Our 21 days Uganda Bird Watching Tour is a 20 nights/21 days Uganda birding safari offering birding in the finest Uganda birding sites and unforgettable Gorilla trekking in Uganda Bwindi National Park and wildlife viewing trips.
This 21 days Uganda birding safari tour trip allows us to explore the birds of Uganda in detail to see several of the country’s 1,073 Uganda birds (species) which is 50% of Africa’s total bird species. Also on this fabulous 21 days birdwatching tour in Uganda, we’ll go on three boat cruises (and one canoe ride!), see many other wonderful fauna and flora, experience the wonderful scenery, and enjoy the warm and friendly attitude of the people of Uganda.
Our first Uganda birding spot is Mabira Forest a natural evergreen rainforest with over 300 bird species. We move to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we’ll see up to 300 bird species and track wild white rhinos on foot, Budongo Forest with over 360 bird species including the endemic Puvel’s illadopsis. We visit Murchison Falls National Park with over 450 bird species and 76 species of mammals of Uganda/animals of Uganda. Here we have a chance to catch a rare glimpse of the incredible, pre-historic like Shoebill on a boat cruise along the legendary Nile River.
Next will be Kibale National Park over 375 bird species including 6 Albertine Rift Endemics. Our main avian target here is the rare, elusive, and beautiful Green-breasted Pitta. Kibale is also the best place in the world to see wild chimpanzees. We move to the community-run Bigodi wetland with over 200 bird species and Queen Elizabeth National Park with over 610 bird species, the largest checklist of any protected area in East Africa. There are also over 96 Uganda mammal species here.
The top highlight of this 21 days Uganda bird watching tour will be Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site where half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas and over 120 mammal species live. Bwindi is also where we’ll see some of the most unique birds of the trip: over 351 bird species have been recorded here: 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the gorgeous African Green Broadbill. We proceed to Lake Mburo National Park with over 350 bird species, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Lutembe bay.
This wonderful Uganda safari tour trip will end with a canoe ride in search of the Shoebills in Mabamba Swamp on the edge of Lake Victoria, the world’s largest tropical freshwater lake
Spend a magical hour with Mountain gorillas in Bwindi
Bird watching in Uganda’s finest birding sites, which offer up to 1073 species
Explore Mabamba Swamp by canoe in search of the iconic Shoebill
Discover Bwindi’s fantastic montane forest birds; the 23 of Albertine Rift endemics.
Rhino tracking and birding in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on foot
Morning birding boat cruise along the historic Nile River to the delta area
A bird watching boat trip along the Nile to the bottom of the Murchison Falls
A birding launch cruise along the hippo filled Kazinga channel
Game viewing during birding adventure in Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo Parks.
Search for the elusive tree climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth N.P.
Walking amongst the wild mammals of Lake Mburo National Park
Photo shoots at the Equator
Day 1 & 2: Mabira Forest
Day 3 & 4: Budongo Forest Reserve
Day 5, 6 & 7: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 8: Hoima
Day 9 & 10: Kibale National Park
Day 11 & 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 13, 14, 15, 16 & 17: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 18: Lake Mburo National Park
Day 19: Kampala
Day 20 & 21: Entebbe – Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Lutembe bay & Mabamba Swamp
Day 1: Transfer to Mabira Forest & do birding
Day 2: Whole day birding in Mabira Forest
Day 3: Drive to Budongo Forest Reserve with a visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route
Day 4: Whole day birding in Budongo Forest Reserve – Busingiro Area & Royal Mile
Day 5: Half-day birding in Budongo (Kaniyo Pabidi Site) & transfer to Murchison Falls N.P.
Day 6: Morning Nile launch cruise to the bottom of the falls & evening boat ride to the delta area.
