Mount Elgon Uganda, birding and trekking

MT ELGON NATIONAL PARK
For years, Mt Elgon remained the exclusive domain of the serious backpackers because good birding trails were non existent and relatively intact habitat along day’s hike from the nearest road. This neglect by birders was further compounded by the presence of productive, more accessible forest areas in southern western Uganda. with the recent construction of the “forest Exploration Centre” at Kapchorwa allowing birders access to excellent montane forest , this site can easily be incorporated into a 5-6 day “Eastern Extension” that include the localities for fox’s weaver and the arid savanna around Moroto.

District: Mbale

Size: 1145km2

Elevation: 1460-4320m a.s.l.

Habitat : Mixed montane forest (<2500m), low canopy montane with Bamboo (2400-3000m), montane heath (3000-3500m) and moorland (>3500m).

Status: National park since 1993

Timing : March and September

Time required : 1-2 days

Birds recorded: 300 species

Key species : Jackson’s And moorland Francolins , eastern Bronze napped pigeon , red-fronted parrot , Hartlaub’s Turaco , Red Chested owlet , bar-tailed Trogon , Forest Wood-hoopoe , Moustached Green Tinkerbird , Grey-chested Illadopsis , Black –collarred Apalis , Purple Throated cuckoo-shrike , Golden –winged and Tacazze Sunbirds , oriole Finch .

Please note that on your birding trip, you may need birding binoculars, an othinology book for better indentification of Uganda birds. We also encourage you to participate in efforts that encourage avian conservation of Uganda tourism.

Please note that on your birding trip, you may need birding binoculars, an othinology book for better indentification of Uganda birds. We also encourage you to participate in efforts that encourage avian conservation of Uganda tourism.