11 Days Bird Watching Trip in Uganda

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe airport

Upon arrival, you will be received by our office representative who will then take you to your hotel and you will be briefed the whole tour program. Overnight at Hotel Number 5 (High end), Boma Hotel Entebbe (Mid range) and Airport Guesthouse (Budget) Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Entebbe – Kibale National Park (6 hours drive)

Have breakfast in the morning, head straight to bird watching at Mabamba wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is one of ramsar sites in the country protected by the local communities for the international importance – an extensive papyrus swamp with its labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an Important Bird Area, and home to several pairs of Shoebills. This rare bird species is certainly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa, and we shall make sure that it is spotted for you by paddling through the channels by boat. There will be a good selection of water birds, including Pygmy Goose, Common Swamp-hen, Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath Heron, African Open-billed, Saddle-billed, and Hamerkop, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, African Fish-Eagle and many others. Later in the afternoon, you will be transferred to Kibale Forest National Park. Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge/Crater Safari Lodge /Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale/Mountains of the Moon Hotel/ Kibale Forest Camp/ similar, Chimpanzee Guest House/Similar (Budget facility) Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3:  Bird watching at Kibale Forest National Park

Birding in Kibale National Park is an enjoyable experience. We shall look for species such as Green-breasted Pitta, White-collared Olive-back, Joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Dark Backed Weaver, White Browed Crombec, Olive long Tailed Cuckoo, Yellow Mantled Weaver, African Emerald Cuckoo. Masked and black-throated Apalises, Chestnut winged Starling, Orange-tufted and tiny sunbirds and many more. After lunch drive to Bigodi wetland for bird watching. Overnight at Kyaninga Lodge/Crater Safari Lodge /Ndali Lodge, Primate Lodge Kibale/Mountains of the Moon Hotel/ Kibale Forest Camp/ similar, Chimpanzee Guest House/Similar (Budget facility) Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4:  Early morning drive to Semuliki National park.

After early breakfast we will transfer to Semuliki National Park for bird watching. Look for species like Hartlaub’s duck, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Spot-Breasted Ibis, Long-tailed Hawk, White-crested Hornbill, 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/ Black-billed Dwarf/Red-Billed Dwarf Hornbills, Piping and Black-wattled Hornbills, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted/Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides ,African Piculet, Gabon Wood pecker ,Red-sided Broadbill, White-throated blue Swallow, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Xavier’s, Swamp, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Nicator,Capuchin Babbler, Northern 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, Pale-Fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negro-finches, Grant’s blue bill and many more. Overnight at Semuliki safari lodge (High end), Ntoroko game lodge (Mid range) and Kirumia Guesthouse (Budget facility) Meal Plan Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Semuliki National Park – Queen Elizabeth National Park (4 hours drive)

After breakfast we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park for bird watching en-route through the northern side of Ruwenzori Mountains that are dry Savanna woodland and later bird watching along the edge of the Park. Later check in at the lodge in evening. Arrive early in time for lunch at the lodge and go for the boat or launch trip on Kazinga Channel that connects Lake George and Lake Edward 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, Bush buck, Warthog 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. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge /similar, Kyangabi Crater Resort /Enganzi Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Bush Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp/ Simba Safari Lodge (Budget Facility) Meal Plan Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Game drive and Whole day bird watching

After breakfast, a morning game drive and birding will be ideal. The savanna and the Maramagambo forest look out for Shinning Blue Kingfisher at the crater lakes, western Nicator, Black Bee-eater, Apalises, Narina’s Trogon and many more. In the wet savanna area adjacent the forest look out for the sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, African Moustached Warbler, tchagras, eagles, and many more. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge /similar, Kyangabi Crater Resort /Enganzi Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Bush Lodge/ Simba Safari Camp/ Simba Safari Lodge (Budget Facility) Meal Plan Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi National Park via Ishasha sector (6 hours drive).

