Overview
Uganda holds a variety of bird species, about 1080 species that reside in the different habitats. In Uganda, bird-watching is done everywhere even while you are relaxing at the balcony of the lodge/hotel.
This makes Uganda a lovely birding destination in Africa to spot endemic Albertine rift and forest bird species. The 11 Days birding expedition covers iconic birding spots including Mabamba Wetland, Semuliki, Budongo, Kibale Forest National Park and more.
Safari in Details
Day 1: Pick up & take a boat to Mabamba Wetland for birding
After having breakfast, meet the driver guide for briefing about this 11-day Uganda birding tour. On a canoe/boat, look out for the elusive shoebills and other bird species such as African water rail, white-faced whistling ducks, grey & black headed herons, pygmy goose, black crakes, yellow-billed ducks and more. Return on a boat ride and drive back to the lodge/hotel in Entebbe or Kampala.
Day 2: Budongo Forest & Murchison Falls National Park
Budongo Forest is a section of the vast Murchison Falls Conservation area and before getting to this lush forest reserve, you will track rhinos at Ziwa Sanctuary. During the 2 hours walk, you will also see a variety of other wildlife and birds. Proceed to the hotel at Amuka Safari Lodge or at the lodge in Budongo Forest.
Day 3: Birding in Budongo Forest
Birding in Budongo starts early after breakfast and you will be exploring forest and Albertine rift species. The birds of Budongo Forest are many and include the grey-headed sunbird, Cassin’s spinetail, Cassin’s hawk, African dwarf kingfishers, Ituri batis, chestnut-capped flycatchers, blue-breasted kingfishers, crowned eagle, Puvel’s illadopsis, yellow-crested woodpeckers, etc. Go for a boat cruise to see water birds like kingfishers.
Day 4: Travel to Semuliki National Park
Early morning game drive and expect to see not only wildlife, but also diverse birds. This park holds over 451 species of birds and includes shoebill storks, fulvous whistling, chestnut capped pigeon, swallow tailed bee-eater, Namaqua dove, spotted mourning thrush Bruce’s green pigeon, and more.
Wild animals will also be spotted including elephants, cape buffaloes, oribis, Jackson hartebeest, lions, and giraffes. You proceed from a game drive/birding tour to Semuliki N/Park via Hoima-Fort Portal highway.
Day 5: Birding tour in Semuliki N/Park
Semuliki N/Park is a bio-diverse birding destination with more than 441 bird species. The park’s birds to keep an eye on include yellow-billed barbets, black-billed turacos, purple-headed starling, grey-throated barbets, African emerald cuckoos, crested malimbe, maxwell’s black weavers, lyre-tailed honeyguide, white-throated blue swallows, African piculet, ross’s turacos, shoebills, papyrus gonoleks, etc. Return to have lunch and check out of Semuliki’s lodge then drive to Kibale N.P, a tropical forest park with 13 primate species.
Day 6: Birding in Kibale forest and Bigodi wetland
After breakfast, you will set off for birding expedition through Kibale Forest and you will be looking for the African green breasted pittas and other birds. Other birds to expect to identify include white-winged warblers, little greenbul, yellow-spotted nicator, white-thighed hornbill and primates like baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, grey-cheeked mangabeys, black and white colobus monkeys.
An afternoon tour to Bigodi wetland gets you more sightings of birds and primates. This wetland is endowed with birds such as white-spotted fluff tail, brown chested alethe, blue-breasted kingfishers, and the great blue turacos.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth N/Park game viewing & birding tour
In the morning after having breakfast, you will head to Queen Elizabeth NP. This park has 620 species of birds and different locations offer excellent bird sightings including Kasenyi, Kyambura Gorge, Maramagambo Forest and Kazinga channel. Lunch meals and refreshments will be provided when you arrive at the lodge inside the park or nearby the park.
Set off for an afternoon boat on Kazinga channel for 2-3 hours and your sighting list includes water birds like kingfishers, fish eagles, skimmers, bee-eaters, pelicans and aquatic life like hippos and crocodiles.
Day 8: Game drive and bird watching along Kasenyi & drive to Bwindi national park
Explore wildlife and birds of Queen Elizabeth National Park in a 4×4 safari vehicle. This park is blessed with over 620 bird species and stands out as a preferred birding area. Big game animals and antelopes including bush elephants, cape buffaloes, lions, etc will be viewed as you drive through Kasenyi game track.
Get back and enjoy early lunch, set off for Bwindi impenetrable national park – Uganda’s top gorilla trekking destination and rich birding spot with more than 360 species of birds. As you drive via Ishasha, be keen enough and you will have sights of the tree climbing lions.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Buhoma sector & Batwa cultural walk
At 8:00 am after briefing and allocation of gorilla families, you will be accompanied by UWA staff to search for mountain gorillas. These are shy and massive apes unique to only 3 countries-Uganda, Rwanda and D.R. Congo.
Expect to take 2-6 hours of gorilla trekking adventure and you will enjoy one hour face-to-face with these great apes. Lunch meal and relaxation at the lodge until evening when you will be setting off for the Batwa cultural experience.
Day 10: Birding in Ruhija sector & visit Lake Bunyonyi
Leave the lodge for birding expedition along the Mubwindi swamp trail. This trail offers remarkable sightings of endemic bird species and localized species which include African green broadbill, dwarf honey guide, common buzzard, Mackinnon’s shrike, paradise flycatcher, shelley’s pygmy kingfishers, blue-headed sunbird, yellow-rumped tinker birds, and others. Remain at Ruhija sector’s lodge or drive to Lake Bunyonyi for evening relaxation and a night sleep in a classic accommodation.
Day 11: Return from Lake Bunyonyi to Kampala / Entebbe
If you slept around Lake Bunyonyi, take a boat ride to one of its 29 islands and in case you remained in Ruhija, check out then set off for Kampala/Entebbe
End of safari
