15 Days Uganda birding safari to discover the rare and famous bird species of Uganda with Africa adventure Safaris. From the Source of the White Nile on Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Rwenzori range, the montane forest of the Virunga volcanoes to the desert plains of Karamoja, Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in its ever-burgeoning bird list of over 1000 species. Amongst these are many special birds such as Shoebill and the numerous spectacular endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley, which are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. The huge bird list is all the more remarkable given the small size of the country (approximately the size of Great Britain), making it, arguably, and the richest African birding destination.
Trip Highlights
Day 1: Kampala – Kibale Forest National Park
Days 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Day 3: Go Birding in Kibale Forest National Park
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 5: Bird in Maramagambo Forest
Day 6: Game Drives, Boat Cruises & Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 7: Drive to Bwindi, birding through the Ishasha Sector
Day 8: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 9: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 10: Full Day Birding in Ruhija & Mubwindi Swamp
Day 11: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 12: Guided Walks, Birding & Game Viewing in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 13: Game Drives & Guided Nature Walk in Lake Mburo National Park
Day 14: Proceed to Mpanga Forest for Birding
Day 15: Early birding and Departure
Detailed Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Kampala – Kibale Forest National Park
The Company representative will pick you from the airport, who will warmly welcome you and brief you about your safari. This drive will take you through one of the beautiful western country side of Uganda and will expose to plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and indigenous cattle grazing along the road. Meet and greet Fort Portal which lies in the shadow of the enchanted Mountains of the Moon, you will have a stopover for lunch and relax a bit then proceed to Kibale National Park, late afternoon birding at the park entrance and camp site , Dinner and overnight at Chimps Nest or Chimpanzee Guest House.
Days 2: Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Forest
Wake up early morning take breakfast and report to Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where the chimpanzee tracking in the park begins from. Set out in the forest in search for a man’s closest animal brothers the endangered chimpanzees! Here its home to astonishing 12 species of primate and provides one of the highest primate in the world. And the birdlife is no less impressive-there is at least 335 species, and over 144 species of butterfly. Same of the birds are Red-winged Francolin, Red-cheated Fluff tail, White-naped Pigeon, African Pitta, joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Crested Flycatcher, Masked and Black-capped Apalises, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Chestenut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted and Tiny Sunbirds, Grey-headed Olive-back, came back for lunch and go back in the afternoon for birding. Dinner and overnight at Chimps Nest or Chimpanzee Guest House.
Day 3: Go Birding in Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, we set off to the forest and we will spend the whole day and come back for lunch and in the afternoon we visit Bigodi swamp eco-tourism to look for different bird species like the Shining Blue Kingfisher, Blue Throated Roller and other rare species and also find the fruiting trees, which attract Narina Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Yellow Spotted, Hairy Breasted and Yellow-Billed. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 4: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After an early morning breakfast, and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This drive take you along the Rwenzori ranges and savanna grass lands we will enter the park from the Northern crater area. With beautiful lakes and rich grasslands which are set deep in the crater valley, this is truly the most breathtaking scenery in the park. Queen Elizabeth it host a large variety and volume of wildlife. It boasts one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game park in the world, from the open Savannah to Rain forest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 species that include Hippos, Lions, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyenas and the elusive giant forest hog. There are over 606 species of birds found here including the martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, Verreaux’s eagle owl and African skimmer, White-tailed Eagle, Papyrus Canary, Shoebill to name but a few. The primates include Chimps, Black and white Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, and Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. Dinner and overnight at Hippo Tented Camp or Jacana Safari Lodge or Kyambura Safari Camp.
Day 5: Birding in Maramagambo Forest
After morning breakfast we drive off to Maramagambo Forest for birding as we do the birding we can came across different primates, and the Blue Lake the only one in east Africa. Then we visit the bat cave and the hunter’s cave where we take a close look at the bats, rock python and the forest cobras. Drive back for lunch and in the afternoon we go for birding around Lake George and Mweya Peninsula drive back for dinner and overnight at Hippo Tented Camp or Jacana Safari Lodge or Kyambura Safari Camp.
Day 6: Game Drives, Boat Cruises & Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
After morning cap of coffee we go for the morning game drive in search for animals. You will encounter Kobs, Hyenas, Giant forest hog, Bush bucks, Oribi, Waterbucks, Elephant, Lions, Leopards, comical Warthogs drive back for mid morning breakfast and wait for lunch. After lunch, enjoy the unique 2-hours boat cruise on kazinga channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest pods of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing, ideal for the Uganda safari. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at Hippo Tented Camp or Jacana Safari Lodge or Kyambura Safari Camp.
