Best Time to do Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Nature lovers or ornithologists planning a birding safari in the Park always ask about the best time to do birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s located in southwestern Uganda, covering an area of about 1993 square kilometres. It’s among the most visited national parks in the country due to its rich biodiversity. Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 12 primate species, such as chimpanzees, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, and baboons,200 butterfly species, 96 mammal species, including the 4 members of the Big Five: lions, elephants, buffaloes, and leopards.
It also hosts the highest number of bird species in East Africa, over 610 bird species, including savannah birds, water birds, forest birds, migratory birds and the park’s endemic species. Its rich biodiversity is supported by the presence of different natural systems like woodlands, lakes, savannah grasslands, and tropical forests that provide habitats to various wildlife species. The park is open throughout the year, and the best time to do birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park depends on an individual’s interests. Queen Elizabeth National Park receives two seasons, the wet season and the dry season, both provide exceptional birding experiences.
Best Time to do Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Wet Season.
Birders can visit the park in the wet season, which runs from October to November and March to May. During this season, the park receives enough rainfall, and there is abundant food since plants and tree species bear fruits during this period. This makes spotting birds easy since the park has enough food, and they don’t move deep in search of food and water. This is the breeding season of most bird species in the park, and it’s the time of the year when migratory birds come from Europe and Asia as they run away from the harsh weather conditions in search of food and good weather conditions.
However, birders should be aware that during this period, the birding trails are muddy, making it challenging to penetrate the park. The vegetation cover is tall and dense, which provides unclear views of birds from a distance.
Dry Season.
This is the best time to do birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park, which runs from June to September and December to February; this period is commonly known as the peak season. During this season, there is little to no rainfall, and the birding trails are dry, making it easy to penetrate the park. The vegetation cover is short and scattered creating clear views of various bird species and photography. However, since the park is dry, this forces birds to move deeper in search of food and looking for them takes time.
Where to stay on your birding safari in the Park.
The park offers various accommodation options that cater to all clients’ needs, ranging from standard accommodation options to luxury accommodation options, including Parkview Safari Lodge, Elephant Hab, Aardvark, Bush Lodge, Buffalo Safari Lodge, Twin Lakes Safari Lodge, and Pumba Lodge.
