Butterfly Watching Safaris in Uganda | Species & Where to Go

Plan your Uganda Butterfly tour with our experts from Goar Africa Safari Tours. So, they’ll tailor your trip and get you the perfect destination, depending on your budget as well. Below are the best 9 places for butterfly safaris in Uganda. 

1. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is located in the southern Districts of Uganda. So, even if it is popular for having the largest population of the mountain gorillas in Africa, it also has a great number of the butterflies. So, Bwindi has over a population size of 300 individuals including the giant swallowtail and the African Migrant. Therefore, there’s a high chance of one to see them during your  butterfly safaris in Bwindi. On top of butterfly tours and exploration, discover the unique culture of the Batwa people in the Bwindi Area.

2. Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park covers Kasese, Kyenjojo and Kamwenje districts and all of them are in Western Uganda. The butterfly watching safaris in Kibale are normally done in the green yards of this park. So, expect to see the different butterfly species in Kibale like citrus swallowtail, the green-banded swallowtail and  many more. During your Uganda butterfly tours in Kibale, you mightt see other wild animals like the L’Hoests’s monkeys, chimpanzees and different bird species such as the turaco.

3. Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Queen Elizabeth has specific trails where to do butterfly watching such as the Maramagambo forest trail. So, visitors take nature hikes in Queen Elizabeth and can spot butterfly species like the “painted lady”, the Lycaenidae and many more. Also, butterfly safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park can be combined with birding and game viewing safaris. So, visitors can also observe the big five safari animals in Uganda including tree-climbing lions, during your butterfly tours in Queen Elizabeth.

4. Semuliki National Park.

As visitors take nature walks through Semuliki in Bundibugyo district, they’ll observe a variety of butterfly species in that Uganda location. Also, the park has a record of a population size of over 490 of these species like the  Semuliki  Acraea, the  Dusky Diadem and the  African Blue tiger. On top of these Uganda butterfly tour experiences at Semliki, venture into geothermal features like the hot springs such as the “Nyasimbi”.

Also, the latter is a female hot spring in Semuliki. The scenic beauty in this park is extraordinary and impressive at first sight and this makes the butterfly watching safaris in Semuliki exciting.

5. Butterfly safaris in Budongo forest.

Budongo forest has a strategic location in proximity to Murchison Falls National Park. Also, it is in the Albertine region, hence one can easily move from this tourist area to Lake Albert. Additionally, Budingi forest has huge tree canopies of the mahogany that are a home to the butterflies. Also, a home to wildlife such as the birds like the Ituri batis, the chest-nut fly catcher and also the chimpanzees.

The population of the butterflies in Budongo forest is over 200 with species. So, some unique butterfly species includes the African giant swallow tail and the Budongo Acraea. In addition, there are usually found in the picturesque landscapes of the Budongo forest such as River Sonso.

6. Mount Elgon National Park.

This park has unmatched scenic views of the glistening glaciers of Mount Elgon. So, through the nature walks up the Steep slopes, one can combine the butterfly safaris in mount Elgon and the summit acclimatizing in this park. Also, Mount Elgon National Park harbors the highest population of the butterflies in Uganda. Also, see animals like the red-tailed monkeys, the bush bucks and the antelopes during your Uganda butterfly tours in this location. Examples of butterfly species found on Mount Elgon are the forest Nymphs, the Elgon Acraea and the Alpine painted lady.

7. Butterfly tours in Kalinzu forest, Uganda

Kalinzu tropical forest in situated in Southern Uganda (Bushenyi district) and it has over 200 butterfly species. Unique butterfly species in Kalinzu forest include the Kalinzu Acraea, the Rwenzori Charaxes, and many more. Also, this forest is a location for bird watching safaris and chimpanzee tracking tours in Uganda. It is also a research center for different flora species and plants that are used as herbal medicine.

8. Visit Zika forest in Entebbe for birdwatching safaris.

Zikka is one of the forests in the urban centers in Uganda located near Entebbe International airport. So, Zika has a variety of the butterflies and tourists usually go there for birding expeditions. This forest is also endowed with breathtaking beauty of Mother Nature and has other wild animals, including the vervet monkeys and reptiles like the cobras.

9. Mpanga forest.

This is a protected rainforest under the management of the government of Uganda. Mpanga forest has different endemic spaces, including the butterflies, birds and primates. Also, this is a small forest located in Mpigi district and most of the butterfly safaris here involve butterfly identification.