Our 14 days Uganda birding safari is a 13 nights/14 days Uganda birding tour combined with the unforgettable Mountain Gorilla trekking in Uganda in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This is a perfectly structured safari offering a great opportunity to see several of Uganda’s 1,073 bird species (about 11% of the world’s total bird species), other wonderful fauna and flora, experience the stunning scenery and enjoy the warm and friendly attitude of people of this beautiful East African country.
On this 14-day birding safari in Uganda tour, we’ll visit many of Uganda’s prime birding sites including the forest tract of Semuliki National Park which is an extension of West African jungle that stretches all the way from Equatorial Guinea through Congo, forming a habitat for some 46 special Guinea-Congo biome bird species that do not exist in other areas of East Africa.
We continue to Kibale National Park the famous 375 bird species including the rare, elusive, and beautiful Great Breast Pitta. Kibale also contains one which has one of the highest densities and diversity of primates in all of Africa including over 1,500 chimpanzees
The gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi that we offer on this 14 days Uganda birding safari tour is a truly bucket-list, “once in a lifetime” opportunity not to be missed. Bwindi is a UNESCO Natural World Heritage where half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas live. It is also where you will see several of the most unique birds of Uganda on this African safari trip.
The park host over 350 Uganda bird species of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine Rift Ecosystem including the near-mythical African Green Broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori turaco, Blue-headed Sunbird, and Regal Sunbird.
From Bwindi, we proceed to Lake Mburo National Park, a beautiful savannah park that hosts more than 350 bird species including the Red-faced Barbet, only seen here, and the endemic African Finfoot.
This amazing 14 days Uganda birding safari tour will end with a canoe ride in Mabamba Swamp on the edge of Lake Victoria (Africa’s largest freshwater lake) in search of the Shoebills, the most eagerly sought of all African birds.
Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding in Uganda’s finest birding sites, which offer up to 1073 species
Search for the Shoebills on a Canoe ride in Mabamba Swamp on Lake Victoria shore
Search for the rare Green-Breasted Pitta in Kibale National Park
Discover Bwindi’s fantastic montane forest birds; the 23 of Albertine Rift endemics
Game viewing during the bird watching adventure in Lake National Mburo Park
Walking amongst the wild mammals of Lake Mburo N.P
Photo shoots and water experience at Uganda Equator
Day 1: Entebbe
Day 2, 3 & 4: Semuliki National Park
Day 5 & 6: Kibale National Park
Day 7, 8, 9 & 10: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 11 & 12: Lake Mburo National Park
Day 13: Mabamba Swamp
Day 14: Departure
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport & transfer to the Hotel
Day 2: Transfer from Kampala to Semuliki National Park
Day 3: Whole day birding in Semuliki National Park
Day 4: Whole day birding Semuliki National Park
Day 5: Travel to Kibale National Park & do birding in the Sebitoli sector
Day 6: Whole day birding in Kibale Forest
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park − Buhoma Sector
Day 8: Whole day birding –Bwindi
Day 9: Gorilla Tracking Bwindi – Buhoma
Day 10: Birding on the Neck continuing to Ruhija.
Day 11: Drive from Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 12: Morning birding in Lake Mburo Park & transfer to Kampala.
Day 13: Transfer from Kampala to Mabamba for a whole day birding encounter.
Day 14: Departure
Upon arrival at Entebbe Airport, you’ll be met by our company representative who will warmly welcome to the ‘Pearl of Africa’ and transfer you to your Hotel in Kampala. Entebbe town is situated on the shore of Lake Victoria (the world’s largest tropical freshwater lake) about 40km away from Kampala City.
The town is incredibly “birdy” and if time allows, we’ll make an afternoon visit to the beautifully landscaped Entebbe Botanical Gardens right on Lake Victoria shore. Along with a bounty of more common species, our first birds here could include Orange Weaver, Palm-nut vulture, African fish eagle, Gray Parrot, Ross’s Turaco and Great blue turaco, a perfect introduction to the trip with easy birding in an open environment.
