Uganda Birding Safari - 9 Days

Day 1: Mabamba Wetlands & Kibale Forest National Park

After arrival, head out to Mabamba Wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria.

This is one of the few remaining swamps in the country protected by the local communities – an extensive papyrus swamp with its labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an Important Bird Area, and home to several pairs of Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident.

This charismatic monotypic species is certainly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa, and 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 Pink-backed Pelican,Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath Heron, African Open-billed, Saddle-billed, and Marabou Storks, Hammerkop, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, African Fish-Eagle and many others.

Later in the afternoon, we drive to Kibale Forest National Park.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Kyaninga Lodge | Ndali Lodge | Primate Lodge Kibale

Moderate: Kibale Forest Camp | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (self contained cottages)

Low Budget: Kibale Forest Camp (tents) | Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse (shared bathroom rooms)

Day 2: Birding in Kibale Forest National Park

Birding in Kibale National Park is a delightful experience.

We shall look for species such as Afep Pegion, Green-breasted Pitta, Joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Dark Backed Weaver, White Browed Crombec,Olive long Tailed Cuckoo, Yellow Mantled Weaver Emard Cuckoo. Masked and black-throated Apalises, Chestnut winged Starling, Orange-tufted and tiny sunbirds, White-collared Olive-back and many more.

Lunch at the hotel. Go birding Bigodi Swamp in the evening. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 3: Semliki National Park

Transfer to Semliki National Park, birding on the way.

Dinner and overnight at Vanilla Lodge.

Day 4: Birding Kirumia Trail & Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast we will transfer to Semliki birding en route. Having reached in the afternoon, you will check in at the lodge and head for evening birding.

Look for species like Spot-Breasted Ibis, Hartlaub’s duck, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Long-tailed Hawk, Nkurengu Rail, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-Chested Owlet,Bates’ Nightjar, Chocolate-backed/ White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-crested/ Blackbilled Dwarf/Red-Billed Dwarf Hornbills, Piping and Black-wattled Hornbills, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted/Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Red-sided Broadbill, White-throated blue Swallow, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Xavier’s, Swamp, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Nicator, Capuchin Babbler, Nothern bearded Scrub Robin, Forest and Grey ground Thrushes, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet-Shrike,Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Black-winged Oriole, Chestnut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes, Plae-Fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negrofinches, Grant’s blue bill and many more.

After breakfast we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Up-market/Luxury: Deluxe tent/deluxe room at Mweya Safari Lodge | Katara Lodge

Mid-range or moderate facility: Ihamba Safari Lodge | Bush Lodge (in rooms) | Buffalo Safari Resort | Enganzi Lodge (mid-range )

Budget price: Bush Lodge in tents

Day 5: Early Morning Game Drive & Afternoon Boat Trip

After breakfast, a morning game drive and birding will be ideal.

Lunch at the lodge and go for the boat launch on Kazinga Channel in the afternoon where we shall see a variety of wildlife and birdlife as well.

A variety of game such as hundreds of hippos, crocodiles will be viewed. Other animals like elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kob, bushbuck, warthog be seen.

Birds will include Green-backed heron, Yellow billed stork, Saddle billed Stork, African spoonbill, martial eagle, African Skimmer, grey headed gull, grey, purple and goliath herons, black Crake, African Crake, Common quail and Rufous-naped lark. Late in the evening after the boat we head for an evening drive for Night jars.

Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 6: Bwindi National Park via Ishasha Sector

Early morning transfer to Bwindi National Park via Ishasha and we shall have our lunch on the way.

At Ishasha, we shall see a variety of game including climbing lions, elephants, buffaloes and other game.

Having reached in the evening, we shall bird around the hotel on arrival in the evening for species like Blue quail, African Crake, Ross’s Turaco, Jackson’s Pipit, Red-headed lovebird, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Black bee-eater, White-backed, Lappet Faced, Ruppel’s, White headed, Palmnut Vultures, Martial, Wahlbergs, Weterh Bandedsneck, African Fish Eagles, Shining Blue Kingfisher.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Buhoma Lodge | Mahogany Lodge | Trackers Lodge Buhoma

Moderate: Silverback Lodge

Low Budget: Buhoma Community Campground

Day 7: Early Morning Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, bird along the main trail for species like Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Short-tailed Wabler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Western Bronze-naped Pegion, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Fraser’s Eagle owl, Montane( Rwenzori) Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black bee-eater, Willcock’s honeyguide, Fine-banded and Elliot’s Woodpeckers, Grey-chested and Mountain Illadopses, White bellied Robin-Chat, Oberlander’s Ground Thrush, Black-faced Rofous Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Many-coloured Bush-Shrike, Brown-capped Weaver, Red-fronted Antpecker , Ansorge’s Carmeron Somber, Redtailed, Yellow Whiskered Little Greenbuls, Green throated,Grey Headed, Green Headed, Bluethroated Brown, Bronze Green, Little Green Olive (western) Sunbirds and Oriole-Finch.

Later after lunch transfer to Ruhizha via “the neck” birding enroute.

Day 8: Whole Day Birding in Mubwindi Swamp

After early breakfast, we will walk down with packed lunch to Mubwindi Swamp looking for specials like the green Broabill, Grauer’s Rush warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Dwarf Honey-guide, Grey Chested Illadopsis, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Mt. Greenbul, Sharps Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Starling, Oriole Finch, the incredible Purple-breasted Sunbird, Slender-billed, Wallers, Narrow-tailed and Stuhlmann’s Satarlings, Dusky, Red-faced, Abyssynian and Shelleys Crimsonwings, Strange weaver and many other specials.

Dinner and overnight as above.

Accommodation options available (all on full board basis)

Up-market: Ruhija Gorilla Lodge

Moderate: Gorilla Mist Camp

Low Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp

Day 9: Bwindi - Kampala/Entebbe

After breakfast return to Kampala, then Entebbe International Airport, with lunch en route before your evening departure flight home.

Includes

• Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
• Private safari 4WD fuelled safari vehicle
• Services of English speaking birding guide
• Park and designated birding sites entrance fees
• Boat trips for birding
• Birding fees
• Nature walks
• Applicable taxes

Excludes

• Airfares
• Visas
• Tips to local guides
• Laundry
• Personal insurance cover
• Soft or alcoholic drinks or mineral water
• Items of a personal nature
• Any meals not indicated above
• Any tours not mentioned from the itinerary above