• 21 Days Birding Expedition

    Different bird species and unique flora

In This exciting expedition we traverse western Uganda from Mabamba wetland to Murchison Falls National Park through Budongo Forest to Kibale Forest and the spectacular Queen Elizabeth National Park. Explore further south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for Gorillas and Kisoro area before you begin winding back to Kampala via lake Mburo National Park. Expect to watch a lot of bird species, game, insects and unique flora in this glorious 21 days birding expedition.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival to Entebbe Airport

On arrival to Entebbe international airport you will be received by our professional guide and depending on your arrival time,you tour around Entebbe area to view endemic birds before you are transferred to your hotel.

Day 2: Travel to Mabamba Wetland

Mabamba swamp hosts a variety of water birds, prominent is the rare elegant Shoebill Stork. After exploring this wetland, continue birding along the way to Masindi town where you will stay for a night

Day 3: Murchison Falls Nation Park

Drive to Murchison falls National Parkthrough KaniyoPabidi. View endemic bird species including the Puvell’sIlladopsis.  Proceed to the top of the spectacular fallsin search for RockPrantincoles, Pel’sFishing Owl, Bat Hawk and Night Jars. Retire to your lodge.

Day 4: Game Drive

Take a game drive to the Nile delta and northern part of the park. While birding,also view large game such as Elephants, Giraffes, Lions Buffaloes and many others.

Day 5: Launch Cruise.      

Take a morning game drive and birding. In the afternoon take a launch cruise to the bottom of the falls and see a variety of bird species, Large Crocodiles, schools of Hippos and your cruise tripwillclimax at the base of the marvelous thunderous water falls cascading in a seemingly huge boiling pot.

Day 6: Budongo Forest

After your breakfast, head to Budongo forest. This forest hosts an array of bird species among them are: Foxy Cisticola, Cliff charts, Forest Robin, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Narina Trogon, IturiBatis, and White-spotted Greenbull.  There are also a number of primates in this forest you may want to track. These include Columbus monkeys, Chimpanzees etc.

Day 7: Royal Mile and Busingiro

Busingiro is an Eco-tourism Site in BudongoForest and it is the biggest Mahogany forest in East Africa with trees growing upto 80m tall. This forest hosts rare birds like Chocolate-Backed Kingfisher plus the Lemon Bellied Crombec. Carry out birding at Royal Mile for Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle,Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Dwarf Kingfisher and visit Busingiro Eco-tourism site.

Day 8: Kibale Forest

Transfer to Kibale Forest as you bird, arriving Fort Portal in the evening for overnight

 

Day 9: Forest Walk

Track chimps as you bird. Kibale forest is a popular birders paradise for it hosts many rare birds.  Search for African Pittas and Green Breasted Pittas, Abyssinian ground Thrush, Afep pigeon, African grey parrot and many others.  In the afternoon, swamp walk for papyrus birds

Day 10: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Birding enroute and afternoon Game drive. Retire to your lodge. 

Day 11: Game Drive Savannah

Explore the Kasenyiarea  in search of  Temminck’s  Courser, Rupell’s  Griffons, Martial Eagles and many other birds of the 600 species hosted by this park. Apart from birds there is also a range of big game to view. In the Afternoon take a launch cruise on the Kazinga channel to view a variety of birds like Pelicans and game such as Hipos, Water Bucks, and Crocodiles etc

Day 12: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Early morning games drives and proceed to Bwindi while birding along the way.

Day 13: Birding in Buhoma

There are various bird species to look out for in Buhoma  area including Dusky Tit, Yellow-billed  and Yellow- spoted  Barbets, Stonechat, Apalises  Brown –caped  Weaver, Shrike –flycatchers, Red-chested Owlet, Handsome Francolin  and many others.

Day 14: Forest Trek

We trek into the forest and look out for albertine rift endemics and optional Gorilla tracking. To track Gorillas you must have a permit .

Day 15: Birding in Ruhija

Comb the Ruhija “neck” for Bronze Napped  Pigeon,  Black bee-eaters, Bush  shrikes, Tinkerbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow streaked Greenbuls, RwenzoriBatis, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, etc

Day 16: Nature Walk to Mubwindi Wetland

Comb Mubwindi swamp for Regal Sunbirds, Grauer’s Rush Wabler, Blue Headed Sunbird, Green Broadbill to name but afew.

Day 17: Drive to Kisoro

Start early in the morning and head to Kisoro .this area offers a variety of interesting birds in bamboo habitat  among the many are Red throated Alethe, Dusky Crimson wing and White starred Robin. Visit the Crater lakes and look out for Common Moorhen Lesser Jacana, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Southern Porchard and Red Knobbed Coot. Overnight at your lodge.

Day 18: Bird Mt Sabinyo and Gorge

Mt Sabinyo is one of the ranges of the Rwenzori  mountain forming gorges with vegetation such as bamboo,  offering home to many bird species.  Spot the  prominent  birds like Rwenzori Turaco, White starred Robin, Streaky seed eater, Kivu Ground Thrush  and Shelly’s Crimson Wing. Overnight in your hotel.

Day 19: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

Drive to L. Mburo National park as you bird along the way and enjoy a game drive before you retire to your lodge for overnight.

Day 20: Birding and Game Drive

Explore the park grassland, the swampy valleys of Warukiri, Miriti, road sides of Rwonyo camp, salt licksand Rubanga Forest- the real draw for keen birders. Spot the Rufous-bellied Heron,Red-faced Barbet(Rare and only found in L. Mburo), Brown-chested Plover(common from June –December), Grey Crowned Crane, Black-bellied Bustard and Brown –chested Lapwing, Bateleur, Red-headed lover bird, Ross’s Turaco, Brown Parrot, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Nubian Woodpecker , Green –Wood-hoopoe and Coqui Francolin. Take time to view game such as Zebras, Impalas, Topis etc. In the afternoon take a boat ride and search for the African Finfoot, White-winged Tit, Common Scimitarbill etc. Overnight at your hotel of choice.

Day 21: Return to Kampala

Continue birding in Rubanga forest – the real magnet for a keen birder and look out for the rare Red-faced Barbet which is seen only in this park. Drive back to Kampala as you bird. Branch to Kaaku swamp,view some birds and later to Entebbe to catch your flight.

End of your glorious birding safari