Our 22 days Uganda birding safari is a 21 nights/22 days Uganda birding tour offering incredible birdwatching in Uganda’s finest birding destinations, and an unforgettable trek to see endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Park & wildlife viewing safari.
The fantastic 22 days of birding in Uganda safari tour allows us to explore the birds of Uganda in detail, to see several of the country’s 1,073 bird species which is about 11% of the world’s total bird species and 50% of the bird species in Africa that makes Uganda one of the top birding safari destinations not only in Africa but also in the whole world.
During this 22 days of birdwatching in Uganda trip, we’ll also go on 4 boat cruises and (one canoe ride!); see many other wonderful fauna and flora, and experience the stunning scenery of Uganda.
We visit the bird-rich Mabira Forest Reserve with 315 bird species; Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we’ll encounter up to 300 bird species and track white rhinos on foot and Budongo Forest Reserve with over 360 bird species including the endemic Puvel’s illadopsis, the rare Nahan’s partridge and Nahan’s francolin. We continue to Murchison Falls National Park with over 450 birds of Uganda and 76 Uganda animals/Uganda mammal species. You will undertake a boat cruise on the historic Nile River in search of an incredible and unique Shoebill.
We will travel to Kibale National Park, the famous home of Chimpanzees which offers up to 375 Uganda birds- species including the rare, elusive, and beautiful Green-breasted Pitta, the fabulous Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary with over 200 bird species, and the scenic Queen Elizabeth National Park with over 600 bird species (the largest checklist of a protected area in East Africa) and 95 animals of Uganda mammals.
The wonderful Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site is where we’ll see some of the most unique birds of the trip. Over 351 bird species have been recorded of which 23 species are endemic to Albertine Rift including the gorgeous African green broadbill, Handsome francolin, Regal Sunbird, and Rwenzori turaco. Also, this is where we’ll trek the Mountain gorillas on foot which is one of the greatest wildlife experiences on earth. About half of the world’s Mountain Gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
We visit Lake Mburo National Park where we’ll look for the rare and localized Red-faced Barbet, as well as the endemic African Finfoot. This amazing 22 days Uganda birding safari tour will end with a one-day safari Mabamba swamp to see the rare Shoebill, a Ramsar site, and an Important Bird Area on Lake Victoria shore which is one of the top places in the world to look for the Shoebills, one of the world’s most bizarre birds.
Spend a magical hour with endangered Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi
Explore Uganda’s most Important Bird Areas, which offer up to 1073 species
Cover a multitude of habitats for the region’s sought after birds
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 captivating birding hike to the top of the world’s most powerful waterfall
A wonderful bird watching boat trip along the Nile to the bottom of the Murchison Falls
A very relaxing birding launch cruise along the hippo filled Kazinga channel
Game viewing during birding adventure in Murchison, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo Parks.
Walking amongst the wild mammals of Lake Mburo National Park
Photo shoots and water experience at Uganda Equator
Discover just how friendly and hospitable the Ugandan people are.
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda
Day 2 & 3: Mabira Forest
Day 4 & 5: Budongo Forest Reserve and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Day 6, 7 & 8: Murchison Falls National Park
Day 9: Hoima
Day 10 & 11: Kibale Forest National Park
Day 12 & 13: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 14, 15, 16, 17 &18: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 15: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Buhoma Sector
Day 19: Lake Mburo National Park
Day 20, 21 & 22: Entebbe−Mabamba Swamp, Entebbe Botanical Gardens & Lutembe Bay
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda via Entebbe International Airport & connect to the lodge
Day 2: Transfer to Mabira Forest Reserve & do birding
Day 3: Whole day birding in Mabira Forest Reserve
Day 4: Transfer to Budongo Forest with a visit to Ziwa Sanctuary for rhino tracking & birding
Day 5: Whole day birding in Budongo Forest Reserve – Busingiro Area & Royal Mile
Day 6: Half-day birding in Budongo (Kaniyo Pabidi Site) & transfer to Murchison Falls N.P
Day 7: Private boat to the Delta Area & birding in the savannah landscape of Murchison
Day 8: Birding in the savannah of Murchison & afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Day 9: Bird in Rabongo Forest and transfer to Hoima
Day 10: Transfer from Hoima to Kibale Forest National Park
Day 11: Do Birding in Kibale Forest & the adjacent Bigodi wetland Sanctuary
Day 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a bird in the Mweya Peninsular
Day 13: Birding in Queen Elizabeth Park; Kasenyi sector &Kazinga Channel boat cruise
Day 14: Birding in Ishasha sector as we transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 15: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Buhoma Sector
Day 16: Undertake Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi – Buhoma
Day 17: Birding to Ruhija through Neck
Day18: Birding in Mubwindi Swamp
Day 19: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, do birding with a boat ride on Lake Mburo
Day 20: Do half-day birding and wildlife walking safari & transfer to Entebbe
Day 21: Birding in Mabamba Swamp & afternoon birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Day 22: Birding in Lutembe Bay & Airport drop off
On arrival at Entebbe Airport, you’ll be met by our company representative who will welcome you to Uganda – the Pearl of Africa. The amazing weather and brightening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Victoria, the world’s second-largest freshwater lake will give you a remarkable first impression of Uganda.
