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Uganda is a true African
birding destination. Located at the center of the continent,
Uganda attracts migrants from the North and South. Uganda is
the richest country for birds in Africa. It has almost half
the species known on the African continent and over 10% of those
recorded throughout the entire world. Over 1,000 species of
birds have been recorded to exist in the country. Some of the
exciting species you will view include birds of water and land
shore, birds of scrub and woodland, forest birds and birds of
the open plain.
Most of our National Parks have a diversity of bird species;
however, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison Falls, Bwindi Impenetrable
and Semliki National Parks are the most famous for birding. |
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If you are a bird
lover, then Uganda is the destination that will make your dream
come true. Our excellent guides will add flavor to your own
experience on birds. Be our dear guest!
Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. No
other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats
ranging from arid semi-deserts, rich savannahs, lowland and
montane rainforests, vast wetlands, volcanoes and an afro-alpine
zone and covering an altitude from 650 to 5000m. This richness
is reflected in the number of birds per square kilometer the
highest than any other country in Africa. Given the small size
of the country, approximately 235,000 kilometers squared, Uganda
boasts a national bird list of over 1008 species. This represents
more than half the bird species that can be found in the whole
of Africa.
Uganda is considered by some specialists to be the richest
country for birds in Africa. Nigel Wheatley, for instance,
in "Where to Watch Birds in Africa" (1995) said:
"In terms of its size, Uganda is the richest country
for birds in Africa." And this immense volume and diversity
occurs miraculously in a space which keen birders can cover
in a relatively short visit."
It is only in the recent years that this enormous potential
for birdwatching has been developed by the Ugandan Authorities.
Special programmes have been set up to improve birdwatching
by identifying and selecting the nesting sites and by establishing
special guide programs and forest trails. The Queen Elisabeth
National Bird Observatory was created in 1997 to study the
resident and migratory bird populations. It is also a specialist
education and training centre.
The specialised tourist information facilities have also
been improved. We strongly recommend the Uganda Tourist Board
publication, "Where to Watch Birds in Uganda". This
booklet will persuade you of Uganda's as yet unrecognised
potential for birdwatching.
Forests
Uganda has an area contiguous with the Great Guinea / Congo
Basin rain forest on its western boarder. Subsequently there
are a number of west and central African bird species occurring
in Uganda that are not found elsewhere in East Africa.
There are more than 700 forest reserves in Uganda.
One particular region is the Albertine Rift Endemic area (ARE),
which has 38 species of birds confined to Uganda, Rwanda,
Burundi and the Congo.
Of these ARE’s Uganda has 25, mostly confined to the
forests of Mgahinga and Bwindi National Parks in the Southwest.
Bird species in each park
National Parks of Uganda - Bird species
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park - 115
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - 357
Rwenzori Mauntains National Park - 195
Queen Elisabeth National Park - 550
Semliki National Park - 400
Kibale National Park - 335
Lake Mburo National park - 315
Murchinson Falls National Park - 450
Kidepo Valley National Park - 475
Mount Elgon National Park - 300
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