Before we go into detail about the bird watching that takes place in the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, let us first understand what the botanical garden in Entebbe is all about. Entebbe Botanical Garden is a flora species collection and conservation center. It is the epitome of the beautiful nature that surrounds our continent and offers breathtaking views. The botanical garden is located in the heart of Entebbe town on the shores of Lake Victoria. The garden stretches for over 40 kilometers from the mainland to the shores of Victoria at 1,134 meters above sea level. Before we all thought that conservation was only for the wildlife species however the botanical garden in Entebbe has thus changed this narrative. This is because of the conservation efforts at the botanical garden that as thus opened efforts that have revived some of the plants we had lost. The Entebbe Botanical Garden is not just associated with the local flora species but also the exotic species.
Historically, the Entebbe Botanical Garden during the colonial days started as an agricultural research center. The idea of the botanical garden came in later after the colonial era and since then the garden has done a tremendous job to revive the flora species and develop more. Over the years the Entebbe Botanical Garden has placed itself as a relaxing place and getting in touch with nature while showcasing its charming beauty. The botanical garden has also helped to cleanse the air in Entebbe intoxicated by the carbon emissions from vehicles.
Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
A birding tour in Entebbe Botanical Gardens exposes the visitors to several bird species that call this garden their home. What is birding first of all? Birding or bird watching some people call it is an act of observing or spotting bird species in their natural habitats. The Entebbe Botanical Garden does not only stop at hosting and conserving the flora species, but it has also provided a haven to some bird species. There are over 500 bird species at the Entebbe Botanical Garden hence this garden is a birder’s paradise and an important birding area in Uganda.
There are designated trails for birding and with the professional and experienced birders in the garden be sure to spot several birds. Some of these birds to encounter include the pink-backed pelican, yellow-billed stork, eastern grey plantain-eater, yellow white-eye, purple-banded sunbird, African jacana, lesser jacana, yellow-billed duck, glossy ibis, gull-billed tern, white-winged tern, Diederik cuckoos, green crombec, tambourine dove, Cameroon, little and tooro olive greenbuls, water thick-knee, Madagascar bee-eater, Egyptian goose, black-headed weaver, African open-billed stork, malachite kingfisher, blue-checked bee-eater, common sandpiper, wood sandpiper, green sandpiper, black crake, long-tailed cormorant, crowned hornbill, vieillot’ black weaver, woodland kingfisher, pied kingfisher, red-billed firefinch, black-and-white-casqued hornbill, Senegal coucal, little stint, little weaver, and black-headed gonolek to mention but a few.
What else to do at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens
There are several other activities at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens other than birding even though it is seen as the major one. These include the following.
Guided nature walks
The guided nature walks are professional tours on foot along designated trails that take the visitors through the different flora species as they learn about Uganda’s rich biodiversity of flora species. The professional guides full of knowledge about plant life and flora species in the garden bring the visitors insight into the untold importance of protecting and conserving our flora species. This is portrayed by the garden’s conservation efforts and the country’s commitment to supporting this cause. While on the guided nature walks visitors can also observe the exotic species that have only been introduced to the country but indigenous to other parts of the world. These walks also present a chance of spotting some bird species in the garden.
Flora watching
This is a new activity often not practiced in most areas of the country but is present in the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Flora sighting or watching involves spotting the flora species on designated paths from the flowering species to tall trees and fruit trees. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens has over 300 local and exotic flora species.
When to visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for birding
The Entebbe Botanical Gardens are open to visitors all year round. However, the best time for birding in the garden is during the wet season. This is because the wet season is the breeding time for most of the bird species and it’s when they are most active. The dry season also can be a good time for birding, especially for the migratory bird species that are usually present in this season.
