12 Day Uganda Birdwatching group tour

12 days Uganda Birding Trip: Group birding tour

Overview

This tour visits the main Ugandan western circuit with a visit to the Mabamba Shoebill Swamp. Other highlights include a boat cruise along the Nile in Murchison Falls National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, a Kazinga Channel boat experience, guided bird walk in Lake Mburo National Park. Rhinos, Lake Katwe visits, gorillas, and chimpanzee trekking are optional activities.

Summary

Day 1 Arrivals early in the morning: early morning breakfast and later drive to Mabamba Wetland for shoebill. Lunch break at the Equator and later continue to Lake Mburo NP
Day 2 Game/bird walk in the morning, boat mid-morning and afternoon game drive
Day 3 Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Ruhiija Sector/Buhoma (depends on the group’s interests)
Day 4 Optional Gorilla trekking. Birding or forest walk for those not doing the tracking
Day 5 Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Afternoon game drive in Ishasha sector of the park
Day 6 Drive to Mweya in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a brief stop at a fishing Village.
Day 7 Morning game / bird drive in Kasenyi tracks in the park. Optional visit to Katwe Salt Lakes in the afternoon.
Day 8 Drive to Kibale National park. Lunch in Fort Portal town. Afternoon nature-walk along the Bigodi Community Wetlands.
Day 9 Morning bird walk for Pitta, afternoon Chimp tracking
Day 10 Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Lunch stop in Kagadi
Day 11 Early morning game drive, mid-morning boat cruise and afternoon visit to the falls
Day 12 Drive to Entebbe for your flight. Evening visit Entebbe Botanical gardens. Optional Visit to the Rhino Sanctuary at Zziwa

12-day Uganda Birding Group tour

Day-by-day Itinerary details

Day 1

Arrivals early in the morning: breakfast at Traveler’s Inn, Entebbe and later drive to Mabamba Wetland for shoebill. Lunch break at the Equator and later continue to Lake Mburo NP

Accommodation: Mpogo Lodge/Hyena Hill/Eagle’s Nest – 2nights

Day 2:Game/bird walk in the morning, boat mid-morning and afternoon game drive

Most of the park is dominated by tall grass savannah dotted with Acacia and Euphorbia trees. Common bird in this habitat include; Crested Francolin, Emerald- spotted wood Dove, Brown Parrot , Bare-faced Go away bird, Blue-naped Mousebird , Lilac-breasted Roller, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill ,African Grey Hornbill, Sport Flanked , White Headed and double toothed Barbets, Nubian, Bearded and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Trilling Cisticola ,Yellow breasted Apalis, White winged black Tit, Chin-spot Batis, Greater Blue Eared Starling , Marico Sunbird, Black headed Gonolek, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Rufous Chested Swallow, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Rufous Naped and Flapped Lark, Coqui francolin, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Red faced Barbet, Crested Barbet, Red-collared Barbet, Tabora Cisticola, Bronze-winged Courser, African Finfoot, and White-backed night Heron. Migratory brown Chested Plovers can be seen from the second week of July to December.

This park also gives us a variety of game viewing such as Buffalos, Impala, Giraffes, Warthogs, Zebra, Hippos, Waterbuck, Dwarf and Banded Mongooses, Side-striped Jackal, Bushbucks, Topi and on a lucky day you can see leopard.

Day 3: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Ruhiija Sector/Buhoma (depends on the group’s interests)

Travel time from Lake Mburo to Bwindi is 6-7 hours. We shall have a lunch stop in Kabale Town.

Bwindi has a unique rich and varied ecosystem and has lowland rainforest and Afromontane forest. It’s considered as one of the most unique and important forests of Africa. UNESCO declared it as a Natural World Heritage Site for Humanity for its many values and because it is vital to the survival of many endangered species.

Time to have a cool drink, enjoy the sight and sounds of the rainforest.

Accommodation: Broadbill forest camp (Ruhiija) / Ride for a Waman (Buhoma)

Day 4

Optional Gorilla trekking. Birding or forest walk for those not doing the tracking

Gorilla tracking in bwindi is by far rated as number one wilderness experience in the whole world. The gorilla excursion as another highlight of your safari!

Gorilla trekking is unpredictable. It’s difficult to foresee how many hours you will hike. Expect to walk a long distance in steep and muddy conditions, sometimes with rain overhead, before you encounter any gorillas. A good physical condition is recommended. For conservation purposes, time spent with the gorillas is limited to one hour. A ranger will brief you on how to behave with the gorillas.

People who choose not to gorilla trekking -: go birding in the forest.

Day 5: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Afternoon game drive in Ishasha sector of the park

You will explore Ishasha, considered by many as an off-the-beaten-track destination that you will surely enjoy.

River Ishasha alone is known for a high population density of the Hippos. As we will drive over the southern circuit plains of Ishasha in the open savannah, you will likely meet large herds of Buffalo, Elephant, Uganda Kob and Topi, with occasional Leopard sightings. The Northern circuit – area near the main road is the one famous for tree climbing lions. We look particularly at the many fig trees where lions like to stay. But we also visit the Uganda Kob mating ground which is their preferred hunting area.

Accommodation: Ishasha Pride Lodge/Topi Lodge for 1night

Day 6: Drive to Mweya in Queen Elizabeth National Park with a brief stop at a fishing Village.

