With over 327 bird species boasted, Kibale National Park is one of the most vibrant birder’s paradises in the pearl of Africa, Uganda. Aside from chimpanzee tracking as this area’s major tourism activity, birding is yet another popular and exciting tourism activity in Kibale. As most travelers have admitted, having a Ugandan safari tour without birding in Kibale feels incomplete.
Visitors can therefore accompany their thrilling tourism activities through wildlife expeditions, chimpanzee tracking, and gorilla tracking with birding in Kibale to have a full blast and the most remarkable Uganda safari tour. It’s also worth noting that 60% of the 327 bird species in Kibale are recorded as forest birds, making Kibale an outstanding birder’s paradise in Uganda and the whole birding experience a noteworthy one.
The best time to kick off all the birding activities in Kibale is as early as 7:00 am in the Kanyancu sector along the Kanyancu chimpanzee trail. Aside from the endemic bird species, the spot also boasts over 6 Albertine endemic bird species which may include red-faced woodland warbler, blue-headed, Dusky crimson wing, purple-breasted, and black-capped apalis.
The most sought-after and rare bird, the Green-Breasted Pitta, also finds home in the wilderness of Kibale National Park. Travelers shall have an exciting moment as they encounter some of the bird species, like masked apalis, Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s spine tail, and blue-headed bee-eater, which can only be found in Kibale and not elsewhere in any Ugandan national park.
Other popular bird species that can be sighted while at Kibale may also include. Woodland Kingfisher, White Collared Olive Black, Woodland Kingfisher, Chocolate Backed Kingfisher, Purple Breasted Sun Bird, Grey Headed King Fisher, Black Bee Eater, Afep Pigeon, Common Wax Bill, Scarlet Chested Sun Bird, Regal Sun Bird, Bronze Sun Bird, Yellow Billed Ox Pecker, Yellow Fronted Tinker Head, Piapiac, Helmeted Guineafowl, Eastern Plantain Eater, Yellow Spotted Barbet, Double Toothed Barbet, Cinnamon Chested Bee Eater, White Tailed Blue Flycatcher, Crowned Eagle, Black Headed Gonolek, Pin Tailed Whydah, Chest Nut Throated Apalis, Malachite Kingfisher, Great Blue Turaco, to mention but a few.
Birding in the wilderness of Kibale is an all-year tourism activity. However, June to September and December to February remain the best times for birding activities in Kibale Forest National Park. During this period, the fruiting season is boosted, and therefore there’s availability of abundant food, which in turn attracts a wide range of bird species.
There are also fewer rains during this period during this particular season hence enabling travelers to have a smooth birding experience considering the clear views offered as a result of reduced vegetation cover. Migratory birds are also widely active from November to April, hence a perfect timing to have a touch of the western birds. The rainy season of months like March to May might affect the traveler’s birding experience as a result of muddy, slippery terrains and lush vegetation that makes it a challenge to maneuver through the wilderness.
