Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary are two prime African birding destinations located in the western part of the country.
Created in 1993, Kibale National Park is home to about 350 species of birds, six of which are endemic to the region. The rare and beautiful bird species of the park can best be spotted on the guided forest walks offered by the park’s experienced and friendly staff or by one of the many tour operators in the region. Aside from birding, visitors to Kibale National Park can enjoy unrivaled sightings of chimpanzees and various species of other primates, as the park has the highest density of primates in East Africa!
Birders also shouldn’t miss Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a superb community development enterprise located on the fringe of Kibale National Park in Magombe Swamp. The Sanctuary itself has 138 species of birds that can be easily seen on any of the guided tours along the boardwalk trail or from the many viewing platforms situated throughout the Sanctuary.
Key species found in Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary include:
Green-breasted pitta
African pitta
Abyssinian groundthrush
Crowned eagle
Dusky crimsonwing
Black-capped apalis
Collared apalis
Purple-breasted sunbird
Black bee-eater
Yellow spotted nicator
Little greenbul
Black-eared groundthrush
Brown-chested alethe
Yellow-rumped tinker bird
Blue-breasted kingfisher
Read more about birding in Kibale National Park at Uganda Wildlife Authority: http://www.ugandaparks.com/national-parks/kibale-forest