Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park-Birding Safari
Uganda Queen Elizabeth National Park-Birding Safari : Birding is the best way to experience the reward with impressive sightseeing of notable bird species. In Uganda Queen Elizabeth national park is listed among the top birding destination in East Africa where you can find notable bird species which cannot be sighted anywhere in the country. Uganda boosts with more than 1010 bird species in total which can be viewed in different Uganda birding destination. Queen Elizabeth national park is home to over 600 bird species marking it the finest destination for birding while on Uganda safari. The best time of bird watching is during morning hours and evening hours when variety of birds can be spotted on their nest.
The birds of here can be spotted in savannah plains, forests connected with the expansive forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo that allows tourists to sightsee bird species from East as well as the central African bird species. Queen Elizabeth national park is found in western region of Uganda in Kasese district, covering about 1978 square kilometres, approximately 400 driving distance from the west of Kampala main city. It is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority and was listed on a UNESCO world heritage site in 1991.
Bird species in Queen Elizabeth national park can be encountered in woodland, maramangambo forest and such bird lists include;
They include; Fish Eagle, Papyrus gonolek, Swampy fly catcher, Long tailed cormorants, Squacoo Heron, Grey headed kingfisher, Yellow backed weaver, Knob boiled Ducks, Black rumped Buttonquail, Pink backed pelican, African skimmer, African Broadbill, Black bee eater, White tailed lark, White winged warbler, corncrakes, Greater flamingo, Martial Eagle, Spur winged plovers, thin tailed nightjars, Malachite, Collard pranticles, Bar tailed Godwit ,Chapin’s flycatcher ,Rwenzori Turaco ,African green pigeon ,White winged warbler ,black lured babbler ,white tailed lark ,black headed gonolek ,African crake ,crowned lover ,brown snake eagles ,Yellow throated long crow ,Red throat spur fowls ,helmeted guinea ,lappet faced vulture ,white headed barbet ,hooded vulture ,double barbet ,striped kingfisher ,Senegal honey guide ,white browned robin chat ,African skimmer ,oink backed pelican ,papyrus canary ,common squaro heron ,brown neck eagle ,yellow wagtail ,knob billed ducks ,sacred ibis ,Caruthers cisticola ,pied and malachite kingfisher mentioned few. All these notable species can be seen along Kazinga channel, maramangambo forest, Katungura areas, Lake Kikorongo, Mweya peninsular and Kasenyi area as well as the swamp areas in the Ishasha sector is also a good place to view the rare shoebill stork.
Essentials to carry on your Birding Safari –Queen
They include; Light hiking shoes, Hat and sunglasses, Light clothes, a pair of binoculars, Camera and extra batteries, waterproof rain jacket, day pack among others.
Best Time for Birding in Queen Elizabeth National park
Birding in Queen Elizabeth national park can be done throughout the year but the best birding season starts from May to September here rain can be less and food can be in plenty. June to July tend to be with least rain and April to May and November to September receives heavy rain full thus making roads impassable and slippery for hiking in forest trails which can lead to limitation of birding with in the park. From November to April best time to see migratory birds.
Apart from birding, there are many activities you can be conducted with in the park such as game drive viewing, Chimpanzee tracking, Walking safari, Mongoose tracking, Boat cruise along Kazinga Channel many more.
Where to stay on Birding in Queen Elizabeth
The park offers good comfortable accommodation facilities with good amenities, easy location, professional chefs ranging between Luxury to Budget such as Kyambura Game lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Ishasha Wilderness camp, Geo lodge Jacana safari lodge, Simba safari camp, Volcanoes Kyambura Gorge lodge among others.
Getting to Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth national park can be easily accessed from Kampala to main destination within 5 to 6 hours’ drive. Alternatively, you can fly to and from Entebbe international Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip within 1:15 hours .
