Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park; Uganda is a home of over 1075 bird species which makes it one of the best birding destinations in Africa with variety of bird species including endemic species which are not found in other countries. Different bird species in Uganda are found in various national parks where you will also be able to view variety of wild animals including the big five mammals, primates like gorillas, chimpanzees and golden monkeys.
Queen Elizabeth national park is one of the visited national park located in western part of Uganda. The national park is a home of over 600 recorded bird species including water birds, endemic birds, savannah birds, forest birds and endemic birds which makes it the top birding destination in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth national park is also famously known for harboring other wildlife species including the tree climbing lions in Ishasha sector, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, hippos, chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys among others.
There are various bird watching areas in Queen Elizabeth national park including Kazinga channel, Mweya peninsula, Ishasha sector, Kasenyi plains, Maramagambo forest, Kyambura gorge, Katwe area, Katunguru Bridge, Lake Kikorongo area among others. Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is best done very early in the morning or in the evening with an experienced park guide. During birding which can be carried out during the game drives, boat cruise on Kazinga channel, nature walk in Maramagambo forest, Kyambura gorge or Ishasha sector, you will be able to spot different bird species including Pied Kingfisher, Pink and white backed pelican, African jacana, Black Crake, Saddle-billed Stork, African Jacana, Yellow Billed Stork, African Skimmer, African Fish Eagle, Blue Headed Bee-eater, Martial Eagle, African Finfoot, White Tailed Lark, Shoebill, Broad-tailed Warbler, White-spotted Flufftail, Purple-Headed Starling, Speckled Tinker Bird, Hairy Breasted Barbet, Grey Wood Pecker, African Emerald Cuckoo, Thin-tailed Nightjar, Papyrus Canary, Black-rumped Buttonquail African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle, White Winged Tern, Long-tailed Cormorant, Martial Eagle, Swamp Fly-catcher, Papyrus Gonolek, Squacco Heron, Knob-billed Duck, Wattled Plover, Open-billed Stork, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Black Bishop, Red-throated Wryneck, Double Toothed Barbet, Palm-nut Vulture, Ross’s Turaco, African Green Pigeon, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Hooded Vulture, Long-created Eagle, Black-crowned Tchagra, Brown Snake Eagle, African White-backed Vulture, Senegal Plover, Bateleurs, Nubian Woodpecker, Blue-napped Mousebird, Pygmy Kingfisher, Slender-billed Weaver, Little Bee-eater, Egyptian Geese, Little Egret, Spoon-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, White Backed Pelican, Water-thick Knee among others.
Best time for bird watching experience in Queen Elizabeth national park
Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park can be done all year round though the best time is during the wet season in the months of May to September and November to April because that’s the best period where you will be able to view colorful and migratory bird species.
How to get to Queen Elizabeth national park
Queen Elizabeth national park is located in western part of Uganda and can be accessed by road transport means whereby you will drive from Kampala via Masaka-Mbarara road or Mubende Fort portal to the park headquarters which takes about 6 to 7 hours’ drive.
Queen Elizabeth national park can also be accessed by air transport means whereby you will book charter or scheduled flights from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airfield to Mweya or Kasese airstrips and then connect to the lodge or park headquarters by road.
Where to stay during your bird watching experience in Queen Elizabeth national park
There are a wide range of accommodation facilities in Queen Elizabeth national park where you can stay during your bird watching experience. The accommodations range from budget, midrange and luxury including Queen Elizabeth bush lodge, Buffalo safari lodge, Kingfisher lodge, Simba safari lodge, Ishasha wilderness camp, Hippo hill safari lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Mweya hostels, Pumba safari lodge, Elephant plains lodge, Katara lodge, Kyambura gorge lodge, Elephant hab lodge, Park view safari lodge, Kasenyi safari camp, Enjojo lodge, Marafiki safari lodge, Lake Munyanyange caves resort, Ishasha jungle lodge, Enganzi lodge, Ishasha tented camp, Ishasha Ntungwe River camp, Ihamba safari lodge among others.
Other activities in Queen Elizabeth national park
Apart from Bird watching, Queen Elizabeth national park offers other interesting activities that you can engage in during the safari including Game drives in Kasenyi and Ishasha sector where you will be able to view different animals, Boat cruise on Kazinga channel, Guided nature walk, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura gorge, lion tracking experience, community tour among others.
For breathtaking and unforgettable moments during your safari, bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park is an exciting activity that can be combined by gorilla trekking in Bwindi impenetrable national park. You can contact us at Achieve Global Safaris for more information or visit our website for various safari packages.
