15 Days Uganda Birding Safari − DETAILED SAFARI ITINERARY

Day 1 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Arrive in Uganda via Entebbe International Airport & transfer to the Hotel.

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport for your birdwatching in Uganda safari tour, you’ll be met by our company representative who will welcome you to Uganda. The amazing weather and brightening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical freshwater lake will give you a remarkable first impression of Uganda. You’ll be transferred to the nearby hotel for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Touch down in the Pearl of Africa at Entebbe Airport with the breathtaking waters of Lake Victoria.

Accommodation:-

Luxury: – Protea Hotel Entebbe/Serena Lake Victoria Resort

Mid-range: – Boma Hotel Entebbe/2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe/Lake Heights Hotel Entebbe

Budget: – Airport Guesthouse Entebbe/Acacia Boutique Hotel

 Meal Plan: – Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 3-5km or 10-20 minutes

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Pick up from the airport and transfer to the hotel

 Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Entebbe city tour
• Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
• Visiting Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary
• Visit Uganda Wildlife Education Center

Day 2 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Birding in Mabamba Swamp & Transfer to Masindi.

After breakfast, we depart for the Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area on the shore of the gorgeous Lake Victoria. This 100 km2 Mabamba swamp is one of the most visited birding sites of Uganda. Its a star attraction, the unique Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), draws not only birders but also general tourists. We’ll make an early start from Entebbe (at around 6.30 am) to get there before many other visitors arrive. 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. We’ll retire from the activity, settle for lunch and then drive to Masindi town (gate away to Budongo Forest) for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Canoe ride in Mamba Swamp in search of the iconic Shoebills.

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: Masindi Hotel

Midrange/Standard: New Court View Hotel/ Budongo Eco lodge

Budget/Basic: Kabalega Resort Hotel Masindi

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 265km or 4-5 hours

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Birding in Mabamba Bay Swamp
• Transfer to Masindi

Optional you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route

Day 3 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Birding Along the Royal Mile in Budongo Forest & Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

We have our breakfast at 7.00 am and then connect to the adjacent Budongo Forest for amazing bird encounters. Situated at the edge of the scenic Albertine Rift Valley, this magnificent tract of intact tropical rain forest hosts an avian wealth of over 360 bird species, Chimpanzees, and monkeys. We’ll spend the day on the famous Royal Mile (one of the top bird-watching tracks in Uganda) where a broad road leads through spectacular forest and a network of narrow trails leads off into the surrounding undergrowth. Of the special birds, Ituri Batis is the most significant; as Budongo is the only locality worldwide where it can safely be seen (all other sites are in DR Congo). The threatened Nahan’s Francolin is another major target.

Other specials we will look for include Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Chocolate-backed Kingfishers, African Dwarf Kingfishers, Blue-breasted kingfishers, Cassin’s Spinetails, Mottled Spinetails, Sabine’s Spinetails, White-thighed hornbills, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Spotted greenbuls, Xavier’s greenbuls, White-throated greenbuls, Red-tailed greenbuls, Honeyguide greenbul, Crowned Hawk-eagles, Blue Malkoha, Hairy-breasted barbets, Yellow-billed Longbills, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, African Forest-Flycatchers, Grey-headed Sunbirds, Yellow-mantled Weavers, Illadopses, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, and Grey-throated Flycatchers.

After this activity, we’ll drive to Murchison driving through the Kaniyo Pabidi forests with chances of seeing the endemic Puvel’s Illadopsis along the way. Murchison Falls Park is Uganda’s largest National Park, hosting over 451 bird species and 76 mammal species including four of Africa’s iconic Big 5 and the world’s largest population of endangered Rothschild’s giraffe. The centerpiece of this great park is the Murchison Falls (the world’s most powerful waterfall): a place where the world’s longest river, the Nile bursts through a 7-meter wide gap in the rift valley escarpment and spectacularly plunges 45 meters down.

The highlight of the day: – Birding along Budongo Forest Royal Mile

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: – Paraa Safari lodge/Bakers Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & time: – or 30 minutes

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Birding along the Royal Mile in Budongo Forest
• Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo

Day 4 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Morning Private Boat Cruise to the Delta Area & Birding in the Savannah in the Afternoon.

