Main Info
Uganda is immensely endowed with a variety of bird species and because of this it is referred to as Africa’s premier birding destination.
Take in the marvelous panoramic views of Uganda with an experienced birding guide. Search for specialties such as the shoebill stork and journey to Uganda’s mountain forests, savannahs, savannah-forests and swamplands to experience Uganda’s massive array of birding highlights.
The avifauna of Uganda includes a total number of 1061 confirmed species. Some of the most interesting birds include; Shoebill, Saddle billed stock, Pelican, Grey crowned Crane (National Bird), African Pigmy Geese, Karamoja Apalis and Fox’s weaver.
Uganda’s National parks like; Lake Mburo have some of the globally threatened species of birds such as the Papyrus Yellow Warbler and Shoebill, and two of the endangered cichlid fish species which have become extinct in the main lakes and also Murchison Falls-Albert Delta Wetland System of Murchison Falls National Park, which stretches from the top of Murchison Falls to the delta at its confluence with Lake Albert forms a shallow area that is important for water birds, especially the shoebill, pelicans, darters and various heron species.
Itinerary
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport transferred to Hotel. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Birders who arrive in the early hours will have a welcome birding afternoon at UWEC home to captive animals which has attracted a lot of other wildlife including over 170 species with about 7 species of weavers, back to your hotel for the night. Dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge Buziga
Breakfast and then depart Kampala heading for Murchison Falls National Park with a lunch stop at Masindi town. You will visit the magnificent falls where you will enjoy and marvel at the mighty Nile being forced into a seven meter crevice to thunder 45 meters below in a series of cascades that can be viewed at different points up to the summit the magnificent Murchison falls as we lookout for the goliath purple, herons, water thick knee, shoe bill on the floating island, lesser and African jacana, giant kingfisher, red throated bee-eater, resting on the face of the Nyamsika cliff, rock pranticoles at the foot of the falls, African jacana, giant kingfisher, the African fish eagle. Dinner and overnight at Paara Safari Lodge
Breakfast then proceed on a game drive, which will reveal species such as a silver bird, a common species breeding in this park, carmine bee-eaters red throated and swallow tail bee-eater, northern wheat-eaters, raptors such as the Tawny Eagles, Snake Eagles, verreauxs, eagle owl, marshal eagle, yellow billed ox peckers, grey headed kingfishers, and shoebills along the delta track, Namaqua, black billed wood dove, Vinaceous Doves, only found in this park and many more species. After lunch take a boat launch to the foot of the magnificent Murchison falls as we lookout for the goliath purple, herons, water thick knee, shoe bill on the floating island, lesser and African jacana, giant kingfisher, red throated bee-eater, resting on the face of the Nyamsika cliff, rock Pranticoles at the foot of the falls, African jacana, giant kingfisher, the African fish eagle and Lots of Hippos plus the huge Nile crocodiles and Lots of Hippos plus the huge Nile crocodiles. Dinner and overnight at Paara Safari Lodge
Breakfast then proceed on another game drive, in search of more Game in this area which includes; Giraffes, Elephants, Jackson hart beast, lions, oribi, water bucks and many others. Have lunch and then head for the ferry crossing in the afternoon driving to Budongo, Kanio Pabidi Sector. Check in at Budongo Eco Lodge for Dinner and Overnight.
Breakfast early then head to Bird the Famous Royal Mile for a Full day birding with packed lunch. The “Royal mile Trail is very famous for birders with so many species like the Chocolate backed, Blue breasted and Dwarf king Fishers. This is the place to see the white thighed Hornbill, black and white casqued hornbill and three species of Barbets namely; Yellow spotted, Hairy breasted and yellow billed barbets which are all attracted by fruiting trees of the forest. Overnight and dinner at Budongo Eco Lodge.
Check out after breakfast and transfer to Fort portal with lunch en-route arriving in the evening. Dinner and Overnight at Mountains of the Moon Hotel.
Breakfast and then head for Semiliki National Park for a whole day birding in the forest. Semilki is famous for the Grey Throated Rail, Red Chested Owlet, and Black Collared Lovebird among others. Lunch will be packed before you head to the park. Return to Fortportal late afternoon and continue to Kibale National park. Check in at Primate Lodge Kibale Cottages for overnight and Dinner.
Early morning breakfast, proceed for a nature walk which is rewarding to a primate lover, Monkeys and many more are a must to spot as we bird, species such as the blue breasted kingfisher, black billed Turaco, a variety of Greenbuls, white napped pigeon, Narina’s Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Purple headed and Chestnut winged Starlings, white headed wood hoopoe, Petit's cuckoo shrike, and many more may be seen. After lunch, proceed to Magombe swamps for as swamp walk at Magombe swamp this is an excellent place to see some of the special birds endemic to this habitat such as Marsh Tchagra, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus canary, White winged warbler, other distinct possibilities are White spotted fluff tail, Blue headed coucal, Spectacular yellow billed barbet and scaly – throated honey-guide. Dinner and overnight in Primate Lodge Kibale Cottages
Breakfast and then we head to the region of the Crater Lakes for some more birding. Enjoy the beauty of hundreds of small lakes and some stunning views, while you pass little African villages, you may also spot the White Spotted Fluff-tail, Blue Headed Coucals spectacular Yellow Billed Barbet and Scaly-throated Honey-guide. After Lunch at the lodge, you head to the forest for another birding session, look out for the most sought bird:- Green breasted Pitta. Dinner and Overnight at Primate Lodge Kibale Cottages.