Day 7: Whole day birding in the Savannah Landscapes of Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 8: Bird in Rabongo Forest and transfer to Hoima
Day 9: Travel to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 10: Birding in Kibale Forest & the adjacent Bigodi wetland Sanctuary
Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & bird in the Mweya Peninsular
Day 12: Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 14: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Buhoma Sector
Day 15: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable N.P – Buhoma Sector
Day 16: Birding to Ruhija sector of Bwindi through Neck
Day 17: Birding in Ruhija and Mubwindi Swamp
Day 18: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 19: Birding in Lake Mburo N.P & transfer to Kampala in the afternoon
Day 20: Birding in Entebbe – Entebbe Botanical Gardens & Lutembe bay
Day 21: Bird Mabamba & flight departure
After breakfast at the hotel in Entebbe at around 6.30, we will grab our cameras and binoculars and embark on a 99.9km (2½-3 hours) drive east to the Mabira Forest Reserve along Jinja road. This huge and beautiful forest reserve is about 306 km2 in size and is the most significant forest reserve closest to Kampala city. Mabira Forest is home to over 300 bird species including a number of rarities such as the pretty Tit Hylia which is known to exist in only two places in East Africa. It is one of the few places in Uganda where the localized Forest wood-hoopoe, African pitta, Red-tailed leaflove, Weyn’s weaver, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, and Nahan’s francolin which is an IUCN Red list’ endangered species are regularly seen.
We will also look for striking Great blue turaco, Grey parrot, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Purple-throated cuckoo shrikes, Illadopsises, Jameson’s wattle eyes, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spinetail, Yellow-spotted Barbet, African Shrike-flycatcher, Forest Robin and Fire-crested Alethe. You will have a picnic lunch in the forest. You settle for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – The birding nature walks in Mabira Forest in search of rare bird species.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Mabira Rain Forest Lodge
Budget / Basic: – Griffin Falls Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Drive Distance & time: – Approx. 99.9km or 2½-3 hours
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
At around 7.30 am after breakfast, we will go for a full day’s birding walk through Mabira Forest in search of more special birds not spotted the previous day. We will break for a picnic lunch in the forest and then continue with birding. This birding expedition here also offers you an opportunity to see a variety of monkeys including Black-and-white colobus, Uganda mangabeys, and Red-tailed monkeys. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Whole nature walk in Mabira Forest in search of birds, primates, and other forest creatures.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Mabira Rain Forest Lodge
Budget / Basic: – Griffin Falls Camp
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We’ll enjoy an early breakfast at around 6.30 am and then pack our bags in the vehicle. We’ll then embark on a 265km (4-5 hours) drive North West to Budongo Forest reserve after Masindi town. On the way, we will enjoy amazing views of the flat landscapes of central Uganda before making a stop at 70km2 Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a 2 hours of birding and rhino tracking encounter on foot (the company of an expert guide). The sanctuary is home to 22 Southern White Rhinos and is the only place to see wild rhinos in Uganda. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary’s savannah thicket hosts more than 300 bird species!
You will encounter many of these including the elegant Grey crowned cranes − the Uganda national bird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-spotted dove, Booted eagle, Broad-billed Roller, African Black Crake, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, and African Blue Flycatcher plus much more.
We have lunch in the sanctuary and then derive to Budongo Forest. We will be birding along the way at multiple locations and many clients really enjoy this drive as it is not along main roads and passes through rural Uganda where you get a real sense of what life is like here. We will arrive in Masindi in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Tracking the wild southern white rhinos and birding in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary on foot.
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:-
Optional you can choose to do on this day include:-
We’ll have a full day to bird the fantastic Busingiro Area and Royal Mile of Budongo Forest Reserve, one of the top bird-watching tracks in the country. We’ll start with an early breakfast at around 7.00 am accompanied by some excellent Uganda coffee or tea and then set off. Depending on what we see we will either have lunch back at the lodge or we could enjoy a picnic lunch somewhere in the forest reserve to maximize our chances of seeing our avian targets.
