- Overview
- Trip plan
- Trip Includes
- Trip Excludes
- Gallery
Day 1: Arrive in Uganda.Transfer to the hotel for a night
Day 2 Day Birding Mabamba Wetlands then travel to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 3: Lake Mburo National Park
Day 4: Birding to Ruhija
Day 5: Gorilla Tracking
Day 6: Birding Mubwindi Swamp
Day 7: Birding to Buhoma through “The Neck”
Day 8: Birding the Main Trail
Day 9: Birding to Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 10: Game Drive in the Park and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
Day 11: Birding to Kibale National Park
Day 12: Chimpanzee Tracking in the forest
Day 13: Birding to Budongo forest
Day 14: Whole day bird watching in the Royal Mile
Day 15: Birding to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 16-17: Morning Game drive, afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
Day 18: Drive to Entebbe for evening departure
The 18 Days birding tour is one of the best birding experiences in Africa targeting seeing as many bird species in Uganda as possible with Uganda Birding. This trip starts from mabamba swamp link to Lake Mburo national park to Bwindi Impenetrable which will be the furthest point south. We then start making our way north through Queen Elizabeth and Kibale National Parks, Budongo forest as we make it to Murchison falls National Park which will be our furthest destination in the North. You shall on average sight about 500 birds and 60 mammals.
Itineraries
Day 1
Arrive in Uganda
Will be arriving on this day and will be received by our representative who will be your guide on this trip. Depending on time of arrival, you could do some birding or directly transfer to your lodging for dinner and nightstay.
Day 2
Birding Mabamba Wetlands then travel to Lake Mburo National Park
After taking an early breakfast head out to the nearby Mabamba Wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria. communities —Its an extensive papyrus swamp with its labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an Important Bird Area, and home to several pairs of Shoebills. we’ll make special efforts today to find it by paddling through the channels by boat. There will, of course, be a good selection of classic East African water birds, including Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath Heron, African Open-billed, Saddle-billed, and Marabou Storks, Hamerkop, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, African Fish-Eagle, Marsh-Harrier, African Water Rail, Purple Swamphen, Allen’s Gallinule, African Jacana, Long-toed and Spur-winged Plovers. In the afternoon we’ll travel to our first of many national parks, Lake Mburo. This park has varied habitats from open Acacia woodlands, to a number of papyrus-lined lakes and swamps.
We’ll have the afternoon and the following day to cover several different habitats.
Day 3
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park contains multiple habitats, and our time will be divided between birding an extensive area of wetland, some forested areas, and open country with numerous mammals. No fewer than 300 different bird species have been recorded in the park, an indication of the high diversity present here. The more open grassland north of the camp, particularly along the Zebra Track, is worth exploring for species such as Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, and African Wattled Lapwing, and it is here where small numbers of the migratory Brown-chested Lapwing can be regularly observed. After dusk, we’ll have the opportunity to do some spotlighting along the entrance road, which may produce some interesting nocturnal species, such as the African Scops Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Black-shouldered, and Pennant-winged Nightjars.
Mammals will be a large part of our visit to this park, and the many species we might see include the shy bushbuck, graceful Impalas, and Common Zebras, all found out in the open, park-like woodland.
Day 4
Birding to Ruhija
The road out of Lake Mburo National Park is good for birding. You will have chances of picking up a few species as you drive to Bwindi. These may include African Cuckoo-hawk, Coqui Francolin, Scaly Francolin, Lilac Breasted Roller, Crested and Black-collard Barbet.
Bwindi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to approximately half of the world endangered population of Mountain Gorillas.
Day 5
Gorilla Tracking
On this day, set off early, with packed lunch, to the park headquarters for a briefing prior to Gorilla Tracking.. The gorillas are gentle animals and it is an unforgettable experience to photograph them as they interact. It is a wonderful experience to stare into the eyes of these gentle giants; watch them in awe as they play and go about their daily activities.
We will also look for other primates like the L’hoest Monkey, Guereza Colobus; Red-tailed, and Blue monkeys. Mammals include the Rwenzori Duiker, Yellow-back duiker, Carruther’s, Bohm’s and Alexander Squirrels, and many other species.
Day 6
Birding Mubwindi Swamp
We spend the entire day birding the Mubwindi Swamp area. The 4 km trail to Mubwindi Swamp is the best place for some of the most difficult to find of all rift endemics. This includes Grauer’s (African Green) Broadbill, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, and Archer’s Robin-Chat. Mubwindi Swamp is also home to Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Ruwenzori Apalis. African Hill Babbler (sometimes treated as a separate species from Ruwenzori Hill Babbler), the rare and localized Grauer’s Scrub-Warbler. Some of the many species we have a chance of seeing here include Black Goshawk, Augur Buzzard, Crowned Hawk-Eagle, Handsome Francolin. Olive (Rameron) Pigeon, Bronze-winged Pigeon, Black-billed, Ruwenzori, and Ross’s Turaco, African, Barred Long-tailed, and African Emerald Cuckoos. Red-chested Owlet, Narina and Bar-tailed Trogons, Black and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Blue-throated Roller. White-headed Woodhoopoe, Grey-throated, Double-toothed, and Yellow-spotted Barbets, Western and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Thick-billed and Dwarf Honeyguides. Rufous-necked Wryneck, Tullberg’s, Speckle-breasted, Elliot’s, and Olive Woodpeckers, African Broadbill, Rock Martin, Black Saw-wing among others
Day 7
Birding to Buhoma through “The Neck”
We bird to Buhoma section through “The Neck”. The Neck (where the forest narrows) offers excellent forest birding. Key species that we will look for include many of the Albertine Rift Endemics that we may not have seen earlier. These include Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Dwarf Honeyguide, African Green Broadbill, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver,etc
Day 8
Birding the Main Trail
Species we will search for include Bar-tailed Trogon, Dusky Tit, Abyssinian, Ground-Thrush, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Equatorial Akalat, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher, Gray-green Bushshrike, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver and Magpie Mannikin. High exposed perches in the open forest are favoured by African Goshawk;
Birding at Buhoma is a truly magical experience. Other wildlife that we may be fortunate enough to find here includes the huge Yellow-backed Duiker, Guereza Colobus; L’Hoest’s, Blue and Red-tailed monkeys; Chimpanzee and several species of Squirrels including Fire-footed Rope, Carruther’Button quails Mountain, Ruwenzori Sun and Red-legged Sun Squirrel.
