11 Days uganda birding safari
11 Days uganda birding safari , Uganda helps you experience the best of tropical birding .Africa’s top destination with overwhelming birding spots & bird species.
Day 1: upon Arrival, a warm up Birding at UWEC
Our representative will transfer you to your hotel in Kampala. Depending on the time of arrival visit to UWEC, a home to captive animals and over 170 species of birds including the rare Northern Masked Weaver, Orange Weaver and Crested shrike flycatcher, Lead colored, Swamp flycatcher, African paradise Red bellied, among other. Dinner and overnight at Botanical Beach Hotel
Day 2: Mabamba Birding
Morning drive to Mabamba swamps with your packed lunch boxes. A population of about 7 Shoebills is recorded. other species may include; Pygmy Goose, Yellow Billed Duck, Black Crake, White Faced Whistling Duck, Swamp Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, African Jacana Goliath, Purple, long Toed Plover, African water Rail, Grey and Black Headed Herons, Squacco Heron, etc Sitatunga Antelope (swamp Antelope) and many more. Dinner and overnight at Cassia Lodge, Serena Hotel or Red chili hide away.
Day 3: Kampala – Murchison Falls NP
Driving to Murchison falls is very memorable, a stretch through the Luwero Triangle to Masindi Town. A stop over is made at Masindi for a trek to the Zziwa Rhino sanctuary and for picnic lunch, continues to Budongo forest and to the spectacular fall where you can see the Nile’s perfected beauty, and marvel as it compresses and squeezes itself from over 1 kilometer wide down through a 7-meter canyon. The 150-meter drop of the falls creates a thunderous roar and a beautiful rainbow in a plume of spray, See, feel and photograph the beauty of the spot as you relax around. Dinner and overnight at Paara safari lodge, Nile safari camp or Sambiya River lodge or Red chili hostels and campsite.
Day 4: Murchison Birding
After your early morning breakfast and embark on a game drive in search for species such as Chestnut capped Weaver, Silver bird, , Common Drongo, Spotted morning Thrush Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Namaqua Dove, White Fronted Black Chat, Black billed Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Carmine Bee-Eater, Red Throated, Swallow Tailed Bee-Eater, Isabelline and Northern Wheatears, Shoebills, Saddle bill, Grey crowned Cranes at the Delta and other game like Roth child’s Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, , Elephant, Silver Backed Jackals, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Lions, Orbit, Kobs, and many more. Return for lunch and relax as you move on for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls encountering huge Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and game drinking water birds such as Lesser Jacana, White necked stork, Fulvous whistling Ducks, a variety of Herons, Egyptian Plover, Spur Winged Plover, Rock Pranticoles, Water Thick-Knee among others. Dinner and overnight at Paara safari lodge, Nile safari camp or Sambiya River lodge or Red chili hostels and campsite.
Day 5: Murchison Falls NP – Kibale (Birding En route)
A long drive begins after crossing the ferry drive west to Fort Portal, with lunch en route. Fort Portal rests in the shadow of the fabled “Mountains of the Moon” and is famous for the many tea plantations. From this lovely town we will continue to Kibale National Park, while passing the region of the Crater Lakes. Here we will explore a number of bird life enroute. Dinner and Overnight and dinner at Kibale Safari Lodge, Primate Lodge or Chimp’s Nest.
Day 6: Chimpanzee trek
Take an early morning visit after your breakfast inside Kibale Forest National Park. Kibale Forest is reputable of having the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in East Africa. Enjoy a guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzee, red-tailed monkey, black-and-white Colobus monkey and many others. After a hearty lunch we transfer to the Bigodi Swamp for another, totally different nature walk. The Bigodi Swamp Walk is an initiative of the local community and is known for its rich diversity of birds and primates overnight and dinner at Kibale Safari Lodge, Primate Lodge or Chimp’s Nest.
Day 7: Bwindi Gorilla trekking
Begin the day with breakfast ready for trekking, which begins at 8:00 a.m with a briefing from the UWA staff on how to behave with these endangered mountain Gorillas. Be prepared to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. But it will definitely be worthwhile as you observe them closely while they eat, play and rest. A unique and unforgettable experience!
Those who prefer not to participate in the Uganda gorilla tracking activity can go for a guided forest walk or explore the surroundings with the Buhoma Village Walk. Dinner and overnight at Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp, Bwindi Resort, volcanoes (High end/luxurious accommodation), Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Lake Kitandara Tents, Silverback Lodge (Medium class accommodation) and Buhoma local community Bandas or Bwindi View bandas
Day 8: Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi
After an early morning bird viewing to close surrounding around your lodge, proceed to the area that is often referred to as “Switzerland of Uganda”. Here you will find Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest lake in Uganda and situated close to the borders. On a bright day you might even see the beautifully shaped volcano Mount Muhavura. Upon arrival at the “Lake of the small birds” a motor boat awaits you for transport to Bushara Island. Dinner and overnight at Acadia cottages, Heritage lodge or Bunyonyi Overland
Day 9: Birding Paradise! Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast take a boat ride along Lake Bunyonyi and explore the surroundings from the water surface. Drift quietly to the several small islands and enjoy the rich birdlife. Return for lunch and then take on a Bird Walk in Mukoni Village. Pass small farms and enjoy the spectacular view as you look out for many birds. Generally 40 to 50 different species may be seen on this walk, including the African Hobby, Black Kite, Swamp Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested, Bronze and Red-chested Sunbirds, White-headed Saw-wing etc. . Dinner and overnight at Acadia cottages, Heritage lodge or Bunyonyi Overland
Day 10: Bunyonyi Islands – Mburo
After breakfast we depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and head to Lake Mburo National Park. As we enter the park it is likely that you will spot some wildlife. Afternoon boat ride on the lake and enjoy the rich bird life and the many hippos that are cooling off. Dinner and overnight at Mhingo Safari lodge, Acadia cottages, Mantana tented camp (high class accommodation)/ Rwonyo Rest Camp Bandas , Mburo tents.
Day 11: Lake Mburo Birding – Kampala/Entebbe
Begin your day with an early morning cup of African tea followed by morning guided bush walk with our birding guide and a park ranger in search for rare bird species including the Black-rumped Buttonquail, White-tailed Lark, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Great white and Pink-backed Pelicans, White-winged Terns. Common Squaco Heron, Shoebill Stork, African Open-billed Stork, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Black Bee-eater, African Mourning Dove, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Swamp Fly-catcher, Grey-capped Warbler, among others . Return the lodge for lunch and with a game drive on our way out, drive back to Kampala/ Entebbe for your evening flight back home
Join our Birding guide team that are well dedicated, committed, enriched with ecology of birds with great abilities to enable you enjoy a memorable Birding Adventure experience for a life time in Uganda.
