Lutoboka Point is one of the 33 Important Birding Areas in Uganda and is situated along the Eastern side of Lugala Island. With a size of 200 square kilometers, Lugala is the largest of the 84 Islands within Ssese Island Archipelago. Lutoboka Point stretches into the Lutoboka Channel within Lake Victoria, the largest freshwater Lake in Africa at the boundary of the verdant Lutoboka Forest Reserve. This reserve is comprised of medium-altitude moist evergreen forest marked by species of Piptadeniastrum africanum as well as Uapaca.
This secluded area boasts of a phenomenal area for breeding birds and is primarily a narrow strip of towering trees at the boundary of the Lutoboka Forest and is primarily within the Reserve. Nonetheless, Birding tours are conducted in the Town of Kalangala, the largest and most popular Urban Center of all Ssese Islands. There are grasslands at the brim of the Forest Reserve and extends towards the Town of Kalangala.
Two beautiful areas in Lutoboka point are popularly vital for breeding of the Great Cormorants with more than 5000 pairs found in the trees at the Lutoboka point alone. These birds can also be sighted on Banga rocks at the southern edge of the Island. Other must-see bird species in the areas include Weyns’s weavers as well as the Northern Brown-throated weavers (some of the Lake Victoria Basins Biome species).
Other notable bird species in Lutoboka Point are Marabou storks, Long-tailed Cormorants, Common Sandpiper, Grey-crowned cranes, African jacana, African Sacred Ibis, African fish eagles, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Little Saint, Hammerkop, yellow weaver birds, African open-billed storks, Wood Sandpiper, Tawny Eagles, Pied Kingfishers, African green broadbill, Intermediate Egrets, Great Snipe, Senegal lapwing, Egyptian Goose, shoebill storks, Ross Turaco, Cattle egrets, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Hadada Ibis, Ayres’s hawk eagles, Marsh Sandpiper, Red-billed ducks, African Pygmy Goose, Grey herons, Water Thick-Knee, Little Egrets, Malachite Kingfishers and Black-bellied Bustards among others.
The Island of Lugala has been ignored and secluded from the mainland for many years and during this long time, rodents such as Issel’s groove-toothed swamp rats have emerged on the Islands of Ssese and Koome. Other fascinating animals to expect on these Islands are sitatunga and several unique butterfly species.
Best time for Birding in Lutoboka Point.
Birding in Lutoboka Point is possible throughout the year. However, Lutoboka Channel and Forest Reserve become muddy and slippery during the wet months-March, April, October and November hence making it more challenging to walk and watch birds.
What to pack/wear for Birding in Lutoboka Point.
For birding or any other adventure in Lutoboka Point, pack a warm sweater, long-sleeved shirt/blouse and pants of dull colors, pair of binoculars, wide-brimmed hat, camera with enough batteries and lenses, sunglasses, daypack for carrying water, lunch box, camera and binoculars, re-usable water bottle and many others.