Lunch will be at Mweya Peninsula before taking a 2-hours boat cruise along Kazinga Channel in the afternoon.

The launch trip is the most popular activity at Mweya. Kazinga Channel is a natural narrow neck of water body connecting lakes Edward and George; measuring up to 40km long, and is the most luxurious in the region; Plying these waters with comfort, elegance and attentive service, affording superb wildlife viewing from your observation deck, is far much re-assuring! Along the Kazinga Channel, there are chances of spotting the African Skimmers, snowy-capped robin, African spoonbill, kittliz plover, flamingos, Great White and Pick-backed Pelicans, Great and Long-tailed Carmorants, Common Squacco Heron, African Open-Billed Stork, White-faced Whistling, Knob-Billed Ducks and African Fish Eagle, crowned lapwing and many other shorebirds both migratory and resident. Giant Nile crocodiles basking in the sun, elephants thronging the banks, schools of hippos bathing in shallow waters, and giant forest hogs, are rarely missed.

Accommodation: Kyangabi Crater resort or other for 2nights

Day 7: Morning game / bird drive in Kasenyi tracks in the park.

Optional visit to Katwe Salt Lakes in the afternoon.

The best time for game-viewing is early in the morning! We shall do that along the Kasenyi plains driving through several tracks famous for mating grounds for the Lions, the Uganda Kob lekking grounds, etc. Main targets here are Lion and Leopard.

After the game drive we break at a view point of Kasenyi salt lake.

In the afternoon, we may visit Lake Katwe (optional) to have a feel of rudimentary ways of mining and extracting salt. Close by this lake is the famous Munyanyange explosion crater that is famous for Flamingos plus many migratory waterfowls.

Day 8: Drive to Kibale National park.

Lunch in Fort Portal town. Afternoon nature-walk along the Bigodi Community Wetlands.

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community owned and managed nature reserve. A 4km trail has been created in the wetland adjacent to the forest. The habitat here consists of a swamp surrounded by low, scrubby secondary forest and cultivation. It is the best place to see over 6 different species of monkeys and primates. Key bird species include among others; White-spotted flufftail, Green-backed Twinspot, Cabanis’s and Joyful Greenbul, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Olive-green Camaroptera, White-collared oliveback, white-winged warbler, white-chinned Prinia, Black-bellied seed cracker, Purple-banded Sunbird, Blue-shouldered Robinchat, Lesser honeyguide, Uganda Spotted and speckle-breasted Woodpeckers, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Red-capped Robin Chat, Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush, Great Sparrow-hawk, Red-headed Bluebill, and Luhdher’s Bush Shrike.

On your tour, you will likely see several kinds of monkeys including black and white colobus, Red colobus, Blue Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, red tailed, Vervet, L’Hoest, etc.

Accommodation: Chimpanzee Guest House or other for 2nights

Day 9: Morning bird walk for Pitta, afternoon Chimp tracking

The pitta normally displays just before first light of the day, and is the best time to track its location for better views. Other Kibale forest birds include among others; great blue Turaco, Red-tailed and white-tailed Ant-thrush, Western nicator, dusky-long-tailed cuckoo, Jameson’s and Chestnut wattle-eyes, golden-crowned Woodpecker, brown-eared woodpecker, shining blue kingfisher, slender-billed greenbul, black-and-white casqued, African pied, and crowned hornbills, bleu-breasted kingfisher, black-and-white shrike flycatcher, African shrike flycatcher, Narina trogon, Toro Olive greenbul, scaly-throated, thick-billed and lesser honeguides, black bee-eater, yellow-potted, hairy-breasted barbets, cassin’s grey flycatcher, Bristle bill, red-capped Robinchat, white-throated greenbul, African pitta (occasional), masked Apalis, red-chested owlet, scaly-breasted illadopsis, brown illadopsis, brown-chested Alethe, rufous flycatcher thrush, western black-headed oriole, crowned eagle etc.

After lunch, we gather at the park headquarters for briefing prior to the activity. Kibale is the best place in Africa to see Chimpanzees

Day 10: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Lunch stop in Kagadi

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda’s largest national conservation area and it is famous for its big game, spectacular scenery and the falls for which the park was named. Abundant Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephant, hartebeest, Buffalo, giraffe, hartebeest, Uganda Kob and Waterbuck can be seen along with occasional Lions, leopard and Patas Monkeys.

Accommodation: Pakuba Lodge inside the park

Day 11:Early morning game drive, mid-morning boat cruise and afternoon visit to the falls

Birding here is a delightful experience. White-crested Turaco, Heuglin’s Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-spotted and Black-billed Wood Doves, vinaceous dove, black-billed barbet, Madagascar(occasional), Little, Blue-breasted, Northern carmine, Red-throated and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, etc. are amongst a huge variety of African grassland species that can be seen here. The highlights for this day’s birding may be Stanley’s Bustard, spotted thicknee, secretary bird – occasional, black headed lapwing, white-browed sparrow-weaver, chestnut-crowned sparrow weaver, speckle-fronted weaver etc.

