Uganda a bird watcher's paradise is a land locked small country with over 1000 species of Birds. In terms of size 236,578 sq km, Uganda is the richest country for birds in Africa. It has almost half the species known on the African continent and over 10% of those are recorded throughout the entire world. With excellent infrastructure, a great diversity of wetland, savannah and forest birds, including 29 of the 43 Albertine rift endemics, Uganda owes a visit in a lifetime. The people of Uganda are among the most hospitable in Africa. They are arguably the best hospitable in East Africa.
Itineraries have been made for those willing to stay for either 7 or 14 days birding Uganda and are led by experienced bird guides. However we can arrange other itineraries to suit your holiday as soon as you inform us. You will travel in 4 WD vehicles throughout your bird watching in Uganda.
The best time for birding in Uganda is recommendable during the rains when there is a lot of activity in the wild. This is March April to May then September to November.
Birders interested only in birding the Albertine Rift Endemics can also inform us in time. A special itinerary for this group has also been made for you. This is a 7 days trip to Albertine Rift region. 2 days traveling to and fro. 2 days birding Buhoma, 2 days birding Ruhija, and 1 optional day for gorilla tracking.
An early booking preferably a minimum of 3 - 6 months in advance puts us in a better position for satisfactory services.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival / Birding in Botanical Gardens, Entebbe
Early arrivals will have the opportunity to bird the Entebbe botanical gardens. The gardens host a variety of open country and wood land species which include: orange weaver, red chested sunbird, verreaux's eagle owl, slender billed weaver, northern brown throated weaver, yellow backed weaver, sedge wabler, giant king fisher, great reed wabler, Pied hornbill, great blue turaco, Ross's turaco to mention but a few. Included: D.
Overnight Hotel Lake Victoria, Entebbe
Day 2: Birding in Mabamba Swamp and Mpanga Forest
Leave early in the morning with picnic lunch for Mabamba Swamp for the rare African Shoebill. Later transfer to Mpanga forest. This forest is a stunning patch of remnant, medium altitude evergreen and swamp forest. Look out for Blue breasted kingfisher, Weyn's weaver, White spotted fluff tail, Blue shouldered robin chat, Grey parrot, Lemon Dove, Black billed turaco, Fire crested alethe, Snowy headed robin chat, Dusky long tailed cuckoo, Hair breasted barbet, Woodland wabler, olive greenbul, Sooty boubou, Fiery necked nightjar, and you not surprised to meet the shy bush pig. Drive back to Kampala for overnight stay at Speke Resort Munyonyo. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Speke Resort Munyonyo, Kampala
Day 3: Birding in Budongo Forest
Start early in the morning for Budongo forest close to Murchison Falls National Park. On the way open your eyes for the white crested turaco, Ross's turaco that are always seen flying across the road in around Luweero areas. Evening birding at the edge of the forest is very interesting. Return to Masindi for overnight stay at Masindi Hotel. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Masindi Hotel, Masindi
Day 4: Birding in Budongo Forest (Royal Mile)
Leave at dawn with your picnic lunch to bird Budongo forest (Royal Mile). Spend the whole day birding here. This is the home to very rare Nahan's francolin. Look out for the Banded snake eagle, African pied hornbill, Brown backed scrub robin, black bishop, brown twinsport, Black bellied firefinch, the chocolate backed kingfisher, white thighed hornbill, yellow spotted and yellow billed barbet, spotted greenbul, Cameroon sombre greenbul, slender billed greenbul, black capped apalis, lemon bellied crombec, green hylia, pale breasted Illadopsis, forest flycatcher, fire crested alethe, yellow long bill, yellow browed camaroptera, Crowned eagle, yellow footed flycatcher, and remember that this forest is home to the chimpanzees. Late in the afternoon drive to Murchison Falls National Park. This park has a variety of unique habitats and superb birds, which make a visit to this park a must for every birder. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Paraa lodge, Murchison Fall National Park
Day 5: Boat Trip and Birding in Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, go for a boat trip to the bottom of Murchison Falls, where the Nile thunders through a 7-meter gap, or down river to the delta where the Nile empties into Lake Albert (look out for the rare Shoebill). This is an experience not to be missed! The banks of the Nile are home to many species. You may see huge Crocodiles, big Pods of Hippos and other wildlife that may come down to drink from the river, - later return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, drive to the rolling plains, watch out for the secretary bird, black chested snake eagle, tawny and marshal eagle, carmine and swallow tailed bee eaters, to mention but a few. You will also have chance to view the Elephants, Lions, Giraffe, Hartebeest, buffalo and many other mammals. Drive back to your lodge for overnight. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Paraa lodge, Murchison Falls National Park
Day 6: Game Drive, Boat Trip and Birding in Murchison Falls National Park
Early morning game drive to see the elusive wildlife and birds or take another boat trip down the river and then back to the lodge in time for lunch. In the evening, go out for another game drive and birding trip returning to the lodge at dusk. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Paraa lodge, Murchison Fall National Park
Day 7: Game Drive and Birding on the top of Murchison Falls National Park. Birding on the way to Kibale Forest National Park
Early game drive to the top of Murchison falls where you can have a closer look into the gorge. Birding on the way, where the Nile squeezes into a 7 meter gorge dropping 40 meters. The falls are spectacular and thunderous with a beautiful rainbow displayed on sunny days. Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park via Hoima as you bird en route. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Ndali Lodge / Mantana Tented Camp
