Great Blue Turaco
Iconic, huge and colorful — a top highlight of Entebbe's fig forests.
Location & Overview
Located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, the gardens combine lakeside forest, thick undergrowth, fig trees, open lawns and palm woodland — all within 10 minutes of Entebbe Airport.
Why Visit
- 300+ species in easy-to-walk, compact habitats.
- Perfect for pre-flight / post-flight birding sessions.
- Top site for Great Blue Turaco, Red-chested Sunbird, Palm-nut Vulture.
- Safe, scenic, and extremely reliable for first-time birders in Uganda.
Best Time
Excellent year-round. Mornings offer the highest activity. Migrants appear in Nov–Mar.
Top Birding Spots in the Gardens
- Lakeside Belt — Palm-nut Vulture, kingfishers, terns, cormorants.
- Fig Tree Forest — Turacos, barbets, sunbirds and forest pigeons.
- Thicket & Understory — Greenbuls, robin-chats, forest warblers.
- Open Woodland & Lawns — Parrots, hornbills, bee-eaters.
- Swampy Patches — Herons, weavers, papyrus-edge specialists.
Map & Access
Forest & Garden Birds
Fig trees, forest edges and shaded trails — turacos, bulbuls, sunbirds, robin-chats.
African Grey Parrot
Rare in many regions — reliable in the gardens, especially mornings.
Snowy-crowned Robin-chat
Bold, curious and vocal — hops through understory trails.
Red-chested Sunbird
Uganda’s endemic-range sunbird; males shine purple-green.
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Massive-winged forest hornbill with a deep whooshing flight.
Lakeside & Woodland Birds
Palm trees, lake edges and open glades — kingfishers, bee-eaters, vultures, herons.
Palm-nut Vulture
Graceful white vulture soaring over palms and lakeside cliffs.
Pied Kingfisher
Hovering precision hunter — always active along the waterline.
Squacco Heron
Buff-plumed heron common around reeds and swampy patches.
Little Bee-eater
Colorful, friendly and photogenic — often perches low near paths.
African Pied Hornbill
Active in open woodland edges; calls are sharp and nasal.