These 19 days birding adventure Uganda will take you to most visited spot for bird watching, on the same safari you will enjoy many other activities including chimpanzee trekking, gorilla trekking and also game viewing. The safari will begin and end in Kampala Uganda’s capital and its largest city
Trip summary
Day 1: Arrival and afternoon birding
Day 2: Transfer to Mabamba and later to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 3: Whole day Lake Mburo National Park
Day 4 : Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
Day 5: whole day Birding
Day 6: Birding to Ruhija
Day 7: Birding in Mubwindi Swamp
Day 8: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park
Day 9: Birding through Buhoma
Day 10: Whole day birding in Buhoma
Day 11- 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 13: Game drive and transfer to Kibale forest National Park
Day 14: Chimpanzee trekking and Nature walks
Day 15: Transfer to Budongo forest
Day 16: Chimpanzee tracking and birding
Day 17: Birding to Murchison Falls National park
Day 18: game drive and launch cruise
Day 19: Departure
Detailed itinerary- Birding adventure Uganda
Day 1: Arrival and afternoon birding
Upon your arrival at the Entebbe international airport, you will be met and greeted by our company representative who will brief you about the safari and later, he will transfer you to your booked hotel. After refreshment, you will go for an afternoon birding around Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Watch out for the Brown throated, golden backed, orange, slender billed and yellow backed weavers, giant, pigmy and Malachite kingfishers, black headed gonoleks, red chested sunbird, Ross’s turaco, pied and crowned hornbill, great reed, grey caped and sedge warblers, and many other species, you also have a chance to see different primate species around. Overnight at The lodge, Boma guest house
Day 2: Transfer to Mabamba and later to Lake Mburo National Park
After a hearty breakfast, you will embark on a transfer to Mabamba wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria. While at the swamp, you will find out that it has a good selection of classic East African water birds, including the shoe bill, pink-backed pelican, long tailed cormorant, Goliath Heron among others. After have lunch at Entebbe and later transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You will have a stopover at the equator crossing for photography and snacks, after continue with birding en-route searching for the Blockheaded, Squacco and Rufous-bellied Herons among other. Arrive in the evening at the park. Dinner and overnight at Rwonyo tented camp, Arcadia cottages- (mid-range), Mantana and Mihingo both luxurious.
Day 3: Whole day Lake Mburo National Park
Start your day with a heavy breakfast and then after embark on a boat ride on Lake Mburo for an opportunity to search for the rare white backed night Heron, African fin foot and the African Giant King Fisher, Papyrus gonoleks and white winged warbler. After the activity return back to the lodge for lunch after head to the open grassland north of the park headquarters, particularly along the Zebra track, is worth exploring for species such as Coqui fracoin, Red necked spur fowl, black bellied bustard among others. While on the drive, you may also see different animal species like the shy oribi, graceful impalas and common zebras, elephant and buffaloes are all seen. Return for Dinner and overnight at Rwonyo tented camp, Arcadia cottages- (mid-range), Mantana and Mihingo both luxurious.
