Birding In Kibale National Park

Key species of birds in Kibale National Park include;

Green-breasted pitta which is the most sought after, African Pitta, Abyssinian ground thrush, Crowned eagle, Dusky crimsoning, Collared appalis, Black-capped appalis, Black bee-eater, Yellow spotted nicator, Little greenbul, Black-eared ground thrush, Brown-chested alethe, Yellow-rumped tinker bird and Blue-breasted kingfisher.

Chubb’s Cisticola, Black-capped waxbill, Africa Shrike-flycatcher, African Black-headed Oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, African green-pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African wood owl, alpine swift, Ash flycatcher, Barn swallow, Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Black-billed weaver, African dusky flycatcher, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Blue-throated Roller, Zebra Waxbill, Brown-eared woodpecker, African-pied wagtail, Cameroon Sombre greenbul, papyrus canary, papyrus gonolek, and white collared olive among so many others. All these and more bird species have been recorded in Kibale National Park.

Four bird species recorded in Kibale National Park have not been seen in any other Uganda national park and these include the blue-headed bee-eater, Nahan’s francolin, the masked appalis and the Cassin’s spinetail. Migratory birds are also recorded here which usually come between November and April.

Birding in Kibale National Park is best done on a guided forest walk which gives tourists an opportunity to spot a variety of them. The well-developed walking/hiking trails in Kibale National Park facilitate easy hiking of the forest while on the lookout for birds. The best bird watching spot is the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary which is a community project where experienced local guides take birders on a four-hour walking trail in search of various bird species.

Birding tours in Kibale National Park start as early as 7am in the morning at Kanyanchu visitor centre, in the guidance of an experienced bird guide. With a bird guide, travellers are guaranteed of spotting a variety of bird species given that the guides are knowledgeable of the best trails to take.

Best time for birding in Kibale National Park

Birding in Kibale is done all year long. The best time for birding in Kibale National Park however is from March to May and also from September to November, which are the rainy months when the fruits and food are abundant in the forest and thus many birds to be spotted.

What to carry on a birding in Kibale National Park safari 

Given that Kibale National Park is a rainforested area, it is necessary for one to carry appropriate clothing and items. Among the items a birder should carry include;

• A field guide book
• Field bag and field clothing
• Binoculars for clear viewing even for distant bird species
• Sunglasses
• Mineral water bottle
• Insect repellent creams

How to get to Kibale National Park 

For travellers after birding in Kibale forest, getting to the park can be done by both road and air. By car, travellers drive a 300km distance from Kampala to Fort Portal and then to Kanyanchu visitor centre. The drives takes about 5-6 hours of scenic and rewarding road drive. By air, travellers fly from Entebbe International Airport to Kasese airstrip or in Nyakisharara airstrip in Mbarara. The flight takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, after which travellers are transferred to the park.