Air Uganda is the designated national airline for Uganda which was formed in 2007 and began commercial flight operations on November 15, 2007 with its Headquartered in Kampala. The Airline operations base is at Entebbe International Airport, and it operates scheduled flights from Entebbe to various countries in Eastern Africa and Central Africa apart from some few countries. The company is 100 percent owned by the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) through its company Celestair. Other airlines operating in Rwanda include Rwanda’s national carrier Rwanda Air, Kenya Airways, SN Brussels and Ethiopian airlines. Air Uganda begun operations in November, 2007.

Before, Air Uganda’s CRJ200 used not to operate through Rwanda but by the moment after landing at Kigali International Airport. The airline made its maiden flight on 22^nd/Feb/2010 morning. More so, Air Uganda has continued its forays into the region following 22^nd/Feb/2010’s maiden flight to Kigali and the airline made its long-awaited commercial flight Monday morning. The airlines’ CRJ200 aircraft touched down at Kigali International Airport at 8:00 am.

According to the company’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Jenifer B. Musiime, said that “passengers can now fly to Entebbe (Uganda) daily and Flights between the two destinations are daily with morning flights from Monday to Thursday and evening flights for the rest of the week (Friday to Sunday),” .According to the flight schedule from Monday to Thursday, Air Uganda flies to Kigali, departing Entebbe at 7: 45 am and arriving in Kigali at 8:00 am and from Friday to Sunday. The airline departs Entebbe at 4:15 pm and arrives in Kigali at 4pm.

The airline’s operations in Kigali have made the city their sixth destination on the continent. Air Uganda also has two daily flights to Nairobi (Kenya), daily flights to Dar el Salaam and Juba, and tri-weekly flights to Zanzibar and Mombasa.The airline also flies its passengers to European destinations thanks to its partnership with Belgian Airline SN Brussels. However, after bringing the carrier to the Rwandan skies, the airline now believes it has a more complete coverage of the East African skies.

“It’s an honor for us and we now want to give people options when it comes to flying because on top of daily direct flights to Entebbe, we also have connections to cities like Juba and Zanzibar,” Musiime added.

For the next three weeks, passengers can fly to Entebbe for a promotional fare of $99, which is from 23^rd/Feb/2010. The airline will upgrade to $150 before settling at the normal air-ticket fare of $199.Air-Uganda, which owns a CRJ100, CRJ200 and McDonald-Douglas MD-87 aircraft, also plans to launch its cargo service which will be available on all routes that the airline operates

This operation of Air Uganda has reduced on the transport cost, time and distance that most tourists have been incurring during there travel to Rwanda hence enabling many tourists (visitors) to access Rwanda in time. More so, there is now quick and cheap transport from other destinations to Rwanda. Therefore, don’t miss to be part of the game.

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Shoebill Stork

Birding is one of the main activities in Murchison Falls wildlife safari park. A diversity of birds have become residents to this park due to its diversity of vegetation, land scape and features. To bird lovers, this is perfect.
Birds viewed on a Murchison Falls field trip

Herons

These birds are found in wetlands and feed on fish, frogs and other aquatic species. Others like the Cattle Egret and Clack-headed Heron take large insects and are less tied to watery environments. Herons fly with their necks retracted, not outstretched and they have powder down, making them different from the other birds that they resemble, like the Ibises, storks and spoon bills. They are sometimes called the Egrets or Bitterns and are in the family of the Ardeidae and known as the Wading birds.

Bee-eaters

They live in burrows tunnelled into the side of sandy banks and they produce 2-9 eggs per clutch and are white in colour. They have monogamous families with bi-parental care of the young ones. They eat and feed on insects for example bees, wasps and hornets. They feed by removing the sting and hitting the insect on a hard surface. And they catch them in the air by sailies from an open perch.

Shoebill Stork

Its name was derived from its massive shoe-shaped bill and lives on the Nile, below the Murchison Falls. Its a very large grey swamp-dweller and ranges from 1.2m (4 ft) tall, 5.6 Kg (12.3 lb) and 2.33m (7.7 ft) across the wings. The show bill nests on the ground, laying 2 eggs and feed on Lungfish and similar fish.

