From the source of the mighty river Nile on Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Rwenzori Range, the montane forests of the Virunga volcanoes, harboring some of the last remaining Mountain Gorillas, to the extensive savannas around the powerful Murchison Falls, Uganda is an equatorial country of amazing contrasts. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats, and this richness is reflected in its incredible bird list of over 1000 species. Amongst these are many highly sought-after birds, such as the unique and elusive Shoebill, the unique Kibale green breasted pitta and the numerous spectacular endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley. The huge bird list sought after by birders makes it, arguably the richest African birding destination!
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel
On your arrival at Entebbe international airport, you will be picked by our company representative. Dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria Serena or 2 Friends beach hotel Entebbe.
Day 2: Bird Tour to Mabamba for Shoebill and Mpanga forest in the Afternoon
After an early breakfast, we take you to Mabamba Wetlandswest of Entebbe area on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is one of the few remaining swamps in Uganda protected by the local communities – an extensive papyrus swamp, classified Ramsar Site and IBA (Important Bird Area) and home to several pairs of Shoebills, most probably Africa’s most sought after bird! This charismatic species, the only representative in its family, is certainly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa and we will make special efforts to find it by meandering through the channels by boat. There will of course be a good selection of classic East African water birds: Pink-backed Pelican, Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath Heron, African Fish-Eagle, African, Yellow-billed Duck, African Water Rail, Allen’s Gallinule, and Malachite Kingfisher. You will have your lunch in Kampala,Dinner and overnight at Serena hotel Kampala or Hotel Le Boungainvillier.
Day 3 Uganda Birding Adventure to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we will depart for Murchison Falls National Park. This is one of the most popular of our Uganda national parks. We will drive through the beautiful country side arriving in the evening. Special birds along the way may include Pied kingfisher, Cliff Chat, Various sun birds, Yellow Fronted Tinker bird, Gray-headed Bush Shrike, Singing Cisticola, African Fin foot, Namaqua dove, Green-winged Pytilia, Red Backed Shrike, Crested Francolin, Black Headed Bush Shrike, Northern and Black-winged Red Bishops, Black-bellied Fire finch, Black-faced Waxbill, Lesser Blue-eared Starling among others. Lunch, Dinner and Overnight at Paraa Lodge or Murchison River lodge
Day 4: Morning birding tour and Wildlife Photography and a boat cruise along river Nile also ideal for bird watching.
Start early for birding on a game drive, search for special of savannah migrants. After having lunch at the lodge,you take a launch cruise on the mighty river Nile to the bottom of the falls while viewing game at close ranges. You will be surrounded with a variety of birds which may include species like the Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller and Ground Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Water Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing, Long-toed. Other specialties include Buff-bellied Warbler, Bar-breasted Fire finch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Marabou Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silver bird, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver, White Crested Turacco, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Carmine Bee-eater, and many more. Dinner and Overnight at Paraa Lodge or Murchison River lodge
Day 5: Bird watchingin the morning and evening inBudongo Forest
After breakfast, the tour continues to Budongocentral forest. Expect to find a wide range of other bird species such as the crested guinea fowl, White Crested Turacco, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Olive-bellied Crombec, Little Green Sunbird, and Red-headed Blue Bill among others. & Yellow-billed Barbets, Green Hylia, Buff-throated, Black-throated & Black-capped Apalis, Black-eared Ground-Thrush, the mysterious Lemon-bellied Crombec, and also various forest starlings among others. You will have a stopover in Fort Portal for Lunch at Continental hotel, Dinner and Overnight at Hoima Cultural lodge or Dream Holiday Kijungu(Full Board)
Day 6: Birding Semliki Forest
Early in the morning, we take on to Semliki valley for whole day birding experience. We look out for a number of predominantly Central African species which cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa yet are some of the continent’s most spectacular and sought-after birds such as; Black headed weaver, Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honey guide, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Blue Swallow, White-throated Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Spotted Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Lowland Akalat, Red-throated Alethe, Fire-crested Alethe, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Puff back, White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, Grey Ground-Thrush, Little Grey Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Western Nicator, just to mention but a few. Lunch, Dinner and overnight at Semliki safari lodge (Full board)
Day 7: Birding tour to Kibale Forest
After breakfast, the tour continues to Kibale forest arriving in the park by mid morning check in at your lodge and have a nature walk around the forest in search for birds. have your lunchat the lodge and later in the afternoon go for bird watching at Bigodi swamp sanctuary. Kibale forest national park has one of the most sought after by birders called the green-breasted pitta. The park also boasts over 300 bird species, including the Green-breasted Pitta, African pitta, Black Bee-eater, yellow-spotted Nicator, yellow rumped tinker bird, little Greenbul, black eared ground thrush, brown chested Alethe, blue breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian ground thrush, and the African Crowned Eagle. Dinner and over night at Kibale forest camp or Primate Lodge (Full board)
Day 8: Bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Launch Cruise
In terms of diversity this park ranks among the best birding destinations in Uganda with over 610 species recorded, and a one day record of 296 species. Hard-core birders will figure outspecial birds including; Malachite kingfisher, Harlequin Quail, Blue Quail, Common Buttonquail, African Crake, White winged Warbler, Martial Eagle, African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Papyrus Gonolek, Amur Falcon, Lowland Akalat, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Caruthers’s Cisticola, Terek Sandpiper, and Temminck’s Courserto mention but a few. The lesser flamingos are commonly found along the Kazinga channel which you will explore on your afternoon launch cruise.Lunch, Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari lodge or Park View lodge (Full board)
Day 9: Drive to Kampala via Mbarara.
After breakfast, come back to Kampala in a leisure road drive as you say farewell to Ugandan birding experience, en route lunch in Biharwe-Mbarara at Igongo cultural centre. Another stop over will be made at Kayabwe at the Equator and have a feel of being at Latitude 00, have photographs and visit the souvenir and craft shop. Check in at your hotel for an overnight. Dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria Serena hotel or 2 Friends beach hotel.
Day 10: Departure.Reserved for your departure from Entebbe international airport.
The costs includes:
Airport transfers, ground transportation in 4 wheel tourist vehicles with internet access on board that makes you stay connected to family and friends, Full board (FB) accommodation excluding drinks- Ground transportation by 4×4 tourist vehicle, Driver/Guide, park or destination Entrance fees plus all the activities involved, government taxes and drinking Water on board.
The costs do not include:
Flight ticket, Tourist insurance, entrance visas, Money for tips, beverages, and anything of personal Nature outside this itinerary
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