Early morning transfer to Bwindi National Park via Ishasha and we shall have box 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 in Ishasha sector focus on species like bateleur, pearl-spotted Owlet, cisticolas, Blue quail, African Crake, Ross’s Turaco, Red-headed lovebird, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Black bee-eater,White-backed,Lappet Faced,Ruppell’s,White headed,Palmnut Vultures,Martial Eagle,Wahlbergs Eagle,Western Banded Snake, African Fish Eagles. Overnight at Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge/Similar (High end), Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Similar (Mid Range), and Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Wagtail Eco Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Similar (Budget facility) Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Early morning bird watching at 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 Warbler, 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. Cameroon Somber, Red-tailed,Yellow Whiskered Little Greenbuls, Green-throated, Grey-headed,Green-headed, Blue-throated Brown,Bronze Green, Little Green Olive, Sunbirds and Oriole-Finch. Later after lunch transfer to Ruhizha via “the neck” birding en-route. Overnight at Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge/Similar (High end), Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Similar (Mid Range), and Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Wagtail Eco Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Similar (Budget facility) Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9:  Whole day birding Mubwindi swamp.

After early breakfast, we will walk down with packed lunch to Mubwindi swamp looking for specials like the African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Rush Warbler,Evergreen Forest Warbler,  Dwarf Honey-guide,Grey Chested Illadopsis, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul,Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Starling, Oriole Finch,the incredible Purple-breasted Sunbird,Slender-billed, Wallers, Narrow-tailed and Stuhlmann’s Starlings,Dusky, Red-faced, Abyssinian and Shelley’s Crimson-wings, Strange weaver, Lagden’s Bush-shrike and many other unique species of birds. At mubwindi swamp expect forest elephants, red-fronted duiker and black-back duiker as well as possible encounter with gorillas and chimpanzees. Overnight at Buhoma Lodge/Mahogany Springs/Gorilla Safari Lodge/Nkuringo Bwindi Lodge/Similar (High end), Silverback Lodge/Engagi Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Similar (Mid Range), and Buhoma Community Rest Camp/Wagtail Eco Camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge/Similar (Budget facility) Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10:  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Lake Mburo National Park (5 hours drive).

Drive to Lake Mburo National Park which is an extension to Tanzanian plains. Have lunch at Mbarara and after lunch proceed to the park for afternoon bird watching, expect to see black-cuckoo-shrike, citicolas, apalises, warblers, shrikes, guineafowls, turacos, qeuleas, babblas, camaropteras, puffbacks, tinkerbirds, gonoleks, doves and many more. Our focus will be Spot-Flanked, Red-faced and White Headed Barbets, Coqui’s and Red winged Francolin, Brown-chested Plover, Greater/Lesser Honey Guides, Marico/Scarlet Chested/Variable/Copper Sunbirds, Greater Blue Eared Starling, White-Winged Warbler, Trilling Cisticola, Carruthers’ Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Sulphur-breasted Bush-Shrike, White-winged tit, African Penduline Tit, Nubian Woodpecker, Black-billed Wood-Dove Green-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Ox-pecker and Northern Brown–throated. After lunch drive back to Entebbe.  Mammals include zebra, eland, giraffe, hyena, leopard, warthog, impala, buffalo, and hyraxes. Overnight at Mihingo Safari Lodge (High end), Rwakobo Rock Lodge (Mid range) and Eagles Nests Lake Mburo (Budget facility) Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 11: Bird watching at Lake Mburo.

After an early breakfast, we will take an early morning boat ride in search of African Finfoot, Papyrus Gonolek and Glossy Ibis. African fin-foot, Papyrus Gonolek Glossy Ibis and leave for Entebbe International Airport preferably by 9am arriving in the early afternoon for your onward flight back home.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch.

• Transportation by a 4 x 4 Station wagon.
• Driver guide
• Specialized birding guide
• Birding watching fees
• Park entrance fees
• Accommodation and meals as per the Itinerary
• Wildlife viewing
• Enroute lunches
• Ranger guide fees
• Airport transfers
• 1 bottle of water per day while on the safari

The package to exclude:

Expenses of personal nature like: drinks, One gorilla permit per person, domestic flight, International flight from and back home, laundry, tips, telephone, cigars, etc.