Photo redcharlie / UnsplashWhat it is
Night birding is a slow, quiet walk into the forest once the day birds have gone to roost, listening for the species that only call after dark. Owls — the African wood owl among them — and the nightjars are the prizes, and the same walk often turns up tree frogs, chameleons asleep on the leaf edges and the odd nocturnal mammal.
Kibale and the forests around Bwindi are among the best places for it, on guided after-dark walks led by birders who know the calls. It rewards patience and a good ear more than a long lens, and pairs naturally with a forest stay built around primates and daytime birding.
What to expect
Owls and nightjars
The after-dark specialists, found by call as much as by sight, with a guide who knows them.
More than birds
Tree frogs, sleeping chameleons and nocturnal mammals often share the walk.
Forest at night
A guided, unhurried walk in Kibale or around Bwindi, torchlight low and ears open.
Where to do it
Safaris that feature it
14 journeys include night birding
6 Days Bwindi Gorilla Trekking
A six-day safari through southwestern Uganda and into Rwanda, combining mountain gorilla tracking in Bwindi with a game drive and Kazinga Channel boat safari in Queen Elizabeth. It ends with a visit to Kigali's Genocide Memorial.
6-Day Uganda Wildlife & Gorilla Safari
A six-day Uganda safari across Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi national parks, with game drives, the top of the falls, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise and mountain gorilla trekking.
7-Day Uganda Amazing Safari
A seven-day Uganda safari through Kibale, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi national parks, with chimpanzee tracking, game drives, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise and mountain gorilla trekking.
11 Day Uganda Safari
An eleven-day Uganda safari covering Ziwa rhinos, Kibale chimpanzees, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi gorillas, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo. It begins and ends at Entebbe with a stop at the Equator.
12 Days Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari
A twelve-day birding expedition through Uganda's Albertine Rift, targeting endemic species across montane forests, swamps and savannahs. It visits Echuya, Mgahinga, Bwindi, the Rwenzori foothills and Semliki with experienced birding guides.
14 Days Forest Birding Safari
A fourteen-day birding tour through Uganda's forests, from Mabira and Budongo to Kibale, Semliki and Bwindi, focused on rainforest and Albertine Rift endemic species. Chimpanzee and gorilla tracking are available as options.
Good to know
- What will we look for?
- Nocturnal birds above all — owls such as the African wood owl, and nightjars — plus the frogs, chameleons and small mammals the torchlight tends to find.
- Do I need to be an experienced birder?
- No. A good guide does the listening and finding; you need patience, quiet feet and a willingness to be out after dark.
Build night birding into your safari
Tell us your dates and interests and we'll shape an itinerary around it.