Description
11 Days Uganda birding tour safari holiday
Day one: The Uganda birding tour commences with a pick up from your overnight accommodations in Entebbe. Driving along the shores of Lake Victoria, then proceed to the swampy sections of Lake where the waiting local guides will be waiting. Through the different waterways of the papyrus swamps using dugout canoes, the guides will point out white faced whistling ducks. Open billed storks, Pink backed Pelican, Squacco Heron, yellow billed ducks, Marsh Harriers and other bird species that inhabit Marshes.
You will later sail to the outer ends of the Swamp where to see the majestic Shoe billed stork. Mostly seen almost motionless as it fishes for mud fish and other amphibians. Later, driving through Mpigi, and stopping along the way to look at some birds along the forest margins and local gardens, have a lunch stop over. Drive through the scenic landscape of Fortportal and proceed to Kibale National park arriving for dinner and overnight at the Kibale Cottages. Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner.
Day Two:
Breakfast is served very early at the Kibale Forest Cottages then the morning birding will commence from the Kanyanchu park headquarters. The guides will be allocated for the morning session of birding at Kibale forest. On the walk, your resident guides and your Uganda bird guide will be pointing out and Sooty Flycatcher. Brown-chested Alethe, Little Greenbul, Mosque Swallow, Double-toothed Barbet and Blue-throated Roller.
Grey-throated Barbet, Black Bee-eater, African Emerald Cuckoo, Afep Pigeon, Crested Guineafowl, Scaly Francolin, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Joyful Greenbul, Cassin’s Flycatcher, African Paradise-flycatcher, Green-headed Sunbird Brown-capped Weaver and many others. Following a lunch break at the overnight accommodations, you will have the afternoon on a birding expedition to the Bigodi Swamps where it is possible to spot Bronze Mannikin, Compact Weaver, White-chinned Prinia, Marsh Tchagra, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Toro Olive Greenbul, Yellow-billed Barbet, Grey-cheeked Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Great Blue Turaco, Black Sparrow hawk, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, African Thrush, Northern Black-flycatcher, Purple-headed Glossy Starling and many more. In the evening, return to your overnight accommodations for a debrief, dinner and overnight.
Day Three:
Early morning breakfast at the hotel and begin an easy birding drive through Fortportal, along the Bundibugyo road. Later, after the Uganda wildlife Authority process, begin a birdwalk in the forest looking out for Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Lesser Striped Swallow, Long-tailed Hornbill, Hairy-breasted Barbet, White-throated Bee-eater, African Emerald Cuckoo, Palm-nut Vulture, Grant’s Bluebill, Brown Snake-eagle, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Rufous-bellied Helmet-shrike, Yellow Longbill, Black-casqued Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Red-chested Owlet and others. Meals and overnight at the preferred overnight accommodations depending on budget.
Day Four: After breakfast at your overnight accommodations, have another full day on the trails of Semuliki National park. This day, will be a birding walk looking out for Chocolate Backed kingfisher, Western bronze Naped pigeon, Dwarf hornbill, Nkurengu rail, Piping Hornbill, brown cheeked hornbill, hairy breasted barbet, lesser stripped swallow and the grey kestrel. Meals then overnight back at the overnight accommodations in the Semuliki area as above.
Day Five:
Morning breakfast then set off for Queen Elizabeth national park. Arrive with a birding expedition on the northerly sections of the National park. Through the euphobia trees as well as the Marsh areas at Lake Kikorongo, look out for cattle Egrets, Hamerkop, Marabou stork, Hadada Ibis, Palm-nut Vulture, Long-crested Eagle, Red-necked Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Laughing Dove, White-rumped Swift, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Barn Swallow, Yellow-throated Longclaw and others. In the afternoon, you will bird alongside the Kazinga channel enroute to your overnight accommodations at the Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge or at other lodge of choice.
Day Six:
The morning Uganda birding tour will include a game viewing drive alongside bird spotting. In the game viewing area of Kasenyi, you look out for Lion, Elephant, Uganda Kob, Giant Forest Hog, Waterbuck and Spotted Hyena. The birds in this part of the park include; black headed gonolek, bateluer, white backed vultures, Sooty Chat, Common Bulbul, Flappet Lark, Woodland Kingfisher, Speckled Mouse bird, White-browed Coucal, Ring-necked Dove and cattle egrets on the back of cape buffalo.
