Planning to go birding in Mount Elgon National Park? Mount Elgon is one of the best places for bird watching in Uganda. The park is home to about 300 bird species, with around 50 of them being endemic to the tropical highlands. Birding here is a guided activity led by trained guides who take visitors to the best viewing spots while ensuring safety.
Some of the best birding spots in Mount Elgon include Kapkwai Forest Exploration Centre with its thick shrubs, Chebonet River area, Sipi Falls area, the high open moorland, and the Kauka Cave trail.
Bird species found in Mount Elgon National Park include Elgon francolin, Rameron pigeon, western crested guinea fowl, blue-spotted wood dove, white-headed woodhoopoe, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, European bee-eater, double-toothed barbet, crowned hornbill, black-tailed oriole, African paradise flycatcher, black-and-white casqued hornbill, red-eyed dove, red-chested cuckoo, purple-throated cuckooshrike, lanner falcon, narina trogon, little bee-eater, grey-backed fiscal, African black-headed oriole, mountain buzzard, white-necked raven, speckled mousebird, white stork, black-throated wattle-eye, brown woodland warbler, northern yellow white-eye, grey cuckooshrike, Angola swallow, western house martin, eastern mountain greenbul, African blue flycatcher, and cape robin-chat, among others.
Birding can be done all year round, but the best months are November to April. During this period, there is plenty of food, and many migratory birds from Europe and Asia can be seen in the park. Birding is also possible from May to September, as the park remains open to tourists.
To enjoy the experience, visitors should pack useful equipment such as long-sleeved shirts, long pants, rain jackets, waterproof hiking shoes, gaiters, a birding book, binoculars, a camera, insect repellent, and sunscreen.
Birding in Mount Elgon National Park is not only about spotting birds but also about exploring nature and learning more about the park’s environment.
