Uganda DAY4

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) spans the districts of Kasese, Kamwenge, Rubirizi, and Rukungiri. The park is approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi) by road south-west of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.The city of Kasese lies to the northeast of the park, while the town of Rubirizi is to the southeast.The park adjoins Kyambura Game Reserve to the east, which itself adjoins the Kigezi Game Reserve (including the Maramagambo Forest) and thus the Kibale National Park to the northeast. The Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo lies across the border to the west. Together, these protected places completely encircle Lake Edward. The Rwenzori Mountains National Park in Uganda lies not far to the northwest.

Kazinga Widerness Safari Camp

เช้านี้เราใช้รถ 4x4 2 คันเพื่อท่องทุ่งสะวันนาเป้าหมายเพื่อหานกที่สาบสูญสำหรับท้องทุ่ง แห่งนี้ Secretary birds น้องเลขาแสนสวย ที่ให้โจเซฟบอกว่าไม่มีใครเจอมาน่าจะสิบปีได้แล้ว แต่เราก็คิดเข้าข้างตัวเองว่า คนอื่นๆอาจไม่ตั้งใจหาหรือปล่าว และพวกเราอาจจะมีดวงก็ได้ไปลองกัน

On the way to Kazinga channel

The Kazinga Channel is a wide, 32 kilometre (20 mile) long freshwater channel that links Lake Edward to its smaller neighbour, Lake George. The lakes are named after Queen Victoria’s son, King Edward VII, and his own successor, King George V. The channel is a key feature of Queen Elizabeth National Park and a popular area for wildlife tourism.

The channel is home to a wide range of animals and birds, including one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos (around 2,000) and countless Nile crocodiles. You can also expect to see elephants, buffaloes, and over 100 species of water bird, including the African Skimmer.

Lake George is fed by streams from the Rwenzori mountains and its outflow drains into Lake Edward, via the Kazinga Channel. Lake George’s 250km² surface area is almost ten times smaller than that of its larger neighbour, Lake Edward (2325km²). The channel itself has a maximum depth of 8m.

Non breeding

The wattled starling (Creatophora cinerea) is a nomadic resident bird in eastern and southern Africa. It is a species of grassland, open woodland, and cultivation.

The bird prefers open habitats with short grass, such as grasslands, open woodlands, and cultivated areas, making the savanna landscape around the Kazinga Channel a suitable habitat when food is plentiful.

The pintail whydah's courtship display is an elaborate aerial show where the male performs a hovering, dancing flight to impress females, showcasing his long, flowing tail feathers. During this display, he also sings a song from a high perch, which consists of rapid squeaking and churring sounds. The breeding male is particularly striking with his black and white plumage and bright red bill, a stark contrast to the brown, camouflaged female.

The pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura) is a small songbird with a conspicuous pennant-like tail in breeding males. It is a resident breeding bird in most of Africa south of the Sahara Desert.

white-throated bee-eater (Merops albicollis) is found in Uganda, which includes the Kazinga Channel area, during its non-breeding season.

The white-throated bee-eater is a migratory bird that breeds in the arid savannas and semi-deserts along the southern edge of the Sahara. After the breeding season, it migrates south to winter in a completely different habitat: the equatorial rainforest clearings and moist savannas of Africa, ranging from southern Senegal to Uganda.

The grey-headed kingfisher (Halcyon leucocephala) is a species of bird in the kingfisher family, Alcedinidae. It is found across large parts of Africa and southern Arabia, from Mauritania through Senegal and the Gambia, east to Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen, Oman and Saudi Arabia, and south all the way through to South Africa. It is also found in islands off the African coast such as the Cape Verde islands and Zanzibar

The sexes are similar. The adult of the nominate race H. l. leucocephala has a pale grey head, black mantle and back, bright blue rump, wings and tail, and chestnut underparts. Subspecies H. l. pallidiventris has a darker grey head and paler chestnut underparts but is otherwise similar. The beak is long, red and sharp. This bird grows to an average length of 21 cm (8.3 in). The song is a succession of notes, ascending, descending and then ascending again, becoming increasingly strident. The warning call is a series of sharp notes, "tchk, tchk, tchk, tchk".^[

Unlike most kingfishers, the Grey-headed Kingfisher is a dry-country species that primarily inhabits woodlands and savannas, often perching on branches to watch for ground prey like insects and lizards. However, it is frequently found and can be observed near water sources such as the Kazinga Channel. Birding safaris in the area regularly include it on their species checklists.

