16 Day Uganda Birding Safari
Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi tour, Queen Elizabeth Safari, Semliki, Kibale safaris.
Day 1:Depart For Lake Mburo National Park
Meet and greet at Hotel by one of our representatives and then leave for Lake Mburo National Park in Mbarara district. We stop over at the Equator for pictures before getting to Mburo.Common birds in this habitat which is dominated by tall grass savannah dotted with Acacia and Euphorbia trees, dense thorn thickets along water courses are crested francolin, emerald –spotted wood dove, brown parrot, bare-faced go-away –bird, blue-naped mouse bird, lilac-breasted roller, green wood hoopoe among others which can be encountered whilst driving towards rwonyo camp, the park headquarters. We bird as we drive in and enjoy game viewing as well. Birding along the Zebra tracks will enable us see species such as Coqui Francolin, Red- naked spirfowl, black bellied bustard, African wattled Plover and so many others. About 315 species have been recorded here. We bird whole day and then retire for the night.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation of your choice.
Day 2:
After breakfast we explore the scenic lakeside track, which allows us explore the aquatic habitat. We shall look out for papyrus specials and also take a boat to enable us observe inaccessible species.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation of your choice.
Day 3:Lake Bunyonyi
After break fast we depart for Kabale onto Lake Bunyonyi, which translates as “place of little birds”. Once in Ruhinda a motorboat takes us Bushara Island.Bushara Island alone has about 100 species of birds recorded which can be seen via self guided walks-which activity may be done in the evening.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation of your choice.
Day 4:Muko and Nyombe
We visit Muko and Nyombe swamps for swamp endemics. Time allowing local village and birding trips will be arranged for as well.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation of your choice.
Day 5:Transfer to Bwindi National Park
Transfer to Bwindi for the night and bird the camp area once there.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation of your choice.
Day 6:
After breakfast bird the two Km waterfall trail on to Munyanga River which offers best sight to see Kivu ground thrush, walking slowly back along main truck.
Afternoon will be done via Munyanga river trail along the park boundary. Look out for African Black Duck and Cassin’s grey fly catcher along the river and Dusky blue flycatcher and Mackinnon’s shrike at the forest edge. This day on the other hand may be reserved for gorilla tracking.
Dinner and overnight at accommodation of your choice.
Day 7: Birding is done along the Muzabajiro river trail, 5.2 Km loop trail that begins north of the main forest entrance climbing over a ridge into the Muzabajiro Valley. Please note that key species in the impenetrable forest are Albertine rift endemics-Red-throated Atethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu ground thrush, Montane masked Apalis, collarerd Apalis, Graver’s Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Redfaced woodland warbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis and strange weaver and others including western bronze-naped pigeon, Dusky and olive long-tailed cuckoos, Fraser’s Eagle-owl, montane (Rwenzori) Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon and many more.
Dinner and overnight in Bwindi
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birding is done enroute Jacana lodge that lies on Lake Nyamusingiri where African fin foot is resident. Take a 1 km walk for opportunities to see forest greenbuls, sunbirds, woodpeckers and other elusive species.
Dinner and overnight at Jacana
Day 9: Whole day forest birding in Maramagambo forest and one of the highlights is to the bat cave where an opportunistic palm nut vulture fond of fruit bats may be sighted. Three forest trails in this forest are worth birding. The longer loop around the back of Lake Nyamusingiri offers an opportunity to seek out rarities such as scaly-breasted illaopsis, snowy-headed Robin-chat and chestnut wattle-eye.
Dinner and overnight at Jacana.
Day 10: Transfer to Mweya early morning birding/game viewing enroute, Bird Lake Kikorongo and Kasenyi tracks. Afternoon birding along Kazinga channel on the launch cruise for water birds.
Dinner and overnight in Mweya
Day 11: Early morning coffee, depart for the crater for grassland species and also Lake Katwe area/Munyanyange Lake, home to spectacular concentrations of waterbirds. Key species in this park are Martial eagle, black rumped buttonquail, African skimmer, verreaux’s eagle owl, black bee-eater, white-tailed lark, white-winged warbler, papyrus gonolek, and papyrus canary.
Dinner and overnight in Mweya
Day 12: Transfer to Semliki wildlife reserve birding enroute. Birds to watch out for are the crested Francolin and helmeted guinea foulbrood-billed roller, green wood hoopoe. Birding done for the rest of the day.
Dinner and overnight in Semliki
Day 13: Whole day birding in this beautiful game reserve and key species include shoebill, African pygmy goose, Red-necked falcon, Abyssinian ground hornbill, blue breasted bee-eater, and black billed barbet, piacpiac, leaflove and black-chinned quail-finch.
Dinner and overnight in Semliki
Day 14: Early morning breakfast and off to Kibale National Park. The forest offers excellent forest birding. Birding will be done whole day, with concentration along the main road from the Kanyanchu visitor centre.
Dinner and overnight at Kibale
Day 15: Whole day birding with a visit to the papyrus swamp (Magombe swamp) as part of the activity for papyrus endemics. Key species in this forest are red-winged francolin, red-chested flufftail, white-naped pigeon, green-breated pitta, African pitta, joyful greenbul, grey-winged robin, Abbysinian ground thrush, grey throated flycatcher, white-bellied crested flycatcher, masked and black capped Apalises, Uganda woodland warbler, chestnut-winged starling, orange-tufted and tiny sunbirds, grey-headed Olive-back
Dinner and overnight in Kibale
Day 16.After breakfast, bird Lake Nyabikere area and then depart for Kampala.
End of Safari
notes for birders
NB. Gorilla safaris could be done by adjusting the itinerary to include one day extra for this activity.
Price includes transport to and from Kampala, Park entrance fees, game drive fees, boat ride on the Nile, Kazinga Channel and L.Mburo, accommodation on full board and an English speaking driver (guide), lunch to and from, Chimp tracking fees, nature walking fees. It however excludes beverages, souvenirs, tips and all expenditures of a personal nature.
Notes for Birders
- Please respect habitats, laws and the rights of local people
- Bring along with you all the film you might need with you
- The savannah areas have lots of light where as the forests have very little
- Come along with enough lens cleaning equipment
- Include a small medical kit, sun protection gear(hat, sunglasses and sunscreen)rain gear, a warm jersey for the high land areas,mosquitoe net and repellant,water purification tablets(Mineral water is available though),a torch or portable spotlight
- In the forests, gum boot are recommended or alternatively come along with fast-drying sturdy boots
- To scan the forest canopy, you may need a telescope.
- All required immunisations must be taken prior to visiting here.
- Light clothing for the Savannas but long pants in forests areas and “jackets”.
