Murchison Falls National Park Birding
Murchison Falls National Park in northern Uganda is home to 450+ bird species and is the premier destination for shoebill stork in a savannah setting. The park's combination of Nile riverfront, savannah grassland, acacia woodland and forest patches creates extraordinary bird diversity across all groups.
Shoebill on the Nile Delta
The Nile Delta at the northern end of Lake Albert is the best site for shoebill stork within Murchison Falls NP. Boat trips to the delta offer views of shoebill in open water alongside goliath heron, African skimmer, pink-backed pelican, African open-bill and a remarkable array of waders and kingfishers. The delta is reached by a 3-hour boat journey from Paraa — one of Uganda's greatest wildlife boat trips.
Savannah and Woodland Birds
Game drives on the north bank deliver Abyssinian ground hornbill, northern carmine bee-eater (in season), black-headed plover, red-throated bee-eater, Denham's bustard, secretary bird (rare but recorded), long-crested eagle, grasshopper buzzard and many more savannah specialities. The park also holds large numbers of red-throated and white-throated bee-eaters at colonial nest sites in the riverbanks.
Visiting Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls is a 4 to 5 hour drive from Kampala or Entebbe. We recommend at least 3 nights at Murchison to do the birding justice — two full game-drive days and one boat trip to the delta. The park is open year-round. Contact us to include Murchison Falls in your Uganda birding itinerary.