Birding in Kibale National Park.
The second most popular activity among safari visitors in Kibale National Park is birdwatching. Because it is home to the greatest number of monkey species and birders’ hoven, Kibale National Park is known as the primate capital of the world.
In spite of this, the park was established as a national park in 1993 with the goal of safeguarding many wild chimpanzees and other small primate species. Furthermore, the park has been designated as an Important Bird Area, allowing birdwatchers to witness a variety of bird species.
With over 350 bird species, including six indigenous to the area, Kibale National Park is a birder’s dream. In addition to the 138 bird species that visitors can observe, birdwatching is possible on the park’s several nature routes through Kibale Forest and the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.
The following are some of the bird species found in Kibale National Park:
Kingfisher with a blue breast, Cisticola by Chubb, African Black-headed Oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green-pigeon, Black-capped Waxbill, Ash flycatcher, Barn swallow, Alpine swift, African wood owl, Black-crowned Tchagra, Papyrus canary, Papyrus gonolek, Cameroon Sombre greenbul, Olive with a white collar, The most sought-after African pitta, Abyssinian ground thrush, and green-breasted pitta Dark crimsoning, Crowned Eagle, Collared Apalis, Among the bird species observed were the blue-breasted kingfisher, yellow-rumped tinker bird, and brown-chested alethe.
The blue-headed bee-eater, Nahan’s francolin, masked apalis, and Cassin’s spine tail are four bird species that are unique to Uganda National Parks. Join the migratory bird species that often come here from November to April.
Travelers have a fantastic opportunity to see a variety of birds during a guided woodland walk, which is generally one of the finest ways to observe birds in Kibale woodland National Park. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community enterprise, is the park’s greatest place to go birdwatching. Skilled local guides lead visitors on a four-hour walking track where they may look for a variety of bird species.
The ideal times of day to go bird watching in Kibale National Park are in the morning and evening. The best time to go bird watching is in the morning, which begins at 7 am at the Kanyanchu Visitor Center and is led by a knowledgeable bird guide. With the assistance of an experienced guide who is aware of the best bird-spotting trails, the birders are assured of seeing a variety of bird species.
With over 1099 bird species that may be seen in several national parks, reserves, wetlands, and savannah grassland, among other places, Uganda is generally one of the best places in the world to go bird watching. Mabamba Bay Wetland, Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, Bwindi Forest National Park, Lake Mburo National Park, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, and Semuliki National Reserves are a some of the top birdwatching destinations, along with Kibale Forest National Park.
The ideal season to go birdwatching at Kibale National Park
In Kibale, birdwatching is possible all year round. However, the greatest time to go bird watching in Kibale is during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and from September to November. During this period, the park offers a variety of food.
What should I bring to Kibale National Park for a birdwatching trip?
To make your birding tours unforgettable, you must bring a number of essentials, such as a mineral water bottle, insect repellent, sunglasses, a pair of binoculars, a field bag and field clothes, a guided birding book, a hat, a poncho, a sweater, a rain jacket, hand gloves, and many more.
Accessing Kibale National Park
Kibale National Park is accessible by air and vehicle.
By vehicle
After traveling 300 kilometers from Kampala to Fort Portal, visitors reach the park. It’s a lovely, enjoyable road trip that takes roughly five to six hours to complete.
By Air
Entebbe International Airport serves as the airport for flights to Nyakisharara or Kasese airports in Mbarara. The tourist landing takes one hour and twenty minutes, after which the driver guide will pick you up and put you off at the lodge.
In addition to having the greatest monkey population in East Africa, Kibale National Park is a true birdwatching hotspot. However, the majority of visitors come to the park only to hike chimpanzees, unaware that they can also combine birdwatching with chimpanzee trekking or a habituation experience.
The daily cost of chimpanzee trekking is $200, while the cost of chimpanzee habituation is $250 per person each track. Other primates that can be seen in Kibale National Park are Guereza colobus, Olive Baboons, L’hoests, Red-tailed Monkeys, and Grey-checked Mangabeys.
We suggest that you contact reliable tour operators for assistance in booking birding safaris if you would want further information on organizing a safari in Uganda.
