Accompanied by a guide, you will follow the forest trails and look out for different types of birds.

Kibale is a birdwatcher’s paradise. With more than 370 species have been recorded and many are forest specials, including the sought-after African pitta. Four bird species have not been recorded in any other national parks of Uganda: Cassin’s spinetail, blue-headed bee-eater, Nahan’s francolin, and Masked apalis. The best bird-watching spot is the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary – a community project where experienced guides take you on a four-hour trail. Migratory birds are present from November to April.

Birding tours in Kibale National Park start as early as 7 am in the morning at Kanyanchu visitor center, under the guidance of an experienced bird guide. With a bird guide, travelers are guaranteed to spot a variety of bird species given that the guides know the best trails to take.

Key species of birds in Kibale National Park include;

Green-breasted pitta which is the most sought after, African Pitta, Abyssinian ground thrush, Crowned eagle, Dusky crimsoning, Collared appalis, Black-capped appalis, Black bee-eater, Yellow spotted nicator, Little greenbul, Black-eared ground thrush, Brown-chested alethe, Yellow-rumped tinker bird and Blue-breasted kingfisher. Chubb’s Cisticola, Black-capped waxbill, Africa Shrike-flycatcher, African Black-headed Oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, African green-pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African wood owl, alpine swift, Ash flycatcher, Barn swallow, Black-and-white shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Black-billed weaver, African dusky flycatcher, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Blue-throated Roller, Zebra Waxbill, Brown-eared woodpecker, African-pied wagtail, Cameroon Sombre greenbul, papyrus canary, papyrus gonolek, and white collared olive among so many others. All these and more bird species have been recorded in Kibale National Park.