Top 10 East African Destinations for Bird Watching
Top 10 East African Destinations for Bird Watching : Birding Watching is the act of viewing birds and learning more about their characteristics using cameras and binoculars, and most people who go birding do so in their natural environments. There are various bird species that may be observed in these nations, but it is important to know that the ideal time to go birding is during the rainy season, as well as in the morning and evening hours, when the lighting is optimal for binoculars and cameras.
There are various items and necessities that you will need when birding in any of the following nations, and I have taken the liberty of listing them here so that you are prepared before venturing into the wilderness for birding or during your bird watching safari in East Africa.
Top 10 East African Destinations for Bird Watching.
Bird Watching in Uganda.
Uganda boasts a multitude of birding observing spots, making it the top birding destination in East Africa. Uganda contains 1010 bird species, which include forest, lake, riverine, mountain, and marshy birds.
In Uganda, birding is centered on national parks and a few places near Entebbe and Jinja. This is due to the fact that both places are home to Lake Victoria, the world’s second largest freshwater lake, and the Nile, the world’s longest river. Uganda boasts a variety of bird species that may be seen at many birding places and attractions in the area, some of which include the following;
Bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bwindi impenetrable National Park is located in the western part of the nation and has over 350 bird species documented. The Africa Bird Club ranked it the finest birding place in Uganda, and it features well-marked birding trails. The collared and mountain masked Apalis, Chapin’s flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s crimsoning and black billed Turaco, and many more bird species may be spotted at Bwindi impenetrable national park.
Bird watching in Semuliki National Park, Uganda.
The Maxwell’s black weaver, piping hornbill, Nkulengu rail, black dwarf hornbill, yellow throated cuckoo, dwarf honey guide, yellow throated Nicator, swamp palm bulbul, red billed dwarf, African piculet, orange weaker, blue billed malimbe, and many other species can be found in Semiliki National Park.
Bird watching in Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
The Rwenzori Mountains National Park This is located in the Rwenzori area of Uganda’s southwestern region and is said to be home to approximately 177 bird species. There are various birding places nearby, but you may as well bird while trekking up the mountains. The cinnamon Chested bee-eater, swifts, Archer’s robin chat, long eared owl, Lagden’s bush shrike, blue headed and golden winged sunbird, slender billed starling, bearded vultures, Rwenzori Turaco, and other unique bird species may all be found in the Rwenzori Mountains National Park.
Bird watching in Lake Mburo National Park-Uganda.
Lake Mburo National Park, located in western Uganda, is a popular location for birders. It includes 315 known bird species, which may be seen from the Warukiri and Rwonyo marshes. The red necked spur fowl, Nubian woodpecker, crested francolin, pied kingfisher, shoebill, trilling Cisticola, bee-eaters, blue napped moosebird, lilac breasted roller, common quails, emerald spotted wood dove, bare faced go away birds, African eagle fish, and Greenwood hoopoe are among the famous bird species seen at Lake Mburo.
Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is located in the country’s southwestern province and is noted for having the highest concentration of gorillas. Other bird species found in the park include the Kivu ground thrush, white starred robin, olive pigeon, Rwenzori Batis, larger doubled collared sunbirds, brown capped Tchagra, western green tinker bird, black headed wax bill, and cinnamon warbler.
Bird Watching Safaris in Tanzania.
Tanzania is recognized to be one of the greatest sites for birding when taking an African safari due to the numerous outstanding birding spots situated across the country. There are several birding hotspots in Tanzania where one may view a variety of bird species, including the following:
Bird Watching in Lake Manyara National Park.
Many bird species may be seen sunbathing in the park near Lake Manyara, which is home to over 400 bird species. Birding at Lake Manyara is best done in the morning and evening. Some of the birds species that you will be able to see include the little bee-eater, Black Heron, Martial eagle, sacred Glossy ibis pink backed pelican, Ground dwelling crested guinea fowl, crowned Hornbill, silvery cheeked Hornbill, Schawlow’s turacos, Narina Trogon, the Baglafecht weaver, the African Hawke eagle, the Emerald cuckoo and the lesser flamingo although this can easily be seen when the water is at the right level.
Bird Watching in Selous Wildlife Reserve.
