Birding Watching Safari of East Africa, Birding refers to the act of watching birds and learning more about their characters with the help of cameras and binoculars and most People who go for birding observe these birds in their natural habitats. However there are several bird species seen in these countries. But note that the best time for one to do birding is during the rainy season and in the morning and evening hours because by then the lighting is good for the binoculars and cameras.
When birding, there are several equipment and requirements that you will need if you are to enjoy your birding experience in any of the above countries and I have taken the liberty to not them down so that you are ready before you venture into the wilderness for birding.
Uganda has a variety of bird species that can be viewed at the different birding spots and destinations and they are found in the area and some of these include the following.
Bwindi National park is located in the western art of the country and has a recorded number of bird species that amounts to over 350 bird species. It has been voted by the Africa Bird club as the best birding spot in Uganda and it has clearly marked birding routes. And some of the bird species that can be seen in Bwindi include the collared and mountain masked Apalis, Chapin’s flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s crimsoning and black billed Turaco and many more bird species.
Semiliki National park has over 441 bird species and these include the Maxwell’s black weaver, piping hornbill, Nkulengu rail, black dwarf hornbill, yellow throated cuckoo, dwarf honey guide yellow throated Nicator, the swamp palm bulbul, red billed dwarf, African piculet, orange weaker, blue billed malimbe and many more other species.
This is located in the Rwenzori region in the south western part of Uganda and it is believed to be a home to over 177 bird species. There are several birding spots where you go but you might as well do birding while hiking up the ranges. Some of the bird species that are found in the Rwenzori Park include the cinnamon Chested bee-eater, the swifts, Archer’s robin chat, long eared owl, Lagden’s bush shrike, blue headed and golden winged sunbird, slender billed starling, bearded vultures, Rwenzori Turaco and other rare bird species.
Located in western Uganda, Lake Mburo national park is a top destination for birders in Uganda. However, It has a recorded number of 315 bird species and viewed from the Warukiri and the Rwonyo swamps. Some of the famous bird species seen at Lake Mburo national Park include the red necked spur fowl, Nubian woodpecker, crested francolin, the pied kingfisher, shoebill, , trilling Cisticola, bee-eaters, blue napped moosebird, lilac breasted roller, common quails, emerald spotted wood dove, bare faced go away birds, the African eagle fish and the Greenwood hoopoe.
Mgahinga National Park located in the southern part of the country and known to house the largest number of gorillas in the country. But besides the gorillas, the park is a home to various bird species and these include kivu ground thrush, white starred robin, olive pigeon, Rwenzori Batis, greater doubled collared sunbirds, brown crowned tchagra, western green tinker bird black headed wax bill, and the cinnamon warbler.
Tanzania known as one of the best destinations for birding when one takes a safari to Africa due to various good birding spots located in the different areas of the country. There are different birding destinations in Tanzania where one can see the various bird species and these include the following.
Lake Manyara a home to many bird species that amount to over 400 bird species seen lounging in the park. Birding Watching Safari of East Africa, The best time to go for birding in Lake Manyara in the morning and evening nd some of the birds species seen include the little bee-eater, Black Heron, Martial eagle, sacred Glossy ibis pink backed pelican, Ground dwelling crested guinea fowl, crowned Hornbill, silvery cheeked Hornbill, Schawlow’s turacos, Narina Trogon, the Baglafecht weaver, the African Hawke eagle, the Emerald cuckoo and the lesser flamingo although seen when the water is at the right level.
Selous game reserve has over 440 bird species and is a favorite hangout for most birders. The most common bird seen here are the weavers and warders although other species found in the area and these include Thick billed cuckoo, white-backed night heron, Brown-headed parrot, yellow billed stork, the Green-headed oriole, Knob billed duck, Bataluer Eagle, Sothern Ground Hornbill, crested lark, African snipe, geese, spur winged lapwing, The African spoonbill, African skimmer, White-fronted plover, and the Boehm’s bee eater.
Mikumi national Park highly dominated with woodland vegetation and has over 500 bird species and known to be a good birding spot. The different bird species that are located in the area include the Bataluer eagle, guinea fowls, yellow throated long claws, the pale billed Hornbill, Hoopoes, wood Hoopoes, the Shelley’s sunbird Marabou stork, black bellied bustards and the Racket Tailed Roller.
