With plenty of unmatched Flora and Fauna, Uganda as a destination is worth visiting, this small landlocked country is situated in east Africa and bordered by the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Sudan.
It offers all her visitors with fascinating experiences such as Birding, Game Viewing, Culture encounters and nature among others. But first of all, why should you choose Uganda as your Birding Destination?
Bird watching safaris in Uganda are booming with a huge gem of approximately 1,100 bird species that have attracted attention in recent years. Uganda’s story of bird watching is a good narration. There was always a fracas between bird watchers and the residents who settled around the birding places.
Initially, residents could chase bird watchers with machetes suspecting them to be land grabbers who were trying to inspect and take their land forcefully. However, the continued efforts of several organizations to promote and shape bird watching like the Uganda Bird Guides Club have now helped to turn the Pearl of Africa into a birder’s dream.
The presence of thousands of bird species in Uganda’s variety of rainforests and other habitats makes the Pearl of Africa one of the bird watching destinations in Africa and the world at large.
There are numerous bird species endemic to Uganda ranging between 450 to 500 species, which is approximately half of Uganda’s richness of the flourishing bird list that stands at about 1,080 species. This statistics translates to Uganda possessing roughly half of the continent’s total bird list that is believed to be 2,310 species.
In Uganda, one favorable factor that gifts it with this impressive birding is her conducive climate all year round enabling resident birds to find comfort while attracting migration of hundreds of thousands of different species from various parts of the continent.
On several occasions, bird watching is done as a match to other tourism activities such as gorilla trekking, game watching, mountaineering and cultural encounters among other activities, but can as well be done exclusively.
Birds are found everywhere in Uganda, there is at least that one species of bird that you will sight as you traverse the good roads of this nation, However, there are those designated birding destinations that have been confirmed to be having numerous bird species co-existing; they include and others, Mabamba Wetland, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Semuliki Valley in Semuliki national park, Budongo Forest, Mgahinga National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Lake Mburo National park, Mount Elgon National Park, Lake Bunyonyi National park among others.
Bwindi Impenetrable national park, which is majorly known for incredible gorilla safaris, is another destination recommended to curious birders. The montane forests of the Kigezi highlands offer one of the finest birding in Africa with over 23 Albertine Rift endemics. The species in this bird gem include some that are globally threatened like the African Green Broadbill and Shelly’s Crimson Wing.
Uganda birding safaris are as a result of the great work done by the birding pioneers of Uganda who were very instrumental in innovating this exciting out-door activity on the Uganda’s itineraries in the late 1990s. They made it a point to educate and sensitize both locals and the media on how to conserve and promote birding in Uganda.
The recent International recognitions involving Uganda’s birding effort are clear indicators of a success registered so far in the activity. Uganda participated and emerged second through the triumph of 23-year-old Ashley Brian Baboineki at the international Youths Birding Competition that had over 78participants and hosted by Singapore Tourism Board.
In the Global Big Day exhibition, Uganda showcased approximately 429 bird species found from across the country by a group of 34 birders that were identified by an experienced network of local guides and the Uganda Tourism Board. Uganda’s recommendable figure placed her in the first position in Africa ahead of South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe who were also critical of the success of Africa’s tally.
There are a lot of development activities done towards this good course, the formation of the Uganda Women Birders in 2013 to attract more women into birding and nature guiding as a profession show the countries ambition and desire of Growing the activity bigger and better. This women club has been growing with time with the assistance from tourism authorities including Uganda Wildlife Authority and Uganda Tourism Board. The club has grown from 5 members to 30 female guides who are recommended for jobs in tour companies as a way of supporting them.
Don’t Hesitate, the security, transportation and infrastructure in the Country will enable your stay be comfortable as you enjoy exclusive birding expeditions.