Visit the northern sector of the park in the morning. Afternoon boat cruise along the river Nile. After the bottom of the falls boat, we shall pay a visit to the top of Murchison Falls where the Nile narrows, squeezes and plunges spectacularly over the escarpment with unfathomable might!

From here we drive to Masindi and stay at Masindi Hotel.

Accommodation: Masindi Hotel

Day 12:Drive to Entebbe for your flight.

Evening visit Entebbe Botanical gardens. Optional Visit to the Rhino Sanctuary at Zziwa

12-day Uganda Birding Group Tour

Costs, Inclusions and Exclusions

Per person sharing accommodation

6pax: $2,909

7pax:$2,712

8pax:$2,593

9pax:$2,518

10pax:$2439

11pax:$2378

12pax:$2326

Single ROOM Supplement $450

Chimps – $300

Gorillas – $800

NOTE: Ask us for low season rates and groups from 2 to 5participants and Solo traveller rates

Inclusive of the price: All accommodations based on double share and meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), car hire and fuel, Local English speaking driver and a knowledgeable bird guide, international Guide fees, park entrance fees, boat cruise fees, to and fro Airport transfers, all birding walks and game/birding drives in the parks, and bottled drinking water throughout the trip.

Excluded

Gorilla and chimp trekking permits, tips, flight charges, visa fees, optional activities, laundry, extra drinks like sodas and alcoholic beverages, tips and any items of personal nature.

11-Day Uganda Shoebill & Albertine Rift Endemics Birding

11-day Uganda Shoebill and Albertine Rift Endemics Birding tour

Map

Trip Summary

This tour starts in Entebbe at the shores of Lake Victoria with an introductory birding at the famous National Botanical Gardens. We shall head west of Lake Victoria in the Mabamba Marshes—an Important Bird Area that is well known for inhabiting several pairs of shoebills. We drive further west to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest and Mgahinga Mountain National Parks via Lake Mburo National Park.

Summary

Day 1: Birding Entebbe Botanical gardens and transfer to Mabamba Shovel wetland

Day 2: Bird Mabamba Wetland in the morning and afternoon transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 3: Lake Mburo National Park to Kisoro

Day 4: Bird to Mgahinga NP for the whole day

Day 5: Birding to Ruhiija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 6: Birding in Ruhiija sector to the Mubwindi Swamp

Day 7: Bird to Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Forest via the Neck

Day 8: Birding Buhoma main trail

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 10: Birding in Kibale forest looking for the pitta

Day 11: Transfer to the Airport

Albertine Rift Endemics and Shoebill birding tour – Uganda

Itinerary details

Day 1: Birding Entebbe Botanical gardens and transfer to Mabamba shoebill wetland

Established in 1898 as a research site for preserving valuable flora, the approximately 40.7ha garden is situated in Entebbe City; just 5minutes drive from the Airport. It adjoins about one mile along the shores of Lake Victoria and is currently under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority. The gardens house a diverse collection of plant species both indigenous and exotic – with over 300 species which support birdlife of over 250species, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus and squirrels are also found here.

Spend the whole morning here and in the afternoon drive to Mabamba shoebill swamp.

Overnight: Nkima Forest Lodge FB

Day 2: Bird Mabamba Wetland in the morning and afternoon transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

We start very early after breakfast and drive for a few minutes to the swamp from our lodge in the morning to look for the shoebill. We be here till mid-morning, have lunch at our lodge and later drive to Lake Mburo NP in the afternoon – we stay at Rwakobo Rock just outside the park as a stopover. Birding in the Swamp will be on a canoe.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock Safari Lodge FB

Day 3: Lake Mburo National Park to Kisoro

Today, we shall check out the the lodge, have an early morning breakfast and drive as we bird on the way. We shall have a chance to bird along the main road at Echuya forest, or Muchuya Swamp which is famous for the Malachite sunbird, African Black Duck, Abyssinian thrush, white-starred robin, Rwenzori Batis, plus so many other Albertine rift endemics and high-altitude forest birds. Our ultimate stop will be Kisoro town.

Overnight: Mucha Riverside FB

Day 4: Bird to Mgahinga NP for the whole day

Mgahinga merits a visit to appreciate scenery and abundant flora and avifauna. We do gentle strolls along slopes covered with a series of distinct altitudinal bands of vegetation. From grass and bushland on the lower slopes, to montane woodland followed by the bamboo zone, montane forest and the ericaceous zone. Our intuition will only be satisfied when we encounter such species as the endemic Rwenzori turaco, evergreen forest warbler, western green tinkerbird, malachite sunbird, cape robinchat, dusky turtle dove, Dwarf honeyguide, lemon dove, Doherty’s bush shrike, Albertine boubou, Rwenzori hill babbler, white-starred robin, barred-long-tailed cuckoo, white-browed crombec, Abyssinian Crimson-wing, mountain yellow warbler, dusky crimson-wing, Archer’s Robinchat, Stulmann’s Sunbird, bamboo warbler; plus any other interesting creature that may come our way.

We shall do picnic lunch and be here till 5:00pm. We drive back later to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Overnight: Much Riverside Lodge FB

Day 5: Birding to Ruhiija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

We leave Kisoro and drive to Bwindi Impenetrable forest. Spend the whole afternoon on the community trail in Bwindi Forest – very good location for most of the Albertine rift endemics like the Strange weaver, Grauer’s Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Apalis, yellow-streaked greenbul, Mountain-masked Apalis, red-faced woodland warbler etc.