Day 4 : Transfer to Mgahinga National Park
After breakfast at the lodge, you will be driven to Mgahinga national Park, birding on the way is superb with a lunch enroute; you will reach the park in the evening for dinner and an overnight at Kisoro tourist hotel
Day 5: whole day Birding
Early morning breakfast, you will explore the treasures of this park along the excellent gorge trail, which loops half way up Mount Sabinyo, traversing a variety of montane habitats. You will be able to see the Dusky turtle dove, Cape robin chat, Brown crowned tchagra, Bronze sun bird, Rwenzori turaco. You will return for Dinner and overnight at the lodge
Day 6: Birding to Ruhija
After breakfast, you will bird for a whole day; you will be able to see different species of birds Like the Grauer’s rush warbler, red chested owlet, and white-naped raven, scarce swift, western green tinker bird among others. Dinner and Overnight at Kisoro tourist hotel
Day 7: Birding in Mubwindi Swamp
Enjoy your morning breakfast to transfer to mubwindi swamp for birding, this is the best place for some of the most difficult to find of all rift endemics including the Grauer’s broadbill, stripe-breasted tit, African hill babbler and so many others. Dinner and an overnight at (Luxury) Buhoma Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge (midrange) Mahogany Lodge/ Engagi Lodge/ Silverback Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp, (budget) Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Travellers Rest Hotel, or Buhoma Community Campground
Day 8: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi National Park
Up relatively early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking, before 8:00 am report to the ranger station for registration and an informative talk from senior ranger guides/park warden; the guides will then take you through the bush, pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. (This trek can take from 3 to 9 hours depending on where these species spent the night before. So a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes). You will sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rain forest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas. It’s amazing to think there are only about 880 of these beautiful creatures left. Dinner and an overnight at (Luxury) Buhoma Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge (midrange) Mahogany Lodge/ Engagi Lodge/ Silverback Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp, (budget) Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Travellers Rest Hotel, or Buhoma Community Campground
Day 9: Birding through Buhoma
After breakfast, you will continue with your birding in the Buhoma side of the park, you will spot birds like the handsome francolin, Rwenzori Nightjar, Dwarf honey guide, African green broad bill, Archer’s robin-chat and so many others. Retreat back to the lodge for lunch and Dinner and an overnight at (Luxury) Buhoma Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge (midrange) Mahogany Lodge/ Engagi Lodge/ Silverback Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp, (budget) Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Travellers Rest Hotel, or Buhoma Community Campground
Day 10: Whole day birding in Buhoma
Today you will spend the whole day birding for birds like the Olive long-tailed cuckoo, Bar-tailed trogon, dusky tit, Kivu ground thrush, White-bellied robin-chat, Equatorial Akalat, white-tailed ant-thrush and so many others. While birding, you may be able to see other different animal species like the Yellow-backed duiker, Guereza colobus, L’hoest’s, Blue and Red-tailed monkeys, Chimpanzee and several species of Squirrels including fire-footed, Carruther’s’ mountain, Rwenzori sun and Red-legged sun squirrel. Dinner and an overnight at (Luxury) Buhoma Lodge/ Chameleon Hill Lodge (midrange) Mahogany Lodge/ Engagi Lodge/ Silverback Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp, (budget) Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp or Travellers Rest Hotel, or Buhoma Community Campground
Day 11- 12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Start early after breakfast and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park passing through the Ishasha sector, well-known for its tree climbing Lions, if lucky we may spot them sited on fig trees or tree blanches also game drive on the way is magnificent, we may spot also other species of animals like antelopes and buffaloes, arrive at the park in time for a two hours launch cruise at the kazinga channel which connects lakes George and Edward the boat ride on Kazinga channel is rewarding with different species of wildlife like schools of hippos, and crocodiles while buffaloes and elephants can be spotted along the shoreline, as well as various species of birds like African Skimmers, Great white and pick-backed pelicans, grey, purple and goliath herons, saddle-billed and yellow-billed storks, sacred and glossy ibises, among others. Mweya safari Lodge, Katara Lodge, Jacana safari lodge (luxury), kyambura game Lodge, Ihamba safari Lodge samba safari Lodge (mid-range) Engazi lodge, Ihamba safari Lode, Hippo Hillo Lodge, Simba Safari Camp (budget)
Day 13: Game drive and transfer to Kibale forest National Park