You’ll connect to the nearby hotel reserved for you in Entebbe for a welcome drink and a briefing on Uganda and your birding safari in Uganda. After you have comfortably settled into the hotel, this closes the first day of your ultimate 14 days Uganda birding safari.
The highlight of the day: – Sighting the serene waters of Lake Victoria, the second biggest freshwater lake in the world.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Protea Hotel Entebbe/Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Midrange/Standard: – Boma Hotel Entebbe/2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe/ Lake Heights Hotel Entebbe
Budget/Basic: – 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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
After breakfast at around 6.00 am at the hotel, we will grab our cameras and binoculars and head east to the Mabira Forest Reserve along Jinja road. We drive through the striking rural Uganda rural landscape with a lush green cover, scattered human settlement, towns, and markets where you will see people going on with their daily life.
The huge and beautiful Mabira Forest covers 306km2 is the most significant forest reserve closest to Kampala city. Mabira boats over 300 bird species including several 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, Purple-throated cuckoo-shrike, Red-tailed leaflove, Weyn’s weaver, and Nahan’s francolin which is an IUCN Red list’ endangered species are regularly seen.
We will also search for Great blue Turaco, Africa 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. We shall then settle for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – An exciting birding nature in Mabira Forest Reserve in search of rare bird species such as Tit Hylia.
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:-
We will have breakfast at around 7.00 am. We will go for a full day birding nature walk through Mabira Forest in search of more other birds not spotted the previous day, only to break for a picnic lunch in the forest and then proceed with birding. This 22 days birdwatching safari in Uganda adventure 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: – Full-day nature walk in Mabira Forest in search of birds, primates, and other forest creatures.
Accommodation:-
Upmarket/Luxury: – Mabira Rain Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
In the early morning after breakfast (at around 6.30 am), we drive northwest to Masindi town close to Budongo Forest Reserve. This route will offer you amazing views of the flat landscapes of central Uganda before making a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for a 2 hours birding and rhino tracking encounter on foot ( in the company of an expert guide). Ziwa Sanctuary is home to 22 Southern White Rhinos and is the only place to see wild rhinos in Uganda.
The savannah thicket of this 70km2 sanctuary contains over 300 bird species! You will spot several of these including the Grey crowned cranes − the Uganda national bird, Shoebills, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-spotted dove, Booted eagle, Broad-billed Roller, African Black Crake, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, and African Blue Flycatcher among other birds.
We have lunch in the sanctuary and transfer to Masindi, arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight. 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.
The highlight of the day: – Rhino tracking 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 breakfast at around 7.00 am and embark on a whole day birding expedition in the 825km2 Budongo Forest Reserve; a magnificent tract of intact tropical rainforest at the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley. Budongo Forest hosts an avian wealth of over 360 bird species, 800 chimpanzees, and several monkey species including Red-tailed monkey, Blue monkey, Mantle guereza, and Anubis baboons. We’ll bird the Busingiro Area and the marvelous Royal Mile, one of the top bird-watching tracks in the country.
The Royal Mile is a public but very lightly used road where the forest authorities have cleared the shrub growth for 20 feet on either side of the road, leading to superb views of both undergrowth bird species as well as making canopy views better than most lowland rainforests. Special bird species we hope to see include the sought-after African dwarf, Blue-breasted, and Chocolate-backed kingfishers. It is also the best site in Uganda for Cassin’s Spinetail, Nahan’s Francolin, and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher. There are 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. Other amazing birds to look for include the impressive White-thighed Hornbill, Blue Malkoha, barbets including Hairy-breasted and Yellow-billed, cryptic Green Hylia, Yellow Longbills, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, African Forest-Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Grey-headed Sunbird, and Yellow-mantled Weaver.
Various monkeys will also be seen. You will have a picnic lunch in the forest as you bird and retreat in the evening to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Birding along with one of Uganda’s superb birding spots, the Royal Mile.
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’ll have breakfast at around 7.30 am and transfer to the Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo for more birding. This area also offers a chance to track wild Chimpanzees on your way to Murchison Falls National Park (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 is as no other locality in E Africa. Other interesting birds include Narina trogon, Little greenbul, Chestnut wattle eye, Grey Apalis, Dwarf, and Pygmy kingfishers, and a great many forest sunbirds and hornbills. The extremely localized and magnificently gorgeous Green-breasted pitta has also been recorded here.
