Uganda is famously known as a birding paradise since it is home to over half of the bird species in Africa. This has made it the best bird watching safari destination in Africa and the world at large, with its unique vegetation of tropical rainforest and savannah in the east. Among these birds include green broadbill, Black and white casqued Hornbill, great blue turaco and the endemic bird species of the Rift valley of East Africa. It’s only in Uganda where you can view the most adored African species like shoebill stock, a large ancient-looking bird which lives in the swamps and its prominent for its clog shaped Bill.
Important Birding Areas (IBA’s) in Uganda
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Queen Elizabeth National park
Kibale National Park
Mabamba swamp
Semuliki National Park
Murchison Falls National Park
Nile River
Mgahinga National Park
In order to enjoy an adventure tour, combine your bird watching trip with gorilla trekking, especially on your visits to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bird watching in Rwanda is an enjoyable activity because of the ease to see the birds and the short distance travelled between the protected areas. Rwanda is home to over 700 bird species, which are scattered between protected areas, swamps, and agricultural lands. Rwanda accounts for most of the Albertine Rift Endemic bird species (44), 27 of which are found in Nyungwe Forest alone.