Day 7: Drive to Bwindi, birding through the Ishasha Sector
This morning after breakfast, you proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive will take us through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth called Ishasha. We will take our packed lunch as we drive animals such as waterbucks, elephant, antelopes, buffalo, kobs, can be seen along the road. We will drive to the ishasha sector and look for the tree-climbing Lions before continuing on to Bwindi, home to the few remaining mountain gorillas. Birds life and primate life in Bwindi is quite superb, and there is an incredible variety of flora. Bwindi is the Bird watchers haven! It holds 348 species of birds and supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda; and seven red data book species. Once continuous with the forest of the Virunga Volcanoes (Dian Fossey’s stomping), Bwindi is now an ecological island, surrounded by cultivation on rich Volcanic soil. Bwindi is a treasure chest of flora and fauna and the richest forest in East Africa. Home to the rare Mountain Gorillas. Afternoon birding for Albertine Rift Endemics-Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Grauer’s Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis and Strange Weaver.Dinner and overnight at Mantana luxury Tented Camp or Gorilla Resort.
Day 8: Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
You will relatively rise early for breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Report to the ranger station at 08.00 am where the guides will take you through the forest, parting thick creepers to the gorillas. (This trek can take from 4-8 hours a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes) you sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorilla. It’s amazing to think they are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left in the world! Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 9: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Early morning breakfast , you go for birding only in the forest as you will be seeing a lot of birds like, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Montane (Rwenzri) Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black Bee-eater, Willcock’s Honey guide, Fine-banded and Oriole-Finch and many more 357 species. Came back for lunch and relax then go back in the afternoon for birding then back for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
Day 10: Full Day Birding in Ruhija & Mubwindi Swamp
Morning breakfast, this will be a full day tour to Ruhija at the Mubwindi Swamp, returning to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park is situated in rolling hills and open grassy valleys. This lovely landscape is complemented by Lake Mburo and four smaller lakes, beautiful and tranquil surroundings where you’ll see impala, eland, waterbuck, klipspringer and rare topi, zebras, and buffalo. In the air look out for starling, bee eaters, crowned crane and even more exotic birds like Blue Naped Coucal, Bare faced Go Away bird, Nubian Woodpecker and Swamp Flycatcher and many more. Bird watchers will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in this park. Dinner and overnight at Mantana Luxury Tented Camp.
Day 12: Guided Walks, Birding & Game Viewing in Lake Mburo National Park
Early breakfast, then you take a guided lakeside walk when you are doing birding came back for lunch. And in the afternoon you go for the boat ride on Lake Mburo to see crocodiles and hippos and many birds around the lake side, came back for dinner and overnight at Mantana.
Day 13: Game Drives & Guided Nature Walk in Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, we go for the game drive will enable us to see the Zebras, Topis, Elands, Impalas, Buffalos and many others came back for lunch. In the afternoon you go for the guided walk on the other side of the park, came back for dinner and overnight.
Day 14: Proceed to Mpanga Forest for Birding
After breakfast, we proceed to Mpanga forest for birding with a stopover at Kaaku Swamp for the Rufous-belied Heron, Lesser jacana, Lesser Moorhen and variety of water birds and again at Masaka Swamp before we stop for lunch in Masaka. After lunch you proceed to the Equator for photographs and drive to Mpanga Forest for overnight.
Day 15: Early birding and Departure
After break fast, you go for birding in the forest came back for lunch and after drive to Kampala and to the Airport for your flight back home. A note for Trekkers: Remember to bring heavy leather gloves, stout hiking boots, long sleeved shirts, long trouser, a light back-pack, and water-bottle.
End of the safari
Included in this tour package;
- Gorilla Permit.
- Cultural entertainment
- Park Ranger Fees
- Relevant Government Taxes.
- Full Board Accommodation (2 nights) and en-route meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- Full time English speaking Driver/Guide
- Ground Transportation by a 4×4 safari vehicle
- Airport transfer, as long as your flight is on the same day on which the safari ends.
Exclusions:
- Airfares
- Visa Fees
- Personal Insurance
- Expenses of personal nature such as; drinks, tips, laundry, telephone, cigarettes, accommodation & meals not indicated in the itinerary and optional activities.
GORILLA TRACKING IN UGANDA
Famous for mountain Gorilla Tours, Uganda, the Pearl of Africa, boasts of having more than half of the remaining mountain gorillas in the world. In Uganda gorillas are seen in Bwindi and Mgahinga. Bwindi has six habituated families with 48 permits now available. The gorillas there live in thicker tropical forest and tracking is more challenging as the hillsides are steeper and it can take 3-10 hours. Three of the Mountain Gorillas Families (Mubare, Habinyanja, and Rushegura) are accessed from Buhoma in the north, staying at Bwindi Lodge. On a Gorilla Tour, you can also go for nature walks to see birds, monkeys and orchids. Nkuringo another gorilla family in Southern Bwindi, is accessed from Kisoro. Access to the Nkuringo group is on a very steep trail. Mgahinga, in Uganda, is the best place to appreciate the unique Virunga volcanoes. You can also climb a volcano or go for a nature walk, visit the endangered golden monkey or go birding in the unique Virunga volcanoes. On a Gorilla Tour through the country, variety of wildlife can be seen. Today Uganda ranks among Africa’s top adventure destinations given the exciting gorilla trekking safaris. birding tours, mountaineering safari, primates tour, cultural tous, white water rafting, bungee jumping, to mention but a few. Enjoy a Uganda safari of your life time by booking with us. You will not regret.