Cormorant

These are medium-to-large seabirds and the name was derived from a Latin one known as Corvus marinus, which means “Sea raven”. Their scientific genus name is Latinised from Phalakuos and Korax. Their skins are coloured with red, bright blue, yellow, orange and they become more brightly coloured in the breeding season. In the 16th Century, the Cormorants were related to ravens.

Their feet are four-toed and webbed, with long bill, thin and sharply hooked. They feed on small eels, water snakes and fish. They get their food by diving into the water where they propel themselves with their feet.

Fish Eagles

These stay near fresh water lakes, reservoirs or rivers and coast, at the mouths of rivers or lagoons. They breed during dry season when the water levels are low.
Fish Eagles are large birds, but the females are usually larger than the males in such a way that the females have wingspans of more than 2.4m (8 feet) and are distinctive with a large brown body and powerful black wings. The males have a wingspan of about 2m (6 feet). The breast, tail and head are snow white in colour, with the hook-shaped beak which is yellow in colour and a black tip.

Female fish eagle lays white eggs, but few are reddish speckles from the number of 1 to 3 eggs. The females do the incubation and lasts for 42 to 45 days, the male can come in when the female leaves to hunt. When the eggs hatch, the younger chicks will be killed by the eldest chick. These chicks feed themselves after 8 weeks and will begin to venture outside of the nest 2 weeks later. Meanwhile, the fish eagle feeds on the fish.

King Fishers

The habitats of the King fisher are in the woodland and in the wetland. Those that live in the wetland hunt for small fish, Cray fish, frogs and insects as their prey, by diving for them. While those that live in the woodland eat reptiles.
King fishers have short legs, heads, pointed sharp bills, large and stubby tails and they have three families which are Alcedinidae the river King fishers, Halcyonidae the tree King fishers and Cerylidae the water King fishers.

Click here for a checklist of birds in Uganda or birding in Uganda , Murchison falls birding safari , conservation of birds

Safari attire is casual and invariably comfortable. A combination of light clothing, hats, sturdy shoes, long sleeve shirts, sweat shirt or fleece for evenings up country will do. Because of Uganda’s position on the Equator, a need for sun cream is necessary. Although women in up country may feel more comfortable wearing clothing that cover their knees and shoulders, this is not mandatory. It is usually hot by midday, but evenings are always pleasant.

Recommended Clothing List

1. Water proof clothing (muted colours).
2. Hat for sun and rain.
3. Light jacket.
4. Sweater.
5. Long sleeved shirts for trekking.
6. Strong walking boots with ankle support for gorilla tracking.
7. Relevant socks.
8. Light shoes.
9. Shorts.
10. Cotton or gortex trousers.
11. Be prepared for cool, dry, warm, wet weather when trekking gorillas.
12. Day pack.
13. Plastic bags for cameras and films.
14. Hiking shoes for case of mountain climbing
15. Umbrella or rain coat for rainy seasons

Tipping

1. Kibale Forest guides, $ 3 per client per walk.
2. Baggage porters at hotels/lodges, $ 2 per client per stay.
3. At restaurants, anywhere from $ 0.50 to $ 1, depending on services and how much meals cost. 10% is a god thumb of rule.
4. Driver /guides cost $ 5 per client per day.
5. Camps and lodges cost $ 2 to $ 3 per client per night.
6. Gorilla trekking guides and trackers charge $ 10 per client per trek.

For your Uganda safari packages such as gorilla safari and Uganda birding safari

Uganda is the ultimate fishing destination. With one third of the country covered by water, there is great opportunity for Sport Fishing. Nile perch of up to 108Kgs have been caught below the falls in Murchison Falls National Park.

Other fish you can catch include; Tilapia, Tiger fish, Ferocious fighter, Cat fish and Barbel.
Be part of the reservation now because limited fishing permits are available per annum. Remember that we promote the philosophy of ‘Catch and return’ for conservation purposes.