The 825km2 Budongo Forest hosts an avian wealth of over 360 bird species, 800 chimpanzees, and several monkeys: Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, Mantle guereza, and Olive baboons. Some of the very special birds that we’ll be looking for are the African dwarf, Blue-breasted, and Chocolate-backed kingfishers. We will look for others like Cassin’s Spinetail, Nahan’s Francolin, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, White-thighed Hornbill, Blue Malkoha, cryptic Green Hylia, Yellow Longbills, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, African Forest-Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Grey-headed Sunbird, Yellow-mantled Weaver, and Hairy-breasted and Yellow-billed barbets.
There are also several confusing forest Greenbuls to see: Spotted, Xavier’s, White-throated, Red-tailed, and Honeyguide Greenbuls. We’ll search the undergrowth along the track for several skulkers including 3 Illadopsis species, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, and Grey-throated Flycatcher. We’ll keep an eye on any openings in the forest canopy, as Cassin’s and Crowned Hawk-eagles, Mottled and Sabine’s Spinetails are all possible. Various monkeys will also be seen. We will get together back at the lodge to freshen up and then have dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Whole birding encounter along Royal Mile, one of the top bird-watching tracks in Uganda.
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
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We once again have another bird encounter in Budongo. Our day will start with an early, quick breakfast at around 7.00 am before we transfer to Kaniyo Pabidi Sector. This area also offers a chance to track wild Chimpanzees (optional arrangement). Among the special bird species to look for in Kaniyo Pabidi in the Puvel’s Illadopsis which is quite common here, but known in no other locality in E Africa.
We will also target other fantastic birds such as Narina trogon, little greenbul, Chestnut wattle eye, Grey Apalis, Dwarf and Pygmy kingfishers, forest sunbirds, and hornbills. The extremely localized and magnificently gorgeous Green-breasted pitta has also been recorded here.
From Budongo, we will head “next door” to the nearby Murchison Falls National Park to continue our birding in this great part of the country. Murchison is the largest National Park in Uganda, hosting over 451 bird species and 76 mammal species including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, primates, and numerous antelopes.
As we drive to Murchison, we’ll pass through lots of wild country with an open palm savanna, unlike any other in East Africa, and along the way, we may find birds like the weird Piapiac, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Senegal Lapwing.
On arrival, we will hike to the top of Murchison Falls where the mighty Nile River, the longest river in the world perfects its beauty. We marvel at the 50-meter wide Nile River as it bursts through a gap in the rift valley escarpment and spectacularly plunges 45 meters down, with enormous Nile crocodiles weighing over 200 kg and almost 17 feet long 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 connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – A birding hike to the top of the world’s most powerful waterfall, the Murchison Falls.
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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We will start the day with coffee and breakfast at our accommodation at around 7.30 am. At 9.00 am, we’ll gather at Paraa jetty for a thrilling 3 hours birding boat cruise upstream the Nile to the bottom of Murchison Falls where the Nile River explodes violently through a narrow gap in the Albertine rift valley escarpment. As well as being visually spectacular, it is also really good for birding and we expect to get close to the normally very difficult Rock Pratincole.
We have the possibility of encountering hundreds of hippos, numerous giant Nile crocodiles, Elephants, and Buffaloes as they are surrounded by numerous waterbirds including African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, the well-named Goliath heron, the weird Piapiac, the regal Grey crowned-crane, Squacco heron, Pied and Malachite kingfishers, Saddle bellied stork, Senegal Thick-knee, Spur-winged Lapwings, African Jacana, and African Skimmers.
In the evening, we’ll take a boat cruise downstream to the Nile-Lake Albert Delta, another fantastic spot in Murchison. This 4-5 hour return voyage also starts from Paraa and the boat slowly cruises on the gently flowing Nile waters, after losing its energy from the fall’s plunge pool. This tranquil sundowner boat cruise also offers the classic view of an equatorial sunset reflected on this historic Nile River.
The voyage offers the best opportunity anywhere in Africa to see the incredible Shoebill, the most epic of all African birds. This gray statuesque, monstrous bird haunts papyrus swamps searching for lethargic lungfish and baby crocodiles.
