Johnnie Kamugisha

15 Testimonials Write a testimonial for Johnnie

The first time that we travelled with Johnnie was twelve years ago for just a week. This time around we arranged a three week trip with him last month. Our birdwatching travels have taken us to many countries and with many guides. We have no hesitation in saying that Johnnie is up there with the best of them. His patience and knowledge are second to none. His hearing is extraordinary and his spotting too. The main purpose of our trip was to look for as many of the Albertine Rift Endemics that we could along our chosen route and a very satisfactory 17 were seen. Our ground and sleeping arrangements were most satisfactory in well located and interesting places.   Johnnie and Uganda will see us again, most likely in 2025 when we will travel with him to Kidepo, Semliki, Murchison Falls and all points in between to hopefully close off our country list. We do not hesitate in recommending Johnnie as a guide to all who seek a consummate professional.

We recently returned from a fabulous 16-day birding trip in Uganda with Johnnie. Johnnie came highly recommended, and he did not disappoint! He is an excellent birder with an extraordinary ability to both hear and see birds before anyone else! He was clear in locating and describing to us where to find the birds and we came away with a list of 363 birds, a large number of which were lifers. His patience and commitment to finding and showing us the magnificent birds of Uganda, was greatly appreciated. In doing so he drew on some very capable, young local birders, many of whom are part of Johnnie's programme to increase the quality of bird guides and protect the resources of Uganda through avian tourism. In addition to his birding expertise, Johnnie has a vast knowledge of the animals, butterflies and plants that we came across, and he generously shared his knowledge with us. Furthermore, the logistical details were masterfully organised - we stayed in some very special places, with excellent service provided by people that clearly know and like Johnnie; the chimp and gorilla treks were seamlessly arranged and handled; lunches and other breaks on longer drives were at some great spots; and the other service providers (like the boats to see the Shoebill or to go up the channel) were all at the right place, at the right time! I would have absolutely no reservation in recommending Johnnie in planning your trip and as a guide to Uganda or her neighboring countries. Sally and Graham Bean

We recently returned from an 18 day birding tour of Uganda with Johnnie. In all, this was an excellent tour with 434 species and 246 first sightings for the world list. It was clear throughout the trip that Johnnie has a superb knowledge of Uganda birds, animals and viewing sites. He is friendly and it seemed everybody we came across knew Johnnie. He drove with the Land Cruiser's top up which enhanced our view, and he was patient with photography stops. He has a quick eye, identifying birds that flew in well before I could get eyes on them. We are happy with our tour and highly recommend Johnnie for anybody considering a Uganda tour.

If you would like to visit Uganda with a skilled and knowledgeable local guide, I highly recommend Johnnie Kamugisha who lives in Kampala. I’ve just returned from a month traveling through Uganda with his vehicle and guiding services. We benefited greatly from his keen eyesight and educated ear, and his knowledge of where the birds are found. In addition, he is well known by the local people in all the places we visited, (we traveled 1500 miles), and we were always well received as old friends. Johnnie is good natured and maintains good relationships, speaking the local language wherever we visit. I give him my highest testimony.

Uganda was one of the African countries I really wanted to visit, and I couldn’t have had a better guide than Johnnie Kamugisha to reveal the natural treasures of this wonderful land. Johnnie’s knowledge of the natural and cultural wealth of Uganda is unsurpassed and he shares it with great humour. Also, I found Johnnie to be an excellent companion on our travels with his generosity of spirit. I have no hesitations about recommending Johnnie to anyone.

Let me start by saying that Johnnie is so much more than the best birder in Uganda! Apart from identifying every bird you see (or don’t see) he brings so much additional insights to your trip: nature wise and on the country in general. He builds packages for dedicated birders and for mixed groups, adjusting on the spot ensuring everyone on the trip has the best experience. Everyone seems to know him, and traveling with him opens doors allowing you to experience Uganda in a very unique way!

I am an ornithologist and I have always wanted to see the birdlife of Uganda. In 2021 we did this tour. Our guide was Johnnie. He arranged the trip for us. Due to the Covid restrictions we did this trip alone. As a result, I was able to enjoy Johnnie's super knowledge directly and my species requests could also be taken into account. The tours were also successful for my wife, as many mammals crossed the paths and Johnnie provided a lot of information. We were thrilled with the excellently organized trip. The choice of accommodation and locations were very well chosen. We were very impressed by the incredible knowledge about the bird and animal world and learned a lot. We can only recommend Johnnie and those who have him as a tour guide can count themselves lucky. We wish Johonnie many guests who can experience Uganda as we do. Thank you Johnnie and all the best to you in your future work Michael and Lore

My first visit to Uganda was in October 2018. We were a party of 2 couples from the US, and our primary goal was to see mountain gorillas and chimpanzees in the wild, as well as the Shoebill. My background is in behavioral ecology, with a dissertation on the Panamanian tamarin, but also experience teaching general ecology, animal behavior, and ornithology at the university level. I contacted Johnnie based on the recommendation of a former student and travel blog writer who had visited Uganda at the behest of the Tourism ministry. I did not know that Johnnie was one of the premier bird guides in East Africa, but that fact became obvious within the first few minutes of our 11 day safari. Notwithstanding his being rather laid back he demonstrated a passion for birds, wildlife, and the environment. Always professional, he was a careful and safe driver, with a demonstrated respect for wildlife and the environment. His ability to hear, see and identify birds in the bush is amazing and rarely did we miss seeing the (apparently invisible) target, which he helpfully indicated with a green dot pointer. He was also highly attentive to the needs of his clients, and gently and carefully assisted my balance-impaired husband when he entered and exited the vehicle, and while navigating ramps and stairways on the lodge premises. During downtimes between meals and game drives, when the rest of our group napped, we birded on the lodge property, and I was able to catch several elusive close ups of lifers. I was able to put together a combined Kenya-Uganda 18 day safari the following February with Johnnie as the Uganda guide, and was able to enjoy the magic once again!