At around 7.00 am we’ll have our breakfast after which we’ll connect to Paraa jetty for an early morning 3-4 hours private boat ride to the Delta Area one of the magical spots in Murchison Falls Park. The cruise offers you a magical touch of the world’s longest Nile River as it slows down while entering Lake Albert. This voyage offers the best opportunity anywhere in Africa to see the Shoebill, the most epic of all African birds. This gray statuesque leviathan haunts papyrus swamps searching for lethargic lungfish and bay crocodiles.

Other amazing birds to find on this trip include the well-named Goliath heron, the weird Piapiac, the regal Grey crowned-crane, Saddle-billed stork, African fish-eagle, Senegal Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwings, African Jacana, African Skimmers and Giant, Pied and Malachite kingfishers. With luck, we may see the rare Pel’s Fishing-Owl and Red-necked Falcon that frequents the palm trees lining the riverbanks. In addition to the profusion of birds, we’ll see large numbers of the impressive Crocodiles, Hippos, Elephants, Waterbucks, and Buffalo at close range.

The boat cruise will be followed by an extensive drive in the savannah both in the mid-morning and in the evening as we search for special birds such as Abyssinian ground hornbill, Secretary Bird, Black-bellied Bustard, Denham’s Bustard, Heuglin’s Francolin, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Black-headed Lapwing and Black-backed Cisticola. Whistling thorn thickets are home to Shelley’s Sparrow, Speckle-fronted Weaver and Rattling Cisticola, and other birds in wooded areas may include Black-billed Wood Dove, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Nubian Woodpecker and Black Scimitarbill. Mammals are well represented and we’ll have possibilities of encountering Lions, Leopards, Giraffes and more.

The highlight of the day: – A wonderful boat cruise along the Nile River to the Delta area.  

Accommodation:-

Upmarket/Luxury: – Paraa Safari lodge/Bakers Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge

Budget/Basic: – Hornbill Bush Lodge/Red Chilli Rest Camp

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Morning birding boat cruise along the Nile River to the delta area
• Afternoon birding in the savannah

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Bush breakfast
• Hot air balloon safari
• Spot fishing

Day 5 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Morning Birding in Northern Murchison, the Top of the falls and transfer to Hoima.

We have a relaxed breakfast at around 8.00 am. We then undertake birding adventure in the northern classic savannah plains of Murchison and the top of Murchison Falls where the mighty Nile River, the longest river in the world perfects its beauty.

We marvel at the 50 meters wide Nile River as it explodes violently through a tiny gap in the Rift Valley escarpment and spectacularly plunges 45 meters down, with enormous Nile crocodiles basking at the bottom. Here we’ll have chances of spotting birds like the Pel’s Fishing Owl, Chest-nut crowned, and the Red-winged grey warbler.  We then proceed on the drive to Hoima birding in the escarpment. Arrive in Masindi for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

Highlight: – A birding hike to the top of the breathtaking Murchison Falls.

Midrange/Standard: – Lake Albert Lodge/Hoima Cultural Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 120km or 4 hours

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Morning birding in Murchison’s northern sector
• Birding hike to the top of the falls
• Transfer to Hoima

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Visit Kibiro Salt Garden

Day 6 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Transfer to Kibale National Park Area & Birding in the Afternoon.

We have breakfast at around 7.00 am and travel to Kibale National Park. We will be birding en route across low-lying waterlogged environments in Kagadi and Kagorro forest reserve near Kyenjojo. We arrive in Fort Portal town at around lunchtime. This very beautiful town is situated in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains, Africa’s highest mountain range. We will enjoy lunch at one of the best restaurants in town after which you proceed to Kibale National Park, about an hour to the south for an afternoon birding experience.

Kibale National Park is a primate’s paradise and contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. This 795km² park is the best place in the world to see wild chimpanzees; over 1,500 chimps live here and besides chimps, contain 12 other primate species, a total of 60 mammal species, and 375 birds species including 6 Albertine Rift endemic.