The cardinal woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens) is a widespread and common resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa. It occurs in a wide range of habitats, ranging from dense forest to thorn bush. It is fairly vocal and is easily identified by its call notes. The sexes are distinguishable by their head patterns.

the Cardinal Woodpecker is typically found in the surrounding woodland and scrub habitats. Birding checklists and reports from the area confirm its presence. Another woodpecker, the Nubian Woodpecker, is also found in the region.

The spot-flanked barbet (Tricholaema lacrymosa) is a species of bird in the family Lybiidae. It is found in Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia.

The yellow-throated longclaw (Macronyx croceus) is a species of bird in the family Motacillidae. Despite sharing no recent common ancestor, the yellow-throated longclaw and its sister species in Macronyx are very similar in both coloration and behavior to the meadowlarks of North America, an example of convergent evolution.

They have yellow underparts and a black "bib" on the upper chest. They may be distinguished from the closely related pangani longclaw by its yellow under tail-coverts, which the pangani lacks. The pangani also has an orange throat, whereas the yellow-throated does not.

The white-browed coucal or lark-heeled cuckoo (Centropus superciliosus), is a species of cuckoo in the family Cuculidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa. It inhabits areas with thick cover afforded by rank undergrowth and scrub, including in suitable coastal regions. Burchell's coucal is sometimes considered a subspecies.

The Natal spurfowl or Natal francolin (Pternistis natalensis)

The Natal Spurfowl (formerly Natal Francolin) is from the Phasianidae family and this species occurs in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. Throughout its range it is abundant. Its Afrikaans name is Natalse fisant. It can be found in different habitats such as savanna, coastal forest and woodland. Its usual nesting site is a shallow indent on the ground, lined with grass and some feathers, hidden in small thickets. The hen produces between 4-8 creamy coloured eggs which take approximately 21 days to hatch. She is solitary during this time. Breeding occurs all year round.

Both sexes have similar plumage. The Natal Spurfowl is one of two Spurfowl that does not have bare skin around the eyes and throat. Males have longer spurs on their legs and on average weigh about 100 grams more than females.

Red-billed queleas are the most abundant wild bird in the world, with an estimated post-breeding population of 1.5 billion birds, and are well known for forming enormous, nomadic flocks that can number in the millions. They are common in the semi-arid savannas, grasslands, and cultivated areas throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including southern DRC and neighboring Angola and Zambia.

Long tail shrike

The western banded snake eagle (Circaetus cinerascens) is a grey-brown African raptor with a short tail and a large head. Juveniles have paler and browner upper parts than adults, with white-edged feathers. The eagle's head, neck and breast are dark-streaked. The underparts are white with pale brown streaks, mainly on belly and thighs. Subadults may be all dark grey-brown without any streak on underparts. The eyes, ears, and legs are yellow. They have crested chests.

The palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) or vulturine fish eagle

It breeds in forest and savannah across sub-Saharan Africa, usually near water, its range coinciding with that of the oil and Raffia palms. It is quite approachable, like many African vultures, and can be seen near habitation, even on large hotel lawns in the tourist areas of countries such as the Gambia.

Verreaux's eagle-owl (Ketupa lactea), also commonly known as the milky eagle owlor giant eagle owl,is a member of the family Strigidae. This species is widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. A member of the genus Ketupa, it is the largest African owl, measuring up to 66 cm (26 in) in total length. This eagle-owl is a resident primarily of dry, wooded savanna. Verreaux's eagle-owl is mainly grey in color and is distinguishable from other large owls by its bright pink eyelids, a feature shared with no other owl species in the world.

The purple-banded sunbird (Cinnyris bifasciatus)

Found in forest, woodland, scrub, and savanna. Generally scarce and less common than other sunbird species. Vocalizations are high-pitched trills and jumbles. Very similar to Mariqua Sunbird but distinguished by slightly smaller size and shorter bill with a thinner base. Also very similar to Tsavo and Violet-breasted sunbirds, but male has a broader maroon breast band than the former, and both sexes slightly smaller and shorter-billed than the latter.

The image shows two yellow-billed oxpeckers on the back of an African buffalo. This is an example of a symbiotic relationship between the two species.

The Kazinga Channel is home to a huge variety of mammals, most notably hippos, which have one of the world's largest concentrations, as well as elephants, African buffaloes, and Nile crocodiles. Other mammals frequently seen include waterbucks, warthogs, bushbucks, and various antelope species like the sitatunga and Uganda kobs. For lucky visitors, predators like lions, leopards, and spotted hyenas can also be spotted, particularly near the water's edge.

Baboons can be found at Kazinga Channel in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park, where they are common wildlife and can be seen during boat cruises or game drives.

Warthog

Phacochoerus is a genus in the family Suidae, commonly known as warthogs(pronounced wart-hog). They are pigs who live in open and semi-open habitats, even in quite arid regions, in sub-Saharan Africa. The two species were formerly considered conspecific under the scientific name Phacochoerus aethiopicus, but today this is limited to the desert warthog, while the best-known and most widespread species, the common warthog (or simply warthog), is Phacochoerus africanus.

Lake Edward

Lake Edward (locally Rwitanzigye or Rweru) is one of the smaller African Great Lakes. It is located in the Albertine Rift, the western branch of the East African Rift, on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda, with its northern shore a few kilometres south of the equator.

Lake Edward lies completely within the Virunga National Park (Congo) and the Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda) and does not have extensive human habitation on its shores, except at Ishango (DRC) in the north, home to a park ranger training facility. About two-thirds of its waters are in the DRC and one third in Uganda. Apart from Ishango, the main Congolese settlement in the south is Vitshumbi, while the Ugandan settlements are Mweya and Katwe in the northeast, near the crater lake of that name, which is the chief producer of salt for Uganda. The nearest cities are Kasese in Uganda to the northeast and Butembo in the DRC to the northwest, which are respectively about 50 kilometres (31 mi) and 150 kilometres (93 mi) distant by road.

The woodland kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis) is a tree kingfisher that is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara.

The woodland kingfisher is widely distributed in tropical Africa south of the Sahara and from Pretoria northwards. This kingfisher is essentially resident within 8° of the equator, but northern and southern populations are migratory, moving into the equatorial zone in the dry season.

It is a common species of a variety of wooded habitats with some trees, especially Acacias, including around human habitation. Although it is a "kingfisher", it prefers drier habitats in more traditional woodland and can be far from water. It is often solitary but can occur in small groups.

The woodland kingfisher is aggressively territorial, attacking intruders including humans. It has a striking display in which the wings are spread to show the white linings.

The Palestine sunbird (Cinnyris osea) is a small passerine bird of the sunbird family, Nectariniidae. Found in parts of the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, it is also known as the northern orange-tufted sunbird. However, the name "orange-tufted sunbird" refers to another species, found further south in Africa. In 2015, the Palestinian Authority adopted the species as a national bird, after losing in Israel's national bird public vote in 2008 in favor of the Hoopoe.^[2]^[3]^[4] The specific name oseais derived from Ancient Greek ὁσια (hosia, "holy").

Female

The northern crombec (Sylvietta brachyura) A small and virtually tailless warbler with a gray-brown back and rufous underparts. There is some geographical variation; the throat can be dull rufous, dull white, or bright white. Always shows a gray-brown eye-line. Found in a wide variety of savanna and woodland habitats. Similar to Red-faced Crombec, but has a strong eye-line, and in the area of overlap, usually shows a bright white throat. The song is a quick, jumbled whistled phrase that varies somewhat across the range. The call is a rapid wooden trill.

Boat Cruise

Discover the Hidden Gems of Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park on the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise Safari

Imagine the gentle sway of a boat, the sun warming your skin, and the symphony of nature surrounding you. Suddenly, a chorus of grunts erupts as a massive pod of hippos emerges from the depths. That is the magic of the Kazinga Channel boat cruise, a famed experience that draws visitors worldwide to Uganda’s Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kazinga Channel

A boat cruise in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda, takes place on the Kazinga Channel and is a popular wildlife viewing activity. Visitors can see hippos, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, and a variety of birds while cruising along the channel, which connects Lake George and Lake Edward. Cruises typically last about 2 hours and depart at multiple times throughout the day.

Climb aboard and explore the wonders of the Kazinga Channel from a panoramic view. Soak up the sights of energetic elephants and bathing buffaloes as an expert ranger guides you through the birds of Queen Elizabeth National Park.

The stone-curlews, also known as dikkops or thick-knees, consist of 10 species within the family Burhinidae, and are found throughout the tropical and temperate parts of the world, with two or more species occurring in some areas of Africa, Asia, and Australia. Despite the group being classified as waders, most species have a preference for arid or semiarid habitats.

They are largely nocturnal, particularly when singing their loud, wailing songs, which are reminiscent of true curlews.Their diet consists mainly of insects and other invertebrates. Larger species also take lizards and even small mammals. Most species are sedentary, but the Eurasian stone-curlew is a summer migrant in the temperate European part of its range, wintering in Africa.

As you glide along the tranquil waters, you’ll be treated to a front-row seat to nature’s grand theater. Each bend in the channel reveals a new scene: a family of elephants bathing at the water’s edge.

Good picture of Nuy Riverchat

The channel’s banks are also frequented by herds of elephants, their enormous silhouettes a tribute to the park’s rich biodiversity. You might also encounter majestic buffalo grazing on the lush vegetation, or catch a glimpse of a stealthy leopard or lion lurking in the shadows. The Kazinga Channel is true proof of nature’s interconnectedness, where every creature plays a role in this delicate balance.

One of the most striking features of the Kazinga Channel is its incredible hippopotamus population. It’s estimated that over 2,000 of these massive, yet surprisingly graceful creatures call the channel home. Witnessing these gentle giants wallowing in the mud or congregating in large pods is a sight to behold. But the hippos aren’t the only stars of the show.

Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) is found in the Kazinga Channel area of Uganda. It is typically seen as a wintering migratory bird from Europe and Arctic regions, rather than a year-round resident.

The image shows a Yellow-billed stork, a large wading bird native to Africa, and a young Egyptian goose.

A family of Egyptian geese.

The Goliath heron (Ardea goliath), also known as the giant heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller, declining numbers in Southwest and South Asia.

The Goliath heron is very aquatic, even by heron standards, rarely venturing far from a water source and preferring to fly along waterways rather than move over land. Important habitats can include lakes, swamps, mangrove wetlands, reefs with few cool water, sometimes river deltas. It typically is found in shallows, though can be observed near deep water over dense water vegetation. Goliath herons can even be found in small watering holes. They have ranged in elevation from sea level to 2,100 m (6,900 ft). They tend to prefer pristine wetlands and generally avoid areas where human disturbances are a regular occurrence.

Goliath herons are solitary foragers and are highly territorial towards other herons entering their feeding territories. On occasions, two may be seen together but these are most likely to be a breeding pair or immatures. A diurnal and often rather inactive feeder, this heron often hunts by standing in the shallows, intently watching the water at its feet.

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa.

Hadada ibis

And Finally to meet our mission at here

African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris

The African skimmer (Rynchops flavirostris) is a species of bird belonging to the skimmer genus Rynchops in the family Laridae. It is found along rivers, lakes and lagoons in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The African skimmer is found from Senegal to northern Congo River and southern Nile Valley, southern Tanzania to the Zambezi Valley, and then to KwaZulu-Natal Province(South Africa) and Angola. They live at large tropical rivers with sandbanks for nesting and roosting, lake shores, and coastal lagoons. The African skimmer is generally uncommon and the total populations is estimated at 15,000–25,000 individuals.

African skimmers have long wings, with a black back, hindneck, and crown. The forehead and rest of the body is white, with a bright, long, orange beak that ends with a yellow tip (black tip when immature), hence the specific name flavirostris, "yellow-beak". Their short forked tail is white, and their legs are bright red. The average size is about 38 cm (15 in) long. Their voice is a sharp "kip-kip". Their bill structure is unique; the lower mandible is much longer than the upper mandible, and is flattened sideways like scissor blades.

African skimmers fly in lines over calm waters, and dip their lower mandibles in the water to feed.When the mandible touches a fish, the skimmer snaps its mouth shut. They feed mostly at dawn and dusk and have good night vision. The following fish have been recorded as prey for African skimmers: Micralestes, Tilapia, Barbus, Marcusenius , Hepsetus, Aplocheilichthys and Petrocephalus.

African skimmers are partial intra-African migrants, they arrive in southern Africa when the water level of rivers starts falling at the beginning of the dry season, i.e. April–June, returning northwards after breeding when rivers start rising again at the start of the rainy season in November–January.

The "skimmer" at Queen Elizabeth National Park is a bird known for its long, uniquely shaped beak. It can be found along the park's rivers and lakes, including the Kazinga Channel, and is a sought-after sighting for birdwatchers due to its distinctive appearance and feeding behavior.

