorilla tracking. The country’s vast network of excellent savanna parks also adds to the mammalian attraction, and indeed the ‘Big 5’ are all possible along this routing. These are namely; Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhinoceros (White), and African Buffalo.

  • 2022 [07 July] - Allan Drewitt

    PDF Report
    This provided an ideal introduction to a number of the more familiar and widespread, though no less exotic and colourful, Ugandan bird species, including palm-nut vulture, hooded vulture, African open-bill, great blue and Ross's turacos...

  • 2022 [07 July] - Dominic Rollinson

    PDF Report
    2 | T R I P R E P O R T Uganda - July 2022 www.birdingecotours.com info@birdingecotours.com Overview This customized 17-day version of our set-departure Uganda tour took in most of the classic Ugandan birding and wildlife sites, however we did not visit Semliki Forest or Mgahinga Gorilla Reserve, in the southwest. We were able to target (and find) many of the Albertine Riftbird endemics and then of course sought out a host of charismatic and iconic Ugandan birds such as Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta and Grauer’s Broadbill and then enjoyed ourselves as we focused on other classic Ugandan wildlife such asEastern (Mountain) Gorilla, Chimpanzee, various other primates and many more.

  • 2022 [09 September] - Naturalist Journeys

    PDF Report
    We had an amazing trip filled with laughs and close encounters with the pre-historic Shoebill and the mighty mountain Gorilla. We saw about 300 bird species and 35 mammal species. Our trip was mainly focused on birds and wildlife including big herds of Buffalo, the slender Impala, the massive Savannah Elephant and lots of Uganda Kob. We also saw birds of all shapes and sizes; from as big as the shoebill to as small as the red-cheeked cordon-bleu. The Shoebill and the Mountain Gorilla ultimately took the trip bird and mammal species respectively...

  • 2023 [02 February] - Erik Vikkelsø Rasmussen

    PDF Report
    Uganda gained their independence from UK in 1962 and became a republic. After the end of the Idi Amin regime president Yoweri Museveni took over in 1986 and since then Uganda has been one of the safest countries to visit in Africa with stability in the recent many years. Uganda is known as the “the pearl of Africa” and Uganda absolutely lives up to its reputation. In addition to the beautiful wildlife the country has a lot to offer birdwatchers too. Especially the Albertine Rift montane forest in East-Central Africa has a lot of bird species which a very difficult to find at other places.

  • 2023 [02 February] - VCrammy Wanyama

    PDF Report
    This is an outlined itinerary of a 22 days Uganda birding and Nature Tour. Only the days are outlined but the list of the birds and other wildlife seen on the trip are all listed.

  • 2023 [06 June] - Conquest Adventures

    Report
    Uganda, Albertine Rift Birding Tour Report

  • 2023 [07 July] - Julian Parsons

    PDF Report
    ...Grey-headed Oliveback, Black-crowned Waxbill, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Marsh Tchagra, Cabanis’s Bunting, Red-collared Widowbird, Black-headed, Vieillot’s Black & Compact Weaver, Black Bishop, Great Blue Turaco...

  • 2023 [07 July] - Dominic Rollinson

    PDF Report
    This tour started in Entebbe, before we moved to the shores of Lake Victoria at Mabamba Swamp, where we had special views of the most-wanted bird of the trip, Shoebill. We then pressed on southwest to Lake Mburo National Park, where we spent two days birding the dry woodlands, with highlights including Red-faced Barbet, and enjoyed a boat cruise on Lake Mburo, which saw us adding African Finfoot and White-backed Night Heron. Next, was a long transit to the southwest corner of the country, where we had a full day’s birding in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and found our two main targets of the area; Rwenzori Turaco and Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, as well as a pair of the tricky White-collared Oliveback.

  • 2023 [08 August] - Nik borrow

    Report
    ...as our encounters with the incredible Eastern ‘Mountain’ Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park were truly unforgettable...

  • 2024 [06 June] - David Hoddinott

    PDF Report
    ...we also recorded a slew of bird species. Some of the highlights included Harlequin Quail, Clapperton’s Spurfowl, Freckled Nightjar perched on our lodge, Horus Swift, Whitebellied Go-away-bird, several smart White-crested Turaco, Black-bellied Bustard, Great Spotted Cuckoo, bold African Crake on the road, surprise White Stork in winter, a pair of stately Secretarybird, African Cuckoo-Hawk, vagrant Red-necked Buzzard, White-headed, Ruppell’s and Lappet-faced Vulture, large numbers of Dark Chanting Goshawk, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Black Scimitarbill...

  • 2024 [07 July] - Joshua Olszewski

    PDF Report
    ...Moreover, seeing such iconic and captivating species as Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta and Grauer’s Broadbill, as well as mammals of the same caliber, such as Eastern (Mountain) Gorilla, Chimpanzee and White Rhinoceros made this tour truly spectacular and memorable...

  • 2024 [07 July] - Robert Gallardo

    PDF Report
    BIRDS (346): species were recorded of which 6 were heard only. MAMMALS-42 species were recorded. REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS-8 species were recorded. BUTTERFLIES-83 species were recorded...

  • 2024 [08 August] - Greg de Klerk

    PDF Report
    ...Not long after departure we coasted into a handful of great birds, such as Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Malachite & Pied Kingfisher, African Jacana, African Marsh Harrier, Yellow-billed & White-faced Whistling Duck, Long-toed Lapwing and Purple Heron, and after much effort, a pair of Lesser Jacana...

  • 2024 [08 August] - Mark Bankunda

    PDF Report
    ...Highlights included the striking Marsh Widowbird, our first views of the elegant Gray-crowned Crane, and sightings of the White-browed Sparrow-weaver and the social Piapiacs...
Places to Stay

  • Ndali Lodge

    Accommodation
    Ndali Lodge sits on a narrow ridge 1,524m (5,000ft) above sea level with outstanding 360-degree views of ancient volcanic landscape, set against the backdrop of the Mountains of the Moon (Rwenzori mountains)…
Blogs

  • Charlotte Beauvoisin - Diary of a Muzungu

    Blog
    My name is Charlotte “bampita Nagawa” and I’m the Captain for your tour of the Pearl of Africa, where we shall cruise at an altitude between 621 and 5,109 metres. Let me share my love of all things Ugandan. On our Uganda travels, we’ll encounter elephants, lions, birds, gorillas and chimpanzees.

Fatbirder - linking birders worldwide...