Serengeti National Park mostly known for the great migration that takes place in the park but also a home to numerous bird species which include the secretary bird, black headed heron, purple grandier, Darnauds-barbet, white bellied goaway bird, the grey breasted spur fowl, the Rofous- tailed weaver, Kori Bustard, Fischer’s lovebird, Birding Watching Safari of East Africa, white crowned shrike, variable bird, grey headed sparrow and the red backed scrub robin.
birds of rwanda
Rwanda as a country has over 750 various bird species seen in the different birding destinations and these include the following.
Kigali is the capital city of Rwanda and although it might look like there are no bird species in there, the city has various bird destinations within and these have different bird species that they harbor and these include:
Nyabarongo is located in the south western part of Kigali. Its major habitant for the birds the swamp vegetation found in the area and some of the bird species in the area for example the little Egret, African Marsh Harrier, common snipe, spur-winged geese, long-toed lapwing, African open bill and Caruthers’s Cisticola, African jacana, yellow wagtail, Black headed Heron, the papyrus Gonolek, white collared olive bark, Madagascar squacco heron, white winged scrub warbler, papyrus yellow warbler, Northern brown throated weaver and many more others.
Mountain Kigali is the largest hill in Rwanda and it is a home to the Kigali forest where birding activities can take place. The different bird species that are located in the Kigali forest include the thick-billed seedeater, white-eyed slaty flycatcher, yellow-fronted canary, Green-backed camaroptera, Red Chested cuckoo, common Bulbul, the African paradise flycatcher and many more other species.
Nyarutarama Lake located in Kigali has various bird species that one can see when they visit the area and some of them include the paradise flycatcher, pygmy kingfisher, the black Egret, Grey capped warbler, African fish Eagle, Black kite, swifts, Tawny flanked prinia, swallow and the winding Cisticola.
Nyungwe forest located in the south western part of the country and bordered by Lake Kivu. Meanwhile, the montane forests found in the area provide good ambiance for birding and they act as bird habitants. The forest has over 275 bird species and some of these for instance the Archer robin’s chat, yellow eyed black flycatcher, Graurer’s warbler the Chapin’s flycatcher, Birding Watching Safari of East Africa, Rockefeller’s sunbird, strange weaver, Red collared mountain Babbler, Handsome Francolin, Mountain sooty Boubou, and the stripe-breasted tit.
Located in the Virunga region and the first park created in Africa. The volcanoes park surrounded by different volcano mountains and bamboo vegetation that provide a safe haven for birding in the park. The park has over 187 species and some of the species found in the park include the Dusty crimson wing, Red faced woodland warbler, Archer’s ground Robin, francolin, Rwenzori Batis, strange weaver, the collared Apalis and many more other species.
Kenya has over 1089 bird species located in the different birding destinations and am going to take to you through some of the best birding destinations in Kenya and the different bird species found in those destinations.
The Lake Turkana delta has over 20,000 water bird species easily seen during the rainy season and some of these include the sur winged plover, the violet wood Hoopoe African skimmer and the little stint, the Geese, shorebirds, Egrets, pelicans, Flamingos and storks, the pel’s Fishing owl, southern banded snake Eagle, scaly babbler, Tana River Cisticola, East coast Akalat, Basra Reed Warbler and many more other bird species.
Kakamega forest is located in the western part of Kenya and it is a home to the endangered species of the Turner’s Eremomela making it a top birding destination and other bird species like Banded snake Eagle, least honeyguide.
Arabuko-Sokoke forest a home to many endangered species in Kenya like the Sokoke scops owl which is almost extinct and this bird extremely rare and only seen when visits the Arabuko-Sokoke. There also other bird species seen in the forest and some of these include the southern Banded snake Eagle, the plain backed sunbirds, Fisher’s Turacos, Clarke’s Weaver, Amani and many more other bird species.
The Masai Mara one of the largest parks in Kenya and famously known for the great migration. The various bird species seen in the Masai Mara such as Martial and crowned Beagles, Madagascar squacco Heron, the Lilac Breasted Roller, Yellow billed ox Roller, Birding Watching Safari of East Africa, corncake, secretary bird, saddle billed stork, ostrich, Grey crested Helmet shrike, and the lesser kestrel.
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