Experiencing the Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Picture yourself aboard a comfortable boat, the gentle hum of the engine a soothing backdrop to the natural soundscape. The sun casts a warm glow on the water, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of wildflowers and damp earth. As you glide along the Kazinga Channel, a sense of tranquility washes over you, and you become fully immersed in the moment.

Embark on a Kazinga wildlife safari and witness the wildlife in their natural habitat from the unique vantage point of a boat cruise, without disturbing their routines. You’ll be close enough to see the intricate details of a hippo’s wrinkled skin, the gentle sway of an elephant’s trunk as it sips water, and the vibrant plumage of a bird taking flight. The experience is both exhilarating and humbling as you realize the sheer scale and beauty of the natural world.

The African spoonbill (Platalea alba) is a long-legged wading bird^[2] of the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae. The species is widespread across Africa and Madagascar, including Botswana, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.

It lives in marshy wetlands with some open shallow water and nests in colonies in trees or reedbeds. They usually don't share colonies with storks or herons. The African spoonbill feeds in shallow water, and fishes for various fish,mollusk's,amphibians, crustaceans,^[2] insects and larvae.The animal will swing its open bill side-to-side in the water; when something touches the inside of the bill, the bill snaps shut, catching the prey.^[2] Long legs and thin, pointed toes enable it to walk easily through varying depths of water.^[3

The African spoonbill is almost unmistakable through most of its range. The breeding bird is all white except for its red legs and face and long grey spatulate bill. It has no crest, unlike the common spoonbill. Immature birds lack the red face and have a yellow bill.

the African Spoonbill can be found along the Kazinga Channel. They are a common sight during boat trips, which provide opportunities to see a variety of wildlife, and can often be spotted in shallow waters.

The African harrier-hawk, harrier hawk or gymnogene (Polyboroides typus) is a bird of prey. It is about 60–66 centimetres (24–26 in) in length. It breeds in most of Africa south of the Sahara. The only other member of the genus is the allopatricMadagascar harrier-hawk (Polyboroides radiatus)

Bunyaruguru is a historically significant region in western Uganda, known for its volcanic crater lakes and as the home of the Banyaruguru culture. It was once an independent kingdom before being incorporated into the British Ankole protectorate in 1901. Today, it's a destination for tourism, including parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and is characterized by its volcanic features.

Nile crocodiles are commonly found in the Kazinga Channel, which is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in Uganda. They are a prominent part of the channel's ecosystem and are frequently seen during boat safaris, along with other wildlife like hippos, buffalo, and elephants.

The image shows a large flock of birds, including Great White Pelicans and Great Cormorants, along a waterway.

The pelicans are of 8 species worldwide but in Uganda, there are only two species, namely the great white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) and pink backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens).

Great white pelicans are also called the Easter white pelicans or rosy pelicans or white pelicans. It’s different and can be easily identified due to its plumage, naked face and feathering on its head. Other pelicans are feathered all over the body. Pink baked pelicans are greyish while great white pelicans are white.

Pelicans are large water birds that are usually spotted along the banks of Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park. They are usually seen swimming in most waters bodies around the Great Rift Valley. While on a flight or at rest on the ground, pelicans give impressive views and they can be easily recognized. One can easily notice their uniqueness by color, size and behavior.

Pelicans are black and white with a pink and yellow bill, and the male has a purple facial skin, while female pelicans’ face is orange yellowish. Young ones have greyish brown plumage which juveniles are much browner and darker. They live in flocks but never get surprised when you find only one around water bodies.The International Union for conservation of nature lists the pink-backed pelican to be among the birds that are least concerned. This means that pelicans have been evaluated but not qualified for any category of threatened or near threatened.

The pelicans are normally threatened by eagles which eat their eggs. This is because their weight cannot be tolerated by the eagles. Mammals like hum beings, lions also endanger pelicans by way of evading their territories. Crocodiles also kill and eat the pelicans as they swim in water while searching for food.

Pelicans offer beautiful view as you spot them around various crater lakes in Queen Elizabeth National Park; therefore you need not miss birding a safari Uganda, the pearl of Africa which will take you to the most interesting and visited national park.

Pelicans can be spotted all year round in Queen Elizabeth National Park because they don’t migrate due the favorable factors like enough food in terms of fish, cool temperatures and no much interference from human beings and so much more. Although tourists are advised to take a safari in the dry season since the tracks in Queen Elizabeth National Park are not tarmacked and vehicles may get stuck during rainy seasons.

The pink-backed pelican (Pelecanus rufescens)

It shares its habitat with the great white pelican, which is generally larger and has white instead of greyish plumage.