From Budongo, we move to Murchison Falls N.P, Uganda’s largest national park which is home to over 451 bird species and 76 mammal species including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, primates, and numerous antelopes. We will 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 meters wide Nile River as it bursts through a 7-meter gap in the rift valley escarpment and falls 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:-
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo
After breakfast at around 6.30 am, connect to Paraa jetty for an early morning 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 highly sought-after Shoebill stork. The shoebill has been a beloved species for a long time and even appears in the artwork of the ancient Egyptians. The first known allusions to the shoebill came from early European explorers to Sudan, who wrote of a camel-sized flying creature known by locals as Abu-Markhub, or “father of a shoe”. The reports were dismissed as pure fancy by western biologists until in 1851 when John Gould came across a bizarre specimen among an avian specimen shot on the Upper White Nile. Describing it as the most extraordinary bird I have ever seen, Gould placed his discovery in a monotypic family and named it Balaeniceps rex meaning King Whale-head!
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, 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-breasted Snake-Eagle, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Black-headed Lapwing, Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Black Scimitar-bill and Black-backed Cisticola. Mammals are well represented and we’ll have possibilities of encountering Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, and more.
The highlight of the day: – The morning private 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:-
We’ll have breakfast at 7.00 am and embark on an extensive birding encounter in the classic savannah plains of Murchison Falls Park’s northern sector.
In the afternoon, we gather at Paraa jetty for a thrilling 3 hours launch cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls where the Nile River explodes violently through a narrow gap in the Albertine rift valley escarpment and spectacularly plunges 45 meters down, not to mention the deafening roar and voluminous spray it generates. 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 possibilities of encountering hundreds of hippos, numerous giant Nile crocodiles, Elephants, and Buffaloes as they are surrounded by numerous waterbirds such as African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, Goliath heron, Squacco heron, Pied Kingfisher, Saddle bellied stork. You also have another chance to see the iconic Shoebill. We retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – The afternoon boat cruise along the Nile River to the bottom of the breathtaking Murchison Fall as you view water birds, hippos, Crocs, and more.
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’ll start our day with an early breakfast at 7.00 am. We’ll visit Rabongo Forest which spreads over 4km2 in the far southeast of Murchison Falls National Park and offers impressive bird views most especially the forest birds such as Rufous-sided broadbill, Little green sunbird, Grey-headed sunbird, White-spotted flufftail, Yellow-footed Flycatcher and Sabine’s Spinetail.
The forest walk here will offer impressive views of the primates including the Black-and-white colobus, Red-tailed monkeys, Blue monkeys, and Olive boons. Retire from the activity and embark on the transfer to Hoima driving along the scenic Albertine rift escarpment with magical views.
The highlight of the day: – Exciting walks in search of birds and primate viewing 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, head to Kibale National Park where we’ll reach in the early afternoon but we will embark on birding at the entrance of the forest, in the Sebitoli Sector 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
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: – 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: – Approx. 170km or 5-6 hours
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We’ll start our day with an early morning breakfast at 7.00 am and transfer to the Kanyanchu area. We’ll have a chance to encounter the rare, elusive, and gorgeous 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 and the globally threatened White-naped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Blue-headed bee-eater Cassin’s spinetail, Nahan’s francolin, Masked Apalis, Ruwenzori Apalis, Black-capped Apalis, Crowned Eagle, Western Nicator, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Blue-headed Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Little Greenbul, Abyssinian ground-thrush, Black-eared ground thrush, Great blue turaco, Pin-tailed whydah, African pied wagtail, Slender-billed weaver, Tropical boubou, Brown illadopsis, Brown-chested alethe, Red-chested owlet, Red-faced woodland warbler, Scaly-breasted illadopsis, and Yellow-rumped tinkerbird
Kibale is, however, famous for being the best place in the world to see Chimpanzees in their natural habitat. Those who opt for 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 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 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 area supports counts of bird species including several weavers, doves, sunbirds, Black-headed gonolek, Swamp nightjar, Little bee-eater, Swifts, Swallows, Martins, and Nubian woodpeckers. 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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We start our day with an early breakfast at 6.30 am, and then drive towards spectacular Lake Kikorongo and the Kasenyi track for more birding in Queen Elizabeth Park. QENP is both a mammal and bird haven. The park’s variety of habitats: rolling savannah grassland, tropical rain forests, moist acacia woodland, freshwater lakes, saline crater lakes, and wetlands host an incredible 600 plus bird species and over 96 mammal species including tree climbing and savannah Lions, Leopards, Buffalos, Elephants, Hippos, numerous Antelopes, a variety of Monkeys and Chimpanzees.
