10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives

10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives

On this 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives Safari, Our first birding site in Uganda will be the Mabamba Wetlands on the fringes of Lake Victoria as we search for the Shoebill. Our first national park to visit will be Murchison Falls National Park which was voted No. 9 best birding spot in Africa, home to over 450 bird species and 76 mammal species. Semuliki National Park guards an eastern extension of the vast Ituri Forest of Democratic Republic of Congo and one of the richest areas for forest birds in Africa.

This Uganda birding tour will continue to Kibale National Park, a large block of rain forest that offers great birding and home to 13 primate species with Chimpanzees as the highlight. We then proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park known for its varied biodiversity and over 600 bird species. The highlight will be the Bwindi impenetrable forest which has a record of 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics and an opportunity to do a gorilla trek.

Safari Highlights:

Pickup from Entebbe International Airport

Birding in Mabamba Wetlands

Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Kibale Forest National Park Birding Tour

Birding in Semuliki National Park

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Boat Trip while Birding at Kazinga Channel

Ishasha Sector for Tree-Climbing Lions and Birding

Birding the Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Forest National Park

Transfer back to Entebbe International Airport

A Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1: Birding in Mabamba Wetland Swamp and Transfer to Murchison.

After an early breakfast we drive to Mabamba Swamp Wetland in Kasanje which is located on the fringes of Lake Victoria – 2nd biggest fresh water body in the world. The drive can take about an hour or more depending on the birding engagement enroute which leads to several stopovers; In Mabamba swamp, you will take a motorised canoe with the area site guide in search of the incredible Shoebill which is often seen standing in the mashes waiting to hunt or flying in the air above the papyrus plants. After birding the Mabamba Wetlands, we shall embark on our transfer journey to Murchison Falls National Park. Reaching there in the evening, check-in, have dinner and overnight stay.

Key Bird Species: African Jacana, White-winged Terns, African Purple Swamphen, Purple Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Winding Cisticola, Red-billed Fire-finch, White-faced whistling duck, Long-toed Lapwing, African Pied Wagtail, Saddle billed Stork, Cape wagtail, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-billed Duck Long-toed plover, African Fish Eagle and African Marsh Harrier, Swamp Flycatcher, among other notable species.

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 2: Birding Murchison Falls National Park – 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives.

On this day we shall have an early morning breakfast and then go birding first while on the boat and later while in our 4×4 safari cars on a game drive; We will spend the morning birding on the boat towards the delta and then in the evening after lunch we shall go for a birding drive in our safari cars. Later return to the lodge to refresh, have dinner and overnight.

Key Bird Species: Shoebill, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, African Water Rail, Allen’s Gallinule, Black Crake, African Crake, Grey-crowned Crane, Southern Pochard, The Egyptian, African Pygmy, and the Spur-winged Goose, Saddle-billed stork, Open-billed stork, Yellow-billed stork and Marabou stork. More birds include;  the Little and Dwarf Bitterns, Night Heron, Black Heron, Goliath Heron, Purple Heron, Green Backed Heron, Little Grebe, Common Squacco Heron, Great White Egret, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, African and Eurasian Spoonbills, the Lesser Flamingo, Lesser Jacana, African Finfoot, Painted Snipe, Wattled Plover.

After the experience on the boat, you transfer to the car and bird in the Savannah.

Key Bird Species: Secretary Bird, Northern Carmine and Red-throated Bee-eaters, Giant, Pied, Stripped, Chestnut-bellied, Blue-breasted, Woodland and the African Pygmy Kingfishers, African Rock Martin; Lesser Stripped, Ethiopian, Angola, Red-rumped and Rufous-chested Swallow, Nightingale, Rock Thrush, Pied Wheatear, Whinchat, White-fronted Black Chat, Sooty Chat. Common Bulbul, Cameroon Somber and Yellow-throated Greenbul, the Black, White-breasted, and Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrikes, the Black and Penduline Tits,  Black-lored, and Brown Babblers, Nubian Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Lesser Honeyguide, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, among other species.

Destination: Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 3: Birding the Escarpment and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park.

Today morning after breakfast, we transfer to Kibale forest with a stopover birding the Butiaba Escarpment for some birds of interest. Also Kibale Forest is home to 13 primate species with the highlight being the chimpanzees which are easily seen while on the birding trail.

Key Bird Species: Beautiful sunbird, Black-billed Barbet, Grey-winged Pythilia, Buff-bellied Warbler, Northern Crombec, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Whin chat, Flappet Lark, Little weaver, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Lesser blue-eared Starling, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Marsh Tchagra, Copper Sunbird, Green-backed Eremomela, Long crested eagle, Foxy Cisticola, among other species.

Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 4: Kibale Forest Birding for Green Breasted Pitta – 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives.

We will have an early morning breakfast and leave the lodge with our packed lunch so that we have maximum time in the forest. Our morning focus while birding will be to search for the elusive Green breasted pitta. This a sought after bird can also be rather difficult to sight in the forest but with guidance of the site guide and rangers we hope to increase our chances of sighting the Green breasted Pitta; In the meantime as we search for the Green breasted Pitta we shall continue birding and equally search for many other bird species.