Have a morning breakfast and embark on a game drive for an opportunity to spot various species of animals that rush out from their hide-outs. Games expected to see include elephants, buffaloes, leopard, lion, antelope species, warthogs among many others as well as various species of birds. After, you will transfer to Kibale forest National Park a home to over 13 species of primates. After lunch you will enter the forest to look for different forest birds, Bird expected to see include Crowned-eagle, White-spotted fluff tail, Afep pigeon, Red-winged francolin, African Emerald, Dusky long tailed and Red-chested cuckoos, Yellow bill, Black-billed turaco, Narina trogon and so Many others. Kyaninga Lodge, primate lodge kibale, Ndali Lodge (luxury), kibale forest Camp, Ruwenzori view guest house (midrange), Chimpanzee Forest Guest House (budget)
Day 14: Chimpanzee trekking and Nature walks
After breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters in Kanyankyu for briefing before you set off to the forest to begin the search of our close relatives the chimps. Chimpanzee tracking time is unpredictable however it can go from 1-6 hours since meeting them depends on where they spent their last night from, so a reasonable degree of fitness is needed as well as tracking gears like sturdy pair of shoes. Once chimpanzees are met you are strictly allowed only one hour with them. Chimpanzees are fabulous fun to watch when doing their daily activities like feeding, making nest, playing among others. In the process of chimp searching other species of primates can be seen like the Colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey cheeked Mangabeys baboons, civet monkey, among many others and the guide will provide you with all relative information needed on any forest flora and fauna come across. In the afternoon go for bigodi nature walk for more chance to see more species of birds and primates that reside here. Kyaninga Lodge, primate lodge Kibale, Ndali Lodge (luxury), kibale forest Camp, Ruwenzori view guest house (mid range), Chimpanzee Forest Guest House(budget)
Day 15: Transfer to Budongo forest
After breakfast, embarks on transfer to the northwestern part of Uganda to Budongo forest with en-route lunch break at Masindi, and numerous birding stops along the way. You will arrive in the late evening at the lodge; the evening will be spent at leisure at the lodge as you for dinner and an overnight at the lodge. Overnight at Budongo Eco Lodge
Day 16: Chimpanzee tracking and birding
Wake up early for a hearty breakfast, and then after you first receive short briefings from the park wardens/senior ranger guides and then after you will follow the guide to the forest to begin the search for our cousins the chimps. The trek will take about 1-6 hours and ounce chimps are meet you strictly allowed one hour with them while studding their behaviors as well as taking photography. After, retire back to the lodge for lunch, and then after go to the Royal mile which is one of the best of Uganda’s bird watching spots. Special birds of Budongo area include Nahan’s Francolin, Black-collared love bird, White-thighed and black and white casqued hornbills, Yellow spotted and yellow billed barbets, Chestnut- capped flycatcher, Ituri batis and so many others. After come back to the lodge for Dinner and an overnight at Budongo Eco Lodge
Day 17: Birding to Murchison Falls National park
After breakfast, drive northwards towards Murchison falls National Park birding through the Kaniyo Pabidi section of Budongo, a newly discovered location for the Puvell’s illadopsis, as well as a good area for black-billed turaco, Narina trogon, Blue throated roller, fire-crested Alethe. Other species to look for in Murchison Falls National Park include the shoebill, African darter, goliath heron, Saddle-billed stork, White faced whistling-Duck, Egyptian goose, African cuckoo-hawk, Bat hawk, Black-chested, Brown and banded snake eagles, Bateleur, Dark-chanting Goshawk, Red-necked Falcon, Created and Heuglin’s francolins, African fin foot, Starnley and black bellied Bustards, among others. Dinner and an overnight at (luxury) Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba game lodge, (mid-range) Sambiya River Lodge, Bwana Tembo Safari Lodge, (budget), Budongo Eco lodge, Red Chill rest camp Fort Murchison lodge
Day 18: game drive and launch cruise
After a cup of coffee you will be driven to the northern part of the park to meet the early risen rushing out from their hideouts. Games expected to see include predators and nocturnal animals like the hartebeests, leopards, leopards, Hyenas, elephants, giraffes, Lions and many birds among others. After this wonderful activity return back to the lodge for full breakfast and lunch. In the afternoon you will go for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls to watch out for other species of animals like Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants and buffaloes can be seen along the shoreline and also many species of birds that live and feed on the lake like the king fisher, eagle and if lucky you can spot a rare shoebill. Dinner and an overnight at (luxury) Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba game lodge, (mid-range) Sambiya River Lodge, Bwana Tembo Safari Lodge, (budget), Budongo Eco lodge, Red Chill rest camp Fort Murchison lodge
Day 19: Departure
Depending on your departure flight, you will have breakfast and later transfer back to Entebbe while birding on the way, you will transfer to the airport for your flight back Home.
The price for the above tour will include:
- The cost of all ground transportation and fuel
- Full time Birding guide and all his associated expenses
- Park entry fees
- 1 Gorilla permit per person
- 2 Chimpanzee permits per person
- Boat fees
- Accommodation and meals on full board basis
- Water
- Airport transfers
But it will exclude items of personal nature like laundry, beverages, beers and tipping of staff at the lodge and any other expenses that is not mentioned above