Where to go for sport fishing

Murchison falls National Park sport fishing
Lake Victoria
Lake Mburo
Ssese

Pelicans and Stork

Bird watching and birding is a booming international business opportunity that attracts low volume, low impact and high return visitors that boost rural tourism economies and support jobs in rural areas. Bird watching and birding remains one of worlds leading recreational activities. With more accessible birding and bird watching destinations available, there has been a massive increase in the number of internationally itinerant bird watching and birding tourists traveling all over the world in search of birds. In East Africa, there are many birding destinations with rare and different bird species and they include:Kenya (Nakuru), Uganda (Kibale forest national park, Queen Elizabeth national park, Budongo forest, Mabira forest, Murchison Falls national park, Mabamba swamp and Bwindi national park), Tanzania (Mountain forests of Arusha National park, Ngorogoro, Rift Valley escapement, plains of Sinya, Serengeti) and Rwanda (Akagera National park).

More so, East Africa is a blessed land of different bird species found in different place but Tanzania is an amazing birding destination in the world and it boasts a bird list of over 1,038 species making it the 3rd biggest in Africa. The country is also blessed with excellent guides specialized in Bird life and they take the visitors through the most interesting areas in Northern Tanzania focusing into different habitats and ecosystems. The country is also a great ideal place for keen naturalists, people interested in something else than wildlife safaris from the comfort of their vehicle.

Apart from the usual game drives in different East African safari destinations, birding activity can be too exiting since tourists take  walks in the Acacia woodlands, forests, wetlands and plains in search of the most interesting bird species.

On Feb/ 17/2010, The American Bird Conservancy and similar organizations in 12 countries started a tourism initiative aimed at saving endangered bird species in the world. However, the general number of birds in the world is approximately 10,000. Among all the bird species in the world, there are a number of bird species that have not been recorded in the wild in recent years and may or may not be extinct. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a recent high-profile example. The Hawaiian Crow is presently the rarest bird known to persist in the United States. However, the entire population of fewer than 100 birds is currently held in captivity. Several other species around the world are only known in captivity at present, following the extinction of their wild populations. These include the Socorro Dove, the Spix’s Macaw, and the Alagoas Curassow.

Additionally, the international project, called “Conservation Birding,” was designed to help finance bird reserves across the world by developing them as birding tourism destinations with lodges, trails and other facilities for visitors. The conservancy said.

“They have so far created 36 reserves, 18 of which can provide visitor accommodations. The reserves provide refuge for more than 2,000 bird species nearly half of the total found across the entire world, the ABC said, noting many of the reserves also provide wintering habitats for migratory song birds.

“International birding travel is already popular, and they want more birders to know that their pastime can actually contribute to saving the species they love,” said ABC Vice President Mike Parr. “Birding safaris can provide a source of direct financial support to the reserves, helping them become self-sufficient and sustainable in the long term.”

Therefore, the conservation birding program if implemented in East Africa, birding tourism will support the reserves and also help to promote sustainable tourism in the areas where the activity is done.

For East Africa birding packages visit: Uganda birding tours, Uganda birding safaris, bird watching in Uganda

If your interested in mountaineering, then the (5,119m) high, snow covered Rwenzori Mountain, which is protected as Rwenzori Mountain national park and a World Heritage Centre-will offer you the unique experience you will savour for a lifetime.

The mist-surrounded peaks provide stunning backdrops to this magnificent mountain. Ever since the Rwenzori became known to the world, its features have been going through tremendous changes. Today, the most visible and probably the most enduring as well as the fragile vegetation along the trails.

It is not just the Rwenzoris alone that you can hike in Uganda as there is also the famous Mount Elgon National park, which straddles the Uganda-Kenya Frontier in Eastern Uganda. The park boundaries contain 1147 sq. km of mountain. Most of this area is covered with typical afro-montane vegetation, complete with giant groundsels and bamboo forest. It is prudent to note that many hikers find Mt. Elgon an exciting alternative to some of the fascinating climbs in East Africa.

It has many of the same attractions, with milder climate and lower elevation. Climbing the peaks no special equipment or technical climbing experience. It is possible to reach the summit of the mountain in as little as three days, but a slightly longer visit will permit a more thorough exploration of all that Mt. Elgon has to offer.