Special bird species to find include the rare Green-breasted pitta, 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, Blue-headed Sunbird, Brown illadopsis, Brown-chested alethe, Cassin’s spinetail, Crowned eagle, Dusky Crimsonwing, Little greenbul, Masked Apalis, Nahan’s francolin, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-chested owlet, Red-faced woodland warbler, Ruwenzori Apalis, Scaly-breasted illadopsis, Western nicator, White-naped pigeon and Yellow-rumped tinkerbird.  Retreat from the activity and connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – The afternoon birding expedition in 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: – Approx. 170km or 5-6 hours

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Transfer from Hoima to Kibale National Park
• Birding in Sebitoli Area

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Visit the Amabere caves in Fort portal
• Cycling in Mpanga tea estate.
• Nocturnal walk in Kibale National Park enables you to encounter some of the nocturnal creatures such as Bushbabies, Nightjars, and Genet

Day 7 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Whole Day Birding In Kibale National Park & Bigodi Wetland Walk

This day starts with an early morning breakfast after which we transfer to the Kanyanchu area for a wonderful birding experience. We will have a chance to encounter the very secretive 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 (at around 7.00 am) to position ourselves in a known and active territory.

As we search for these gorgeous birds, we’ll encounter a host 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 have opportunities to see a variety of primates including Uganda red colobus, the rare L ’Hoest’s monkey, Black-and-white colobus, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, Grey-cheeked mangabeys, Olive baboon, Bushbabies, and Pottos.

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 a good selection of new birds is on offer, including White-spotted Flufftail, Joyful Greenbul, Red-headed Bluebill, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Black Bishop, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, Orange-tufted Sunbird, and Black-crowned Waxbill. Other birds at Kibale could include Cassin’s Flycatcher, Red-headed Malimbe, and Sabine’s Spinetail. We settle for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Encountering rare, elusive, and beautiful Green-breasted pitta in Kibale.

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:-

• Chimpanzee tracking
• Cultural encounter
• Night walks in Kibale forest to see some of the nocturnal creatures such as Bushbabies, Pottos, and Nightjars.

Day 8 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park & Do Birding Mweya Peninsular Upon Arrival.

We’ll have a relaxed breakfast at around 8.30 am and then head to Queen Elizabeth park about 157km about 3 hours’ drive enjoying the sights of the Rwenzori Mountains or Mountains of the Moon en route. We’ll settle for lunch in the peninsular and undertake birding in Mweya Peninsular between Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel.

 The 1978 km2 Queen Elizabeth National Park is Uganda’s most popular park, named after the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, after her visit to the park in 1952. The park is situated on the floor of the Albertine rift valley in a fertile, equatorial area and has beautiful scenery. It is primarily associated with grassy savannah plains, but this amazing park also includes within its boundaries tropical rainforests, moist acacia woodlands, natural volcanic crater lakes, freshwater lakes, and a variety of wetland habitats.

As a result, Queen Elizabeth National Park has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any nature reserve in the world, including a total of 610 recorded bird species and 96 mammal species. The park’s famous tree-climbing lions are its undisputed wildlife stars, but the park hosts Savannah Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Leopards, Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, Spotted hyenas, Chimpanzees,  Monkeys, Giant forest hogs, Warthogs, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Uganda kobs, and topis plus much more. We’ll retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Birding in on the spectacular Mweya peninsular

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Valley Lodge/Katara Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Enganzi Game Lodge/Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp

Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/Park View Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Drive Distance & time: – 157km or 3 hours

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Birding in the Mweya peninsular

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Game drive
• Cultural visit
• Lion tracking

Day 9 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Full Day Birding In Queen Elizabeth Park & Afternoon Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

We start our day with an early breakfast at 6.30 am.  We embark on a full day birding expedition in Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Kasenyi plains, searching for special birds such as Bateleur, Africa’s most spectacular raptor, Grey Kestrel, Grey-crowned Crane, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Helmeted guinea fowls, Flamingos,  Red-necked Francolin, African Crake, Senegal Lapwing, Black Coucal, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Southern Red Bishop, Marsh Tchagra, Flappet, Red-capped, and White-tailed Larks. There are also 10 species of cisticolas we’ll look and listen for including the Croaking, Red-faced, Trilling, Carruther’s, and Stout. Mammals will also be a highlight of today’s excursion.

