Birdwatching in Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most exciting activities within this park. Queen Elizabeth National Park has over 600 bird species that can be seen during a game drive, boat cruise or nature walk within the park.
The park is ranked first in the whole of East Africa, second in Africa, and third in the whole world as a popular birding destination. A variety of bird species exist and these include savanna birds, woodland birds, and water birds. Birdwatching in Queen Elizabeth can be done throughout the whole year, depending on your own schedule.
During your birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park, a number of birds can be sighted. These include the fawn-breasted wax-bill, dark-caped yellow warbler, black-headed batis, bat hawk, red-tailed bristle bill, and sulfur-breasted bush shrike. Don’t miss the African green pigeon, Ross’s turaco, Rwenzori turaco, the white-naped pigeons, and the forest flycatchers among others.
More About Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park which is approximately 1,978 square kilometers (764 sq mi) is one of Uganda’s oldest parks formed officially, along with Murchison Falls National Park in 1952. It is understandably Uganda’s most popular tourist destination found in the western region of Uganda, spanning the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The park was listed among the UNESCO world biosphere reserves, though it used to be called Lake Edward and Lake Gorge game reserve in the 1920s, before being gazetted.
Queen Elizabeth National Park extends from Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest. It also includes the famous Kazinga Channel that connects the two lakes, which has also favored a good number of aquatic wildlife like hippos, crocodiles, fish, and over 600 bird species commonly sighted at the Kasenyi birding site.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is also gifted with chimpanzees, so you can combine your wildlife safaris to Queen Elizabeth Park with a chimpanzee trekking safari along the Kyambura Gorge. While on your wildlife safari, expect to encounter the big five; that is, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, amazing tree-climbing lions, waterbucks, crocodiles, warthogs, Uganda Kobs, and a variety of birds.
You may also enjoy a spectacular birdwatching experience in the nearby Bwindi Impenetrable forest or Semuliki National Park. Don’t miss out on the amazing lifetime encounter on a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda.