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Mpanga forest
It is located about 54km along Kampala-Masaka road. Mpanga Forest is a beautiful compact forest which has been protected as a scientific research site since 1953 and is criss-crossed with extensive network of paths from which one can view the prolific bird life. The reserve protects an extensive patch of medium -altitude rainforest, characteristic of the vegetation that once extended over much of the northern Lake Victoria Hinterland. Birders experience the silence of a noisy forest, witness floating paths of butterflies and enjoy the peace of solitude of a beautiful forest setting with a variety of Turacos, hornbills, Sunbirds, Greebuls and barbets that are often heard or seen roaming around the forest canopies.
Entebbe Botanical Gardens
It is situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, virtually on the Equator, and covers an area of 40.7ha.The gardens house a collection of species of plants of the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones, besides several shrubs and other plants which regenerated naturally over the years. The habitat has attracted a diverse array of birds - 206 species (both forest and shorebirds) and monkeys (recently introduced: Black and White Colubus and Vervet Monkeys). Besides the site attracting activities like Motor rallying, it is also amongst the best birding sites in Entebbe. The most common bird species are Ruff, Wood, Common, Marsh Sandpipers, Common Green Shank, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green Crombec, Orange weaver, Golden and Yellow backed weavers, Superb sunbird, Bare faced go-away-bird, Ross's and Great blue Turacos, Grey and Brown Parrots, Palm Swift, Little Swift, Entebbe Weaver (an endemic to Uganda that was recorded at the site only once), White spotted Fluftail etc
Lutembe Bay
Also located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, the bay is less than 8 sq km in size. It boasts of over 200 species including over 100 water birds. Two Red Data species have been recorded: occasional Shoebill and a Madagascar Squacco Heron. Regular waterfowl counts since 1993 show a total of 108 water bird species at the site, of which 26 are Palaearctic migrants. The bay regularly supports 20,000 - 50,000 roosting water birds, sometimes many more between October and February; when there are palaearctic migrants. Clearly Lutembe bay is one of the most important migratory stopover sites in the Lake Victoria basin and a major roost site for many species, including large congregations of migrant waders. Birding here is done on a hand paddled Canoe or motorboat.
Ziika Forest
This is among the smallest central forest reserve that is situated along Entebbe-Kampala highway. The forest is under the management of the communities around with help from UNDP and GEF.
It is one of the Grey Parrots breeding sites known in Uganda. A breeding ground for butterflies has also been established at the site. To ease nature walks in the forest, a variety of trails have been established. This has been complimented by construction of the scenery/bird viewing tower. A spell at the Ziika Forest will leave you breathless, a quiet kind of place, home to red tailed and grivet monkeys, lots of trees, butterflies and birds.
Nsuki Forest
Nsuki forest is a privately managed natural forest on the shores of Lake Victoria just opposite Lutembe beach. The management has established a superb Camping ground at the site which is at the shores of the Lake. The Forest is a good site for Great Blue, and Ross's turacos, Purple Starling, Black and white casqued, African Pied, crowned hornbills, little greenbul, Green crombec Tambourine Dove, Slender-billed Greenbul, western black-headed Oriole,Wester Nicator etc.
Ngamba Island
Ngamba Island is a forested island on Lake Victoria that provides an "out of harm's way" haven to orphaned Chimpanzees that are free to wander around the Island. It offers a unique opportunity for close viewing of the chimpanzees in an adapted environment. Visitors to the island experience pre-arranged supplementary feeding times - 11:00am and 3:00pm each day. This attracts the Chimps to within meters of the raised walkway specially designed for easy viewing and excellent photographic opportunities. The Island is accessed by taking a speed boat for a distance of about 23 km offshore from Entebbe and it takes about 45 minutes to get there.
Apart from the chimpanzees, birders can also have their take in the woodland and the forested areas at the island. The shoreline, obviously, provides an excellent opportunity for watching shorebirds.
Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) Entebbe
UWEC was opened in 1952 by the Colonial Government then, as an animal Orphanage that offered sanctuary to young animals found abandoned in protected areas due to the death or poaching of parent animals.
In the early 1960's it became a Zoo. In 1994 a proposal was made by the New York Zoological Society now the World Conservation Society, to turn it into a conservation education Center for conservation awareness purposes; hence the name, 'Uganda Wildlife Education. This is a site where White Rhinos, Lions, several antelopes, snakes, primates, and birds can be found. The walk through is filled with vegetations and trees native to Uganda. The tops of the trees resonate with sounds of hundreds of birds.
There is a 1000m forest walk, encountering wild monkeys, free ranging antelopes, hundreds of beautiful coloured butterflies and indigenous plant species, birds and a wonderful view of the Centre and Lake Victoria.
The center habituates over 50 different animal species represented by over 200 animals, all housed in large, open air enclosures, simulating their natural habitat in the wild. There is a medicinal plants' garden with over 500 herbs, with information about diseases they cure.
Uganda Wildlife education Centre is also a bird watchers' paradise where one can watch over 250 bird species.
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