We’ll also see a fantastic variety of other birds and animals. With luck, we may see the rare Pel’s Fishing-Owl and Red-necked Falcon that frequents the palm trees lining the riverbanks. We retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – A wonderful boat cruise along the Nile River to the Delta area in search of the unique Shoebills and other special waterbirds.
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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
With first light, we’ll have a quick cup of coffee (at around 7. 30am) and make our way to the classic savannah plains of Murchison Falls Park’s northern sector for game viewing and bird watching. This scenic area holds a number of birds typical of dry savanna and we‘ll search here for Secretary bird, Black-breasted snake-Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Heuglin’s Francolin, Black-headed Lapwing, with both Swallow-tailed and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Black Scimitar-bill, Black-backed Cisticola, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow, and Black-faced Quailfinch. A few birds – with their ranges centered on the Sahel region to the north – reach their southern limits here including the ponderous Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, incandescent Abyssinian Roller, White-fronted Black-Chat, diminutive but bright Pygmy Sunbird, and somber White-rumped Seedeater.
Mammals are well represented and we’ll possibilities of seeing the shy patas monkey, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, Rothschild’s giraffe, Uganda kob, oribi, Jackson’s hartebeest, and Defassa waterbuck. We return to the lodge for lunch and continue will our birding and game viewing encounter in the afternoon again. We get back to the lodge in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Full-day birding and game viewing encounter in savannah plains.
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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We have our breakfast and go birding in Rabongo Forest in the southeast of Murchison Falls National Park. The forest spreads over 4km2 of the park landscape and offers impressive bird views most especially the forest birds such as Cassin’s hawk-eagle, Cassin’s spinetail, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Crowned eagle, Little green sunbird, White-spotted flufftail, White-thighed hornbill, Yellow-crested woodpecker, and Yellow-footed flycatcher.
The walk will also offer impressive views of the primates including the Black and white colobus, Baboons among others. The River Wairingo also presents impressive encounters. Retire from the activity and embark on a very scenic drive south to Hoima driving along the scenic Albertine rift escarpment with magical views.
The highlight of the day: – The morning birding nature walk in Rabongo Forest.
Accommodation:-
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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After a cup of tea at around 7.00 am, we head to Kibale National Park. It is a very scenic drive south of the Albertine Area, marked with incredible steep escarpments, extensive rift valley flats, and beautiful views of Lake Albert. The drive is about 5 to 6 hours long.
We’ll reach Fort Portal town at around lunchtime. This is a beautiful town in another scenic area of the country. It is an important commercial area too, as it is in the heartland of the tea-growing area of Uganda. The town also boasts a fantastic market. We will enjoy lunch at one of the best restaurants in town.
After lunch, we will transfer to Kibale National Park, about an hour to the south, but we will embark on a birding encounter at the entrance of the forest, where we’ll have a chance of spotting the Joyful Greenbul, Masked Apalis, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, and Slender-tailed Starling. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight
The 795km2 Kibale National Park hosts over 375 bird species including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine rift region, 70 mammal species, most famously 13 species of primate, and 250 species of butterflies. The forest has over 1500 chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, and East Africa’s largest population of the threatened Red Colobus Monkey. Other primates that you may see include the Guereza Colobus, Blue monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Red-tailed monkey, Olive Baboon, Bushbabies, and Pottos.
The highlight of the day: – The scenic drive through Uganda’s countryside to 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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After a hearty breakfast this morning (at around 7.30 am), we’ll we will grab our cameras and binoculars and transfer to Kibale’s Kanyanchu area for a birding nature walk. We’ll have a chance to encounter the highly prized Green-breasted Pitta.
This “mega” has recently become available, though finding it still takes a good measure of luck. Other special species to look for include; African pitta, African Grey Parrot, Afep pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Cassin’s spinetail, Nahan’s francolin, Masked Apalis, Crowned Eagle, Western Nicator, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-headed Sunbird, Ruwenzori Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Little Greenbul and Abyssinian ground-thrush.