Crested Crane

Uganda has a great variety of habitats, packed into a fairly small area, and has a bird list nearly at par with neighbouring Kenya. It is dotted with state of the art game reserves, including Murchison Falls national park, lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth national park, and many less visited ones, such as Kidepo Valley and Semiliki, which offer a good variety of more-widespread African bird species, as well as good variety of large mammals.

Uganda’s main attractions are in her forests and swamps, where species with restricted range can be found. While it only has one ubiquitous species, Fox weaver, which occurs in swamps north of Kampala, it has several species which are denizens of specific habitat areas, shared with other countries.

One such area is the Albertine Rift, an area of lakes, Mountains and Forests, which stretches from Northern Uganda along its boarders with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Several species endemic to this area are found in Bwindi Impenetrable forest national park, Semiliki National park, Rwenzori Mountains and Mgahinga. These include; Green Broadbill, Graver’s swamp and Nkumann warblers, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimson wings, yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Strange weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared, Regal purple-breasted and Blue-throated sunbirds, Rwenzori Toraco, Handsome Francolin, Striper breasted Tit Inter-alia.

In the papyrus swamps around Lake Victoria and other Lakes, the enigmatic shoebill can be found, as swell as specialities including papyrus yellow and white winged warblers, Caruthers’s Cisticola, papyrus Gonolek, wswamp Flycatcher and orange weaver. There are also several highland and lowland forests spread across the country, which offer species which are generally West African. Great Blue and Black-billed Turacos, African Grey parrot, Green breasted Pitta, several woodpeckers, Barbets and Green bulls, and Scarcities such as Weyn’s weaver, Nahan’s and Forest Francolin, all occur. In addition to the bird life, a great attraction is the opportunity for Mountain gorillas trekking in Bwindi and Mgahinga, as well as chimpanzees in Kibale.

Even if you are only passing through Uganda, a good range of species can be seen within a few hours of Kampala, in Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Mabamba swamp and Mabira Forest, including several of the sought-after species like the aforementioned.

Wetland Birds

1. Uganda has 30,000 sq. km of wetland.
2. 210 species from the shoe bill and African skimmer to the endemic fox’s weaver.
3. Four papyrus endemics; papyrus Gonolek, papyrus canary, white-winged warbler and papyrus yellow warbler.
4. A white-winged Black Tern roost of 2-3 million birds in the Entebbe area.

Savannahs vary from the remote, semi-desert, dry thorn-scrub region of Karamoja in the Northeast, to the richer fertile savannahs of the Western Rift Valley. Queen Elizabeth National Park has a bird list of 604 species, the highest for any protected area in Africa.

Some of the dry thorn-scrub birds include

1. Pigmy falcon.
2. Quail plover.
3. Fox kestrl.
4. Swallow-tailed kite.
5. Kori, White-bellied and Harttaub’s Bustard.
6. Black-headed plover.
7. Abyssinian Roller.
8. White-crested Turaco.
9. Lichtenstein’s and Four-banded sand grouse.
10. Brown-rumped Bunting.
11. Karamoja Apalis.
12. Pygmy sunbird.
13. Bristle-crowned staring.
14. Yellow-billed shrike.
15. White-bellied Go-away bird.
16. Piapiac
17. Abyssinian Ground Hornbill.

Entebbe and Kampala birds

1. Over 550 species for the region.
2. A suburban garden list of 206 species.
3. One of the largest urban breeding colony of Marabou storks.
4. 212 species listed in 12 hours by 3 people.
5. Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos are common city birds.

Within the Kampala region are two major Forest Reserves, less than an hour’s drive from the city, which hond a variety of very special birds including;

1. Emerald, Red-chested and Black cuckoos.
2. Brown Twinspot.
3. Nahan’s Francolin.
4. Weyn’s weaver.
5. Blue-throated Roller.
6. Crowned Eagle.
7. Tit-Hylia.
8. Cassin’s Hawk Eagle.
9. Grey-rumped and Blue Swallows.

Uganda’s 10 most commonly sought after birds

1. Red-fronted Ant peckers.
2. Karamoja Apalis.
3. The African Jacana.
4. Brown chested plover.
5. Rwenzori Juraco.
6. Purvell’s Illadopsis.
7. Nahan’s Francolin.
8. Green-breasted Broadbill.
9. African Green Broadbill.
10. Black-headed Gonolek.

