Lake Albert shoe bill experience

Lake Albert shoe bill experience: The shoe bill stork is found in several places in Uganda, Semuliki national park is one of them. Semuliki national park is one of Uganda’s national parks in western Uganda Bundibudyo district. It was gazetted in 1993 as a national park to protect different wildlife species which include birds, mammals, primates, hot springs, and many others.

The shoe bill storks are spread in the fresh waters of Semuliki national park wetland as well as the swamps around Lake Albert which is found in the north of the park. The vegetation in Semuliki national park does provide an ideal condition for the shoebills to grow. Over 435 bird species have been recorded in Semuliki national park and one of the famous ones is the shoebill stork.

Tourists who want to see the shoebill stork while in Uganda should try out Semuliki national park and see this special bird using the boat.  Viewing the shoebill on the board is a sure deal of seeing the bird because the guide knows which area to see it as well as the best time of the day to look out for it.

While on a bird watching tour in Semuliki national park, bird lovers who want to see the shoebill stork should book a boat cruise on Lake Albert. By doing so they will be able to see the shoebill storks as well as other water bird species like the African fish eagle, pink-backed pelican, greater flamingo, white-faced whistling duck, and Congo serpent eagle among others.

Shoe bill watching on a boat in Semuliki national park.

Shoebill watching on a boat in Semuliki national park is carried out on Lake Albert. Here tourists who have booked for the activity head to the lake where they board the boat. A good birder moves around the lake with the birders showing them different bird species as they look out for the shoebill. The boat cruise activity takes 2 hours and above and tourists are able to see the shoebill in the fresh wetland vegetation around the lake.

How much is Lake Albert shoe bill experience

Semuliki national park is one of the national parks in Uganda where bird lovers can meet the rare shoebill. While in Semuliki national park, the best way to see the rare shoe bill stork is by taking a boat ride on Lake Albert. The boat rides are organized by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to enable bird lovers to see their favorite bird species.

Lake Albert shoe bill experience in Semuliki national park costs $100 for foreign non-residents, $80 for foreign residents, and UGX100,000 citizens of East African member states. Tourists who want to view the shoebill by boat can pay directly to Uganda Wildlife Authority accounts or can pay at the park.

When to see the shoebill on Lake Albert in Semuliki national park?

Tourists can see the shoebill by boat on Lake Albert in Semuliki national park at any time of the year they visit the park. The rangers will do all it takes to make sure that you see the shoe bill and this is because they know well the best time of the day to see the bird and also the best areas to find it. When its bird watching in general, the best period to visit the park is from November to April when the migratory birds are also within the park.

Tourists should however visit Semuliki national park any time of the year to see the different bird species that have been recorded in the park. A good birder will be able to see more than half of the recorded bird species within Semuliki national park if they happen to use a good birding guide.

Other bird species of Semuliki national park

Apart from the shoebill, Semuliki national park hosts over 435 bird species 23 of which are endemic to the Albertine region. This national park is one of the best in the western part of Uganda and bird watching is the most done activity done here. Birders to Semuliki national park must get good local birds who know each and every corner of the park with the best bird species.

Birds of Semuliki national park include African dwarf kingfisher, speckled tinkerbird, woodland kingfisher, black-billed barbet, blue spotted wood dove, African pygmy kingfisher, yellow-throated tinkerbird, yellow-billed stork, bronze naped pigeon, white-bellied kingfisher, African pied hornbill, African grey parrot, blue cheeked bee-eater, shinning blue kingfisher, hairy breasted barbet, chocolate backed kingfisher, grey crowned crane, wood sandpiper, black-winged stilt, Klaas’s cuckoo, white spotted flufftail, little bee-eater, spur-winged lawping, and African wood owl.

Other notable bird species in Semuliki national park include Palm nut vulture, African palm swift, black casqued hornbill, grey-headed kingfisher, olive sunbird, white-naped pigeon, African harrier hawk, long-crested eagle, little stint, African olive pigeon, African sacred ibis, lizard buzzard, three-banded plover, yellow billed barbet, African woolly necked stork, piping hornbill, Red-chested cuckoo, cattle egret, and white thighed hornbill to mention but a few.

How much is bird watching in Semuliki national park

To carry out bird watching in Semuliki national park you pay a certain fee to Uganda Wildlife Authority which controls and manages park activities. In Semuliki national park it’s $30 for foreign non-residents, $25 for foreign residents, and UGX20,000 citizens of East African member states. Tourists should know that this fee is per person and it does not include the park entrance fee or any other activity fees.