- Home
- African Safaris
Top Safaris By Destinations
Safaris By Experience
- Destinations
- Travel Guide
- About Us
birdwatching in Africa, birding tours & Holidays
With
Famous for its wildlife, Africa is also one of the best places on earth for birding. The continent enjoys a rich variety of species as well as geographic and ecological diversity, making it one of the premier sites for birder-tourists from all over the world. This article will outline some of the continent’s best birding sites, where to go when and what species you might expect to encounter.
Birding Trip in Uganda Day One: after breakfast you will be picked by our safari
This 5-day Uganda birding safari takes participants on an exciting journey through Entebbe, Mabamba Wetlands,
This 8-day shoebill watching and wildlife safari in Uganda is one of the top birding
This transformative 15-day Ugandan birding adventure promises to inspire and delight, starting and concluding in
DAY 1: Arrival at the airport A Silverback gorilla tour guide will meet you at
Upon landing at Kigali airport, a company representative will greet you and escort you to
The 7 days bird watching and wildlife safari is a signature trip that is best
Embark on an unforgettable 9-day birding safari through the most spectacular national parks in Tanzania.
Embark on a remarkable 10-day birding safari through the most incredible national parks in Kenya.
Set out on a remarkable 12-day birding expedition through the most spectacular national parks in
Nyungwe Forest National Park, located in southwestern Rwanda, is a haven for bird enthusiasts, boasting
This carefully crafted 7-day Rwanda birding safari combines the best of avian exploration in Nyungwe
The Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwestern Uganda (a UNESCO World Heritage site for its mountain gorillas and prolific birdlife, and home to more than 350 species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics including the African green broadbill and the strange weaver) is highly recommended (and best to visit in the dry seasons, June to August and December to February). Many Uganda birding tours visit here.
Murchison Falls National Park in northwestern Uganda has a rich variety of habitats from savanna to riverine forest, and more than 450 species, including the shoebill stork, goliath heron and red-throated bee-eater. The best times to visit Murchison are the dry seasons, from December to February and June to July. Many itineraries for birding safaris Uganda include time at Murchison.
Queen Elizabeth National Park, in the western part of Uganda, is well-known for harbouring more than 600 bird species, which attract hundreds of birders every year. The park’s range of habitats, such as wetlands, savanna and forests, support a wide diversity and variety of species. These include the African skimmer, martial eagle, papyrus gonolek and many more. The best period for binder are the dry seasons from January to February and June to July. Almost all tours birding in the country feature Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The Masai Mara National Reserve, located in Southwest Kenya, is not only known for its incredible wildlife but also for its breathtaking birdlife. More than 450 birds, such as the lilac-breasted roller, secretary bird and African pygmy falcon, can be spotted at the reserve. A Kenya birding tour of the area might be best from November through to April, during the wet season, when migratory birds are present.
Lake Nakuru National Park, located in the Great Rift Valley, is known for its huge colonies of flamingos that flock along its shores. Other bird species present include the great white pelican, African fish eagle, and Verreaux’s eagle-owl. The dry season (July to October and January to February) is the best time to experience the park since water levels are lower than at other times, and birds more easily observed in their habitat. Many birdwatching safaris in Kenya include Lake Nakuru in their itineraries.
Arabuko-Sokoke Forest, Kenya’s only coastal lowland forest and the largest remaining stretch of tropical coastal forest in East Africa, is found on the coast of Kenya between the towns of Malindi and Watamu along the Mombasa road. The forest is important as it supports a diversity of tropical plant and animal species. More than 230 bird species have been recorded in the forest including 10 endemic species, four near-endemics and 51 restricted-range species. It is one of the premier birding grounds in Kenya and is on the country’s birding trail schedule. The dry seasons, from November to March and July to October are the better months to visit for smoother birding. contact Birding tours Kenya for more information.
The Serengeti National Park in northern Tanzania, for example, is renowned not only for its unique wildlife, but also for an abundance of birdlife, representing more than 500 species. Among them, there are ostrich, secretary bird and kori bustard. Beside the migratory birds, the wet season, November to April, is the best period for birding. Tanzania birding safaris commonly feature the Serengeti as their key destination.
This unique place is located right next to the Serengeti and is a top birding place in Tanzania known as Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Its main attraction is the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which harbours more than 500 bird species such as the golden-winged sunbird and Hildebrandt’s starling and Rufous-tailed weaver. The best time to participate in birding here is throughout the year but the dry season from June to October offers the best conditions for wildlife viewing. Ngorongoro Regions also feature on many birding tours Tanzania.
One of my favourite birding spots is Udzungwa Mountains National Park in south-central Tanzania. The park has a wide range of habitats and hosts more than 400 bird species, including nine endemic, six near-endemic and 37 restricted-range species, including the Udzungwa forest partridge, Rufous-winged sunbird and the Udzungwa Mountain Weaver. The dry season from June to October is best for birdwatching.
Nyungwe National Park in southwestern Rwanda is a vast montane rainforest of global biodiversity importance with over 310 species of birds, including 27 Albertine Rift endemics. Birding is good almost all year, with peak dry seasons in June–September and mid-December to mid-February when the forest road and trails are in their best condition for walking. Nyungwe is of central importance to a Rwanda birding tour.
Another fantastic destination for birding is Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda close to the border with Tanzania. Here, majestic vistas with savanna and wetlands, and an extensive network of lakes stretching to the horizon, present birders with a wide variety of landscapes and habitats; more than 480 bird species have been recorded here, including the shoebill stork, African fish eagle, and papyrus gonolek. The best time to go birding in Akagera National Park is in the dry season, from June to September and mid-December to mid-February, when large flocks of water birds gather around the few remaining water sources in the so-called ‘inland delta’. Most birding safaris Rwanda include Akagera.