Black-head gull

Afternoon we drive back to have lunch at our resort and spot some birds.a long the way and around the site.

The Senegal lapwing or lesser black-winged lapwing (Vanellus lugubris) is a species of bird in the family Charadriidae. It is found in the African countries .

The southern red bishop or red bishop (Euplectes orix) is a small passerine bird belonging to the bishop and widowbird genus Euplectes in the weaver family, the Ploceidae. It is common in wetlands and grassland in Africa south of the Equator. North of the Equator, it is replaced by the northern red bishop or orange bishop (E. franciscanus) which was formerly regarded as a subspecies of this species.

The black-lored babbler or Sharpe's pied-babbler Dull brownish babbler with a pale eye. Generally darkly streaked and blotched below, but a subspecies in central Kenya can show a white throat and variable white markings on the underparts. Found in a range of open habitats, including savanna, scrub, cultivation, and forest edge. Almost always in small groups, which feed by hopping across the ground. High-pitched raucous babbling call is frequently given, usually by a whole group in chorus. Similar to Arrow-marked and Brown Babblers, but separated by pale eyes.

The green-backed camaroptera (Camaroptera brachyura), also known as the bleating camaroptera, is a small bird in the family Cisticolidae. This bird is a resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Recent studies suggest this species and the grey-backed camaroptera may be the same species. This skulking passerine is typically found low in dense cover. The green-backed camaroptera binds large leaves together low in a bush and builds a grass nest within the leaves. The normal clutch is two or three eggs.

After lunch session

Kasenyi is situated in Kasese District, within Rwenzururu sub-region in the Western part of Uganda. It is within Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is the most well visited national parks in Uganda. The location of these Kasenyi plains is about 48 kilometers or 30 miles by road, just south-east of Kasese, which is the district head office, as well as the major town in this sub-region. The Kasenyi plains are on the western shores of the adjacent stunning Lake George, just near to the area where the Kazinga Channel confluences with this lake

The little bee-eater (Merops pusillus) is a bird species in the bee-eater family, Meropidae.They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. They should not be confused with the little green bee-eater (Merops orientalis). Migration is limited to seasonal movements depending on rainfall patterns.

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica.^[2]^[3] It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. In Anglophone Europe, it is just called the swallow; in northern Europe, it is the only member of family Hirundinidae called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

The African grey hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus) is a member of the hornbill family of mainly tropical near-passerine birds found in the Old World. It is a widespread resident breeder in much of sub-Saharan Africa and the southwest of the Arabian Peninsula.^[2]The African grey hornbill has escaped or been deliberately released into Florida, USA, but there is no evidence that the population is breeding and may only persist due to continuing releases or escapes.

The African wattled lapwing (Vanellus senegallus), also known as the Senegal wattled plover or simply wattled lapwing, is a large lapwing, a group of largish waders in the family Charadriidae. It is a resident breeder in most of sub-Saharan Africa outside the rainforests, although it has seasonal movements.

These are conspicuous and unmistakable birds. They are large brown waders with a black crown, white forehead and large yellow facial wattles. The tail is white, tipped black, and the long legs are yellow.

Bushbuck are a common antelope species found in Queen Elizabeth National Park, often seen in the Maramagambo Forest. They are shy, medium-sized antelopes that are primarily nocturnal but also active during the day, with peak activity around sunrise and dusk. Bushbuck are selective herbivores and are a part of the diverse wildlife in the park, though they are less frequently spotted in the open plains compared to other antelopes like the Uganda kob.

The Ugandan kob (Kobus kob thomasi) is a subspecies of the kob, a type of antelope. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa in South Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Ugandan kob is normally reddish-brown, differentiating it from other kob subspecies.

Photo by Nuy Riverchat

The black-bellied bustard (Lissotis melanogaster), also known as the black-bellied korhaan, is an African ground-dwelling bird in the bustard family.

Lake Katwe

Lake Katwe is a hypersaline lake located in the district of Kasese, southwestern Uganda. It is renowned for its high salt concentration and has a rich history of salt mining by local communities.

One of the distinctive features of Lake Katwe is its hypersaline nature. The lake has a high concentration of salt and other minerals, which has made it an important site for salt mining. Local communities have been engaged in salt extraction around Lake Katwe for centuries, employing traditional methods that involve evaporating water from the lake to obtain salt crystals. This salt is then used for various purposes, including cooking, preserving food, and trade.