17 Days Uganda Birding Safaris
17 Days Uganda Birding Safaris, very ideal for twitchers. This Uganda birding tour takes you to Biodiversity hotspots and yet the country’ major Important Bird Areas of the Albertine Rift in Uganda. We search for the Albertine Rift Mountains EBA species in Uganda. Specialities include; African Green Broadbill, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Dwarf Honeyguide, Dusky Crimson-wing, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird.
Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Short-tailed/Neumann’s Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collared Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, Yellow-crested Helmet Shrike and the Handsome Francolin.
DETAILED ITINERARY OF 17 DAYS UGANDA BIRDING SAFARIS
DAY 1: Mabamba Swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Arrival for Uganda Birding Tour – Bird Uganda Tours
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, transfer to the Hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, we bird Entebbe botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.
Location: Mabamba Swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Latitude 0 Degrees |
| Comfort | Serena Kigo Hotel |
| Standard | Via Via Entebbe |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 2: Lake Mburo National Park, Birding Mabamba for the Shoebill and Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After an early breakfast, we bird to Mabamba – Kamengo Wetlands about 50km west 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 with its labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) and home to several pairs of Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident. This charismatic species, the only representative in its family, is undoubtedly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa and we’ll make special efforts today to find it by paddling through the channels by canoe.
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 Marsh-Harrier, Yellow-billed Duck, African Water Rail, Allen’s Gallinule, and Malachite Kingfisher along with slightly more local species such as Long-toed Plover, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Swamp Flycatcher, White-winged & Papyrus Yellow Warblers. Other areas in and around Entebbe/Kampala may produce African Open-billed Stork, Grey Kestrel, Eastern Grey Plantain-Eater, African Green Pigeon, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher – maybe the rare Weyn’s Weaver.
Lake Mburo National Park is 260 sq. Km and it has markedly different fauna from other reserves. It is the only national park that contains an entire lake. Situated in rolling hills and open grassy valleys, the park also consists of 4 other smaller lakes.
Location: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Mihingo Lodge |
| Comfort | Rwakobo Rock Lodge |
| Standard | Mburo Eagle’s Nest |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 3: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Lake Bunyonyi, Birding to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park in Uganda
Today, we bird to Kisoro in western Uganda for the birding experience in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is the country’ most scenic protected area.
Location: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Bird nest @ Bunyonyi Resort |
| Comfort | Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi |
| Standard | Hawks Eye Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 4: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Lake Bunyonyi, Birding Mgahinga – Uganda Birdwatching Safari
We bird through a variety of Montane habitats, In the search for the Rwenzori Turaco, Dwarf Honeyguide, Kivu Ground Thrush, Rwenzori Double-collared, Regal and the Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Archer`s Robin-chat, cinnamon Bracken and Mountain Yellow Warblers, the Dusky and much Sought after Shelley’s Crimson-wing along with many more.
Location: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park | Lake Bunyonyi
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Bird nest @ Bunyonyi Resort |
| Comfort | Arcadia Cottages Bunyonyi |
| Standard | Hawks Eye Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Birdwatching to Ruhija
Today we bird Ruhija in search of the darling African Green Broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimson-wings, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, White-browed Crombec, White-naped Raven, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Sharp’s Starling, Mountain masked and Rwenzori Apalises and many more.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Gorilla Safari Lodge |
| Comfort | Gorilla Mist Camp |
| Standard | Bakiga Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Birding to Mubwindi Swamp
Highlights (African Green Broadbill and Grauer’s Rush Warbler
This section of Bwindi is generally at a higher altitude and therefore is more chill. Temperatures range between 10 and 18 degrees centigrade. Forest birding at Bwindi ranks the best in Uganda. It is home to over 23 highly localised Albertine Rift endemics.
Specialty birds include; Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Banded Prinia, Black-faced Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill-Babbler, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Sooty Boubou, Pink-footed Puffback, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, White-naped Raven, Montane Oriole, African Golden Oriole, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller’s Starling, Strange Weaver.
Brown-capped Weaver, Black-billed Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater, African Green Broadbill, Shelly’s Crimsonwing, Oriole Finch, Mountain Buzzard, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Handsome Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Barred Longtailed Cuckoo, African Wood-Owl, Rwenzori Nightjar, Scarce Swift, Bar-tailed Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, (Western) Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Elliot’s Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Lagdens Bush Shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Archer’s Ground Robin, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin chat, Olive Thrush, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Grauer’s Rush-warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Gorilla Safari Lodge |
| Comfort | Gorilla Mist Camp |
| Standard | Bakiga Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Gorilla Tracking and Birding to Buhoma – Bird Watching Uganda Tour
After an early breakfast, you will report to the park headquarters for the briefing before the gorilla tracking excursion. This activity may take anywhere between 1 hour and 8 hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness is required. It is a beautiful experience to stare into the eyes of these gentle giants; watch them in awe as they play and go about their daily activities. It is indeed a “once in a lifetime” experience that you must never miss. Each encounter is different and has its rewards, but you are likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngster frolic and swing from vines in a delightfully playful display.
