8 Days Uganda Albertine Rift region birding Safari Experience : This 8 Days Birding Uganda Safaris takes you to major birding destinations in Uganda including; Mabamba swamp, Semiliki national park, Queen Elizabeth national park and Bwindi Impenetrable national park. Semiliki national park is a home to over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destination in Africa earning a title of “True birders Haven” Semliki Forest represents the only example of Congo-Basin vegetation in Uganda given that a large number of Guinea-Congo biome species reach their Eastern limits in Semuliki, which makes it one of the richest for forest birds in the country.
Kibale forest national park contains 375 bird species and these birds can be spotted in the park while on a chimpanzee trekking experience and in Bigodi swamp, this swamp is actually the best place to spot a variety of bird species and primates.
Queen Elizabeth national park has recorder a number of about 550 species of birds making the park one of the charming destination for travellers on a Uganda safari tour. Kibale forest national park contains 375 bird species and these birds can be spotted in the park while on a chimpanzee trekking experience and in Bigodi swamp, this swamp is actually the best place to spot a variety of bird species and primates. Bwindi Impenetrable national park, the world’s habitant for half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world offering visitors the best experience of gorillas with a maximum adventure for both habituated and semi-habituated gorilla families. This 8 days Classic safari covers 60% of Uganda’s national parks and wildlife reserves.
Safari highlights
Day 0: Arrival in Entebbe airport
Day 1: Birding excursion at Mabamba wetland and transfer to Semiliki wildlife reserve
Day 2: Full day game drive in Semiliki national park (Kirumira trail) – Kibale national park
Day 3: Birding and Bigodi swamp walk – Queen Elizabeth national park
Day 4: Morning game drive and birding in Kesenyi and crater drive – Kazinga boat cruise
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Ishasha – Evening birding at the waterfall trail
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
Day 7: Mubwindi swamp birding experience
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 0: Arrival in Entebbe airport
Day 1: Birding excursion at Mabamba wetland and transfer to Semiliki wildlife reserve
Depending on your location in Entebbe, you will be met by our company representative and connect to Mabamba wetlands at 8 am. Mabamba swamp is located around the shores of Lake Victoria and is one of the best birding sites in Uganda that offers visitors an excellent birding experience and an encounter with different bird species. This site is also one of the few places in Uganda where there are higher chances to encounter the rare shoebill stork. Your safari guide will meet you and thereafter set off for birding at Mabamba wetlands. You will take a canoe ride at Mabamba where you will get closer to different bird species that reside here. You may also see the rare shoebill stork. You will spend half a day birdwatching.
Thereafter, embark on your journey to Semiliki wildlife reserve with en-route lunch in Mubende. Arrive in the reserve late afternoon with en-route birding along the Ntoronko drive. Check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Semiliki Safari Lodge
Day 2: Full day game drive in Semiliki national park (Kirumira trail) – Kibale national park
After breakfast, check-out very early for a full day birding activity in Semiliki national park – Kirumia trail with your packed lunch. This is 13 km walk trail passing through the middle of the forest towards River Semiliki and takes about 8 hours starting at 8 am. The trail is about 8 km from the park headquarters in Ntandi. Variety of birds can be seen on this trail as the recommended trail for birders, butterflies’ watchers. Woodland birds such as the black and white casqued hornbill can be spotted.
Later evening, transfer to Kibale national park. It’s about 3 hours’ drive from the park. Dinner and overnight stay at Chimpundu Lodge for the luxury option/Chimpanzee forest guest house for mid-range/Isunga lodge for a budget option
Day 3: Birding and Bigodi swamp walk – Queen Elizabeth national park
On the 3rd day of your 8 Days Uganda Albertine Rift region birding Safari Experience, wake you early, have breakfast and connect to the park for a birding experience in Kibale forest. The park boasts more than 375 species of birds. Kibale specials include the African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, Afep Pigeon, White-naped Pigeon, Crowned Eagle, Red-chested Owlet, Black Bee-eater, Western Nicator, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Little Greenbul, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Grey Parrot, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis ,Brown Illadopsis, Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow Spotted Nicator, Little Green Bul, Black-eared Ground Thrush and the Abyssinian Ground-thrush.
Also take the Bigodi swamp trail for more sights of different birds. Have en-route lunch and transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. It’s 3 hours’ drive while spotting birds. Dinner and overnight stay at Elephant Plains Lodge for the luxury option/Elephant Hub Lodge for a Mid-range option/Pumba Safari Cottages for a budget option
Day 4: Morning game drive and birding in Kesenyi and crater drive – Kazinga boat cruise
On the 4th day of your 8 Days Uganda Albertine Rift region birding Safari Experience, you will have breakfast and drive to Kasenyi area for a morning game drive and birding. Later afternoon, connect for a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel to find the different birds and water animals like Hippos and crocodiles. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 5: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Ishasha – Evening birding at the waterfall trail
After breakfast, check-out of the lodge and transfer to Bwindi forest. It’s about 5-6 hours’ drive with en-route stop at Ishasha sector for some birds and lunch.
Upon arrival in Bwindi forest, connect for your afternoon/evening birding experience at the waterfalls trail. Later evening, connect to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget/Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range/Buhoma Lodge for luxury
Day 6: Gorilla trekking experience
Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes 2 to 8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely and there is no way of telling where they will be for a particular day. On finding them, you will be allowed 1 hour to view and take photos of these gentle primates, enjoy your lunch packs and meet your driver / guide and transfer back to your lodge.
The time after trekking can be spent on a village tour or lazing off at the lodge as you savoir the memories of your gorilla trek in Bwindi and prepare for the next day. Dinner and overnight at Lodge as above
Day 7: Mubwindi swamp birding experience
On the 7th day of your 8 Days Uganda Albertine Rift region birding Safari Experience, after early breakfast, connect to Mubwindi swamp for a trilling birding experience. This trail is about 4-5 hours along a path in the jungles and slopes/descends through the magical rainforest with breath-taking viewpoints along the way of rich valleys and the Virunga massif. Visitors are likely to encounter some primates especially the Chimpanzees and monkeys, numerous bird species, forest elephants, luckily even the mountain gorillas and the bush pigs because majority of those wildlife are found within this area of the Forest. Dinner and overnight stay at Bakiga Lodge for budget/mid-range/Ruhija safari Lodge for luxury
Day 8: Transfer back to Kampala
You will have breakfast then drive out of the park to connect to drive back to Kampala/Entebbe with en-route lunch and visit of the Equator and some interesting areas of birding. Proceed to Entebbe and depending on your flight, you will either be dropped at your own booked hotel or proceed to the airport for your onward flight back home. End of tour
