Best Time to do Birding in Murchison Falls National Park.
What is the best time to do birding in Murchison Falls National Park is a frequently asked question by travellers planning their birding safari in this beautiful Park. Bird watching in Murchison Falls National Park can be done throughout the year, and the best time depends on individual interests. The park experiences two seasons: the dry season and the wet season, which both provide unique birding experiences. It is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda, attracting thousands of birders to explore its rich birdlife.
The park has various ecosystems such as riverine forests, woodlands, savannah grasslands, and wetlands, which provide a habitat to various bird species that call it home. Murchison Falls National Park hosts over 453 bird species, including forest birds, water birds, and migratory bird species.
Travellers can enjoy bird watching by engaging in various activities such as a boat cruise upstream to the Nile Delta, nature walks, and game drives. Various bird species can be spotted on a birding safari, such as the elusive shoebill Stork, which is a prehistoric bird species, the Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-bellied Bustard, Senegal Thick-Knee, Heuglin’s Francolin, White-browed sparrow-weaver, Speckle-fronted Weaver, among more.
Best Time for Birding in Murchison Falls National Park.
Wet season.
The wet season is the best time to do birding in Murchison Falls National Park, which experiences two short seasons from October to November and from March to May. During this season, the park receives heavy rainfall, the vegetation cover is dense, and all tree and plant species bear fruits, which provide enough food for various bird species in the park. This is a breeding season for various bird species in the park, which makes spotting birds easy since they don’t move deep into the forest in search of food. November is a peak season for Intra-Afro migrant birds such as Broad-billed Roller, Woodland Kingfisher, Blue-Cheeked Bee-eater, African Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, and more, which migrate to Murchison Falls due to food availability and breeding conditions. However, during this season, the birding trails are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate into the park, and the dense vegetation cover makes spotting birds from a distance challenging.
Dry Season.
This is the best time to do birding in Murchison Falls National Park, which runs from December to February and June to September. This season experiences little to no rainfall, the birding trails are dry, making it easy to penetrate into the park; the vegetation cover is short, which creates a clear view of various bird species in the park and allows taking clear photos. This season attracts Palearctic migratory birds, which come from Europe and Asia, running away from the harsh weather conditions. They migrate in search of food and good weather conditions, birds like Common Snipe, Whinchat, Spotted Flycatcher, Willow Warbler, Barn Swallow, and Common Swift, among others.
Where to stay on a bird Watching Safari in Murchison Falls.
Murchison Falls National Park offers various accommodation facilities to travellers, which cater to all their needs and budgets, from standard accommodations to Luxury accommodations, which all provide unique experiences on their birding safaris. If you are looking for a luxurious stay, consider Paraa Safari Lodge, Baker’s Lodge, and Chobe Safari Lodge. For midrange stays, look at Pakuba Safari Lodge, Sambiya River Lodge, and Murchison River Lodge. Those looking for standard accommodations consider Red Chilli Rest Camp, Budongo Eco Lodge, and Boomu Women’s Group Bandas.
