8 Days Uganda Primates and Albertine Rift region birding Safari : This 8 Days Birding Uganda Safaris takes you to major birding destinations in Uganda including; Mabamba swamp, Kibale forest national park, Bwindi Impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park and Lake Mburo national park. 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. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park is Uganda’s smallest protected area covering an area of about 33.7 square kilometres including all the three Virunga Conservation Areas
Mburo national park which smallest savannah national park with most of the antelope species and also one of the best birding destinations in Uganda.
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 Kibale national park for evening birding at the forest edge
Day 2: Morning Green Breasted Pitta search and Bigodi swamp walk in the evening
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Ishasha – afternoon/evening birding at the waterfall trail
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – Transfer to Kisoro with en-route birding
Day 5: Full day birding in Mgahinga national park
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking – transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Day 7: Morning game drive and birding – afternoon birding on the boat trip
Day 8: Transfer back to Entebbe – visit Botanical garden – Departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 0: Arrival in Entebbe airport
Day 1: Birding excursion at Mabamba wetland and transfer to Kibale national park for evening birding at the forest edge
On the 1st day of your 8 Days Uganda Primates and Albertine Rift region birding Safari, 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 Kibale national park en-route lunch in Mubende. Arrive in the reserve late afternoon with en-route birding. Check-in at your lodge for relaxation, 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 2: Morning Green Breasted Pitta search and Bigodi swamp walk in the evening
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. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park via Ishasha – afternoon/evening birding at the waterfall trail
On the 3rd day of your 8 Days Uganda Primates and Albertine Rift region birding Safari, after breakfast, start your day very early with a transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. It’s about 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth national park.
Upon arrival in Bwindi forest, connect for an evening birding experience at the waterfalls trail for chances of finding the Bar-tailed Trogon, purple-breasted sunbird and so many other birds. Later evening, proceed to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget/Buhoma Haven Lodge for mid-range/Mahogany Springs Lodge for luxury
Day 4: Gorilla trekking experience – Transfer to Kisoro with en-route birding
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.
After trekking, meet your guide to proceed to Kisoro town which is the closed town to Mgahinga national park. It’s about 3 hours’ drive however, your journey will be longer because of en-route birding. Upon arrival in Kisoro in the evening, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Muchi Lodges for budget/Lake Mulehe Safari lodge for mid-range/Lake Mutanda Safari Resort for Luxury option
Day 5: Full day birding in Mgahinga national park
After early breakfast, connect to Mgahinga national park for your full day birding experience. Find birds like the Regal sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird and many other endermic and Albertine birds with your backed lunch. Later in the evening return to the lodge while birdwatching. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Golden monkey trekking – transfer to Lake Mburo national park
On the 6th day of your 8 Days Uganda Primates and Albertine Rift region birding Safari , After breakfast, return to the park for your golden monkeys’ track. You will be briefed about the activity before you start your hike up the mountain in search of the Golden monkeys, it takes about 4-5 hours and on finding them, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with the monkeys while taking pictures and videos.
Return for the trek, meet your driver to transfer to Lake Mburo national park with en-route birding. It’s a 4-5 hours’ drive however, while birding, you will take longer. Upon arrival in the evening connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay at Eagles Nest Lodge for budget/Mpogo Lodge for mid-range/Mihingo Lodge for luxury
Day 7: Morning game drive and birding – afternoon birding on the boat trip
After breakfast at the lodge, start your day on a morning game drive and birding experience as the same time. Lake Mburo is one of the best places for birding in Uganda. Encounter different bird species and animals like Buffaloes, Giraffes, Zebras, Impalas and other residents found in the park. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch.
Taking an afternoon, boat cruise on Lake Mburo is one of the rewarding birding experience. You will encounter more water birds and other birds. Also find animals like the hippos. Later evening, connect for yet another birding drive to find more birds. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge above
Day 8: Transfer back to Entebbe – visit Botanical garden – Departure
You will have breakfast then drive out of the park to connect to drive back to Entebbe with en-route lunch and visit of the Equator and some interesting areas of birding.
Proceed to Entebbe and connect to the Entebbe botanical gardens for a birding experience depending on your departure 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