However, Kibale National Park is famous for being the best place in the world to see Chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Those who opt for a Chimpanzee tracking encounter will join an official park chimp tracking session: at 8.00 am and at 2.00 pm. Tracking chimpanzees on foot is fun though, and when you finally find the chimp troop resting or feeding in the trees, you will get a sense of accomplishment.
We’ll have a picnic lunch in the forest and in the afternoon we go birding in the nearby community-run Bigodi Wetland. This wetland demonstrates a successful story of the ecotourism development benefits. It is well for a wide collection of primates like Olive baboons, Grey-cheeked mangabey, black-and-white colobus, red-tailed, L’Hoest’s, and blue monkeys as well as over 200 bird species like Great blue Turaco, Bocage’s Bushshrike, and Western Nicator. Settle for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Searching for the fantastic forest birds such as the 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 a relaxed breakfast today at our accommodation (at around 8.30 am), before we pack up and check out after two memorable nights in Fort Portal. We embark on a 2-3 hour drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park as we enjoy the sights of the Rwenzori Mountains or Mountains of the Moon en route.
The drive time will depend, on how many stops we make en route to spot some more birds. We’ll settle for lunch in the peninsular and undertake birding in Mweya Peninsular between Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Queen Elizabeth National is the most visited Uganda safari park and with good reason! It has one of the most diverse habitats: rolling savannah grasslands, tropical rainforest, moist acacia woodland, freshwater lakes, beautiful saline crater lakes, and fertile wetlands which all cut into the green, rolling hills. As a result, it has one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any nature reserve in the world, including 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. Get your cameras ready!
The highlight of the day: – Birding in on the spectacular Mweya peninsular of Queen Elizabeth Park.
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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After breakfast at our place of stay (at around 7.00 am), we will head out on a morning birding safari through the park’s scenic Kasenyi Sector and Kikorongo Area. You have chances of spotting birds like Glossy and sacred Ibises and Common Squacco Heron, in the Kikorongo Area.
Uganda’s special bird species to look for in Kasenyi include Bateleur, Africa’s most spectacular raptor, Rüppell’s Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Crake Peregrine Falcon, Grey Kestrel, Pin-tailed Whydah, Senegal Lapwing, Temminck’s Courser, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Rufous-naped and White-tailed Lark, Stout, Red-faced and Croaking Cisticola, Kittlitz’s Plover, White-throated Bee-eater, Black-lored Babbler, Common Buttonquail and Buff-bellied Warbler.
Mammals will also be a highlight of today’s excursion, and we will have an opportunity to see lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, hyenas, waterbuck, bushbucks, warthogs, and the spectacular giant forest hogs.
We break for lunch and then in the afternoon, we’ll take a 2 hours boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This trip ranks among the most astounding birding and photographic experiences in Africa. There are usually masses of big mammals and waterbirds in close proximity. We will see African Open-billed, Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed, 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 40km long 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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We start our day with an early breakfast at around 7.00 am, pack our bags and check out of the lodge. We’ll leave Queen Elizabeth Park and head further south. Before leaving the park we will undertake a drive in the Ishasha section where we may be fortunate to sight the area’s uncommon Tree-climbing lions.
We’ll also see a large variety of other mammals and savannah birds such as 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, Yellow-billed Oxpecker Grey Woodpecker, White-browed Robin-Chat, Cisticolas, and Grey-backed Fiscal.
We will have our picnic lunch at Ishasha and then drive to the Buhoma sector of Bwindi arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight. The tantalizing 321km2 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a designated UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site is a true African jungle. Nearly half of the world’s population of Mountain Gorillas and over 120 mammal species reside in Bwindi.