This activity will take around 3-4 hours after which we’ll return to the lodge for relaxation and lunch. In the afternoon, we take a stunning 2 hours boat trip along 40km long Kazinga Channel which connects lakes, Edward and George. Highlights of the voyage include our close (and safe) approach to African buffalo, Elephants, Hippos, and Crocodiles. We’ll see several fantastic waterbirds such as African Open-billed, Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed and Marabou Storks, African spoonbill, Glossy Ibis, Wattled Lapwing, Water Thick-knee, and Pelicans. We’ll return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – The afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel.

Accommodation:-

Luxury/Upmarket: – Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Valley Lodge/Katara Lodge

Midrange/Standard: – Enganzi Game Lodge/ Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp

Budget/Basic: – Pumba Safari Cottages/Park View Safari Lodge

Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Morning drive in Kasenyi sector
• Afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga Channel

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Night game drive
• Cultural visits

Day 10 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Birding in Ishasha sector as you transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

After breakfast at the lodge at 7.00 am, we’ll pack our bags and check out. We will depart “Queen” and head even further south. Before leaving the park we will undertake a drive in the Ishasha sector where we may be fortunate to sighting the area’s legendary Tree-climbing lions. We’ll  encounter a variety of savannah birds including African White-backed, Palm-nut, Ruppell’s Griffon, Hooded and Lappet-faced Vultures; Brown Snake, Long-crested, Wahlberg’s, Bateleur, Crowned, and Martial Eagles;

African Grey Kestrel, Helmeted Guineafowl, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, Senegal Plover, African Green Pigeon, African Wattled Plover, Ross’s Turaco, Striped Kingfisher, Double-toothed and White-headed Barbets, Broad-billed Roller, Greater Honeyguide, Yellow-billed Oxpecker Grey Woodpecker, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, White-browed Robin-Chat, Green Crombec, Cisticolas and Grey-backed Fiscal. We will have our picnic lunch at Ishasha and then drive to the Buhoma sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The wonderful Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site is a true African jungle. About half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas live here.  Bwindi is also where we’ll see some of the rarest and most exotic birds of the trip. Over 351 bird species have been recorded in Bwindi including 23 species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift Ecosystem. Also, more than 200 butterfly species, 27 species of frogs, over 1,000 flowering plant species, and 324 species of trees exist in Bwindi.

The highlight of the day: – Birding in Ishasha and the opportunity to see the rare tree-climbing lions.

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. 130-220km or 4-7 hours

 Activities & services of the day:-

• Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Birding drive through in Ishasha sector

Day 11 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Whole Day Birding In Buhoma Sector of Bwindi.

We’ll breakfast at around 7.00 am and then embark on a search for the avian wonders of Bwindi’ Buhoma Sector, following the waterfall trail. Buhoma is a particularly beautiful piece of forest in the valley and our birding nature walk is on a mainly flat and broad path. Special bird species we hope to see include Bar-tailed Trogon, Kivu ground thrush, Dusky tit, Handsome francolin, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, the rarely seen Oberlander’s Ground-Thrush, White-bellied Crested-Flycatcher, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Bocage’s Bushshrike, Black-billed Weaver, and Magpie Mannikin.

High exposed perches attract dazzling Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, Sooty Flycatcher, and forest starlings including Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s, and Narrow-tailed. The tiny, vocal, and highly secretive Neumann’s Warbler is often seen in the undergrowth. Other understory birds could include African Broadbill, Banded Prinia, and the surprisingly bright Black-faced Rufous-Warbler.

We’ll keep our eyes at the mid-story and canopy support for Elliot’s and Tullberg’s Woodpeckers, Cabanis’s, Shelley’s and Ansorge’s greenbul, the strange Grauer’s Warbler, and White-browed Crombec. The little Jameson’s Antpecker can be found at any level, probing under moss on dead branches or gleaning warbler-like in the canopy. 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:-

• Full day birding expedition in Buhoma

Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-

• Mountain gorilla trekking
• Visit the Batwa Pygmy people and observe their ways of living

Day 12 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Birding To Ruhija of Bwindi via Neck.