Breakfast and then drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, check in at Mweya Safari Lodge. Lunch at the Lodge then in the afternoon birding at the Kazinga Channel, then dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
Early Breakfast then embark on a game drive to the Kasenyi track which is one of the best game viewing areas (Kobs, Reed Backs, Duckers and Lions) but also has much to offer the birder as we move through open grassy plain which support large flocks of White and Abdims stock as well as Wool necked and Spectacular saddle billed stork, Raptors are well represented the Brown Snake Eagle, Bateleur, African harrier-hawk, Marshal Eagle, Grey kestrel, are frequently seen. Lion kills attract up to six species of Vultures including the Egyptian, Rueppell’s Griffons, and the Immense Lappet faced, Senegal, Crown and African wattled plovers, are numerous in the short grassland. Return for lunch; take the boat launch once again which will reveal hundreds of migratory bird species such as the Grey headed gulls, White winged black terns, African skimmers, Morning dove, Water dikkops, Great white and Pink-bucked pelicans, etc… and thousands of Hippos. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
After breakfast, you visit Kyambura Wildlife Reserve. Driving through grassland area, all of a sudden we come across an amazing gorge of tropical rainforest 100 meters deep. Hike into Kyambura River Gorge for an unforgettable experience trekking chimpanzees. It's a rewarding experience not only to see the chimpanzees, but also to see the beautiful river valley that houses numerous birds and butterfly species. This is an excellent place to see the spectacular Black Bee Eater hawking insects from exposed perches eyeing the canopy. A walk down into the gorge may produce widespread forest species like: - Black and African Emerald Cuckoo, Speckled Tinker Bird, etc…return for lunch. Later in the evening, you will have a game drive. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
Have breakfast, then transfer to Ishasha birding along Ishasha Road thereafter transfer Bwindi Impenetrable Forest stopping by the Hippo pool for a picnic lunch packed from the Lodge restaurant as you look out for wetland species such as Black Cracks, Long Toed Clover, African wattled Plover, African Jacana, Woolly-neck Black storks, Ducks and Geese and other grassland species such as Black belly bustard and African crake. These are some of the species we might see; proceed to Bwindi and arriving and settling in at the Engagi Lodge for dinner and overnight.
After very early morning breakfast, you will explore the Ivo River Walk an 8 hours walk with packed lunch. In the evening you will return to the camp for dinner and overnight at Engagi Lodge
Breakfast early and then with packed lunch head to the briefing point before heading out for the trekking. Gorilla tracking is unpredictable, so it is difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. It may take 2-8 hours, and you should be prepared to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. The ranger guide always briefs you on how to behave with these gentle giants. Later return to transfer to Ruhija Lodge for dinner and overnight.
Breakfast and then embark on the 4km trail to Mubwindi Swamp dropping from 2350m to 2050m (look out for the rift endermics species like African Green Broad Regal Sunbird and Arcers’s Robin Chart among others. Packed lunch will be arranged by the lodge. Later return to Ruhija Lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast we depart to Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Africa. Relax, take a swim or go for a canoe trip while you watch the beautiful sunset. Lunch at the resort Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi Safari Resort. (B-L-D)
After a morning breakfast, you will then transfer to Lake Mburo National park arriving there in time for lunch after which we take an afternoon / evening boat launch in Lake Mburo, in search for the African Finfoot one of the big five birds in Uganda. And other species like the Papyrus Gonolek, White winged warbler etc. You may see them all or not. Have Dinner and Overnight at Mihingo Lodge.
After early morning breakfast, you will have a nature walk which is so rewarding and only done in Lake Mburo of all the parks in Uganda, return for lunch and then later in the evening, have a game drive. Dinner and Overnight at Mihingo Lodge.
Have breakfast and transfer to Kampala with a lunch stop, and also at the various interesting points, you can opt to buy your selves some souvenirs at the Uganda Equator. Then continue to Kampala, checking in at Cassia Lodge for Dinner and overnight
Breakfast and then head to Entebbe – Kamengo Swamp in search of the rare Shoebill Stork. Depending on time you locate it, you will head back to the main land for lunch and thereafter transfer to Botantical Gardens in search of more bird species. Dinner and Overnight at Imperial Botanical gardens Hotel – Entebbe.
Depending on the time of flight, you may have a stopover at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Thereafter have Lunch in Entebbe to then depart for airport late afternoon. Inclusive of the costs should be the following services: - • Airport pickups and drop-offs • Transportation in 4wd safari vehicles • All park Entrance fees • All Accommodation • Boat launch in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls • Ferry Crossing on Murchison Falls • Services of an experienced birding Tour guide and driver • All meals as mentioned in the itinerary • Ranger Fees • All guided Nature walks • Primate Walk in Kibale and Kyambura Excluded Services are: • All drinks • Items of personal nature • Airfare is not included in the tour price
