Murchison Falls Park Birding Safari - 7 Days

Day 1: Bird Through Entebbe Areas

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport meet our representative who will transfer you to your respective hotel of stay in Entebbe.

Early arrivals can be introduced to birding around Entebbe preferable in the Botanical Gardens which produces great results of birding with views of the Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos, Red Chested, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoo, Great Reed, Grey Capped, Sedge, Greater Swamp and Eurosuian Reed Warblers, Fain Tailed Widow bird, Striped, Malachite, Giant, Woodland and Pygmy Kingfishers, Black Bishop, Grey Woodpecker, Olive, Olive bellied, Red chested, Superb, Green Throated and Collard Sunbirds, Orange, Yellow Backed, Golden Backed, Slender Billed and Black Headed Weavers, Lizard Buzzard, Grey Kestral, Black Kite, Gaber Goshawk, African Paradise and Red Bellied Paradise and Ashy fly catchers, and many more.

Dinner and overnight stay Papyrus Guesthouse Entebbe. Bed and breakfast.

This day watch out for the Bat Hawk in the evening hours

Day 2: Birding to Murchison Falls National Park

Drive to Murchison Falls National Park birding en route for the White-crested Turaco.

Lunch in Masindi then continue to the park and drive to the top of the falls for Pel’s fishing Owl, Rock Pranticoles, Bat Hawk and a variety of Night Jars.

Overnight Hotel and Dinner and overnight stay at Budongo Eco-lodge. Full board.

Day 3: Bird in Murchison Falls National Park

This day we wake up very early and start our birding.

The main focus for today will be the Puvell’s Illadopsis, Grey and Yellow Longbill, other species which might be encountered in this forest might include among others the Fire Crested Alethe, Narina Tragon, Dusky Longtailed Cuckoo, Xavier’s, Ictrine, Plain and Little Greenbul, Yellow Billed and Yellow Spotted Barbet, Green, Olive Bellied and Olive Sunbird, Crested Guinea Fowl, Speckled, Yellow Rumped and Yellow Throated Tinkerbird, Brown Eared and Yellow Crested Woodpecker plus other forest birds.

Dinner and overnight stay at Sambiya River Lodge.

Day 4: Bird in the Northern Sector of Murchison Falls National Park

This morning we start with a drive as we proceed to cross the ferry for a game drive to the delta area searching for Shoebill stork and other water birds.

On our morning drive we expect to find some nocturnal species of birds mostly the Nightjars and Owls, at times cats are sighted en route.

After crossing for a game and birding drive on the northern sector of the park, expect animals like lion, leopards mostly on a lucky day, giraffes, oribis, hartebeests, elephants, cape buffalo.

The birds usually seen on this drive include the White Fronted Black Chat, African Quil Finch, Fawn Bat and Breasted Waxbill, Northern Carmine, Swallow Tailed and Red Throated Bee-Eater, Silver Bird, Stanley’s Bustard, Black Billed Barbet, Rufous Crowned and Abyssinian Roller, White Browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle Fronted Sparrow Weaver, Rufous Sparrow, Vitelline Masked and Little Weaver.

In the afternoon we take a boat ride along the Victoria Nile to the bottom of the falls where we shall see a variety water birds, schools of hippos, crocodiles dinner and overnight stay at Sambiya River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge. Full board.

Day 5: Bird Through the Albertine Escarpment

Early morning drive to Masindi while birding the escarpment in search for the Black Billed and Spot Flanked Barbet, Foxy Cisticola, Striped Kingfisher, Red-chested Cuckoo, Foxy Cistcola, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Black-headed Batis, Cliff Chat, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Green-headed Sunbird, Red-winged Pytilia,  Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, birding to the pond for the Shining Blue King fisher, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetail might be rewarding.

Overnight at Masindi Hotel or New Court View Hotel. Full board.

Day 6: Bird the Royal Mile

Bird the Royal Mile for Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Nahan’s Francolin, Chocolate-backed and Dwarf Kingfishers, White-thighed Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, numerous Tinkerbirds and Barbets, Yellow-crested and Brown-eared Woodpecker, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Fraser’s and Red- tailed Ant Thrush, Western Black-headed Oriole, Purple headed Starling.

After our picnic lunch we transfer in the afternoon to the Busingiro sector looking out for the Ituri Batis, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Tit Hylia, Uganda Woodland Wabler, Jameson’s Wattle Eye then later to our Hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 7: Return to Kampala, Birding En Route

Today we transfer to Kampala birding en route. Today we have a variety of grassland birds.

We reach Kampala in the late evening depending on the time of your flight back home.

Papyrus Guesthouse Entebbe

Bed and breakfast is located just a few minutes drive away from Uganda’s International Airport in a quiet and leafy area of Entebbe town. It offers quality accommodation in 9 self contained rooms. Their restaurant serves intercontinental dishes à la carte. Airport transfers and high speed wifi are complimentary for Papyrus Guesthouse customers.

Budongo Eco-lodge

Situated inside the Budongo Tropical rainforest this lodge does a good job of minimising its impact on the environment.

Lights are solar powered, as is the water heating, and toilets are of the composting variety. The simple but comfortable cabins are nestled in the forest, sufficiently far away from each other that you feel completely private and surrounded by trees, lush undergrowth, and forest sounds.

Eco-Cabins

Tucked away in the pristine forest, the five intimate cabins are perfectly blending with the natural environment. They are connected by well maintained walking paths and constructed with traditional materials for a low environmental impact.

Each cabin has a private deck that overlooks the surrounding forest and its rich (bird)life. The rooms are spacious and bright, with large twin or double beds and a sitting area.

En suite is a fully equipped bathroom with a wash table, shower and separate composting toilet.

Sambiya River Lodge

Paraa Safari Lodge

Paraa Safari Lodge is situated on the bank of the the Nile River opposite the launch jetty.

Architecturally, the lodge falls in the category of a 'hotel in bush' type of lodges - a double storey monolith that in most respects wouldn't look out of place on a beach or in a city - but the extensive use of natural materials and African interior decor give it a definite organic feel. The large and luxurious decorated rooms all have private balconies facing the river, walk-in mosquito netting and a specious bath or shower.

The three-course meals cost about $15 and have a strong international flavour, plus a daily choice for vegetarians, and there is also a good, inexpensive snack menu for a casual passer-by.

The grounds are dominated by a curvaceous swimming pool, reportedly the largest in the country, and offer a good view of the Nile.

Logistically, it is the most conveniently located of the upmarket lodges for game drives in the north and the launch trip to the base of Murchison Falls.

The rooms are big and beautiful, and bathroom amenities are great, lobby/lounge is large with a marvelous welcoming atmosphere. The front desk folks make you feel immediately welcome.

The lodge is located on a slightly elevated point alongside the Nile and affords a great view of the river. Accommodation is either in tents or rooms, we stayed in the rooms and they are fairly well laid out.

Masindi Hotel

New Court View Hotel

• Private transportation using a 4x4 safari vehicle
• Services of a good, skilled birding guide/driver
• Accommodation with all meals during the tour
• All parks entrance and birding fees for the birding spots in the program