The Highlight of the day: – Viewing the serene waters of the world’s largest tropical fresh water lake as you touch down Entebbe International Airport.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Speke Resort Munyonyo/Kampala Serena Hotel /Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Midrange/Standard: – Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Biyem Hotel/Nexus Resorts Nansana
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 40km or 1-1½ hours
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day:-
We have breakfast at around 6.00 am and embark on a drive west to Semuliki National park taking the road through Fort Portal-Bundibugyo to reach the park. This route has beautiful mountains of the moon sceneries plus plantations. We will pass through rural Uganda where you get a real sense of what life is like here. After arrival, we’ll have some rest and then embark on a late afternoon birding expedition at the entrance of the park. Retire back to the place of stay in Fort Portal for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
The forest track of Semuliki National Park contains over 441 bird species and it is an extension of West African jungle that stretches all the way from Equatorial Guinea through Congo, forming a special habitat for some special Guinea-Congo biome species that do not exist in other areas of East Africa including: – Nkulengu rail, Congo serpent eagle, Maxwell’s black weaver, Blue-bellied malimbe, Gabon woodpecker, Spotted-breasted ibis, Chestnut-flanked goshawk, Long-tailed hawk, Black-wattled hornbill, White-crested hornbill, Black dwarf hornbill, Red-bill hornbill, Red-rumped tinkerbird, Spotted honeyguide, Lyre-tailed honeyguide, Zenker’s honeyguide, African piculet, Palm swamp greenbul, Simple greenbul, Eastern bearded greenbul, Sassi’s olive greenbul, Yellow-throated nictor, Lowland akalat, Grey ground thrush, Fiery breasted bush shrike and Red-eyed Puffback.
This 220km2 park is also famous for its primordial hot springs, and you will feel a change in the air as we walk along the trail network looking for birds today. It is the closest you can get to central Africa’s steaming jungles from anywhere in east Africa.
In terms of mammals, Semuliki boasts over 53 species also including some special species such as:- Angola Colobus, Mona monkey, Ugandan Grey-cheeked Mangabey, African Civet, Water Chevrotain, Pygmy Scaly-tailed Flying Squirrel, Bay Duiker, Little Collared Fruit Bat, Target Rat and many others. There are also more than 450 species of butterflies to feast our eyes on.
The Highlight of the day: – The afternoon birding encounter in Semuliki National Park
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Semuliki Safari Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Nyati Game Lodge
Basic/Budget: – UWA Bandas Ntoroko/UWA Bandas Bumaga
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 428 km or 7-8 hours
Activities & Services:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We will start this day with an early morning breakfast (at around 7.30 am), pack our lunch and embark on a full day birding adventure exploring the magical Kirumia trail. This 13km trail passes through north from Kirumia on the main Bundibugyo road to the banks of Semuliki River, crossing Kirumia River twice, as well as passing a succession of forest-fringed ox-bow lakes.
The first 4km, as far as the first crossing of the Kirumia River passes through the secondary and riparian forest where African Piculet, Long-Tailed Hawk, Red-Sided Broad Bill, Black-Faced Rufous Warbler, Lemon Billed Crombec and several other bird species reside here.
Among the 20-30 bird species associated with ox-bow lakes and their environs, but unlikely to be seen elsewhere in Uganda can be seen here including Nkulengu Rail, Spot-Breasted Ibis, Black-Throated Coucal, Yellow-Throated Cuckoo, Lyre Tailed Honeyguide, Grey Ground Thrush, Blue-Billed Malimbe, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Grant’s Bluebill, Hartlaub’s Duck and White-Throated Blue Swallow.
Hartlaub’s Duck and White-Throated Blue Swallow are resident on Semuliki River. This trail is an 8 hours round trip from the park headquarters at Ntandi and starts at 8:00 am.
The Highlight of the day: – Birding along the magical Kirumia trail in search of the special bird species of Semuliki Park.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Semuliki Safari Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Nyati Game Lodge
Basic/Budget: – UWA Bandas Ntoroko/UWA Bandas Bumaga
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
Just after breakfast again (at around 8.00 am) with packed lunch, we will embark on another full day birding experience on either the main road Sempaya trail or the Kirumia trail, depending on the previous day’s results.
The 8km long Sempaya trail starts from Sempaya information Centre and takes us to a cluster of hot springs at Sempaya. Ringed by forests and palm trees and veiled in a cloud of steam, these springs are a primaeval, evocative site. The hour-long trail to the outer, “male” spring leads through a patch of forest where red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys and black-and-white colobus monkeys are common. A treehouse en-route provides an aerial view.
A 30-minute hike through palm forest from the main road leads to the inner, “female” spring, dominated by a boiling geyser. Take care: the emerging water has a temperature of more than 100°C and the surrounding pool is hot! Eggs and matooke (green plantain) can be cooked in these boiling waters and enjoyed by hungry hikers!
Among the more interesting birds regularly seen on this trail are the Piping Hornbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, black dwarf hornbill, White-crested hornbill, Black-casqued wattled hornbill, Blue-breasted kingfisher, Red-rumped tinkerbird, Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Frasier’s an-thrush and Honeyguide greenbul.