Overnight: Bakiga Lodge FB

Day 6: Birding in Ruhiija sector to the Mubwindi Swamp

After breakfast, we shall carry our picnic lunch and head for a whole day birding following the famous trail through the forest up to Mubwindi Swamp. The 4km trail to Mubwindi Swamp drops from 2350m to 2050m ASL and is the best place for some of the most difficult to find of all the Albertine Rift Endemics including the rare and localized Grauer’s Rush Warbler, African Green Broadbill, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, and Archer’s Robin Chat. Mubwindi Swamp is home to Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Apalis, African/Rwenzori Hill Babbler and Carruthers’ Cisticola. Other key species here include Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, Strange Weaver, Black-headed Waxbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Waller’s Starling, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Ludher’s Bush-shrike, Handsome Francolin and Montane Nightjar.

Overnight: Bakiga Lodge FB

Day 7: Bird to Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Forest via the Neck

We shall spend some time birding along the main road in the forest along the “NECK” – a narrow stretch of Bwindi forest connecting the northern sector to the broader main body in the south comprising of riverine forest vegetation crossed by River Ihihizo.

There species can be easily seen here compared to other parts of the forest. The many-coloured bush shrike, dwarf honey guide, black bee-eater, red-throated Alethe, Narina and bar-tailed trogon, Doherty’s bush shrike, Cassin’s flycatcher, dusky blue flycatcher, mountain wagtail etc are quite common here. Birding is along the main road.

Overnight: Ride 4 a Woman Guest House FB

Day 8: Birding Buhoma main trail

Starting at 6:30am with packed lunch, head for the whole day in the most celebrated forest for hosting over 90% of Albertine Rift endemics. Amongst those that we look for here are equatorial Akalat, grey-winged Akalat, red-capped robin chat, bar-tailed trogon, Ant-pecker, African broadbill, oriole finch, Tullbergs’ woodpecker, olive woodpecker, pink-footed puff back, yellow-footed flycatcher, to mention but a few.

Overnight: Ride for a Woman Guest House

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale National Park via the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Ishasha is the southern distant segement of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famed for tree climbing lions – we pass through here along the main road, which is a birdy area. The black coucal, Stout Cisticola, plain-backed Pipit, croaking Cisticola, etc are usual encounters. We have lunch in Fort Portal Town and later continue driving to Kibale.

Early arrivals here will give a chance to do an afternoon walk along the Bigodi Community wetland famous for different species of monkeys – red colobus, grey-cheeked Mangabey, white-nosed, black and white colobus etc.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge FB

Day 10: Birding in Kibale forest looking for the pitta

The Pitta normally displays from 5:00am – 6:30 as a way of communicating to its mate and then later come together and stay on the ground for the rest of the day feeding. We go to the forest very early morning in order to catch up with the display time which makes it easy to locate it in the forest. We do this for till late morning.

In the afternoon, we shall spend time birding along the main road in the forest, or otherwise bird the famous Bigodi community swamp – optional.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge FB

Day 11: Transfer to the Airport

Today, there is no major activity. We may bird around the lodge for a couple of hours before traveling to Entebbe Airport. The airport is just 5hours drive from here, so we have plenty of time.

11 days Uganda Shoebill and Albertine Rift Endemics Bird watching tour

Cost, Inclusions and Exclusions

Rates: USD3,092 per person sharing for 2 people

Included

All ground travel between and within destinations, including airport transfers
car hire and fuel throughout the trip (4×4 7-seater extended Toyota Land cruiser)
bottled drinking water throughout the trip
all accommodations and meals as mentioned in the itinerary
English-speaking professional birding guide charges
National Parks and National reserves entrance fees and all activity fees

Excluded

Visa fees and international flights to and fro country of origin
Optional activities
Extra beverages like sodas, alcoholic drinks or juices
Any extra meals not mentioned in the details of the meal plan
Medical and travel insurance
Tips, souvenirs, plus any other expenses of personal nature

Note: tipping is recommended of up to 10dollars per guest per day or depending on the satisfaction with the level of service by the guides

A day trip Birding Entebbe Botanical Gardens and Surroundings

Overview

The garden was established in 1898 as a research site for preserving highly valuable flora, with approximately 40. The garden is conveniently located just a 5-minute drive from the airport. The Uganda Wildlife Authority currently manages the garden, which extends approximately one mile along the shores of Lake Victoria. The gardens house a diverse collection of plant species, both indigenous and exotic, with over 300 species that support birdlife of over 250 species. You can also find vervet monkeys, black and white colobus, and squirrels here.

Day 1

The guide will pick you up from your hotel or spot of choice, either in Kampala central business district or Entebbe. After the activity, the guide will drop you back at your respective hotels or spots where he/she picked you. Time for pick-up is 7:00 a.m.

Entebbe Botanic Gardens (EBG) was established in 1898 as Uganda’s first agricultural research unit. The Gardens occupy an area of 40.7 hectares spanning a long shore line of approximately 1.5 km of Lake Victoria. The Gardens were established for the purpose of receiving and assembling

economically important agricultural commodities like cotton, rubber, cocoa, tea, coffee and spices to test their potential as key drivers of economic

transformation. The Gardens currently have a total holding of over 500 plant species including both exotic and indigenous. These plants are categorized into indigenous and exotic fruits, medicinal, beverage, spices, ornamentals, timber, oils and important crop wild relatives, several of these threatened in the wild and agro-ecosystems.

