Uganda birding experience in Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the prime activities that most travelers prefer while they are on the safaris in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is Uganda’s second largest national park, located in the southwestern Uganda surrounded by Kasese district, Rubirizi, Kamwenge and Rukungiri district. Queen Elizabeth national park is famous for hosting over 600 bird species which are available for watching during the birding experience. Queen Elizabeth national park has a number of birding spots where you will spot a number of birding species. Among these birding spots include; Mweya peninsula, Kasenyi plains, Maramagambo forest, Kazinga channel and around Lake Katwe which is a salt lake.
Birding in Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kazinga channel is a waterbody which joins Lake Edward and Lake Gorge. This is an amazing experience where you will spot most of the birds as you enjoy a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Most of the birds which you will spot around Kazinga channel include; blue headed bee eater, white tailed larks, African fish eagle, yellow billed storks, woodpeckers in Runyankore it is called Kankomangwa and this is where we derived our name Omangwa. Other birds include; swallows, swifts, grey-capped warbler, red-chested sunbird, raptors, and Nubian woodpeckers, squire-tailed nigh jars to mention but a few. During this period you will spot other wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, crocodiles, hippos as they will be sharing the same pool.
Birding in Kasenyi Plains in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Kasenyi plains are also known as the mating grounds. The plains are located on the northern part of the park. This place is famous for having open savanna and you will spot most of the birds flying and as you spot other wildlife. The famous bird species in Kasenyi plains include; grey backed fiscal, African crake, red throated Spurfowl, martial eagles among others. The wildlife species you will spot in Kasenyi plains include; kobs, buffaloes, elephants, lion prides, hyenas, warthogs, hippopotami among others. You can view these bird species during your game drive in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Birding in Mweya Peninsula in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Mweya peninsula is not only an attraction itself, but also a home to bird species such as; hammerkops, swamp flycatchers, malachite kingfishers, little bee eater, chestnut wattle eye, slender billed weavers among others. Mweya peninsula is situated on the northern bank of Kazinga channel. While you are in Mweya peninsula you can engage in other activities such as lion experiential or lion tracking, mongoose tracking and boat cruise on Kazinga channel.
Birding in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Maramagambo forest is a virgin forest found in Bushenyi district in Queen Elizabeth national park. It is the largest forest in the park. The forest being the largest in the park, it means it accommodates a number of bird species. Some of the bird species to encounter in Maramagambo forest include; green pigeon, Rwenzori turaco, Sulphur breasted bush shrike, white napped pigeons, dark caped yellow warblers, white napped pigeons, Ross turacos among others. Maramagambo forest is a home to chimpanzees, monkeys, sitatungas, elephants, buffaloes among others.
Birding in Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
This is another birding avenue in Queen Elizabeth national park. It is located in the southern part of the park. Ishasha sector is known for its tree climbing lions like those in Lake Manyara national park in Tanzania. Some of the bird species that dwell in Ishasha sector include; martial eagles, broad bill rollers, stripped kingfishers, African wattled plovers, black coucal, broad billed rollers among others.
Birding around Lake Katwe in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Lake Katwe is a salt lake in Queen Elizabeth national park located on the eastern shores of Lake Edward. This place is a national treasure where salt is mined and you can also watch birds. Some of the bird species you encounter Lake Katwe area include; lesser and greater flamingos, broad tailed warbler, red capped larks, African mustached warbler, southern red bishop, common greenshank, gull-billed tern among others.
What Is The Best Time To Do Birding In Queen Elizabeth National Park?
The best time to go for bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is during dry season. These months are June to October and this is when the vegetation is short and you can navigate all the corners. This is also the best time to engage in wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth national park. However during the wet season between March to May and November to October to November. This is also when there is a lot of food in the park and expects to encounter migratory birds.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth National Park for Uganda Birding Experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
You can get to Queen Elizabeth national park using road transport from Kampala or Entebbe. It takes about 6hours drive from Entebbe or Kampala or you can use Kampala-Fort-Portal Kasese road.
Alternatively, you can fly from Entebbe to Mweya airstrip or Kasese airstrip.