The Highlight of the day: – Encountering several of the Guinea-Congo biome species in Semuliki on a full day birding adventure.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Semuliki Safari Lodge
Moderate/Mid-range:- Nyati Game Lodge
Basic/Budget: – UWA Bandas Ntoroko/UWA Bandas Bumaga
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & Services:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After taking a cup of tea at around 7.30 am, we drive to Kibale National Park. As we reach in the afternoon, we have lunch and embark on our birding fascination in the Sebitoli Sector. We look out for specials such as Toro olive and Cameroon Sombre green bulls, African black duck, Brown-capped Weaver, Brown and scaly breasted illadopsis, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Pink-footed Puff Back, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Green-throated Sunbird, Green-breasted Pitta, African pita, Great blue turaco, and Black-headed Sunbird just to mention but a few.
We will also see a variety of monkeys including Uganda red colobus, Black-and-white colobus, Uganda mangabey, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys and Vervet monkeys. Chimpanzees are also frequently heard in Sebitoli, but rarely seen and elephants are often found along the Mpanga River.
The Highlight of the day: – Birding in Sebitoli Sector of Kibale National Park
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale
Midrange/Standard: – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp/Turaco Tree Tops
Budget/Basic: – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: – 78km or 1 ½ -2 hours
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We have our breakfast at 6.00 am and then transfer to the Kanyanchu area for a wonderful birding experience. Our main avian target is the rare Green-breasted Pitta, one of Africa’s ultimate avian prizes. As the pittas tend to display most reliably at sunrise, we’ll be out well before first light to position ourselves in a known and active territory.
As we search for these gorgeous birds, we’ll encounter a variety of other birds including African pitta, African grey parrots, Afep pigeon, Great blue turaco, Abyssinian ground thrush, Black bee-eater, Black-capped Apalis, Black-eared ground thrush, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-headed bee-eater, Crowned eagle, Dusky Crimsonwing, Little greenbul, Masked Apalis, Purple-breasted sunbird, Red-faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori Apalis, Scaly-breasted illadopsis, Western nicator, White-naped pigeon and Yellow-rumped tinkerbird. You will also see several primates including Uganda red colobus, L ’Hoest’s monkey, Black-and-white colobus, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys and Olive baboons.
After our birding encounter in Kibale, we’ll have a picnic lunch in the forest and in the afternoon we go bird in the nearby community-run Bigodi Wetland where you will see wildlife at close-hand, including several of the 200 species of birds, eight varieties of primates and numerous butterflies, along with unusual swamp vegetation. Income from this activity is invested in education, health, sanitation and improving the livelihood of local residents of Bigodi Village.
We settle for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
The Highlight of the day: – Encountering Kibale’s special forest bird species such As Green-Breasted Pitta.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Crater Safari Lodge/Kyaninga Lodge/Primate Lodge Kibale
Midrange/Standard: – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp/Turaco Tree Tops
Budget/Basic: – Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse/Kibale Forest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We’ll have our breakfast at around 7.00 am and embark on a transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. We’ll encounter a variety of birds en route and scenic views of Rwenzori Mountains, Africa’s highest Moutain range rising to 5,109 meters with snowcapped peaks.
You will pass through Queen Elizabeth National Park and we’ll explore its scenic savannah landscapes which hosts over 600 bird species and 95 mammal species including Tree-climbing lions, Leopards, Spotted hyenas, African elephants, Cape buffalos, Hippos, Defassa waterbucks, Uganda kobs, Topis, Chimpanzees, Bushbucks and Giant forest hogs. We’ll arrive in Bwindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
The wonderful 321km2 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park was gazetted in 1991 and designated a Natural World Heritage Site UNESCO in 1994. It is a true African jungle, hosting nearly half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas, along with 120 other mammal species, 200 butterfly species and 27 species of frogs.
Bwindi is home to over 351 bird species including 23 special species which are endemic Albertine Rift Ecosystem. These include:- African green broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori nightjar, Dwarf honeyguide, Kivu ground thrush, Red-throated alethe, Archer’s robin-chat, Rwenzori Apalis, Mountain masked Apalis, Grauer’s swamp warbler, Grauer’s warbler, Neumann’s warbler, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, Stripe-breasted tit, Blue-headed sunbird, Regal sunbird, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Purple breasted sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing and Shelly’s Crimsonwing.