Bwindi is also where we’ll see some of the rarest and most exotic birds of the trip. Over 351 bird species have been sighted and recorded in Bwindi including 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics of which 14 are not recorded anywhere else in the country.
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:-
We will start our day with an early breakfast at 7.00 am and then embark on a full day of birding expeditions to search out the avian wonders of Bwindi exploring the magical Buhoma Sector. We will either have a packed lunch somewhere in the forest today or return to the lodge for lunch before birding in the afternoon again.
We hope to see a variety of fantastic birds including the Bar-tailed Trogon, Kivu ground thrush, Dusky tit, Handsome francolin, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, and 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.
We will keep our eyes high in the exposed perches for 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.
At the mid-story and canopy, we will search 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.
Aside from the amazing avian species, we’ll see a variety of colorful butterflies, flowering plants, and several monkeys like Black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s, and blue and red-tailed monkeys. We’ll retire from the activity for relaxation dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Full-day bird-watching nature walk in search of avian wonders of the Buhoma Sector 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:-
We’ll rise very early at around 5.00 am for this 21 days Uganda bird watching tour’s main highlight – trekking the endangered Mountain gorillas! We’ll have a hearty breakfast at around 6.00 am and embark on a short drive to the Buhoma park headquarters and meet with the excellent local ranger guides.
At around 8.00 am, the guides will provide an informative talk on gorilla trekking etiquette and the experience. Ugandan authorities are fiercely protective of this natural treasure and allow only a maximum of 6 visitors per day (currently) to visit a particular gorilla family.
After the briefing, the trekking group will then head into the forest in search of these great apes of Africa. The trek takes 2-8 hours depending on the location of the gorilla family and you allowed 1 hour with them after encountering them. Owing to the nature of the terrain and the need to explore to find the gorillas, the trek doesn’t follow a path and instead the guides will cut a route through the undergrowth.
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 (porters will be arranged and paid for locally on the day).
Seeing wild Mountain gorillas in their natural habitat is indeed an experience you will never forget. An adult male can weigh up to 220kg and reach 6 feet in height. Gorillas are gentle creatures and are not known to attack unless very severely provoked. The minimum distance that we must keep when we are with the gorillas is 10 meters – we’re not permitted any closer because gorillas are very susceptible to human disease since they share over 98% of our DNA.
Please note that if you’re unwell with anything contagious, even a common cold, you’ll not be allowed to trek gorillas. We’ll retreat from the activity back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
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, this morning at around 8.00 am, we’ll have another full day of birding in Bwindi. We’ll once again either have a packed lunch somewhere in a nice spot in the forest, or return to the lodge for lunch and some down time.
We will go birding in the Ruhija sector, and although not a large area, the birds are normally so good we’ll move very slowly. In scrubby areas beyond Buhoma sector, we’ll search 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.
We will pass through Kitahurira or “The Neck,’ another well-known birding spot in Uganda that serious birders from all over the world come to. It is a offs spectacular sites of a Black sparrowhawk, Western bronze-naped pigeon, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Cassin’s honeybird, Petit’s cuckooshrike, White-chinned Prinia, Mountain Wagtail, Pink-footed puff back, the rare tiny Sunbird and the Dapper brown-capped weaver.
Later we will continue to some more open cultivated areas, with thick bracken areas that also host other species including many seedeaters like 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.
Highlight of the day: – Superb birding in Ruhija Sector in search of Albertine Rift endemics and other special birds.
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 start our day with an early breakfast at 7.00 am and then embark on a whole day of birding exploration in Ruhija’s famous Mubwindi Swamp. We set off for the steep descent to Mubwindi and the seemingly steeper ascent back the same way! 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 the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
At the swamp and the surrounding area we could also tick Carruther’s Cisticola, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Olive, Elliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpecker, Black-billed Turaco, 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, Shelley’s and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Regal Sunbird and Rwenzori Batis among many other bird species.