Bale Mountain National Park in south-eastern Ethiopia is one of few places in the world where you can go bird watching in both lowland and highland habitats. The park holds more than 310 bird species, including nine Ethiopian endemics — the Abyssinian Longclaw, Spot-breasted lapwing and Rouget’s rail. Birding is good at any time of year here but the dry season, November to February, offers the best conditions for climbing the park’s varied landscapes, so Bale Mountains is often a key stop on Ethiopia birding tours.
In northern Ethiopia, the high-altitude habitats of the lush Simien Mountains National Park provide another excellent wildlife-rich birding region. It is one of the world’s most scenic landscapes, where more than 180 species of birds live – from the lammergeier and the Walia ibex, to the gelada baboon. Other birds include the thick-billed raven, white-collared pigeon and the Ankober serin. When it is dry (October to March) the sky is clearer and the views are at their most impressive for those seeking those magical views. Many birding Ethiopia tours take you to the Simien Mountains as part of their itinerary.
Kruger National Park in South Africa’s northeast, the country’s premier game reserve, is the home of more than 500 species of birds, including the African fish eagle, Bateleur and the southern ground hornbill. Birding is best from October to March in the wet season when many migrants are present and many resident species are on their spring breeding grounds. Overall, Kruger is one of Africa’s best places for a birding tour.
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa and Botswana encompasses arid Kalahari Desert landscapes and, as you’d imagine, arid-adapted birds. Some of these birds are restricted to this area, too. In total, more than 280 bird species have been recorded within the Park including the crimson-breasted shrike, Kori bustard and pygmy falcon. For hot dry birding between November and April are the best months for visiting the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, as it is wet season and nomadic species pass through and the resident breeding species rely on the higher water levels. Many South Africa birding tours include Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
The Okavango Delta, in northern Botswana, is the largest inland river delta in the world – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a permanent haven for wildlife and birdlife, and ideally suited to bird watchers who can identify all the numerous species. There are more than 450 different bird species recorded for the year throughout the Okavango, such as the African skimmer, Pel’s fishing owl, and wattled crane. The best times for birding are July to October, during the dry season, with the high water levels resulting in increased density of birds around the remaining water sources. Botswana birding safaris often centre on the Okavango Delta as their primary destination.
Chobe National Park in northern Botswana is notable for its large elephant herds, as well as bird life, with more than 450 bird species, including the African fish eagle, Broad-billed roller and Schalow’s turaco. They can best be seen from November to March, the wet season, when migratory birds arrive and many resident species are breeding. Chobe National Park is often included in tours of Botswana that focus on birding.
South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia is an area of high leopard density and superb birdlife, numbering well over 450 species, many of them quite spectacular. These include Lilian’s lovebird, Pel’s fishing owl and the Carmine bee-eater. For birding, the best time to visit is from November to April, during the wet season, when plenty of migratory species arrive, and many of the resident species are breeding at this time. Zambia birding tours usually include South Luangwa National Park as a destination.
Kafue National Park, for instance, is western Zambia’s largest national park, and one of the country’s best places for birdwatching. Its habitats, from miombo woodland and riverine forest through bush and grassland, support more than 500 bird species of which the African pitta, black-cheeked lovebird, and Chaplin’s barbet are amongst the most sought-after. The best time to visit is between November and April – when the rains have increased, bird migration is at its peak, and a host of resident species are breeding. Many of the birding safaris Zambia offers stop at Kafue National Park for some of its unique species.
Etosha National Park in northern Namibia is a large, arid park with a salt pan approximately 130 kilometres (80 miles) long and 50 kilometres (30 miles) wide. The park is best known for its needful animals in the low country in the south and the tall animals in the game-rich north. With a total of more than 340 bird species, Etosha boasts a host of birds, such as the blue crane, Kori bustard and Namaqua sandgrouse, all of which are endangered. It would be sensible to come on a tour during the wet season, between November and April, when a host of migrating birds from all over Europe migrate to this part of the world every year. Many of the resident species also breed around this time. A typical Namibia birding tour might include Etosha National Park.
Caprivi Strip
The Caprivi Strip in north-east Namibia is a long, thin salient of land that stretches north to the borders with Angola, Botswana and Zambia. There are diverse wetland and woodland habitats, which support about 450 species of bird, including the Hartlaub’s babbler, Racket-tailed roller, and Pel’s fishing owl. The best birding is between November and April – the wet season – when migrants are present and many other resident species are breeding. Most birding safaris Namibia stop off here because of the birdlife.
We recently went on a 6-day safari with Wild Whispers Africa and had an amazing experience. Our tour guide, Edmund, was very knowledgeable, supportive, and always in a good mood.… read more
I had a fabulous vacation with Wild Whispers Africa – did 6 days of safari, chimps tracking and gorilla tracking. First of all they are incredibly organized and Racheal answered… read more
I used Wild Whispers to help coordinate and book my gorilla trekking adventure for myself and two friends. Rachael was incredibly helpful and quick to respond to any and all… read more
We (three sisters (age 36-52) and our mother (79 yo)) had a great experience travelling with Wild Whispers in Uganda! Our guide, Jacob, took excellent care of us through… read more
Wild Whispers Africa Safaris
Uganda, East Africa
Mob: +256753299565
Tel: +256 312107945
Plot 19 Bukoto Road , Kampala Uganda
Email: info [at] wildwhispersafrica.com
© 2024 Wild Whispers Africa. All Rights Reserved.