Selous Game Reserve is located in Tanzania. The Selous game reserve boasts over 440 bird species and is a popular destination for birders. Thick-billed cuckoo, white-backed night heron, Brown-headed parrot, yellow-billed stork, Green-headed oriole, Knob billed duck, Bateleur Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill, crested lark, geese, spur winged lapwing, The African spoonbill, African skimmer, White-fronted plover, and the Boehm’s bee eater are the most common birds seen here.
Bird Watching in Serengeti National Park.
Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is best known for the great migration that occurs there, but it is also home to numerous bird species such as the secretary bird, black headed heron, purple grandier, Darnaud’s-barbet, white bellied go away bird, grey breasted spur fowl, Rofous-tailed weaver, Kori Bustard, Fischer’s lovebird, white crowned shrike, variable bird, grey headed sparrow, and red backed scrub robin. Rwanda Birding Rwanda has about 750 distinct bird species that may be viewed in numerous birding hotspots, including the following.
Bird Watching Safaris in Rwanda.
Bird watching in Kigali city.
Kigali is a city in Rwanda. Kigali is Rwanda’s capital city, and while it may appear that there are no bird species within, the city contains a number of bird destinations that house a variety of bird species, including:
Wetland on the Nyabarongo River Nyabarongo is located in Kigali’s southwestern region. The swamp vegetation in the area is a major habitant for the birds, and some of the bird species found there include the little Egret, African Marsh Harrier, common snipe, spur-winged geese, long-toed lapwing, African open bill and Caruthers’ Cisticola, African jacana, yellow wagtail, Black headed Heron, the papyrus Gonolek, white collared olive bark, and Madagascar squacco heron among others.
Bird Watching in Nyungwe Forest National Park.
The Nyungwe forest national park is located in the country’s south-western corner, flanked by Lake Kivu. The area’s montane woods provide a suitable environment for birdwatching and serve as bird habitat. The forest is home to over 275 bird species, including the Archer’s robin’s chat, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Graurer’s warbler, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rockefeller’s sunbird, strange weaver, Red collared mountain Babbler, Handsome Francolin, Mountain sooty Boubou, and stripe-breasted tit to mention but a few.
The Volcanoes National Park
This park was the first in Africa and is located in the Virunga area. The volcanoes park is bordered by many volcano ranges and bamboo forest, making it a safe sanctuary for birdwatching. The park is home to around 187 different species, including the Dusty crimson wing, Red faced woodland warbler, Archer’s ground Robin, francolin, Rwenzori Batis, odd weaver, collared Apalis, and many more.
Bird Watching Safaris in Kenya.
Kenyan Birding Kenya boasts around 1089 bird species that can be found in various birding places. I will walk you through some of the top birding destinations in Kenya and the many bird species that can be found in those areas.
Bird Watching in Lake Turkana Delta.
The Lake Turkana delta has more than 20,000 aquatic bird species that are easily seen during the rainy season and some of these include the sur winged plover, the violet wood Hoopoe African skimmer and the little stint, the Geese, shorebirds, Egrets, pelicans, Flamingos and storks, the pel’s Fishing owl, southern banded snake Eagle, scaly babbler, Tana River Cisticola, East coast Akalat, Basra Reed Warbler and many more other bird species.
Bird Watching in Masai Mara National Reserve.
The Masai Mara offers excellent bird viewing throughout the year, but the greatest months are November to April, when migrants from Europe and North Africa arrive. This falls during the Wet season (November to May), when many species are in breeding plumage.
The Masai Mara is not a place for birdwatching. The Masai Mara’s trees, shrubs, and sky are a feast for birdwatchers’ eyes, with about 500 bird species and a terrifying 47 kinds of birds of prey. These savannah birds range in size from the world’s biggest bird, the ostrich, to microscopic small sunbirds that are difficult to identify with the naked eye.
Bird Watching in Lake Nakuru National Park.
Bird viewing in Lake Nakuru national park is enjoyable all year, although the best months for birders are November to March. You’ll have the greatest weather and the presence of migrating birds from Europe and North Africa during this season (November through April in the park).
Lake Nakuru National Park is a popular birding destination, home to over 500 bird species, including over 1,496,000 water birds and five globally threatened species: Madagascar Pond-Heron, Lesser Flamingo, Pallid Harrier, Greater Spotted Eagle, Grey-crested Helmet-shrike, and large flocks of Greater Flamingo.
In summary, this article entails Top 10 East African Destinations for Bird Watching
Contact Explore Rwanda Tours for birding tours to any of our East African destinations.