Because of the steep trail, walking sticks are recommended. The option of borrowing walking sticks and of hiring porters to carry everything other than binoculars and cameras will be available. This all-day excursion will also hopefully give us an opportunity to observe other Albertine Rift endemics such the Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, Regal sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing and Stripe-breasted. We’ll retreat in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Encountering the rare, elusive, and beautiful 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:-
After an early breakfast (at around 7.00am) at our place of stay, we will say saying goodbye to the wonderful staff. We will then 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 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. Lake Mburo National Park hosts over 350 bird species as well as 68 mammal species such as Plains Zebra, Impala and Eland (Africa’s largest antelope), African buffalo, Oribi, Defassa Waterbuck, Hippos, Spotted hyaena and Topi.
The highlight of the day: – Encountering the special acacia-associated birds of 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 lunch at around 7.00 am, we will have a drive along the Lake Sidetrack and Kigambira loop towards Kampala. You will bird-like African Hawk, Green-capped Eremomela, Bateleur, Austral migrant, Black Cuckoo-shrike Tawny, Red-faced Barbet, Rufous-bellied Heron, African Marsh Harrier, White-backed, Lappet-faced and White-headed Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Coqui Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, White-headed Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Tropical Boubou, Woodland Kingfisher, Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, Long-tailed Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Green-capped Eremomela, White-winged Tit, and Meyer’s Parrot.
After the encounter, embark on the transfer to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing for amazing photo shoots and souvenir purchase. Continue to Kampala 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
Mid-range/Moderate: – Cassia Lodge
Budget/Basic: – Biyem Hotel/Nexus Resorts Nansana
Drive Distance & time: – 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:-
Early in the morning after breakfast (at around 8.00 am), we’ll go birding in the Botanical Gardens Entebbe where you have chances of exploring birds like Palm-nut Vultures, Africa fish eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Orange Weaver, Red-chested sunbirds, golden-backed weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, African Grey parrot, Great-blue turaco, and Ross’s turaco just to mention but a few.
You shall have a picnic lunch and embark on the birding encounter in Lutembe a Ramsar Site (wetland of international importance) on the edge of Lake Victoria. This site is notable for seasonal Palaearctic (26 species) migrants. These include an average of 1,048,602 White-winged black terns, a figure representing more than half of the global population.
There are over 108 species of waterbirds recorded at the site including the globally vulnerable Shoebill (occasional), Madagascar squacco heron, and the papyrus yellow warbler; the near-threatened Papyrus gonolek, Great snipe, African skimmer, and Pallid harrier, and 24 regionally threatened species such as the Northern brown-throated weaver, Great cormorant, Slender-billed gull and (as mentioned above) quite a lot of White-winged black terns. Relax for relaxation dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens and Lutembe Bay
Accommodation:-
Luxury/Upmarket: –Protea Hotel Entebbe/Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Mid-range/Moderate: – Boma Hotel Entebbe/2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe/Lake Heights Hotel Entebbe
Budget/Basic: – Airport Guesthouse Entebbe/Acacia Boutique Hotel
Drive Distance & time: – 40km or 1 hours
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We have breakfast at 6.30 am and then depart for the Mabamba Bay Swamp, a Ramsar site and an Important Bird Area on the shore of Lake Victoria, one of the top two places in the world to find the Shoebill, Africa’s number one and highly sought-after bird.
Mabamba swamp is also a weaver paradise, and we should find Golden-backed, Slender-billed, Northern Brown-throated, Village, Vieillot’s, Orange, Black-headed, and Grosbeak, and, if we are really fortunate, the near-endemic Weyn’s Weaver. Other species here include Great Blue Turaco, Palm-nut vultures Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, and an impressive collection of swallows. The bird encounter is done on a canoe where you also have the opportunity of encountering the elusive Sitatunga Antelope. You will retire from the activity and connect to Entebbe International Airport for your flight departure in the evening.
Highlight of the day: Encountering the incredible and unique Shoebill stork in Mabamba Swamp, on Lake Victoria shore.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch
Activities & services of the day:-
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