Spanning the equator and bounded in the west by Africa's Great Rift Valley, Uganda is a country of great natural beauty and geographical diversity. The soaring volcanic peaks of the Virunga and Rwenzori Mountains, a chain of huge inland lakes, the source of the mighty River Nile, large areas of savannah and acacia dotted grassland and large tracts of primary forest which include the western edge of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, these habitats are home to a great diversity of bird and animal life. Often referred to as the "Pearl of Africa" Uganda boasts a list of around 1080 bird species including the legendary and monotypic Shoebill probably more accessible here in Uganda than anywhere else in its limited range of the papyrus swamps of east central Africa. The birdlist also contains the very localised Albertine Rift endemics of which 23 out of 24 may be found in Uganda. Uganda's national parks reflect the extraordinary diversity of the country. Murchison Falls, divided by the River Nile is Uganda's largest park. Mount Elgon, the 4th highest mountain in East Africa whilst Semuliki and Kibale national parks offer abundant bird and other wildlife. (check out Graeme Wallace's trip report)

Shoebill

Shoebill © Nigel Voaden

Uganda - from the source of the White Nile on Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Rwenzori Range

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Showing the 41 Most Recent Trip Reports Posted

Ultimate Uganda Birding Tour - Shoebill, Albertine Rift Endemics and Great Apes - August 2022, author Birding Ecotours (added September 29, 2023)
(Shoebill, Red-faced Barbet, African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron and Long-tailed Cisticola, Rwenzori Turaco and Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Lagden’s Bushshrike)

South-western Uganda - June 2019, author Peter Fraser (added September 25, 2019)
(Bwindi, QEII NP, Shoebill, Grauer's Broadbill, Mountain Gorilla, Golden Monkey, Chimpanzee)

Uganda - 1st – 14th August 2018, author Chris Lotz, Birding Ecotours (link created September 21, 2019)
(Uganda never ceases to deliver some incredible sightings, Shoebill, Pennant-winged Nightjar and more.)

Uganda - 28th June to 14th July 2010, author Graham Ekins (added September 20, 2010)
(Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, Gorilla, Chimpanzee, 19 Albertine Rift Endemics, Mgahinga, Bwindi, Mabamba Swamp, Mabira Forest, Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest.)

Uganda: Albertine Rift endemics with Murchison Falls extension - August 2016, author Chris Lotz, Birding Ecotours (link created October 8, 2016)
(Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, Gorillas and Chimpanzees)

Uganda - 14th July - 5th August 2004, author Graeme and Moira Wallace (added October 7, 2004)
(540 species on the trip including Shoebill and best bird, Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye)

Uganda: Shoebill, Albertine Rift Endemics, Green-breasted Pitta, Gorilla and Chimpanzees, August 2019, author Birding Ecotours (added October 6, 2021)
(Shoebill at Mabamba Swamp, Rwenzori Turaco at Mgahinga, Grauer’s Broadbill on the Mubwindi Swamp walk, Abyssinian Ground Thrush on main Buhoma trail, Lions in Ishasha, Green-breasted Pitta)

Uganda - 25th September – 9th October 2010, author Richard Rae (link created October 29, 2012)
(Highlights of this trip were simply astonishing views of Green-breasted Pitta, the legendary Shoebill and the Mountain Gorillas)

Uganda - 3rd - 25th August 2006, author Pete Morris (link created October 29, 2007)
(Uganda is a must for any birder. Home to a number of albertine rift endemics and an excellent place to see a large number of otherwise difficult 'West African' forest species.)

Uganda - great apes, birds and big game - 30th June - 18th July 2023, author Christopher Hall (link created October 28, 2023)
(Lavish photo-filled trip report of a 300+ bird species adventure, plus 38 mammals seen including the big five)

Bird watching in Uganda, author Katona Tours (link created October 25, 2011)
(budget birding tours, birding safaris in Uganda, birding expeditions, gorilla tours, gorilla safaris, book gorilla permits for Uganda and Rwanda)

Uganda: Birding and Mammal Report - July 2022, author Birding Ecotours (added October 20, 2022)
(Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, Grauer's Broadbill, Ugandan wildlife such as Eastern (Mountain) Gorilla, Chimpanzee, Albertine Rift bird endemics)

Uganda - 28th May - 13th June 2004, author Ian Merrill (added October 19, 2004)

Uganda - 1st - 17th July 2018, author Chris Lotz, Birding Ecotours (link created October 13, 2018)
(This tour of Uganda focused on the main sites of the central and western reaches of the country, with the exception of the Semliki Valley and Mgahinga National Park.)

Uganda - 2012 and 2017, author Richard Carlson (added November 27, 2017)
(Bwindi, Murchison, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, )

Uganda - August 2011, author Andy Mears (link created November 23, 2011)
(When Green-breasted Pitta was ‘unmasked’ a couple of years ago, and became a realistic possibility on even a short visit, the country zoomed firmly to the top of my list.)

