Best Places to See the Albertine Rift Endemic Bird Species

Uganda, the pearl of Africa is home to about 1080 bird species. This makes Uganda one of the best bird watching places in Africa with almost half of the continents bird species.

Uganda has an equatorial climate and has the Albertine Rift Valley in the Western part of the country which is host to several bird species.

Popularly known as the Albertine rift endemics, this is a top hot spot for birding safaris in Uganda for avid birders to Africa.

There several Uganda birding safari spots in the western region of the country but these are the best places to see the Albertine rift endemic bird species;

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Second on the list of the 10 best birding safari Uganda destinations is Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Bwindi Impenetrable has been voted as Africa’s best birding spot by the African Bird Club.

Out of the 24 Albertine rift bird species, 23 of them are found in Bwindi Forest National Park Uganda.

The forest is home to many rare bird species, some only found here for instance the African Green Broadbill.

350 bird species stay here and these include the 23 Albertine Rift endemics, 14 of which are not recorded anywhere else in Uganda.

On a Uganda bird watching tour, look out for the Chapin’s Flycatcher, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Handsome Francolin, Mountain-masked and Collared Apalis, White-bellied Robin Chat, Black Billed Turaco, Fraser’s Eagle, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Purple-breasted, Blue-Headed and Regal Sunbirds among others.

This is also the best destination for a Uganda gorilla trekking safari and both activities can be tailored in a single trip.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is the smallest Uganda safaris park popular for Uganda gorilla tours but also a spot not to undermine for birding.

It is not only home to mountain gorillas and golden monkeys, but it is also home to about 180 bird species some of which are the Albertine Rift endemics.

Bird species here include the Kivu Ground Thrush, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, White-starred Robin, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin Chat, Olive Pigeon, Black-headed Waxbill, Western Green tinker bird, Cape Robin, White-starred Robin, Brown Woodland Warbler, Stripe-breasted tit, Brown-crowned Tchagra and Scarlet-tufted, Greater double-collared Sunbirds.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

Rwenzori Mountains National Park is one of the prime bird watching destinations in Uganda with over 177 bird species which include 19 Albertine Rift endemics.

Bird watching is mostly done while on hikes in the forest zones since this is the highest point and popular Uganda birding tour destination.

Birds to look out for here include the Rwenzori Turaco, Long-eared owl, Archers’ robin-chat, Lagden’s bush shrike, Blue-headed and Golden-winged sunbird, White-starred robin, Slender-billed starling, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Bearded vultures, and swifts.

Recommendable Uganda birding safaris

If you are looking for a rewarding bird watching safari in Africa then Uganda is the best choice and these packages are what you can choose from;

12 days Albertine rift endemics birding

14 days Uganda birding and primate safari

18 days Uganda forest birding safari

24 days classic Uganda birding safari

2 days mabamba birding tour

3 days Lake Mburo birding safari

4 days bird watching in Murchison Falls National Park

5 days Uganda birding safari

7 days Uganda birding safari tour

9 days Uganda birding safari