15 DAYS UGANDA BIRDING SAFARI
From the Source of the White Nile ,Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Rwenzori range, and the desert plains of Karamoja, Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in its ever-burgeoning bird list of over 1000 species. Amongst these are many special birds such as Shoebill and the numerous spectacular endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley, which are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. The huge bird list is all the more remarkable given the small size of the country (approximately the size of Great Britain) making it arguably and the richest African birding destination.
Detailed Tour Itinerary
DAY 1
Our representative will pick you from the airport, he/she will warmly welcome you and brief you about your safari. This drive will take you through one of the beautiful western country side of Uganda and will expose to plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and indigenous cattle grazing along the road. Meet and greet Fort Portal which lies in the shadow of the enchanted Mountains of the Moon, you will have a stopover for lunch and relax a bit then proceed to Kibale National Park, late afternoon birding at the park entrance and camp site then Dinner and overnight at the agreed lodge.
DAY 2
Wake up early morning take breakfast and report to Kanyanchu Tourist Centre where the chimpanzee tracking in the park begins from. Set out in the forest in search for a man’s closest animal brothers the endangered chimpanzees! Here its home to astonishing 12 species of primate and provides one of the highest primate in the world. And the birdlife is no less impressive-there is at least 335 species, and over 144 species of butterfly. Same of the birds are Red-winged Francolin, Red-cheated Fluff tail, White-naped Pigeon, African Pitta, joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Crested Flycatcher, Masked and Black-capped Apalises, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Chestenut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted and Tiny Sunbirds, Grey-headed Olive-back, came back for lunch and go back in the afternoon for birding. Dinner and overnight at the agreed lodge.
DAY 3
After breakfast, we set off to the forest and we will spend the whore day birding. came back for lunch and in the afternoon we visit Bigodi swamp eco-tourism to look for different bird species like the Shining Blue Kingfisher, Blue Throated Roller and other rare species and also find the fruiting trees, which attract Narina Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Yellow Spotted, Hairy Breasted and Yellow-Billed. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
After an early morning breakfast ,transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This drive take you along the Rwenzori ranges and savanna grass lands we will enter the park from the Northern crater area. With beautiful lakes and rich grasslands which are set deep in the crater valley, this is truly the most breathtaking scenery in the park. Queen Elizabeth is host to a large variety and volume of wildlife. It boasts one of the highest bio diversity ratings of any game park in the world, from the open Savannah to Rain forest, dense swamps and beautiful crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward. Almost 100 species that include Hippos, Lions, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyenas and the elusive giant forest hog. There are over 606 species of birds found here including the martial eagle, black-rumped buttonquail, Verreaux’s eagle owl and African skimmer, White-tailed Eagle, Papyrus Canary, Shoebill to name but a few. The primates include Chimps, Black and white Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black Faced Red Colobus, and Red Tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons. Dinner and overnight at the agreed lodge.
DAY 5
After morning breakfast we drive off to Maramagambo Forest for birding as we do the birding we can come across different primates, and the Blue Lake the only one in east Africa. Then we visit the bat cave and the hunter’s cave where we take a close look at the bats, rock python and the forest cobras. Drive back for lunch and in the afternoon we go for birding around Lake George and Mweya Peninsula drive back for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
DAY 6
After morning cap of coffee we go for the morning game drive in search for animals. You will encounter Kobs, Hyenas, Giant forest hog, Bush bucks, Oribi, Waterbucks, Elephant, Lions, Leopards, comical Warthogs drive back for mid morning breakfast and wait for lunch. After lunch, enjoy the unique 2-hours boat cruise on kazinga channel and into Lake Edward. This trip passes through possibly the highest pods of Hippos and many animals may be seen drinking at the water’s edge. This launch cruise offers an excellent platform for photography, bird watching and game viewing, ideal for the Uganda safari. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with over 550 resident species. Dinner and overnight at the agreed Lodge
DAY 7
This morning after breakfast, you proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive will take us through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth- Ishasha. We will take our packed lunch as we drive .Animals such as waterbucks, elephant, antelopes, buffalo, kobs, can be seen along the road. We will drive to the ishasha sector and look for the tree-climbing Lions before continuing on to Bwindi home to the few remaining mountain gorillas. Birds life and primate life in Bwindi is quite superb and there is an incredible variety of flora. Bwindi is the Bird watchers haven! It holds 348 species of birds and supports 24 of 26 Albertine Rift Endemics that occur in Uganda and seven red data book species. Once continuous with the forest of the Virunga Volcanoes (Dian Fossey’s stomping), Bwindi is now an ecological island surrounded by cultivation on rich Volcanic soil. Bwindi is a treasure chest of flora and fauna and the richest forest in East Africa. Afternoon birding for Albertine Rift Endemics-Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Grauer’s Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis and Strange Weaver.
Dinner and overnight at the agreed Lodge
DAY 8
You will relatively rise early for breakfast to give you the energy needed for gorilla tracking. Report to the ranger station at 08.00 am where the guides will take you through the forest, parting thick creepers to the gorillas. (This trek can take from 4-8 hours. A reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes). you will sit in the forest among the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other, and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorilla.
It’s amazing to think they are only about 650 of these beautiful creatures left in the world! Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
DAY 9
Early morning breakfast , you will go for birding only in the forest as you will be seeing a lot of birds like, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Montane (Rwenzori) Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black Bee-eater, Willcock’s Honey guide, Fine-banded and Oriole-Finch and many more 357 species. Come back for lunch and relax then go back in the afternoon for birding then back for dinner and overnight at the lodge.
DAY 10
After morning breakfast, there will be a full day tour to Ruhija at the Mubwindi Swamp, returning to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.
DAY 11
After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park which is situated in rolling hills and open grassy valleys. This lovely landscape is complemented by Lake Mburo and four smaller lakes, beautiful and tranquil surroundings where you’ll see impala, eland, waterbuck, klipspringer and rare topi, zebras, and buffalo. In the air ,look out for starling, bee eaters, crowned crane and even more exotic birds like Blue Naped Coucal, Bare faced go Away bird, Nubian Woodpecker and Swamp Flycatcher and many more. Bird watchers will enjoy more than 250 species of birds found in this park. Dinner and overnight at the agreed lodge.
DAY 12
Early breakfast, you will then you take a guided lakeside walk when you are doing birding .come back for lunch. And in the afternoon you go for the boat ride on Lake Mburo to see crocodiles and hippos and many birds around the lake side, come back for dinner and overnight the agreed lodge
DAY 13
After breakfast, you will go for the game drive which will enable you to see the Zebras, Topis, Elands, Impalas, Buffalos and many others came back for lunch. In the afternoon you go for the guided walk on the other side of the park, come back for dinner and overnight.
DAY 14
After breakfast, we proceed to Mpanga forest for birding with a stopover at Kaaku Swamp for the Rufous-belied Heron, Lesser jacana, Lesser Moorhen and variety of water birds and again at Masaka Swamp before we stop for lunch in Masaka. After lunch you proceed to the Equator for photographs and drive to Mpanga Forest for overnight.
DAY 15
After break fast, you go for birding in the forest then come back for lunch and after drive to Kampala and to the Airport for your flight back home. A note for Trekkers: Remember to bring heavy leather gloves, stout hiking boots, long sleeved shirts, long trouser, a light back-pack, and water-bottle.
END OF THE BIRDING SAFARI