Day 9
Birding to Queen Elizabeth national park
Today we shall start early and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (popularly known for its tree-climbing lions) while birding on the way. Birding on the way may produce species such as Grey-capped Warbler, African Long Crested Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Black-headed waxbill, Black and white Manikin, Senegal Coucal, Red Chested Cuckoo, and others.
Mammals include African Elephant, Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Lion, Ugandan Kobs, Side-striped Jackal, Baboons, Chimpanzees, Bush and Water Bucks, Warthogs, Giant Forest Hogs
Day 10
Game Drive in the Park and Boat Cruise on Kazinga Channel
After breakfast, we set out for a whole day game and bird watching drive in the park. Later in the day we have an exciting boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. The launch is one of the most exciting water activities in Uganda. The channel is a narrow neck of water that connects Lakes George and Edward, with excellent photographic opportunities for waterside birds and abundant Hippopotamus. Amongst the birds, you are likely to encounter include African Skimmer, Striated Heron, African Spoonbill, Water Thick-knee, Three-banded Plover, Marsh, Green, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Gray-headed Gull, Plain Martin Lesser Swamp-Warbler and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
Day 11
Birding to Kibale National Park
After breakfast, we will drive to Kibale forest. Kibale forest national park is the best safari destination for chimpanzee tracking in East Africa. It contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of all tropical forests in Uganda. Hosts 13 species of primates including the chimpanzee. Has 1450 chimpanzees and these represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. Home to the rare 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, Bush-babies and Pottos. Kibale forest cover predominates in the northern and central parts of the park. Kibale is highest at the park’s northern tip which stands at 1590 m above sea level. The park also boasts 325 bird species, including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine rift region. If you are lucky you may also see the African pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, Black bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Little Greenbul, Black-eared Ground-thrush, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian ground thrush, and the crowned eagle.
Day 12
Chimpanzee Tracking in the forest
After an early breakfast, we drive to Kibale National Park visitor centre for briefing and chimp tracking. The activity may last from a few hours to several hours. Kibale forest is home to 13 primates of Uganda.
Birding in the afternoon along the main road may be productive. Depending on the weather predictions, birding Bigodi wetland is also productive with riverine forest birds. Kibale National Park is a good site for a number of birds that are hard to find elsewhere. These include Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Cabanis’s Greenbul and Joyful Greenbul as well as White-spotted Flufftail, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Lesser Honeyguide, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, White-chinned Prinia, Grey Apalis, Olive-green Camaroptera and White-collared Olive back.
Day 13
Birding to Budongo forest
Today more time is spent on the road up north but with several birding breaks. Overnight at Masindi
Day 14
Whole day bird watching in the Royal Mile
A short bird watching drive from the Hotel at dawn will take us to one of the best of Uganda’s bird-watching spots, the Royal Mile. This is Uganda’s historically known leisure spot for the traditional King, hence the name Royal Mile. Here the forest has been cut back a few meters along the sides of the main trail, which makes it a particularly good viewing area in this excellent forest.
Uganda Special Bird species here include White-thighed and Black-and-white-casqued Hornbills, Yellow-spotted and Yellow-billed Barbets, Western Black-headed Oriole, along with Red-tailed and Blue Monkeys. Overhead, Sabine’s and sometimes Cassin’s Spinetails soar over the clearings. As we walk quietly along the trail, Red-tailed Ant-Thrushes skulk in the shadows, as do Red-tailed Bristlebill, Scaly-breasted, Pale-breasted and Brown Illadopsis. Greenbuls are always a challenge and include Cameroon Sombre, Slender-billed, Honeyguide and Spotted Greenbul, whilst other regular species are Speckled Tinkerbird, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Green Crombec, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Buff-throated Apalis, and both White-breasted and Grey-headed Negro finches. Lower down we should see African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-spotted Flufftail
Day 15
Birding to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you drive northwards to Murchison Falls National Park birding through the Escarpment. Special birds include Cliff Chat, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, Singing Cisticola, Namaqua dove, Green-Winged Pytilia, Crested Francolin, Northern and Black-winged Red Bishops, Black-bellied Firefinch, Black-faced Waxbill and March Tchagra
Day 16-17
Morning Game drive, afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls
After an early breakfast, we will have a morning game drive. In the lush Borassus grassland, you may be able to encounter elephant, buffalo, giraffe, and a variety of antelope. You may also see some lions if you are lucky. After enjoying a packed lunch, we will then have an afternoon boat trip to the bottom of the falls. Here, you might have the best chance of sighting the rare shoebills (if lucky). You will also be dazzled with a variety of water birds including species like the Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller and Ground Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Senegal Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing, Long-toed Lapwing, Little Bittern, Osprey, Red-necked Falcon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Vinaceous Dove and Grosbeak Weaver. Other specialities include Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Marabou Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silverbird, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Speckle-fronted Weaver, etc
Day 18
Drive to Entebbe for evening departure
End of trip
4x4 tour vehicle
Accommodation
meals
personal insurance
Tips for guide
Phone bills
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