Is birding in Uganda expensive? No, birding in Uganda is not expensive! Bird watching in Uganda is one of the most exciting tourism activities and experiences birders should expect to engage in while on their holiday. It has become one of the fast – developing tourist activities, attracting so many bird watchers each year to enjoy great bird sightings in different birding destinations around the Pearl of Africa.
There are over 1080 bird species all residing in the different birding sites in Uganda. This makes Uganda one of Africa’s leading birding destinations sheltering among others forest birds, savanna species, semi-arid bird species and aquatic birds. Birding in Uganda is generally budget friendly and essentially, ones needs a good pair of binoculars to be able to spot a variety of them. A good pair of binoculars for beginner bird watchers can be purchased at USD75 or USD100. Please avoid too cheap binoculars and choose from Nikon Prostaff, Celestron Outland X or Vanguard Spirit.
Other than pair of binoculars, your birding expense may rise because of camera gear, spotting scopes and the attire. Some of these are optional items and this is why birding in Uganda is entirely not expensive. Both budget and luxury birding enthusiasts come to Uganda for bird watching in the country’s distinct sites. Most often, birders determine or can choose to make their Uganda birding cheap or expensive.
What is birding/bird watching?
Birding is generally an exceptional activity that involves observing birds mainly for recreational and scientific purposes. A typical birding tour in Uganda is all about listening to birds as they sing, observe, document, identify the ones they sight etc.
Birding & bird watching are 2 terms often interchangeably used where bird watching means watching birds from birders comfort home or closest site/park. To best describe birding, the 2 important words to look at are birders and bird watchers who invest in their money to purchase the birding gear and arrange a tour/trip.
The most popular birds in Uganda.
Different birds reside in Uganda but the most popular one not to miss to sight on birding tour include; African green broadbill, Shelley’s crimson wings, African green breasted pitta, Great blue turaco. Others include White crested turaco, Standard winged nightjar, Shoebill stork, Short tailed warblers, Doherty’s bushshrike, Plovers, Kingfishers, Eagles, Weaver birds etc.
The best birding sites in Uganda.
Murchison Falls National Park. Lying in the Northwest, Murchison Falls NP is a home to about 441 bird species. Birding in Murchison can be carried out as an independent experience or combined while on guided game drive. Birders on Uganda safari in Murchison Falls National Park usually look for the Shoebill storks and a range of other avifaunal species.
Queen Elizabeth National Park.
A birder’s paradise in Western Uganda, boasting of 620 bird species. The bird encounters at Queen Elizabeth mainly focuses on Shoebill storks, Papyrus canary, Martial eagle, Thin-tailed nightjars, White winged warblers, Kingfishers, Plovers and others.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Home to both 360 bird species and over 459 mountain gorillas. The top birds to look for on Bwindi birding safari include African broadbill, Black bee-eaters, Grey cuckoo shrikes, Mountain illadopsis, Red throated alethe, strange weavers, Yellow streaked green bull and Black faced rufous warblers.
Mabamba Wetland. This is often visited for Shoebill storks. However, there are diverse other bird species to identify here including the Snow-headed robin chat, Black billed turacos, Grey parrots, Dusky long tailed cuckoo and others.
Kibale Forest National Park. A home to both 360 bird species and 13 primate species, Kibale Forest NP is most visited for the rare African green breasted pittas. But, there are also other special bird species including the Grey winged pigeon, Abyssinian ground thrush, Black bellied seed cracker, Uganda woodland warblers, Red winged francolins, Black and white casqued hornbill etc.
Other important bird areas in Uganda include Budongo Forest, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, Lake Mburo National Park, Lake Opeta, Lake Bisina, Kidepo Valley National Park, Mt. Elgon National Park, Kalinzu Forest, Lake Bunyonyi, Semuliki National Park, Mpanga Forest, Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo and Mabira Forests.
