Herbert Byaruhanga is the Managing Director of Bird Uganda Safaris, LTD and one of most distinguished Bird Guides in East Africa. His company offers a variety of birding and wildlife tours of the most naturally resplendent regions of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, among others.
He is affectionately known as “Papa,” because of the great role he has played mentoring young people especially students with focus on women and youth.
With over 25 years of field guiding, he has dedicated himself to building professionalism in the tourism business of his home country Uganda.
He is the leading trainer for tourist guides, especially Bird Guides in East Africa. He is an Accredited Bird Guide Trainer by BirdLife International. He has also trained hundreds of tour managers tour directors, and Government officials around the region.
Herbert has continuously and purposefully shown his support for Women in the tourism business. He started the Women Birders Club in 2013 and is the force behind the International Conference for Women birders scheduled to take place in December 2023 in Uganda. Being the first born in the family of 8 siblings, Herbert believes that when you educate and train a girls child, you will have educated the nation.
His commitment to tourism development in the region has earned him a second chance to lead the apex body of the private sector tourism and hospitality associations in Uganda. He is at the same time the Chairman of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector Skills Council. He also serves as the secretary to the Board of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators.
Herbert is the Founder of the Uganda Safari Guides Association, Uganda Bird Guides Club, Uganda Cultural Guides Club, and leads the organizing committee of the East African Tourist Guides Associations. He is actively involved in developing Uganda’s youth through its Young Birder association. He is also the leading trainer of Rangers and Nature guides in the National Parks of Uganda.
Herbert holds a B. A in Tourism Management from Makerere University, Kampala. He holds a high diploma in Tourism and certificates in Tourist Guiding and Advanced Motoring.
He travels broadly as a guest speaker on the topics of Birding in Uganda, Avitourism Development in Uganda, Conservation & Birding in Uganda, and Bird Guide Training. He is often spotted at global travel shows such as the UK Bird Fair, World Travel Market, Space Coast Birding & Wildlife Festival (SCBWF), Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival, UP Bird Festival India, and Colombia, Ecuador, Galapagos, Alaska, and many others.
Herbert has traveled extensively throughout the United States and has gathered over 400 species on his American Birding Association area list. He believes that every person has a unique ability to shape their own destiny through their own actions as well as their relationships with others; this belief drives him every day to help others achieve their goals while supporting them along their journey!