The Highlight of the day: – The very scenic drive from Kibale National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
Midrange/Standard: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Silverback Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 260 km or 6-7 hours
Activities & services of the day:-
We have our breakfast at around 7.00 am and embark on a search for the avian wonders of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the Buhoma sector, following the waterfall trail. Special Uganda bird species to look for include: – Bar-tailed Trogon, Black bee-eater, Handsome francolin, Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Dusky tit, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Kivu ground thrush, Banded Prinia, Grauer’s swamp Warbler, White-bellied Robin-chat, Equatorial akalat, Grey-chested iladopsis, Red-throated alethe;
White-bellied crested flycatcher, White-eyed slaty flycatcher, the enigmatic Chapin’s flycatcher, White-browed crombec, Neumann’s warbler, Black-faced Prinia, Jameson’s antpecker, Black-faced rufous warbler, Willcock’s honeyguide, black-billed weaver, magpie mannikin and newly described Willard’s sooty boubou.
Key your eyes at the snags and canopy contours for Sooty flycatcher and forest starlings – including Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s and narrow-tailed. Other wildlife that we may be fortunate enough to find includes Black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s, blue and red-tailed monkeys. We will either have a packed lunch somewhere in the forest today or return to the lodge for lunch and a siesta before birding in the afternoon again. We’ll retire from the activity for relaxation dinner and overnight.
The Highlight of the day: – Full day bird watching nature walks Buhoma Sector.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
Midrange/Standard: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Silverback Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
You will probably remember today for the rest of your life as we spend a full hour in the company of a family of Mountain gorillas! These enormous apes almost 3 times as bulky as average men, with luxuriant shaggy coat hair, are remarkably peaceful creatures despite their fearsome appearance.
More impressive even than their size is their unfathomable attitude to people, which greatly differ from that of any other wild animal. And, a big part of what makes the gorilla trek so special is that these big apes are so closely related to humans (the difference in DNA is only about 1.6%)
The trek to see the Mountain Gorillas starts with a short briefing at 8.00 am from an expert local ranger guide. After a safety briefing, you’re divided into a group of 6, assigned the gorilla family and begin the trek. Owing to the nature of the terrain and the need to explore to find the gorillas, our trek doesn’t follow a path and instead, our guides will cut a route through the undergrowth.
The trek is relatively tiresome as it takes 2-8 hours hiking on irregular terrain in order to find the gorillas; steep ascents and descents over muddy slopes are the norm. Strong footwear is essential and we recommend hiring a local porter to help you carry your bag/camera equipment and provide a steady, supportive hand.
After encountering the gorillas (chances are 99%) you will be allowed one hour with them. You will enjoy this memorable experience as you stand just a few meters from these gentle giants of the forest watching them feed, play and even watching them bond with their young ones. You will be amazed at how these creatures have so much resemblance to human beings. After this activity, you will relax at your lodge and if not exhausted, you will take an evening walk around the community for souvenirs after which you will enjoy your dinner and overnight.
The Highlight of the day: – The one magical hour with the endangered Mountain gorillas of Bwindi.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/ Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
Midrange/Standard: – Haven Lodge Buhoma/Silverback Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After a relaxed breakfast at around 6.30 am, we go birding in the Ruhija Sector of Bwindi. We’ll spend the whole day on this route to take advantage of the superb birding. We either have a packed lunch somewhere in a nice spot in the forest or return to the lodge for lunch. In scrubby areas, we’ll look for Ross’s Turaco, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Red-throated Wryneck as well as Bronze, Copper and Variable Sunbirds, Black-necked and Holub’s Golden Weavers; Yellow Bishop and Black-throated Seed-eater.
Further along this road, we will pass via “The Neck”, a transitional area between Buhoma and Ruhija. It is a well-known birding site offering spectacular sights of Black sparrow hawk, Western bronze-napped pigeon, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Cassin’s honeybird, Pettit’s cuckoo-shrike, White-chinned Prinia, Mountain Wagtail, Pink-footed puff back, the rare tiny Sunbird and the Dapper brown-capped weaver.
Even further up the road, cultivated areas provide feeding opportunities for many seedeaters, which will hopefully include Dusky Twin spot and Yellow-bellied and Black-crowned Waxbills; African Stonechat, Thick-billed Seedeater and Yellow-crowned Canary. We also search for the noisy Chubb’s Cisticola providing cheerful song from deep within the bracken, the stunning Doherty’s Bush-shrike appearing from the dense vegetation, and Mackinnon’s Shrike surveying the road from high, exposed perches. Retire for dinner and overnight.