Uganda special bird species to look for include 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, and we will have an opportunity to see 4 of the Big 5, Hyenas, and the spectacular Giant forest hog plus much more.
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:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day include:-
We start our day with an early breakfast at the camp at 7.00 am and then 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 in sighting the area’s legendary Tree-climbing lions. We’ll also see a large variety of 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, 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 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 of which 14 are not recorded anywhere else in Uganda.
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’ 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’ll retire from the activity for relaxation dinner and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – Full-day birdwatching nature walk search of avian wonders of Buhoma Sector in spectacular Bwindi Impenetrable 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
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 gentle Mountain gorillas! We’ll start this day with breakfast at around 6.00 am and undertake a short drive to the park headquarters and meet with the excellent local ranger guides. The guides will provide a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. 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 gorilla trek takes 2-8 hours including 1 hour spend with 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 after encountering the gorillas is 10 meters – we are 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 are 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.
The highlight of the day: – The one magical hour with the gentle giants of the forests, the Mountain gorillas.
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 our early morning breakfast at 6.30 am, we go birding in Bwindi’s Ruhija Sector. Although it is not a long way, we will spend the whole day on this route to take advantage of the superb birding. In scrubby areas beyond the 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.
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 sites of a Black Sparrowhawk, Western bronze-naped pigeon, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Cassin’s honeybird, Petit’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 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: – 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 birding exploration in Ruhija’s Mubwindi Swamp. We set off for the steep descent to Mubwindi and the seemingly steeper ascent back the same way! We will have a great chance to encounter the exceedingly rare and amazingly cryptic Grauer’s broadbill or African green broadbill, one of Africa’s most sought-after birds. This globally threatened species is only known from two sites in the world, the other being a remote forest in eastern Democratic Republic Congo.
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 as the Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, Regal Sunbird, Dusky Crimsonwing, and Stripe-breasted tit. We’ll retreat in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
The highlight of the day: – The chance to encounter the exceedingly rare and amazingly cryptic African green Broadbill in Mubwindi Swamp.
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 check out of our accommodation. We’ll drive towards Lake Mburo National Park driving through the magical Kigezi Highlands. On our way out of the forest, we’ll of course be on the lookout for any missed species including Handsome Francolin, Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, and possibly the highland Kandt’s Waxbill. As we head eastward, the birds en route will now be familiar, but it won’t stop us from looking in any interesting habitat.
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 to watch out for acacia-associated bird species like Ruppell’s long-tailed starling, mosque swallow, and black-bellied bustard. Retire from the activity for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
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 7.00 am, we’ll embark on the extensive birding and wildlife walking safari experience in the rolling savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo Park. Our top avian target will be the endemic Red-faced Barbet. Other targets will include Tabora Cisticola, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Green-capped Eremomela, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Spot-flanked Barbet, and Gray Penduline Tit, 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, White-headed Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Finfoot, White-winged Tit and Yellow-breasted Apalis among other birds.
Lake Mburo is also an excellent park for mammals. The walking experience will offer an opportunity to explore counts of wild game including Burchell’s Zebras, Rothschild Giraffes, Topis, Elands, Waterbucks, Buffaloes, Impala, and Warthogs. Retreat from the activity and embark on a 24km (3-4 hours) drive to Kampala with a stop at the Equator crossing at Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres.
The highlight of the day: – Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
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: – 280km or 5 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 go birding in Mabamba Bay Swamp, a Ramsar site, and an Important Bird Area on the shore of Lake Victoria. Mabamba is one of the top places in the world to find the Shoebill, Africa’s number one and highly sought-after bird, as well as an excellent selection of waterbirds.
This is 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, 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 return to Entebbe. In the afternoon, embark on the birding encounter in Entebbe Botanical Gardens where you have chances of exploring birds like the Palm-nut vultures, Verreaux’s Eagle, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Golden-backed weaver, Orange Weaver, Red-chested sunbirds, Black-headed Gonolek, African fish eagle, Gray Parrot, Ross’s Turaco, and Great blue turaco just to mention but a few.
The highlight of the day: – Searching for the rare Shoebills in Mabamba Swamp.
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
Meal Plan: – Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Activities & services of the day:-
Optional activities you can choose to do on this day:-
We have our breakfast at 7.30 am and embark on the birding encounter in Lutembe bay which is a Ramsar Site (wetland of international importance). 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. Connect to Entebbe International Airport for check-in and flight departure.
Meal Plan: – Breakfast & Lunch
Activities & services of the day:-
Cate
Samuel
Robert
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