It is sometimes used by local people for recreational retreats as in the early times of the colonial era where officials and their families used to escape the bustling and busy schedule in the city to relax and enjoy the oasis and tranquility of nature.

The walk here is leisurely and relaxed!

Depending on what we shall be looking, we may decide to explore the Entebbe Zoo that is also very good for birding. Special target birds here include the Bathawk, African Grey Parrots, Cuckoo Hawk, Northern White-faced Scops-Owl, COngo Pied Hornbill, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill,

A day’s Shoebill road trip birding to Mabamba Wetlands

Overview

This trip is particularly designed for individuals visiting for work or meeting or conference and may have limited time to do long safaris far away from the main capital Kampala or Entebbe. It suits both avid and amateur birders. It is accompanied by a professional birding guide who will be very helpful in identifying several other species in the field, both along the road and at the site besides the shoebill.

Summary

The guide picks you from any spot, hotel of your choice in Kampala or Entebbe at 5:45am. After the activity, you will be driven and dropped at any spot or hotel of your choice in Kampala or Entebbe.

Mabamba Wetland system is a spanning 16,500ha area along the shores of Lake Victoria, North-west of Entebbe. It is an Important Bird Area in Uganda described and listed as a wetland of International Importance during the Ramsar COP9 held in Kampala, Uganda in November 2005 for the conservation of Key protected species.

Found in a few marshes of East Africa, the Shoebill is classified as vulnerable. Paddling through man-made channels and lagoons, traversing fishermen, several plants with beautiful flowers, the papyrus reed beds, and birdlife is a rewarding experience. There are also other possible encounters besides the shoebill including the rare Lesser Jacana, Blue-breasted bee-eater, Malachite Kingfisher, Hamerkop, Blue-headed Coucal, Winding Cisiticola, Wyens’s Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek.

Included

Park entry fees for non-residents
All activities mentioned unless labelled as optional
All meals as indicated in the itinerary details, and bottled drinking water throughout the trip
Round trip airport transfer
All accommodations
Professional birding guide fees
Ground transportation in a pop-up roof 4×4 safari vehicle

Excluded

Visa fees and international flights to and fro country of origin
Optional activities
Extra beverages like sodas, alcoholic drinks or juices
Any extra meals not mentioned in the details of the meal plan
Medical and travel insurance
Tips, souvenirs plus any other expenses of personal nature

Note: tipping is recommended of up to 10dollars per guest per day or depending on the satisfaction with the level of service by the guides

Uganda Birdwatching, Big Mammals and Monkeys Tour

Overview

This trip focuses on birds, big mammals and primates. It will be accompanied by a professional birding guide with a wide knowledge of Ugandan birds and other fauna. Emphasis has been put on exploring a multitude of habitats including, mid altitude and high altitude forest, swamps, savannah habitats to maximize on the numbers. Gorillas, Rhino tracking and Chimpanzees have been considered as optional activities to cater for low budget travelers within the group.

Summary

Day 1: Arrivals at Entebbe International Airport
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp and Lake Mburo National Park
Day 3: Whole day birding in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 4: Travel to Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 5: Birding Mubwindi Swamp
Day 6: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Buhoma sector of the forest thereafter
Day 7: Birding for the whole day at Buhoma
Day 8: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 9: Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park for the whole day
Day 10: Drive to Kibale National Park
Day 11: Birding in Kibale forest in the morning and afternoon Optional Chimpanzee tracking
Day 12: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 13: Explore Murchison Falls National Park
Day 14: Drive to Entebbe Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Day 1: Arrivals at Entebbe International Airport

Early Arrivals will give a chance to do a nature walk in Entebbe Botanical Gardens (EBG)

Situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, EBG is a beautiful place with colourful butterflies, birds and primates in an area of 40.7ha. The habitat has attracted a diverse array of birds – 206 species (both forest and shorebirds) and monkeys; Black and White Colobus and Vervet Monkeys.

Overnight: Papyrus Guest House, Entebbe B&B Mid-range comfort level

Day 2: Mabamba Swamp and Lake Mburo National Park

We bird to Mabamba wetland in the morning and continue to Lake Mburo in the afternoon.

Start very early at 6:00 and carry packed lunch and drive to Mabamba Wetland.

Mabamba is about 50km west of Entebbe area on the shores of Lake Victoria. The bay comprises of an extensive marsh with a labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) and home to several pairs of Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident. Other interesting species include Lesser Jacana, Malachite Kingfisher, Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, etc.

Overnight: Hyena Hill Lodge FB – Midrange Comfort level

Day 3: Whole day birding in Lake Mburo National Park

Morning bird walk in the woods, mid-day boat ride and afternoon birding in the wooded Savannah for the rest of the day.

