Birding trips in Budongo Forest

Birding trips in Budongo Forest – Murchison falls National Park Uganda

Birding trips in Budongo forest – Budongo Forest is located in Masindi district Mid-Western Uganda. Budongo Forest is approximately 3-4 hours’ drive on the way to Murchison falls National Park, Uganda. Budongo Forest covers an area of 793 sq km. It is the biggest forest reserve with older mahogany and iron forest trees. Budongo is the largest Mahogany forest in East Africa with trees growing up to 80 meters. The forest hosts 600-800 Chimpanzees and many other rare species of birds, including the Lemon Bellied Crombec, white-thighed hornbill and puvel’s illadopsis and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher. Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro Ecotourism sites are the major tourist sites within Budongo Forest Reserve.                                                                                                                                                               Two species of birds found in Budongo forest are found nowhere else in East Africa: Yellow-footed flycatcher and Puvel’s illadopsis. The best location for bird watching is on ‘The Royal Mile’ at Busingiro, but Kaniyo Pabidi also offers excellent forest birding and is easier to explore.

Birds of Budongo forest.                                                                                                         

Some of the notable bird species you will encounter within the Budongo forest Trail include the Hairy-breasted Barbet, the Blue-breasted Kingfisher, the Nahan’s Francolin, the Cassin’s Spine tail, the Fire-crested Alethe, the Dwarf Kingfisher, the Black-capped Apalis, the Blue-throated Roller, the Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, the Ituri Batis, the Lemon-bellied Crombec, the Rufous-crowned Eremomela, the Western-black Headed Oriole, the Piping Hornbill, the Spotted Greenbul, the Yellow-browed Camaroptera, the Sabine’s Spine tail, the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, the Yellow-billed Barbet, the Grey-headed Sunbird, the Yellow-spotted Barbet, the Brown-eared Woodpecker, the Chestnut-caped Flycatcher, the Yellow-crested Woodpecker, the White-spotted Fluff tail, the White-thighed Hornbill, the African Crowned Eagle and the Red-capped Robin-Chat, to mention but a few.                                                                              Animal species in Royal mile.                                                                                                            

Royal mile has variety of primate species including chimpanzees, olive baboons, black and white Colobus monkey, red tailed monkey, antelopes like bush bucks, duikers, giant forest hogs, elephants.

 Best Time for Birding in Budongo Forest

The birdlife in Budongo Forest is good year-round, but at its best from February to April and in September. June to September is the main fruiting season, so food is abundant, and many birds are in breeding plumage. Migratory birds are in the forest from November to April.December to February has the least rain while April to May and September to October have the most rain. The heavy rains might result in delays due to impassable roads. Slippery hiking trails can limit your bird-watching time. Great Adventure Safaris can help you arrange for your birding trips in Budongo Forest and activities in Murchison falls National Park.