Uganda Birding Tours
Having guided over 50 birding tours to Uganda over the past 20 years, we are justifiably proud of our vast depth of experience in this fabulous birdwatching nation. An equatorial country of astonishing contrasts, no other area in Africa can match Uganda’s amazing diversity of habitats, and this richness is reflected in its incredible bird list of over 1,000 species. This makes our Uganda birding tours a truly unique experience. Amongst these are many highly sought-after birds, such as the unique Shoebill and the numerous endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley. The huge bird list is even more remarkable given the small size of the country making it, arguably, the richest African birding destination.
Our Birds & Gorillas tour is a combined bird watching and wildlife safari that visits Kibale Forest, famed for its primates that range from minuscule galagos to Chimpanzees, as well as being the best site for the mythical Green-breasted Pitta. We also marvel at the towering trees of the fabled Royal Mile, and five days are enjoyed in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to more than half the world’s surviving Mountain Gorillas. Although the Gorilla trek here can be strenuous, staring into the eyes of one of these magnificent beasts from only a few feet away is nothing short of a life-changing experience, and is rated by many to be the greatest wildlife experience on the planet! In drier country, we visit the mighty Murchison Falls where the Nile is forced through a tiny gap, forming the most powerful water surge on earth. A boat cruise on our Uganda birding tour allows us to watch the birds and animals that throng the river’s banks. Here we can expect to find one of the world’s most wanted birds, the bizarre Shoebill. Straddling the Equator is the vast Queen Elizabeth NP, boasting impressive crater-lake scenery, grasslands and forests, huge herds of Elephant and Buffalo, Lions and Leopards. Over 500 species of birds and a diverse array of mammals can be expected on this unbeatable tour.
Our short Fox's Weaver Extension takes us into the rarely visted east of Uganda is specifically cxonstructed to target the recently re-discovered Ugandan endemic Fox’s Weaver and the highly localised Karamoja Apalis. We also spend time at the species dense Mabira Forest, tracking down the elusive Yellow-lored Bristlebill, Brown-chested Alethe and two glowing seedeaters: Black-bellied Seedcracker and Red-headed Bluebill.
Our Highlights tour covers the main attractions of this diverse country, from opportunities to track Mountain Gorillas and Chimpanzees, to seeking out rare Albertine Rift endemics and other forest specialities. This 14-day tour offers a fantastic overview for those with less time on their hands.