We have breakfast at around 6.30 am and go birding in Bwindi’s Ruhija Sector. We will spend the whole day on this route to take advantage of the superb birding. We will once again either have a packed lunch somewhere in a nice spot in the forest or return to the lodge for lunch and some downtime. 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 Sparrowhawk, Western bronze-naped pigeon, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Cassin’s honeybird, Petit’s cuckoo-shrike, White-chinned Prinia, Mountain Wagtail, Pink-footed Puffback, 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 Twinspot 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 Bushshrike 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:-

• Transfer from Buhoma to Ruhija
• Birding through the Neck to Ruhija

Day 13 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Bird in the Hilly Forested Landscapes of Ruhija & Mubwindi Swamp.

After breakfast at 7.00 am, we embark on full-day birding exploration in Ruhija’s Hilly Forested Landscapes and the famous Mubwindi Swamp. Here our main target is the rare, endangered, and localized Grauer’s Broadbill or African Green Broadbill, one of Africa’s most sought-after birds. This special bird species is only known from two sites in the world, the other being a remote forest in eastern Democratic Republic Congo

We will also look for Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori double-collared Sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, Black-billed Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Carruther’s Cisticola, Olive, Elliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpeckers, African Hill Babbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Illadopsis, Mountain Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grey Cuckooshrike, Chestnut-throated, Collared, and Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Mountain and Shelley’s and Yellow-streaked Greenbuls among many other bird species.

Because of the steep trail, walking sticks are recommended. The option of borrowing walking sticks and hiring porters to carry everything other than binoculars and cameras will be available. We’ll retreat in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – Encounter the rare and amazingly cryptic African green Broadbill.

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:-

• Whole day birding in Ruhija and Mubwindi Swamp

Day 14 of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Transfer To Lake Mburo National Park & Enjoy Birding With A Boat Ride On Lake Mburo.

After breakfast at around 8.00 am, embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park passing through the scenic hillsides of south western Uganda before making a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town.

After lunch, you will proceed to Lake Mburo for an evening boat birding encounter along Lake Mburo. The encounter presents an opportunity for exploring the African finfoot, the range of King Fishers, and the African fish eagle. Retire for evening relaxation, dinner, and overnight.

The highlight of the day: – The afternoon boat ride on Lake Mburo.

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:-

• Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
• Birding in the acacia savannah landscape

Day 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari: Do Half Day Birding And Wildlife Walking Safari And Transfer To Entebbe For Late Evening Flight Departure.

After early morning breakfast at around 7.00 am, we embark on the extensive wildlife viewing and birding experience on foot in the rolling savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park. Explore either of the Miriti and Warukiri swamps, Rubanga forest, or the salt lick. The encounter offers you chances of spotting Rufous-bellied Heron, Bateleur, Coqui Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Brown-chested Lapwing, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, Brown Parrot, Green Wood-hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-faced Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Finfoot, White-winged Tit and Yellow-breasted Apalis among other birds.

The walking experience also offers an opportunity to explore counts of wild game including the Rothschild Giraffes, Burchell’s Zebra, Topis, Common Elands, Defassa waterbucks, Cape Buffaloes, Impala, and Common Warthogs among other species. Retreat from the activity and embark on the drive to Entebbe 280km about 5 hours with a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres.

The highlight of the day: – Walking safari in Lake Mburo National Park

Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch

Activities & services of the day:-

• Birding in Mabamba
• Transfer to Entebbe International Airport

End of the 15 Days Uganda Birding Safari

15 Days Uganda Birding Safari − SAFARI INCLUSIONS

   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

15 Days Uganda Birding Safari − SAFARI EXCLUSIONS

   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

Getting There

Transport Means to Your Safari Destinations

Accommodations/ Safari Lodges/ Safari Hotels to Your Safari Destinations

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