The Highlight of the day: – Whole day birding in Ruhija Sector.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs
Midrange/Standard: – Gorilla Mist Camp/Bakiga Lodge/Haven Lodge Buhoma
Budget/Basic: – Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
We’ll have our breakfast at around 7.00 am at our lodge and then say goodbye to the wonderful staff. We head northeast through the magical Kigezi Highlands towards Lake Mburo National Park. The drive to the northeast will take about 4 to 5 hours, but on our way out of the forest, we’ll of course be on the lookout for any missed species.
These may include Handsome Francolin, Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, and possibly the highland Kandt’s Waxbill. We’ll make a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town after which you proceed for 33km to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in the afternoon. You will bird along the entrance road to Rwonyo in the late afternoon.
The 370km2 Lake Mburo National Park is a superb wetland and Acacia savanna sanctuary that is a famous spot for serious birders. Together with 13 other lakes in the area, Lake Mburo forms part of a 50km-long wetland system linked by a swamp. Five of these lakes lie within the park’s borders.
The park hosts more than 350 bird species including; Red-faced Barbet, African finfoot, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Brown Parrot, Barefaced go-away bird, Black-billed Barbet, Blue-naped mousebird, Nubian Woodpecker, Papyrus canary, Papyrus gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Shoebill, Tabora cisticola;
Green-capped eremomela, Golden-tailed woodpecker, Spot-flanked barbet, White-backed night-heron, Yellow-throated leaflove, Giant kingfishers, Coqui francolin, Black-bellied bustard, Red-headed lovebird, Lilac-breasted and broad-billed rollers, Green wood-hoopoe, Narina trogon, Trilling cisticola, Southern red bishop, African scops owl, Verreaux’s eagle owl and Pennant-winged nightjars.
There are also over 68 mammal species including Plains zebra Rothschild’s giraffe, Impala, Eland antelope, Cape buffalo, Oribi, Defassa Waterbuck, Hippos, Spotted Hyaena and Topi.
The Highlight of the day: – Searching for the special acacia associated birds in Lake Mburo National park.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Mihingo Safari Lodge/Matana Tented Camp
Mid-range/Moderate: – Rwakobo Rock/Emburara Farm Lodge/Arcadia Lodge Mburo
Budget/Basic: – Eagles Nest Mburo
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 240km or 4-5 hours
Activities & services of the day:-
After breakfast at 8.00 am, we undertake 4-5 hours birding encounter in Lake Mburo Park and transfer back to Kampala. We explore the savanna landscapes with a wide range of acacia associated birds and other Species.
We retreat from the activity and transfer to Kampala, a 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justifies the divide between the south and north hemispheres. Arrive in Kampala in the evening for relaxation dinner and overnight.
The Highlight of the day: – The morning birding encounter in Lake Mburo Park and the Equator experience.
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: – Speke Resort Munyonyo/Kampala Serena Hotel /Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Midrange/Standard: – Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Biyem Hotel/Nexus Resorts Nansana
Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 240km or 3-4 hours
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After breakfast at around 6.00 am, we depart Kampala for the Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area on the shore of the gorgeous Lake Victoria. This 100 km2 swamp is one of the most visited birding sites of Uganda. It’s star attraction, the unique Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), draws not only birders, but also general tourists. On reaching the swamp, we’ll embark on a canoe ride in search we hope to see at least one Shoebill at close range.
We’ll also see an excellent selection of other fantastic waterbirds such as Africa Pygmy goose, Lesser jacana, Gull-bellied tern, Blue-breasted bee-eater; papyrus-specific like Carruther’s cisticola, Papyrus gonolek and White-winged Warbler as well as several weavers such as Golden-backed, Slender-billed, Northern Brown-throated, Vieillot’s, Orange, Black-headed, Grosbeak and Weyn’s Weaver. We may have the opportunity to encounter the elusive swamp-dwelling Sitatunga Antelope. You will retire from the activity for relaxation, diner and overnight.
The Highlight of the day: – Canoe ride in Mabamba Swamp in search of the Shoebill
Accommodation:-
Luxury: – Serena Lake Victoria Resort/Protea Hotel Entebbe
Midrange: – 2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe/Lake Heights Hotel Entebbe/Boma Hotel Entebbe
Budget: – Acacia Boutique Hotel/Airport Guesthouse Entebbe
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive distance & time: – Approx. 50km or 1-2 hours
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
One of our staff will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport for your flight.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast
Activities & services of the day:-
Full-time English professional safari driver-guide
4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with pop up roof for game viewing with functional A/C
Full board accommodation
Gorilla trekking permit fees
Boat cruise fees
Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
Bottled water
International &domestic flight fees
Visa fees
Laundry services
Items of personal nature
Gratuities and tips
Other beverages/ drinks
Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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