Mabira Forest Reserve is a rewarding forest birding site with over 300 species of birds, covering 306 square kilometers – the largest in the central region of Uganda. It is located within easy reach for a one day of forest birding from Kampala, 56 km along the Kampala – Jinja highway. It is close to an hour of drive from Kampala.
Get to Mabira Forest Reserve, turning off the highway at Najjembe to get to the Mabira Eco-tourism Site, situated 300m into the forest. Watch the fringes for some species, the Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill is a common sight. After clearance at the at the Ecotourism Site, take to the trail network, observing the undergrowth, mid-forest and the canopies for lots of species.
Your bird list may include: Forest Wood Hoopoe, Yellow White-eye, Hairy Breasted Barbet, Blockages Shrike, Tambourine Dove, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, African Harrier Hawk, Speckled Tinkerbird, Great Blue Turaco, Black-and-white Mannikin, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Superb Sunbird, African Grey Parrot, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, African Shrike-Flycatcher, Red-headed Malimbe, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Black-billed Turaco and so many more. You could count over 30 species in 3 hours.
Nearby birding sites you consider after birding mabira include the Sezibwa Falls, and Kasenge Forest Reserve. These may share so many species, however, some birds may be easier to spot here than in mabira.
Return to Kampala and transfer to your hotel.
