Scroll down to read all about the half-day Sunbird Hill Experience!
Sunbird Hill Research and Monitoring Site in western Uganda is a haven for nature enthusiasts that have ticked off the Big Five and are ready to search for the smaller – yet equally impressive – creatures of Uganda.
Sunbird Hill is ideally situated for anyone planning to track the chimpanzees or the Green-breasted Pitta in Kibale Forest or for general birdwatching around Kibale Forest. It’s also a wonderful location to relax and enjoy the pure forest air and the natural sounds emanating from the forest. I’ve been visiting this fabulous part of Uganda regularly since 2009. One definite plus about visiting Sunbird Hill is having the chance to meet Julia Lloyd, the resident primatologist. If you love chimpanzees, you’ll be amazed at her stories of her many years living and working deep in Kibale Forest.
National and international experts who visit Sunbird Hill on a regular basis include ornithologists, lepidopterists, herpetologists, botanists, entomologists and primatologists. Bird ringing (or banding) occurs periodically throughout the year. Bird ringing in Kibale Forest is one of my all-time favourite blogs. Contact me if you’d like to learn more about the next ringing trips.
What is Sunbird Hill?
Sunbird Hill is situated on 40 acres of private land bordering Kibale Forest. It is just off the Fort Portal – Kamwenge Road, 3 km from Kanyanchu Tourist Centre (base for chimpanzee tracking in Kibale National Park) and 3.5 km from KAFRED at Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary.
Julia writes:
We are a British-Ugandan family passionate about wildlife and conservation. Our compound is a traditional open plan dwelling, with grass thatched houses, a treehouse, large elevated research office and a kitchen garden. Guests are welcome to stay in Butterfly Cottage, a brick and wood cottage that stands in its own compound next door to our family compound. For the more adventurous, we have a trio of elevated thatched cottages – with views of Kibale Forest – to house visiting biology experts. These are open to the occasional tourist too.
Sunbird Hill is regenerating farmland. This, and its location on the edge of the forest, means the land has numerous microhabitats that give it a high species richness: plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles and mammals and our main passion: birds. Species lists are constantly being updated, and so far we have recorded 14 of the 38 sunbird species listed for Uganda. The recent visit from ornithologist Roger Skeen has pushed our bird species list above the 240 mark. He was very excited to spot a Lemon Dove. We know there are many more birds yet to be identified at Sunbird Hill (and we challenge all visitors to add to our bird list!) We know that NatureUganda members will definitely add many more ticks to our list. We are proud winners of the 24 hour Big Birding Day four years in a row (category: Outside Protected Areas / Private Site).
Calls from wild chimpanzees are regularly heard, especially at night and early in the morning when chimps call out to each other from their night nests (making ‘contact calls’ as they are known in the primatological world). These primates are often seen when the fig tree at the end of our garden is laden with fruit; half of the tree’s canopy is in Kibale Forest National Park. Often elephants can be heard breaking trees during their nightly forages whilst the distinct calls of the resident Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl and Black-shouldered Nightjar reveal their identity.
Activities at Sunbird Hill
The Sunbird Hill Experience: explore our nature trails on the edge of Kibale Forest
The Birders’ Lounge
The Birders’ Lounge is a large thatched bird-themed shelter that houses our growing reference library and covers topics including: ornithology, mammalogy, primatology, entomology, herpetology, and botany, as well as ecology, conservation and African travel. Comfortable chairs, desks and work benches are surrounded by Ugandan natural history paraphernalia. The garden around the Birders’ Lounge is full of native and naturalised flowering plants carefully selected to nurture a diversity of birds and butterflies – perfect for the armchair nature enthusiast (and those of you with heavy photographic equipment!) Our bird baths, bird hide, butterfly mud puddle and pond just keep pushing our species lists up!
Paths wind through the 40 acres of land that borders Kibale Forest taking you through forest edge, woodland, bushland, grassland, farmland, wetland, and riverine habitats. (Pre-booked) visitors are invited to follow the nature trails with one of our experienced site guides.
Sunbird Hill was set up to support the local NGO In the Shadow of Chimpanzees. Our concept is that national and international experts train our Sunbird Hill team who in turn train the youth of Kyabakwerere Village in a diversity of wildlife identification and information whilst inspiring conservation. In the Shadow of Chimpanzees is setting up village tourism on a section of the Sunbird Hill land that is dedicated to community use. A butterfly house and gardens, medicinal plant garden, bee hives, and elephant trench have been initiated. And our football pitch is almost ready – you are welcome to join the team for a friendly kick around.
“Silver’s Story: A Walk with an Ex-Poacher” is one of our most popular activities. Silver has gained national recognition for his ex-poacher story. He laid down his weapons to join the Uganda Wildlife Authority as a ranger. Now retired, visitors can spend time with Silver and hear snippets about his expert animal tracking techniques and his main passion: butterflies.
On the Sunbird Hill Experience, one of the trained site guides will point out and provide insightful information on birds, butterflies, moths and plants as well as the occasional primate, reptile and amphibian sighting. What cannot be identified during the walk is photographed and identified at Sunbird Hill’s extensive reference library back at the Birders’ Lounge.
Guests who are staying overnight at Sunbird Hill are welcome to join the Sunbird Hill Bird Club that meets 7.30 a.m. every Wednesday at the Birders’ Lounge. Bird Club includes a morning nature walk before heading back for refreshments, consultation with the reference books and documentation of our findings. As the birds quieten down, the Bird Club morphs into Butterfly Club, an interest that is growing rapidly among local guides.