Uganda July - August 2006, author Chris Mills (added November 13, 2006)
(Shoebill, African Green Broadbill, Bwindi, Semliki, Kibale, Murchison, Queen Elizabeth park)

Uganda - June - July 2009, author Phil Gregory (added November 10, 2009)
(Green-breasted Pitta, Grauer's Green Broadbill, Murchison Falls, Bwindi, gorillas)

Kenya Birding - Avian Safaris - Sept-Oct, 2023, author Crammy Wanyama (link created May 29, 2023)
(Nairobi NP, Kinangop, Naivasha NP, Kisumu, Kakamega Forest, Cherengeni Hills, Kanyarkwat Escarpement, Mt Elgon NP, Baringo, Aberdare Mountains, Mount Kenya, )

Uganda July 2009, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 9, 2011)

Uganda July 2010, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created March 9, 2011)

Uganda: Semliki - May 24th - 30th 2006, author Phil Gregory (added March 16, 2007)
(Semliki, Kirumiya Trail, Nkulengu Rail, African Piculet, Red-fronted Antpecker, Hartlaub's Duck)

Uganda North and East - 6th - 26th November 2019, author Kathie Claydon (added March 14, 2020)
(Ziwa, Murchison, Kidepo, Pian Upe)

Uganda - November 2017, author Kathie Claydon (added March 14, 2018)

Uganda, International Hospital - Kampala June 2007, author Nigel Voaden (added June 11, 2007)

Uganda: 13th May - 3rd June 2017, author Catherine McFadden (added July 9, 2017)
(Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, Grauer's Broadbill, Hartlaub's Duck, Spot-breasted Ibis)

Uganda - birding and primates - July 2008, author Peter Roberts (added July 28, 2008)
(Uganda’s big attractions are Shoebill, West African forest birds and the possibility of seeing Chimpanzees and Gorillas)

Uganda, Bwindi NP (Buhoma Station), 10-12 December 2011, author Charles Davies (added January 11, 2012)
(Chapin's Flycatcher, Grey-headed Sunbird, robin-chats, gorilla)

Ultimate Uganda: Shoebill, Albertine Rift Endemics & Great Apes Birding Tour Report, author Birding Ecotours (added December 9, 2022)
(Shoebill, Green-breasted Pitta, Chimpanzee, Eastern (Mountain) Gorilla, Rhinoceros (White), African Buffalo, Shoebill, Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s (African Green) Broadbill and Neumann’s Warbler)

Uganda - February 14th – March 1st 2013, author Hans Groot (added December 8, 2013)
(Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth NP, Semliki, Kibale, Mabira, Lutembe Bay)

Uganda - 27th July - 20th August 2008, author Dick Meijer and Peter van Scheepen (link created December 1, 2012)
(We recorded 584 species of birds and saw 23 of the 27 Albertine rift endemics occurring in Uganda)

Uganda 2007 - 19 days Uganda North and South with Birding Africa (Author: Michael Mills), author Callan Cohen (link created August 9, 2009)
(Over 530 species, Emin’s Shrike, Standard-winged Nightjar, Papyrus Gonolek, Shoebill, Black Bee-eater, White-thighed Hornbill and Malachite Kingfisher.)

Uganda – western forest and northern savanna birds - 24 June - 23 July 2011, author Stephen Blaber (added August 8, 2011)
(Albertine rift species, Semliki Forest, Murchison, Kidepo, Lake Bisina)

Uganda July 2007, author Ashley Banwell (added August 5, 2007)
(Green-breasted Pitta, African Green Broadbill, Oberlander's Ground Thrush, Red-fronted Antpecker, Afep Pigeon, Ituri Batis)

Uganda Grand Tour - 31 days birding - July – August 2014, author David Milton (added August 31, 2015)
(Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi, QEII, Kibale, Semliki, Budongo, Murchison Fall, Kidepo)

Birding Trip Report - Uganda, 5th - 26th August 2002, author Sam Woods/Tropical Birding (added August 28, 2004)

Uganda, 13th - 26th January 2004, author Roland Brown (added August 28, 2004)

Uganda: A Birding Safari - June 2005, author Steve Arlow (added August 13, 2005)

Uganda - 13th - 29th May 2008, author Steve Dark (added August 12, 2008)
(This small land locked country roughly the size of the UK has a bird list of over 1000)

Uganda 2007 - 19 days Uganda North and South with Birding Africa (Author: Michael Mills), author Callan Cohen (added April 27, 2009)
(Over 530 bird species recorded, Shoebill, Albertine Rift, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, forest, Kibale National Park, Budongo Forest, savanna, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls National Park, Emin’s Shrike, Standard-winged Nightjar, Papyrus Gonolek,)

Uganda Jul-Aug 2011, author Rockjumper Birding Tours (link created April 11, 2012)

Showing the 1 Latest Recent Sightings Posted

Uganda, By Susan and Bill anopheles202002@yahoo dot author Herbert Byaruhanga (added September 30, 2008)