Kampala City
Birding Tours In Uganda - Semliki National Park
Kampala City And the Environment
Kampala City And the Environment
Sprawled across seven hills, there is the capital Kampala. The bright modern feel of this bustling, cosmopolitan city is complemented by the sloping spaciousness and running greenery of its garden setting. The area in and around Kampala offers a variety of exciting Birding opportunities.
Uganda’s large and modern capital lies on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, its well wooded outskirts supporting a wide variety of birds. Kampala may provide your best chance of seeing certain species such as Bat Hawk and African Hobby. They are commonly observed overhead at dusk in the city centre for example in areas such as Makerere University and the Sheraton Hotel. Another good spot for these spectacular birds is near the Backpackers’ Hostel.
Lying astride the highway to eastern Uganda, is Mabira Forest. The forest supports a good number of bird species, many of which are difficult to see elsewhere in the country. An excellent trail network allows access to the wild. Flowering trees in Mabira Forest are inviting to the sunbirds like the Superb Sunbirds, Blue Throated Brown, Green Throated and Forest Robin.
The time required for bird watching in this forest reserve is 1 to 2 days. Key species include: Joyful Greenbul, Leaflove, Squared-tailed Drongo, Nahan’s Francolin, Forest Wood-hoopoe, Pied Hornbill, Grey long-bill, Tit- Hylia, Capuchin Babbler, Sooty Boubou, Green tailed Bristlebill, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle and Weyn’s Weaver.
The Beautiful landscaped Botanical Gardens at Entebbe, lie on the shores of Africa largest lake. The Botanical Gardens avails you a chance to do birding in an attractive environment very close to Kampala City and Entebbe international airport. Key species in this place include Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos, Klaa’s, Dieerik Cuckoos, Woodland Kingfisher, Black and white Casqued Hornbill, African and Fish Eagle.
Mpanga Forest is a stunning patch of remnant medium-altitude evergreen and swamp forest that lies 37km frm the roundabout in Natete along Masaka Road. Birds are plentiful and Mpanga Forest would be a good introduction to forest birding in Uganda.