Recommended activities within a few minutes of Sunbird Hill
We live in a truly Ugandan village environment so if you would like to see more of the rural village of Kyabakwerere, a member of our staff will be happy to escort you.
Chimpanzee Tracking (Kanyanchu Tourist Centre, Kibale National Park), Bigodi Swamp Walk (Bigodi) and Tooro Cultural Centre (Bigodi) are less than 10 minutes drive from Sunbird Hill.
Accommodation at Sunbird Hill
Butterfly Cottage has breath-taking views over the forest, with the chimps’ favourite – the statuesque fig trees – clearly in view from the large veranda. A spotting scope is available for viewing the birds, monkeys and chimpanzees (although note that seeing chimps from Sunbird Hill can’t be guaranteed). The cottage has a comfortable double bed (twin beds are also available) with mosquito net, en-suite bathroom with warm shower and flush toilet, fridge, reliable lighting and charging facilities. It has a mezzanine floor where two single mattresses can be added.
Eat in or out at Sunbird Hill
Butterfly Cottage, the three elevated cottages and the Treehouse are available on a ‘bed only’ basis. There is a well-equipped Camp Kitchen available for your use. Alternatively, you can order simple meals at 20,000 ugx per meal, when booked in advance at Sunbird Hill.
We also suggest eating (or getting delivery) from The Bee Hive Bar & Bistro opposite Bigodi Swamp just 3.5 km drive from Sunbird Hill. The Bee Hive has great views over Kibale Forest and has a reasonably priced local and international-style menu and bar (cold beers guaranteed!) The Bee Hive also has satellite TV (and back-up generator) and a pool table. Read more about Diary of a Muzungu’s visits to The Bee Hive here. It’s a great little place!
How much does it cost to visit Sunbird Hill?
The elevated cottages are $100 per night, based on two adults sharing. Add $20 per extra person (each elevated cottage has one double and two single beds). (The construction of the cottage makes it unsuitable for little children).
The Treehouse – everyone’s childhood dream! – is cosy and self-contained with one double bed and is $100 per night based on 2 people sharing.
The above rates include accommodation, access to the Birders’ Lounge for armchair birding, use of the reference library and bird hide and a walk with our Site Guides. If you stay Tuesday night, participation in Wednesday Morning Bird Club is free of charge.
| Wednesday Morning Bird Club | Starts 7.30 am and lasts 3 – 5 hours |
| Overnight guests | FREE |
| The Sunbird Hill Experience accompanied by our site guides | Start time is to suit you |
| Tourist price | $30 |
| Professional bird guides | FREE ENTRY when accompanying paying clients |
The Sunbird Hill Experience bird / nature walk fees include tea and coffee and nibbles at the Birders’ Lounge. Cold beers, sodas, local gin tots and snacks are available at extra cost.
Please note: access to the nature trails is strictly only available to people who are accompanied by our site guides and who have booked and paid in advance. Be aware that you are not allowed to enter the National Park from Sunbird Hill.
Discounts are available to members of NatureUganda, NatureKenya, East African Natural History Society, Explorers’ Club, Lepidoptera Club of Africa & African Bird Club. (Proof of membership required). “We want you naturalists here!” Says Julia.
Directions. How to get to Sunbird Hill
Sunbird Hill is 3 km from Kanyanchu Tourist Centre, Kibale National Park and is 3.5 km from The Bee Hive Bar & Bistro in Bigodi off the Fort Portal-Kamwenge Road.
Keep up to date with Sunbird Hill via their Facebook page or WhatsApp +256 (0)701 577784 to make an enquiry. Booking in advance is essential.
Diary of a Muzungu adds:
Sunbird Hill is a favourite destination of mine. If you love nature and are looking for an authentic experience, in a relaxed homestay environment, this is it. Sunbird Hill isn’t run as a lodge so isn’t for your mainstream tourist. Early mornings are filled with splendid forest birdsong. At night you often hear the PANT HOOTS of chimps from the forest. It’s magical! (And if you’re serious about birding then you can’t miss a trip to this lovely corner of western Uganda).
What a year of activity at Sunbird Hill!
In April, I made the ‘temporary move’ upcountry. Eight months later, I seem to have bedded in rather nicely!
What a fascinating time to be here. Every few days we hear a new bird, spot a new type of (as yet unidentified) caterpillar, plants suddenly blossom. A Verreau’s Eagle Owl chick adopts us… an endangered animal enters the compound… we hear elephants between our home and the forest.
Innocent and Emmanuel dug a pond. Within a week it had filled up with rainwater; another week later it was full of frogspawn and toad spawn! From who knows where, we quickly had frogs, toads – and water scorpions! I never knew such things existed.
I thought I’d miss Kampala – I’ve hardly had a moment to!
It’s been such a busy year at Sunbird Hill, we’ve hardly had a moment to update you!
Latest exciting news is that larger and larger numbers of African Gray Parrots are flying overhead! Some mornings we have seen two or three birds. Over the past weeks, we have seen dozens – one day our site guide Nick saw 69 (no jokes please…)
In other news, 13 Great Blue Turacos devoured all the water lillies on the pond. Ooo what a palaver!
Last week the Sunbird Hill team birded non-stop for 24 hours as part of Big Birding Day and guess what? …. the team even saw a Green-breasted Pitta! What an outstanding entry to the day’s recordings.
Do come visit us soon!