Bird watching in Uganda is an amazing experience for Queen Elizabeth National Park birders. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best birding destinations in Africa, with over 600 bird species out of the 1080 birds in Uganda found in diverse habitats like wetlands, savannah, lakes, and forests. It is the second largest park in Uganda, covering an area of 1978 sq.km. Some birding spots where birders could take their shots include the Kazinga Channel, a good spot for water birds like a white-tailed lark, swamp flycatcher, slender-tailed Nightjar, kingfishers, great white pelicans, and African skimmers. Ishasha Sector is famous for tree-climbing lions but is also a good spot for the rare palm-nut vulture, hamerkop, lilac-breasted roller, bee-eaters, crested francolin, African fish eagle, kori bustard, and others. Kyambura Gorge is great for woodland and riverine species like the African Broadbill and Black Bee-eater. Maramagambo forest can spot birds like African finfoot, Rwenzori Turaco and Narina Trogon. other bird species, like flamingos, can be spotted at Lake Munyanyange, which is a seasonal lake that fills around August to November.
What to pack as birders?
- Binoculars
- Cameras
- Comfortable hiking boots
- Caps and sunglasses
- Water & snacks.
- Long trousers, a long T-shirt.
- Raincoat.
What is the best time for birding in the park?
Although the park can be visited annually, there is always the best time. Uganda experiences dry and wet seasons; however, the best time to visit the park is in the dry season. The dry season is the busiest season in the Tourism industry, and visitors are advised to book accommodations and flights in time to avoid inconveniences. However, visitors may also visit in the wet season, which is the rainy season.
November to April
This period coincides with the arrival of migratory birds from Europe and North Africa; you will encounter a variety of them. it is considered a dry season, making it easier to view different bird species.
June to September
This is typically the dry season; expect no or little rain during this period. Here, you find many birds that make it easier to spot. Birds are active during this period, and birding can be challenging since they fly from one place to another.
April -May and October-November
these are months of heavy rainfall, so that birding can be possible, but it comes with challenges. Such as muddy trails and slippery roads to the birding destination, which make bird-watching less predictable.
Besides bird watching, what else do visitors do in Queen Elizabeth National Park?
Game drive.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is the best destination for game drives, which involves searching for mammals in the park using tourist vehicles. The game drive takes about 2-3 hours, and visitors are guided by guides who know the best spots for mammals. The park inhabits five mammal species, including buffalos, elephants, mongooses, lions, leopards, water bucks, kobs, and many more.
Boat cruise.
The fact that water bodies surround Queen Elizabeth National Park makes it the best destination for boat cruises. The activity takes 2-3 hours and can be done in the morning or afternoon. During the boat cruise, visitors will spot mammals along the lake shores like elephants, water bucks, kobs, buffalos, and many more; however, various bird species will be spotted, especially lower side of mweya, which is a birding paradise for both endemic and migrating bird species. Some of these birds include grey-crowned cranes, blue turacos, kingfishers, long-horned billed birds, and many more.
Nature walks.
Although the park is located in different Kamwenge, Kasese, Rubirizi, Rukungiri, and many more, the park is the best destination for nature walks. The activity involves footing with the help of guides who know the best for visitors. Visitors may either do nature walks in the park or to local communities. The activity takes about 2-3 hours and visitors can visit local markets, they are entertained by traditional dances, will interact with locals and may taste local meals and know how to prepare them, however visitors doing nature walks in the park will reach where vehicles can’t reach as they spot various mammal species.
How to access the Queen Elizabeth Park?
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in western Uganda and can be accessed by road or air transport. By road transport, visitors may use the Mupende-fort portal route, which takes about 8 hours to reach the park; however, it can also be accessed by the Masaka-Mbarara route, which takes about 9-10 hours.
By air transport, visitors may fly from kajjansi or Entebbe International Airport, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to Kisoro airstrip.
Where to stay while in the park?
1. Elephant Plains Lodge.
Elephant Plains Lodge is located at the edge of the park. The lodge is luxury with nine cottages, which are family, double, single, and disabled rooms. The lodge is self-contained with flushing toilets, bathtubs, hair dryers, mirrors, showers, chairs, tables, mosquito nets, and many more.
Elephant Plains Lodge facilitates a well-stocked bar with soft and hard drinks, a swimming pool for visitors to relax in, a restaurant facing Lake Kikorongo as visitors enjoy the delicious meals prepared by professional chefs, laundry, free wi-fi in the main house, free parking, and many more.
While at the lodge, visitors may do a game drive, boat cruise, nature walks, and birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
2. Buffalo Safari Lodge
Buffalo Safari Lodge is a luxury lodge located at the edge of the Queen Elizabeth National Park near the magical Kazinga channel, 1km off Kasese-Mbarara road. The lodge has 19 rooms, which are all self-contained with grass-thatched cottages sitting on 33 acres of wilderness overlooking the famous Kazinga water Channel. Some rooms are standard, and others are deluxe, self-contained with bathtubs, showers with hot and cold water, mirrors, mosquito nets, flushing toilets, chairs, tables, a balcony, and many more. However, the lodge facilitates laundry, the hospitality of the staff members, swimming, a restaurant, a well-stocked bar, free wifi in the main building, free parking, and many more.
3.Aardvark safari lodge
Aardvark Safari Lodge is located in Rubirizi near the katunguru bridge with a spectacular view of the kazinga channel. The lodge comprises 6 spacious, comfortable cottages facing Lake Edward and George’s beautiful sceneries. The lodge cottages are built in grass thatched and designed with African architecture with self-contained rooms with flushing toilets, balconies, showers, bathtubs, detergents, mirrors, hair driers, chairs, tables, mosquito nets, and many more.
The lodge facilitates a restaurant facing the lakeside, a well-stocked bar with soft and hard drinks, free wifi, parking, laundry, and many more. while at the lodge, visitors can spot elephants, buffalos, kobs, waterbucks, and many more.