Day 8: Primate Trekking and birding in Kibale Forest National Park
Kibale Forest National Park most of which is a rain forest is a home to over 9 species of Primates. These include chimpanzees, red Colubus monkeys, grey cheeked mangaby, red tailed monkeys, galagos etc. The forest is also home to Scaly francolins, marsh tchagra, Black bellied seed cracker, and Green backed twin spot, Bicoloured mannikin, white napped pigeon, Afep pigeon, Narina’s trogon, joyful greenbul and olive long tailed cuckoo, the superb black bee-eater. A nature walk at Bigodi wetland will be good for your afternoon birding. This is the home to Blue headed coucal, Blue breasted kingfisher, Scaly throated honey guide, black faced rufous wabler, etc. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Ndali Lodge / Mantana Tented Camp
Day 9: Birding in Semliki Forest
Drive early morning with your packed lunch for Semliki forest. This forest is a moist semi-deciduous forest a home to spot breasted ibis, Northern bearded scrub robin, Capuchin babbler, Lyre tailed honey guide, yellow throated green cuckoo, white bellied king fisher, Maxwell's black weaver, Black winged oriole, Red eyed puff back, Crested and red bellied malimbe, Brown crowned eremomela, Zenker's honey guide, African piculet, etc. Also look out for the rare shoebill. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Semliki Lodge
Day 10: Birding in Semliki Forest
A second day for bird watching in Semliki Forest. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Semliki Lodge
Day 11: Birding in Maramagambo Forest
At the break of day, start for Maramagambo forest west of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Key species here are Dark capped yellow wabler, Fawn breasted waxbill, Black headed batis, Brubru, Sulphur breasted bush shrike, Eurasian golden oriole, bat hawk, Red tailed bristle bill, Green crombec, Black & white flycatcher, Brown eared wood pecker, Red headed blue bill, African hobby, African green pigeon and Ross's turaco. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Mweya lodge
Day 12: Birding in Maramagambo Forest
A second day for bird watching in Maramagambo Forest. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Mweya lodge
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Transfer to southwards to the home of the giant cousins of human beings. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is still one of the best virgin tropical rain forests in East Africa. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp
Day 14: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding begins early in the morning with the early risers. After breakfast carry a picnic lunch for whole day birding in the only natural tropical forest in the area. This forest has over 300 bird species recorded. These include red throated alethe, equatorial akalat, forest robin, montane oriole, grey throated barbet, hairy breasted barbet, African broad bill, black bee-eater, pale breasted illadopsis, Narina's trogon, Pettit's cuckoo shrike, black faced rufous warbler, and many other forest rarities. This forest receives rainfall almost throughout the year. A rain jacket and hiking shoes are solutions. Return for dinner and overnight at Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp
Day 15: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Many birders who have been to this forest have shown interest in trekking these cousins of human beings in their jungle homes. Have this optional day for gorilla trekking. Carry your picnic lunch and plenty of water and enjoy the forest giants. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp
Day 16: Birding in the highest peak of Ruhiija Forest
Depart at the crack of dawn for a 50km drive to the highest peak of the forest - Ruhiija. Keep your eyes and ears open for the African green broad bill. Look out for a white starred robin, grey cuckoo shrike, strange weaver, banded prinia, brown chested alethe, slender billed greenbul, yellow streaked greenbul, white browed crombec, mountain illadopsis, Luehder's bush shrike, grey green bush shrike; all these and many others are among the 345 species recorded in this park.
Birders who come with camping equipment can camp at Ruhiija campground. Otherwise the two best days for this highest point will be driving from Buhoma. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Ruhiija campground or Buhoma
Day 17: Birding in Lake Mburo National Park
After an early breakfast, then drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Your drive is punctuated with several stops to see the barefaced go away bird, crowned plover, watt led lapwing, southern red bishop, variable sunbird, African harrier hawk, larks and many others. Enjoy the fabulous long horned Ankole cattle as you bird. Dinner and overnight at Mantana tented camp at the edge of Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy free songs of the morning dove, deidrick cuckoo, grey-capped warbler, black-headed weaver, etc. Included: B, L, D.
Overnight Mantana tented camp
Day 18: Lake Mburo National Park / Entebbe (approximately 5 hours)
Leave at dawn to get the African fin foot at lake Mburo before it disappears into the papyrus beds floating on the lake. Look out for the brown chested lapwing, lilac breasted roller, carmine bee-eaters, black bellied bustard, helmeted guinea fowl, handsome francolin, rufous napped lark, vultures, eagles, kites and the like.
Transfer to Entebbe Airport for departure. Included: B, L.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Included:
- Expert leadership
- Accommodations
- Meals as noted
- Airport transfers
- Park fee and sightseeing as noted in the itinerary
- Ground transportation.
Not Included:
- International airfare or flights of any kind
- Meals not noted on the itinerary
- Insurance of any kind
- Visas
- Excess baggage charges
- Airport taxes
- Items of a personal nature (alcoholic beverages, laundry, etc).
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Uganda
Birdwatching
Wildlife Viewing
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