Why Choose Bird Uganda Safaris
Our Commitment to the Community
Bird Uganda is dedicated to community empowerment through initiatives supporting youth and women birders.
Mark Bankunda
Nature Guide, Trainer and Tourist Guide Assessor
10+ years
Years of Field Experience
Bird Uganda
Bird Uganda Safaris
Mark Bankunda is one of the leading nature guides in Uganda and Rwanda, with extensive knowledge of birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. He combines wildlife identification with engaging interpretation, helping visitors understand the region’s diverse habitats, animal behaviour and conservation needs.
Raised in a family of tourist guides, Mark developed a strong connection with nature from an early age. As a pioneer member of the Uganda Young Birders Club, he nurtured an interest in birdwatching and conservation that later shaped his professional career. After pursuing higher education in commerce, he followed his passion for nature and embarked on a career in tourist guiding.
Mark developed his expertise through practical training and field experience with the Africa Institute of Tourism and Field Guiding, Uganda Safari Guides Association, Uganda Bird Guides Club, Bird Uganda Safaris and Avian Safaris. His mentors include Herbert Byaruhanga and Crammy Wanyama.
Beyond leading tours, Mark is a respected trainer and modular tourist guide assessor. At the Africa Institute of Tourism and Field Guiding, he contributes to practical, competence-based training for aspiring and practising guides. His teaching covers mammal identification, animal behaviour, wildlife interpretation, and Uganda’s history and geography, helping trainees connect field knowledge with professional visitor experiences.
Mark has also contributed to wildlife research, including the collection of bird vocalisations in Uganda. Through his work in guiding, training, assessment and research, he supports conservation and the development of knowledgeable, skilled and professional tourist guides.
Safaris led by our guides
Uganda is one of Africa’s top birding destinations, and exploring it with the right guide can completely change your safari experience. Safaris led by Herbert Byaruhanga offer something rare—deep knowledge, real passion, and a lifetime of experience in Uganda’s natural environment.
Known as one of Uganda’s leading conservationists and birding experts, Herbert Byaruhanga has dedicated his life to wildlife protection, bird education, and guiding visitors through the country’s most important ecosystems. A safari with Herbert Byaruhanga is not just a trip—it is a learning journey.
FAM Trips for International Tour Leaders — Since 2018
Since 2018, Herbert has organised exclusive Familiarization (FAM) Trips for international birding tour leaders — high-level expeditions that introduce the world's foremost guiding professionals to Uganda's finest birding destinations.
These trips have played a pivotal role in establishing Uganda as a premier global birding destination.
Conservation, Community, and a Lasting Legacy
Herbert Byaruhanga is not simply a tour operator. He is one of Uganda's most consequential voices for conservation through birding tourism — a builder of organisations that place local communities, women, and young people at the centre of Uganda's nature tourism future.
Uganda Women Birders Club
Recognising that women were largely absent from professional field guiding in Uganda, Herbert championed the formation of the Uganda Women Birders Club. Today, female guides trained through this initiative are leading international expeditions independently — a transformation that resonates powerfully with clients from Scandinavia, the Netherlands, Australia, and the UK.
International Conference for Women Birders
As a founding partner of the International Conference for Women Birders, Herbert helped create a global platform connecting female birding professionals and advocating for gender parity in birding tourism worldwide. For donors and impact investors, this represents a genuinely pioneering initiative with measurable international reach.
Africa Institute of Tourism & Field Guiding
Herbert co-founded the Africa Institute of Tourism & Field Guiding to professionalise nature guide training across the continent, creating formal qualification pathways for young Ugandans who would otherwise lack access to the profession.
Uganda Safari Guides Association & Karamoja Tourist Guides
As co-founder of the Uganda Safari Guides Association, Herbert has raised professional standards for guides nationwide. In Uganda's remote northeast, the Karamoja Tourist Guides initiative brings birding tourism and economic opportunity to communities adjacent to Kidepo Valley National Park — one of Africa's last true wilderness parks.
Our Birding Experts are here for you
At Bird Uganda Safaris, birding is more than our profession—it's our passion and way of life. Our experienced local birding guides spend countless hours exploring Uganda's forests, wetlands, savannahs, and mountains, giving you unmatched knowledge of the country's incredible birdlife.
From the rare Shoebill and Green-breasted Pitta to the many Albertine Rift endemics and Coastal Sokoke Scopes Owl, our team knows where to find East Africa's most sought-after species and the best times to see them.
Our deep local expertise, strong conservation partnerships, and personalized service ensure every birding safari is authentic, rewarding, and unforgettable. With Bird Uganda Safaris, you're not just visiting Uganda—you're exploring it alongside experts who call it home.
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