Later on this afternoon, proceed with your picnic lunches to the Mweya peninsular where the Kazinga channel boat cruise commences. Look out for the following species along the river banks; Swamp Flycatcher, African Pied Wagtail, Banded Martin, Red-throated Bee-eater, African Pygmy-kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, African Skimmer, Kittlitz’s Plover, Spur-winged Lapwing. Black-winged Stilt, Water Dikkop, Black Crake, African Fish-eagle, Egyptian Goose, Sacred Ibis, Yellow-billed Stork, Great White Egret. Pink-backed Pelican, Great White Pelican and Long-tailed Cormorant. You will also see Hippo, Cape buffalo and the occasional elephants come down for a drink at the water hole. Meals then overnight at the Overnight accommodations of your choice.
Day Seven:
Following an early morning start, you depart for the Impenetrable forest of Bwindi through Ishasha. Along the way, stop over to admire butterflies also, birds near the forest margins. The Maramagambo to Ishasha road section should offer sightings of Palm-nut Vulture, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Red-necked Francolin, Pied Avocet, Red-chested Cuckoo, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Sooty Chat, African Dusky Flycatcher, Yellow-billed Oxpecker and many more. Wildlife in the area ranges from Olive Baboons, red tailed monkeys, lhoest monkeys, Elephant, Uganda Kob, bush buck, tree climbing lions, Cape buffalo, Topi, Warthog and many others. Thereafter, proceed to the northern part of Bwindi arriving for dinner and overnight at the Gorilla Resort or other accommodations of your budget.
Day Eight:
The morning is spent on a birding trail through the neck into Ruhija. You will be looking out for other birds which may include; African Paradise-flycatcher, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Olive Thrush, Archer’s Robin-chat, White-eyed Slaty-flycatcher, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Batis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Greater Swamp-warbler, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Bronze Sunbird, African Yellow White-eye, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Greater Swamp-warbler, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Bronze Sunbird, African Yellow White-eye, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Black-crowned Waxbill, Bronze Mannikin, Yellow-fronted Canary. Proceed through the beautiful section of virgin forest to Ruhija arriving for dinner then overnight at the Overnight accommodations of choice.
Day Nine: Breakfast early in the morning before heading down into the Mubwindi Swamp for the full day of Ruhija birding with your bird guide. A picnic lunch as well as some hot coffee of tea would be provided depending on the requirement. The birds to see on this walk may include; Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Oriole Finch, Dwarf Honey-guide, Mountain Illadopsis, White-starred Robin, Grauer’s Broadbill, Shelleys Crimsonwing, green Broabill, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Dusky Crimsonwing, Stuhlmann’s Starling and then other Albertine endemics. Meals and overnight at the Accommodation of choice subject to available budget.
Day Ten:
Morning breakfast at the lodge in Ruhija, later proceed to Mbarara for lunch. Along the way, you may spot broad billed rollers, Harrier hawk, Augur Buzzard and other birds of prey. Later, the drive into the Lake Mburo National park for an afternoon to evening birding. Fork-tailed Drongo, Grey-backed Fiscal, Grey Penduline-tit, Arrow-marked Babbler, Ruwenzori Apalis, Chin-spot Batis and common Stonechat. Lesser Striped Swallow, Papyrus Gonolek, Common Grey-headed Sparrow, African Yellow White-eye. Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Striped Kingfisher, White-browed Coucal, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove. Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black-winged Lapwing, African Jacana and the African finfoot. Meanwhile, the birding tour can be spent looking at Zebra, Eland, Topi, Impala or the Hippos on Lake Mburo. Meals and overnight at the accommodations of choice based on the preferred budget.
Day Eleven: We finally end the Uganda birding tour after breakfast at Lake Mburo. Later, begin the return trip to Entebbe airport for departure on the evening flight.
Pricing per person based on 3 accommodation levels.
Uganda birding tour, safari holiday price Includes:
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure,
- Accommodations and meals in safari lodges, guest houses or more affordable camps,
- Complimentary bottled water in safari vehicle,
- Bird guide books with the guide for consultation,
- Meals on tour as indicated,
- Park entrances in the national parks,
- Shared birding cruises on the Kazinga channel,
- Local guide services from the Uganda Wildlife Authority,
- Optional game viewing in the national parks
- Private customized safari vehicle with an English speaking guide.
The Uganda birding tour excludes optional tours and services not mentioned in the program.