We continue birding through “the neck” to Buhoma- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Bird through Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, this drive takes you through the Savannah. Therefore you will pick up some Savannah and woodland species. Mammals may include; African Buffalo, tree-climbing lions, African Elephants, Common Warthog and several antelope species.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Gorilla Safari Lodge |
| Comfort | Gorilla Mist Camp |
| Standard | Bakiga Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Whole day birding Buhoma Main Trail
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Gorilla Safari Lodge |
| Comfort | Gorilla Mist Camp |
| Standard | Bakiga Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 9. The tour continues to Kasese for birding in the Rwenzori
Bird through Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, this drive takes you through the Savannah. Therefore you will pick some Savannah and woodland species.17 Days Uganda Birding , Mammals may include; African Buffalo, tree-climbing lions, African Elephants, Common Warthog and several antelope species.
Location: Kasese
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Katara Lodge |
| Comfort | Twin Lake Safari Lodge |
| Standard | Irungu Forest Safari Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 10: Mountain Rwenzori National Park, Hike Rwenzori Day One (Albertine Rift Endemic Bird Species Known to Occur in the Rwenzori are Highly Common)
The trek takes you through the pristine rainforest of the kyambogho ridge with a view of the Mubuku Valley then climb the heavily forested ridge which is home to many primates, such as Black and White colobus monkey, Blue monkey and occasionally the elusive L’hoest monkey up to Omu’ka Kizza Rest Camp at 2,977metres. 17 Days Uganda Birding ,Here you will enjoy the magnificent views over the Rwenzori foothills and Kasese town 2,160 meters below.
Location: Mountain Rwenzori National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Nyabitaba Camp |
| Comfort | Nyabitaba Camp |
| Standard | Nyabitaba Camp |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 11: Mountain Rwenzori National Park, Hike Rwenzori Day Two
The second day you hike to Mahoma lake. At 3,200 masl, the forest gives way to thick bamboo to along a narrow moss-covered ridge, once on top you cross a mossy valley with giant lobelia then climb through an incredibly beautiful forest of giant heather covered in layers of bright green moss.
Location: Mountain Rwenzori National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | John Matte Camp |
| Comfort | John Matte Camp |
| Standard | John Matte Camp |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 12: Bird Descending Rwenzori
Start with a morning walk along the lake Mahoma and descend through Nyabitaba a ranger post to the Rwenzori Three-horned Chameleon before you come out of the forest.
(Mountain Checklist; Sleeping bag, mountain boots, woollen socks, trekking trousers, cotton shirts, warm woollen underwear, warm pullover, woollen cap, hand gloves, woollen mitten,17 Days Uganda Birding ,headlamp, sunhat, rainproof and warm gear, walking stick, Stomach upset drugs, elastic bandage, sunscreen).
DAY 13: Semuliki National Park, Birding to Semliki Valley National Park in Uganda – Birds of Uganda Tour
Today morning, we bird Rwenzori National Park for more species possibly missed the previous days and later proceed to Semliki Valley National Park.
Location: Semuliki National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Semuliki Safari Lodge |
| Comfort | Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge |
| Standard | Murania Motel |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
DAY 14 & 15: Semuliki National Park, Birdwatching Uganda Tour at Semliki Valley National Park – Birds of Uganda Safari
In Semliki, we bird the Kirumia trail and the forest in general. We lookout 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; Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, the Black-Casqued Wattled, Piping, Red-billed Dwarf, and White-crested Hornbills, the Nkulengu Rail, and other species; Blue Swallow, White-throated Blue 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 Puffback, White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, Grey Ground-Thrush,17 Days Uganda Birding ,Little Grey Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Western Nicator, just to mention but a few. There is a single, unconfirmed report of the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel.
Location: Semuliki National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Semuliki Safari Lodge |
| Comfort | Aramaga Rift Valley Lodge |
| Standard | Murania Motel |
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 16: Birding to Kampala/Entebbe
Location: Mabamba Swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Latitude 0 Degrees |
| Comfort | Serena Kigo Hotel |
| Standard | Via Via Entebbe |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner.
Drinking Water and Fruits throughout
Day 17: Departure
Location: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation: On Accommodation
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout
Thank you for specifically Choosing Paradise Adventure Vacations and we hope to see you again!!
We believe in value for money. Every guest would like to have the most reliable and comfortable vehicles on safari. In response to the clients’ needs, we have a very strict vehicle replacement policy that ensures a young fleet at all times. We have a total fleet of 225 well-maintained motor vehicles, predominantly 4-wheel drives. This does away with the problem of sub-contracting vehicles and driver-guides, which may compromise the quality of services. Our safari vehicles are specifically converted for maximum space and comfort. All of them have hatched roof and sliding windows to facilitate good viewing and convenient photography during game drives and sight seeing.