We shall start early; have our breakfast and thereafter we go do an early morning bird walk in the woods. The boat ride along the shores of the lake will be looking for specials like the white-backed and black-crowned night herons, rufous-bellied heron, African Finfoot, African darter, water thicknee etc. The papyrus swamp along the shores of the lake holds the papyrus yellow warbler and papyrus gonolek. You will also encounter pools of hippos, crocodiles, and buffalos. We spend the rest of the day on a game drive in the wooded savannah. Most sought-after species here include tabora cisticola, red-faced barbet, brown-chested lapwing(seasonal migrant) etc.

Overnight: Hyena hill Lodge FB Mid-range comfort level

Day 4: Travel to Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Today, we shall check out the Camp, have an early morning breakfast and drive further southwest to Bwindi Forest area. We have chances of birding on the way at a few spots. We may have lunch in Ntungamo or Kabale depending on our pace and later continue to Ruhija. Early arrivals at Ruhija will give a chance to bird along the main road. Our first encounter with the Albertine Rift Endemics begins here. We shall have dinner at the Lodge.

Overnight: Bakiga Lodge FB – Mid range comfort Level

Day 5: Birding Mubwindi Swamp

We shall return to our Lodge this evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Note: to consider this activity, one MUST be in reasonably good health. It involves very challenging and strenuous hikes in the impenetrable forest with rugged terrain!

Overnight: Bakiga Lodge FB – Mid range comfort level

Day 6: Gorilla tracking and transfer to Buhoma sector of the forest thereafter

Those doing the Gorilla trek will set off early after breakfast, carry packed lunch and gather at the park headquarters for briefing prior to the activity. Trekking up the hillside to view a family of gorillas nestled in casual, frolicking play is a fascinating, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will have an opportunity to enjoy close views of adults feeding, grooming and resting, as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully gentle display.

Overnight: Ride 4 a Woman Rest house Mid-range to Budget comfort Level

Day 7: Birding for the whole day at Buhoma

We begin early after breakfast, carry picnic lunch and begin a whole day birding along the main trail at Buhoma.

Some of the key species here include Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Banded Prinia, Black-faced Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill-Babbler, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Narrow-tailed Starling, Strange Weaver, Magpie Mannikin, Shelly’s Crimsonwing, Oriole Finch, Bar-tailed Trogon, (Western) Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Elliot’s Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Lagdens Bush Shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Archer’s Ground Robin, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-chat, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, and Short-tailed Warbler.

Overnight: Ride 4 a Woman Rest House – Midrange to Budget Comfort level

Day 8: Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park – birding along the way

Start early after breakfast for Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is a rather long journey that may take most of our time this day. We shall have a few stops for stretching legs, to have our packed lunch and birding on the way. We shall drive through Queen Elizabeth NP’s distant southern segment – Ishasha section, famed for its tree climbing lions. Birding the way here may produce species like the Stout cisticola, white-winged and red-collared widowbirds. Watch out for occasional lions in the large fig tree along the main road!

Overnight: Bush Lodge, Banda FB – Mid range comfort level

Day 9: Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park for the whole day

Queen Elizabeth National Park is yet another area with some of the highest biodiversity ratings than any National Game Reserve in the world. Its varied habitats of open savannahs, acacia woodlands, tropical rain forests, dense papyrus swamps and lakes, make it one of the richest parks in Africa. Game in the park includes Elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, a profusion of Hippos, the elusive Giant Forest Hog and handsome Uganda Kob; with occasional Lion and Leopard. The park boosts of over 612 bird species recorded.

Today we explore the Kasenyi tracks famed for Lions and Leopard. Later in the afternoon we join a launch cruise along the kazinga Channel at Mweya. Along the channel, there is lots of wildlife encounters.

Overnight: Bush Lodge Banda FB – Mid range comfort level

Day 10: Drive to Kibale National Park

We start after an early morning breakfast, check out the hotel, and bird on the way towards Kibale Forest area. Along the main road look out for Black-headed weavers, white-collared olive-back, little rush warbler, grey-capped warbler etc. We check in our lodge this morning and have a relaxed birding around the lodge. In the afternoon we bird to Bigodi wetland.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, FB – Mid range confort level

Day 11: Birding in Kibale forest in the morning and afternoon Optional Chimpanzee tracking

After an early morning breakfast, we shall make an early start for the forest, where more than 330 rainforest species, including restricted range species have been recorded. Most remarkable target here is the Green breasted Pitta. There are several other species we are likely to encounter including the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, White-throated Greenbul, Red-tailed Bristle bill, White-tailed and Red-tailed Anti-thrushes, Masked Apalis, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Narrow-tailed Starling, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Red-chested Owlet, black-bee-eater, great blue turaco, Green twinspot, etc.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge FB – Mid range comfort level

Day 12: Travel to Murchison Falls National Park

Long drive that takes most of the day. Lunch break will be in Kagadi or Hoima depending on our pace. Early arrivals will give a chance for a short visit to the top of the falls. You will experience the most powerful magical flow of the Nile River at Murchison Falls. The Victoria Nile River forces 300 cubic meters of water per second thundering through an extremely narrow gorge of about 7 meters wide (23 ft) before plummeting 141 ft below, eventually flowing into Lake Albert.