A birding trip to Uganda was a longed for dream. I was put in touch with Johnnie Kamugisha by an ornithologist friend. Meticulous planning, excellent practical advice on preparation for our 2-week trip and clear information on where we would be staying and where we would be traveling gave us an excellent background. The birding itself was spectacular and Johnnie made sure we saw all the specials of the ‘pearl of Africa’. He allowed for the photographers in our group to have opportunities to capture the shots they wanted. Add in chimpanzee and gorilla tracking, wonderful sightings of Uganda’s abundant game and it really was the trip of a life time. Saying goodbye to Johnnie at the end of 2 weeks felt like parting from a special friend.

We lucked out on our birding trip to Uganda. We had no idea that our guide would be one of the very top ornithologists in the country. Whenever we encounterd others, the guides would know and look up to Johnnie. He led four of us on a wonderful trip through central and western Uganda. While focusing on birds, from the elusive African Grey to the equally elusive Shoebill, he was also an encyclopedia for the full range of mammal inhabitants we saw as well. He just knew where to look. Of the ~1,000 bird species in the country, Johnnie knows almost all of them, can recognize most of their sounds, and can replicate more than half of them! On countless occasions we'd be riding along amid a cacophony of nature, when he'd pull over, point saying "there!", and there'd be a little dot in a distant tree, a bird we wanted to see. It would be too far out to identify by sight, but he'd identify it, call to it and get a conversation going while we trained our binoculars. His eyes and ears are superhuman, but his heart is as big as all outdoors. We have become lasting friends. Touring with Johnnie is a special experience, not a routine. Ten days of best days ever!

My trip with Johnnie was exceptional. Johnnie is a very knowledgeable birder and I would not hesitate to recommend him to lead your bird trip or any other guided nature trip. He took care of every detail and even introduced me to his family. If I return to Uganda someday (and I hope I do) I will hire Johnnie to guide my trip. He made my trip a truly memorable experience.

I first travelled to Uganda, with Johnnie in 2016, I will next travel with him In July 2023. My first trip was planned with meticulous detail and professionalism. We were a group of 4 couples, all known to each other. We all received a folder giving useful details of of the itinerary and which species of birds and animals we could see each day. Every day the drivers would greet us with immaculate clean vehicles, all lodges were clean and comfortable. Sometimes luxurious, only one city hotel. As a guide Johnnie is quiet in the field. He has very sensitive hearing and can recognise bird calls at some distance and even from the vehicle. He knows about the local nature. Giving advice on what to wear the next day ( a particular area had some vicious wasps that were attracted to insect repellant - Johnnies advice not to shower or apply any artificial scent paid off - only one wasp sting in our whole group. Johnnie is very happy to adapt the trip, changing things to accommodate seeing a particular bird or animal My main focus is birds, I alway knew I would have to return to Uganda to complete my target list. I have waited 8 years to do the return trip because Johnnie was my only chosen option as a guide. For fieldcraft and attention to detail, Johnnie should be your only choice in Uganda. I will update on Rwanda when I return from my July trip

Have been twice in Uganda with ''Shades of Grey Parrots'' and Johnnie Kamugisha as our Tour Guide 2019 + 2022 - had planned a 3rd time (02/2023) but due to health issues was not able. Johnnie always takes care, that every guest has a great experience & feels very well at every time. He knows birds from their flight and from their sound and is able to spot an elefant long before someone else does. You can ask him anything about country, culture, people and else - so on our 1st trip we named him Johnniepedia. Before my 1st trip I was not sure how the trip will be for me. My greatest concerns were about my walking handicap and also about my special diet (keto - no carbs, no sugar) - all my concerns were unnecessary, the trip was fantastic and Johnnie always cared that my meals were according my diet. Additionally I always felt very safe, no matter where we have been. I was fascinated by how all the guides cooperate to spot lions, cheetas or giraffes in the several parks and especially Johnnie always showed very much respect to the guests and also to his colleagues. As I would go to another trip with Johnnie at anytime, I can absolutely recommend Johnnie as a fantastic Guide to all my friends and other guests. ..... @Johnnie: will come back, asap!

My wife Kristin and I spent nearly two years planning our trip to Uganda with Johnnie. He paid attention to every detail and tailored the trip exactly the way we wanted it. Johnnie met us at the airport at 11:00 the night we arrived, and everything went smoothly on our trip. He is an amazing birder, ecologist, and wildlife advocate. We documented 350 species of birds in 10 days, as well as gorilla and chimpanzee trekking and general wildlife viewing! There were a few bumps along the way, but Johnnie met all of them with positivity and they did not detract from our experience. For me, the most important quality in a guide is that they actually listen to their guests and adapt accordingly. Johnnie understood that we wanted a mix of birds, animals, and culture, and he ensured that our trip had a great mix of all three. He pays attention to everything happening around him and, simply put, is a fantastic guide. I highly recommend him, and I look forward to planning our next trip with him!

I'd heard about Johnnie before meeting him and I wanted to visit Uganda on a trip organized by him, as he has a reputation as a top ornithologist. I remember one of his presentations that made me wish to meet him in person. The trip was extraordinary. I managed to see the species I wanted and one that I didn't really hope for. Our next trip to Uganda will be organized by Johnnie as well. He chose the best lodges to stay in, the best spots for birdwatching, and I want this again. My wife is also keen to travel with Johnnie, after our first trip with him. I can't recommend him enough!