Other Bird Species: Western bronze-napped Pigeon, Great blue Turaco, Yellow-throated Nicator, White-headed Wood hoopoe, Red Headed malimbe, Yellow-spotted barbet, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Grey-winged Robin, Blue shouldered Robin Chat, Yellow-spotted Barbet, White-naped Pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta, Red-chested Flufftail, African Pitta, Joyful Greenbul, Cabanis Greenbul, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Masked Apalis, Nahan’s Francolin, Tiny Sunbird, White-collared Oliveback and many more

Destination: Kibale Forest National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 5: Birding in Semuliki National Park – 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives.

Today after breakfast we bird our way to Semuliki National Park for an experience searching for central African species found only here in East Africa. We shall have several stopovers birding nearby forest patches and swampy areas for different bird species; We shall spend the day birding in Semuliki forest for central African species of Congo’s Ituri forest. Semuliki forest is a continuation of Congo’s Ituri forest. You have an opportunity of visiting both the ‘female’ and ‘male’ hot springs found within the Park.

Key Bird Species: Congo Serpent Eagle, Grey-throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Spot-breasted Ibis, Yellow-throated Nicator, Northern Red-chested Owlet, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Zenker’s Honeyguide, White-throated Blue Swallow, Bate’s Nightjar, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Black-winged Oriole,  Lemon-bellied Crombec, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Icterine Greenbul, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Crested and Blue-billed Malimbes, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Piping, Red-billedWhite-crested, Black-casqued, Wattled and White-thighed Hornbills.

Destination: Semuliki National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Today, after early breakfast, start the trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park, birding along the way. You will have stopovers for both birding and photography moments of the beautiful scenery in this part of the country. Drive past several crater lakes, homesteads, and farms and later with the Rwenzori Mountains ahead as you drive.

The road through these crater lakes’ regions is not tarred, therefore sometimes it is very difficult during the rainy season. In case it rains right before your set off, your guide may advise a different route on more stable roads since you will be having several stopovers for pictures and birding, you should expect to arrive at your lodge later that afternoon. Take your rest and be ready to begin the following day very early for an entire day’s birding.

Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 7: Birding at the Mweya Peninsular and Kazinga Channel then Transfer to Ishasha Sector.

Today we will bird the Mweya Peninsular and Kasenyi area where most of the game drives happen and end with a boat safari on Kazinga channel in the afternoon.

Key Bird Species: African Skimmer, Malachite Kingfishers, White-winged Terns, Swamp Fly-catcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Jacana, Pin-tailed Whydah, Martial Eagle, Gabon Nightjars. Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Common Squacco Heron, African Skimmer, African Fish Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Sedge Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Great white and Pink-backed Pelicans, African Mourning Dove, African Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed, Egyptian Goose, a number of Gull species,  among aothers.

Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Ishasha Sector
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 8: Birding in Ishasha while Sighting the Tree-Climbing Lions then Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Having taken our early morning breakfast, we shall start the game drive in the Ishasha sector best commonly known for tree climbing lions and a variety of birds, then after we shall transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, we have stopovers birding until we arrive at our lodge later that afternoon. You might have an opportunity of sighting birds you could have missed the previous day; This will also give the chance to view the famous tree climbing lions of Ishasha along with the birding. You will then proceed to Bwindi impenetrable national park with an en route game drive.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Buhoma Sector
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 9: Birding Buhoma Sector of Bwindi – 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives.

Today after an early breakfast, we get back into the forest for birding taking different trails as advised by the site guide. The site guides usually help with location of the different unique birds and they share information of where they last sighted them therefore increasing chances of locating them.

Key Bird Species; Stuhlmann’s Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller’s Starling, Montane Oriole, African Golden Oriole, Strange Weaver, Brown-capped Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Magpie Mannikin, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater, African Green Broadbill, Oriole Finch, Mountain Buzzard, Ayre’s Hawk Eagle, Handsome Francolin, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Wood Owl. More species; Bar-tailed Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, (Western) Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, African Green Broadbill, Lagdens Bush-Shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-Shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, White-bellied Robin Chat, Olive Thrush, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Grauer’s Rush-warbler, Neumann’s Warbler and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.

Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park – Buhoma Sector
Accommodation Options:

• Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

Day 10: Transfer Back to Entebbe to End the 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives Safari.

After your morning breakfast, you will begin your journey back to Entebbe International Airport. You will go across the equator and experience being in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere at the same time, and also have time to take photos. Buy a few souvenirs in the craft shops and have a quick picnic lunch. Later, you depart for the Airport and take your flight back home. This will mark the end of our 10 Day Birding Uganda and Game Drives.

Destination: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation Option: No (Unless on request)

• Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
• Drinking Water, Fruits and Wi-Fi throughout the journey

PRICE INCLUDES

• Round Trip Airport Transfers (pick-up and drop-off)
• Private Transportation in 4×4 Safari Cars
• Meals Specified on a Full Board basis
• Accommodation with Ensuite Facilities
• Applicable Park Entrance and Activities Fees
• English Speaking Professional Driver-Guide
• All Hotel and Lodge Pickups and Drop-off
• All Taxes
• Bottled drinking water and Fruits while on safari
• Activities as stipulated in the Itinerary (except those stated as “optional”)

PRICE EXCLUDES

• Activities not mentioned in the Itinerary
• International Flight Fares (unless requested)
• Country Entry Visa
• Personal Travel Insurance
• Telephone Charges
• Laundry
• Bar bills and all Alcoholic drinks
• Souvenirs, Gifts and Tips
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
• All related medical tests and vaccinations

SAFARI COST: (Tour Rates are Per Person and exclude International Flight Fares)

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