Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth national park.
Observing birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park: The second largest protected area in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park is spread across four districts: Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The renowned tree-climbing lions in the Ishasha sector, buffaloes, elephants, leopards, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, topi, warthogs, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, hippos, and primates like chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys are among the many animals that can be found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which was gazetted in 1952.
With more than 600 known bird species, including endemic, forest, migratory, aquatic, and savannah birds, Queen Elizabeth National Park is among the best places in Uganda to go bird watching. The main locations for bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park include the Katwe area, Katunguru bridge area, Lake Kikorongo, Ishasha sector, Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula, Maramagambo woodland, and Kazinga channel.
An expert bird guide will accompany you when you go bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park. They will help you identify various bird species, such as the African Emerald Cuckoo, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Marabou Stork, Pink-backed Pelicans, Long-tailed Cormorants, African Skimmer, African Fish Eagle, Spur-winged Plover, Egyptian Goose, Verreaux’s Eagle, Common Squacco, African Jacana, Papyrus Canary, African Mourning Dove, Sacred Ibis, Malachite Kingfisher, Martial Eagle, Swamp Nightjar, Palm-nut Vulture, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Senegal Plover, Bateleurs, Long-crated Eagle, Black-headed Gonolek, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Spoon-billed Stork, Little Egret, Water-thick Knee, Red-chested Sunbird, Blue-napped Mouse bird, and Pygmy Kingfisher, among others.
The ideal time of year to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park for birdwatching
The best time to go bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park is during the dry season, which runs from May to September. This is because there is less rainfall in the park during this time, which means there is more food for birds, bird watching trails are dry and accessible, and the vegetation is sparse, allowing you to get clear views of various bird species and other wildlife.
The wet seasons of April through May and October through November are also good times to go bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park because they allow visitors to see migratory and colorful bird species.
The Queen Elizabeth National Park travel route
The western region of Uganda is home to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is reachable by air and road.
When taking road transportation, you will travel seven to eight hours from Kampala to the park headquarters via Mubende, Fort Portal Road, or Masaka, Mbarara Road.
Additionally, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (about 3–4 hours’ travel through Ishasha Sector) and Kibale Forest National Park (approximately 2–3 hours’ drive) provide access to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Booking a scheduled or charter domestic flight with Bar Aviation or Aerolink Uganda Limited from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airfield to Mweya or Kasese Airstrips, followed by a car connection to the park headquarters, is the process of using air transportation.
Additional pursuits within Queen Elizabeth National Park
In addition to bird watching, Queen Elizabeth National Park provides visitors with other fascinating safari activities, including as
You can see tree-climbing lions and other species like buffaloes, elephants, Uganda kobs, leopards, hyenas, and waterbucks during game drives in the Kasenyi plains, Mweya peninsula, and Ishasha sector.
guided nature walks, which give you the chance to go through the park with an armed ranger guide and an experienced park guide. You can get up close and personal with various species by following various routes in the Maramagambo forest, Ishasha River, Kyambura Gorge, and Mweya peninsula during the guided nature walk.
Queen Elizabeth National Park bird viewing
Take a boat ride on the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. Throughout the two to three-hour boat journey, you can see enormous groups of hippos and Nile crocodiles in the river, as well as elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and water birds, among other creatures.
You can spend an hour with chimpanzees in their natural habitat during chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, where you can observe them going about their everyday lives, take pictures and films, and learn about their routines and mannerisms.
Cultural trips that allow you to engage with the locals in nearby villages and discover more about their customs, culture, and way of life, among other things.
Accommodations available at Queen Elizabeth National Park
Simba Safari Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, Irungu Forest Safari Lodge, Queen Elizabeth Safari Lodge, Marafiki Safari Lodge, Lake Munyanyange Cave Resort, Pumba Safari Lodge, Ishasha Jungle Lodge, Mweya Safari Lodge, Ishasha Wilderness Camp, Enganzi Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp, Park View Safari Lodge, Elephant Hab Lodge, Ihamba Safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Elephant Plains Lodge, Kyambura Gorge Lodge, Kingfisher Lodge Kichwamba, Jacana Safari Lodge, Ishasha Tented Camp, Ishasha Ntungwe River Camp, and many more are available for your birdwatching safari at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
To make your safari unforgettable, you can combine the amazing activity of bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park with other activities like chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest National Park, gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, and more.