Some common Urban birds

1. Bat Hawk.
2. Palm-unit vulture.
3. Open-billed stork.
4. African Grey and Brown parrots.
5. White-faced scops Owl.
6. Black and white Casqued, Crowned and pied Hornbills.
7. Wallberg’s Eagle.
8. African Grey and Brown parrots.
9. Red-faced Lovebird.
10. Grey-crowned Crane.
11. Black-headed Gonolek.

Visit the following links for birding safaris Uganda packages: Uganda birding tours and bird watching in Uganda

shoe bill

Uganda is a true African birding destination, located across the equator. Uganda attracts
migratory birds from North and South hemisphere. Uganda is the richest country for birds in Africa. It has almost half of the species known on the African continent and over 10% of those recorded throughout the entire world. Over 1,000 species of birds have been recorded to exist in the country. Some of the exciting species you will view include birds of water and land shore, birds of shrub and woodland, forest birds and birds of the open plain.

Most of our National parks have a diversity of birds; however, Queen Elizabeth, Murchison falls, Bwindi Impenetrable and Semiliki National Parks are the most famous for birding.
If you are a bird lover, Uganda is the ideal destination that will make your dream come true. Our excellent guides will add flavour to your own experience on birds. Be our honoured guest.

Where to go for bird watching in Uganda together with field trips

1. Queen Elizabeth national Park birding tour.
2. Murchison Falls National Park birding safari.
3. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
4. Semiliki National Park.
5. Kibale National park.
6. Mabira Forest
7. Mabamba Wetland
8. Botanical Gardens
9. Lake Mburo
10. Bodongo Forest
11. Mgahinga Forest
12. Bigodi Swamp
13. Kampala bird watching safari

Attractions in Queen Elizabeth Wildlife Safari Park

Maramagambo Forest walks
There are three guided walks. The trail is a round the Forested shore of Lake Kyasanduka, then the second trail leads to a huge bat cave and python and the third one is around the back of Lake Nyamusingiri, which will give you an opportunity to se snowy-headed robin-chat, Scaly-breasted illadopsis and Chestnut wattle-eye. You will have an opportunity to see monkeys like red-tailed and vervet, black and white Colobus, L’Hoest’s monkey, leopard if lucky, Forest birds and the amazing chimps.

Launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel

In Queen Elizabeth, the launch trip takes place on the Kazinga Channel. The boat usually leaves daily at 09:00hr and 14:00 and takes 2-5 hours tour on the waters. While on the Launch Cruise, the professional guides will be able to give you useful information and answer your queries. With his help, you will have a great opportunity to view the wonderful scenery and variety of animals and birds. One should come with cameras and binoculars.

Game Driving

The game viewing circuit lies on the north side of the Kazinga Channel. With the help of the professional guide, you will have a wonderful opportunity to see Lions, Crocodiles, Hyena, Buffalos, Antelopes, Hippopotamuses, Leopard, Giant Forest hog, Elephant, Cape buffalo, Defassa, Waterbuck, Uganda Kob, Bushbuck and Topi – in their natural habitat during any wildlife safaris in the region.

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kyambura Gorge

With the help of the professional guide, you will be taken for Chimpanzee Trekking in Kyambura Gorge. The Gorge creates the boarder between the Kyambura Wildlife Reserve and Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Gorge is where you can get a large community of chimps. They can be tracked within the confines of a forested river gorge carved into the surrounding flat savannah. The scientific name of the chimpanzee is
Pan troglodytes. The wild chimpanzee rarely lives past the age of 40, while those in captivity live up to the age of 60 years.

Bird watching

If you are a bird watcher, Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most interesting destinations. You can see more than 610 bird species while on the Kazinga Channel Launch and on the Game drives. The park is teeming with a variety of birds like yellow-billed stork, plovers, pink-backed pelicans, white-bellied pelicans, white-bellied Cormorants, black-headed Gonolek Inter-alia. For more on Uganda bird watching