Overnight: Bamboo Village Safari Lodge FB – Mid range comfort level

Day 13: Explore Murchison Falls National Park

Early morning birding / game drive, mid-morning ‘exclusive boat’ cruise to the bottom of the falls. We may pay a visit to the top of the falls later after lunch if we missed it the previous day before driving to Masindi. Murchison falls is filled with variety with a good mix of mammals, reptiles and Avifauna. Leopard, Hyena and Lion are occasional encounters. Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe, Hartebeest, Uganda Kob, Oribi, Warthog, Hippos, Giant Nile Crocodiles etc. The birdlife comprises of Stanley’s Bustard, Black-bellied bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Carmine Bee-eaters, Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Rufous-crowned Sparrow weaver, White-browed Sparrow-weaver, Black-headed Tchagra, Shoebill, Black-headed Lapwing, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Little Bee-eaters, Beautiful Sunbird, African Quailfinch, Heuglin’s Spurfowl, Spotted Thicknee, Senegal Thicknee, Black-billed wood-dove, spotted Palm-thrush, Collared Morning dove, Bateleur, Lappet-faced Vulture, Ruppel’s Griffon Vulture, etc

Overnight: Masindi Hotel FB – Mid range comfort level

Day 14: Drive to Entebbe Via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Optional Rhino tracking

We do and early start and drive to the ranch to see White Rhinos – very good birding area with White-crested turaco, Green woodhoopoe, Greater blue-eared and lesser-blue eared starlings, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Shoebill, Marsh Widowbird etc. We shall be here for a couple of hours before continuing to Entebbe. Lunch break will be in Kampala.

Included

Park entry fees for non-residents
All activities mentioned unless labelled as optional
All meals as indicated in the itinerary details, and bottled drinking water throughout the trip
Round trip airport transfer
All accommodations
Professional birding guide fees
Ground transportation in a pop-up roof 4×4 safari vehicle

Excluded

Visa fees and international flights to and fro country of origin
Optional activities
Extra beverages like sodas, alcoholic drinks or juices
Any extra meals not mentioned in the details of the meal plan
Medical and travel insurance
Tips, souvenirs plus any other expenses of personal nature

Note: tipping is recommended of up to 10dollars per guest per day or depending on the satisfaction with the level of service by the guides

3-weeks Uganda custom birding trip

Overview

This tour explores the rarely visited eastern part of Uganda; the Pian Upe game reserve that is famous for Uganda’s two endemics: the Fox’s Weaver and the Karamoja Apalis. We shall also visit the remote northeastern corner of the country in Kidepo valley national park. Highlights include the Shoebill, Albertine Rift Endemics, Gorillas and Chimps and the Fox’s Weaver.

Summary itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe international Airport

Day 2: Mabamba wetland in the morning, drive to Mbale Town later

Day 3: Pian Upe Game Reserve for the whole day

Day 4: Drive to Kidepo Valley NP.

Day 5: Kidepo Valley NP

Day 6: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

Day 7: Murchison Falls NP

Day 8: Budongo Forest Reserve

Day 9: Drive to Kibale National Park

Day 10: Kibale Forest National Park

Day 11: Bigodi Wetland and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 12: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 13: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 14: Queen Elizabeth NP Ishasha- Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Day 15: Bwindi Impenetrable NP- Buhoma Sector

Day 16: Bwindi Impenetrable NP – Ruhiija Sector

Day 17: Gorilla tracking at Ruhiija

Day 18: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 19: Lake Mburo National Park

Day 20: Lake Mburo to Entebbe

3-weeks Uganda custom birding trip

itinerary details

Day 1

Arrival at Entebbe international Airport

Pick up and transfer to a nearby Lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay. Early arrivals will give a chance for a leisurely birding walk at the archetypal tropical rainforest of National Botanical Gardens of Uganda along Victoria shores in Entebbe as we get over jetlag. Likely encounters: Bat-hawk, Southern White-faced Scops-Owl, African Cuckoo-hawk, Orange Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver, Black & White Casqued Hornbill, African Pied and Crowned Hornbills

Overnight: Papyrus Guest House/Jet Villas Entebbe for 1 night

Day 2

Mabamba wetland in the morning, drive to Mbale Town later

Start very early in the morning and drive to Mabamba marsh along the shores of Lake Victoria We look for the shoebill along the channels and lagoons in the marsh. After we drive to Kampala, have lunch and later drive to Mbale town.

Stay at Mt. Elgon Hotel

Day 3

Pian Upe Game Reserve for the whole day

We drive to this second largest protected area in Uganda which is home to the gigantic Roan Antelope, cheetahs and the Uganda Endemics; Fox’s Weaver and the Karamoja Apalis. We spend the whole day here in search of the Karamoja Apalis, Fox’s Weaver, Bronze-tailed Starling, black-breasted barbet, stone partridges etc. the Roan Antelope is a specialty of this reserve. A Cheetah is an occasional encounter and extremely rare.

Overnight: Karatunga Safari camp, Moroto for 1night

Day 4

Drive to Kidepo Valley NP

Long and birdy drive all the way. Arrivals at our lodge in the park will be late in the afternoon – may have a late lunch there. Birding around the lodge this afternoon/evening – always very productive.

Overnight: Kidepo Zebra Safari Lodge/Mara Safari Lodge for 2nights

Day 5

Kidepo Valley NP

Spend the whole day in the park – white-crested Turaco black-breasted barbet, Red pate Cisticola, Rose-ringed Parakeet numerous species of mammals…. Large Herds African Buffalo, Lions, Elephant etc.

Day 6

Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

It a long journey, and may likely take us most of the day. A few stops on the way to stretch and look at birds. Lunch break will be in Gulu town. Arrival in the park will be late this afternoon.

Overnight: Fort Murchison/Elephant Plains River Safari Lodge for 1night

Day 7

Murchison Falls NP

Spend the whole morning in the northern sector of the park. Afternoon boat cruise along the Nile to the Bottom of the falls. Highlights of the day: Lions, Leopard, Hyena, Giraffe, Hartebeest, Uganda Kob, Nile Crocodiles, plus a diverse array of birds found in this park. We drive to Masindi town after here.

Overnight: Masindi Hotel for 2nights

Day 8

Budongo Forest Reserve

Drive to Budongo forest and spend the day birding along the Royale Mile. Drive time is just an hour. Special Species: Ituri batis, Uganda Woodland Warbler, brown twinspot, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher, Rufous-crowned Eremomela etc. There occasional encounters are chimps. Black-and White Colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey etc are also present

Day 9

Drive to Kibale National Park

Birding to Kibale forest with a few stops along the way to look at some specials. Late lunch in Fort Portal town. Spend the rest of the afternoon along the main road in the forest or around the lodge gardens.

Overnight: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse

Day 10

Kibale Forest National Park

Start very early for the special bird of this forest – the green-breasted Pitta, plus several other encounters with occasional chimpanzees. Afternoon drive Chimp tracking in the forest.

Day 11

Bigodi Wetland and travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Start early for birding in the forest later drive to Fort Portal Town for lunch and later drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Highlights at the famous Bigodi Community wetland include white-spotted flufftail, white-tailed anti-thrush, great blue turaco, red colobus monkey, black and white colobus monkey, white-nosed monkey, Uganda Mangbey etc.

Stay at Bush Lodge/Twin Lakes Safari Lodge

Day 12

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning game drive along the Kasenyi plains and spend this afternoon at Kazinga Channel on a birding and mammal watching cruise.

Overnight: Bush Lodge

Day 13

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Do another birding stroll in the morning along the Kasenyi plains where African crake, small button quails, temminck’s coursers, collared pratincoles etc are normally encountered before transferring to Ishasha sector of the park that is mostly famous for tree climbing Lions. Early morning of this day, we look for the papyrus gonolek at the Katunguru Bridge.

Overnight: Topi Lodge 1night

Day 14

Queen Elizabeth NP Ishasha- Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Birding here the whole morning is always very productive: Fan-tailed grass warbler, dwarf-bittern, Black coucal, re-collared widowbird, blue-cheeked bee-eaters etc are possible encounters. In the afternoon we drive to Bwindi Impenetrable NP – spend the last couple of hours at the forest edge birding.

Overnight: Ride for a Woman for 1night

Day 15

Bwindi Impenetrable NP- Buhoma Sector

Bwindi Impenetrable NP – Birding along the main trail at Buhoma. Specials: Neumann’s Warbler, Kivu ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, and Jameson’s Ant-pecker, Many-coloured Bushshrike, African Broadbill and many other Albertine rift endemics.

Transfer to Ruhiija late in the afternoon.

Overnight: Bakiga Lodge 3nights

Day 16

Bwindi Impenetrable NP – Ruhiija Sector

Bird to the Mubwindi Swamp – the Green broadbill trail. The yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Lagden’s Bushshrike, Grauer’s rush warbler, the African green broadbill, Grey-chested Babbler, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Archer’s Robin Chat and may others, are some of the targets here.

Day 17

Gorilla tracking at Ruhiija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Day 18

Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

Drive to lake Mburo NP. Afternoon/evening birding around the lodge, or depending on the time we arrive here, we may do a short stroll in the park.

Overnight: Hyena hill Lodge for two nights

Day 19

Lake Mburo National Park

Early Morning walk in the woods looking at animals and birds as they graze along, is a fascinating experience. Zebras, Impala, Giraffe, Bufalo can’t be missed here. There are chances of African water rail, shoebill, Greencap eremomela, Tabora Cisticola, Black-collared barbet etc. we shall also do a boat ride to look for African finfoot, giant kingfisher plus may others.

Day 20

Lake Mburo to Entebbe

Check out the hotel and drive straight to Entebbe for your flight back home. Lunch in Entebbe

3-weeks Uganda custom birding trip – group departures

Costs, inclusions and Exclusions

Rates:

One 4X4 Customized Land cruiser

4pax: USD7166 P/P

5pax: USD6385

6pax: USD5866

7pax: USD5,515

Two 4×4 customized Land cruisers

8pax: USD6,180

9 pax: USD 5,876

10pax: USD5,646

11 pax: USD 5,446

Single Room Supplement USD577

This is an inclusive ground price – Gorillas and Chimps trekking fees

Costs of International Tour Leader
Car hire and fuel
Gorilla and Chimpanzee trekking
Local Birding guide fees & site guides charges
All accommodations (shared) and meals
Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
Birding drives/walks and game drives
Boat trips

Excluded are flights, visa fees tips of any kind, snacks and any other extra meals and drinks

Alcoholic beverages