This 15 days safari will take you to the most exciting sites where you will find Uganda’s unique bird species such as the shoe bill stork, green breasted pitta, the great blue turaco and so much more.
Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe airport and transfer to a hotel
On this first day begin with your arrival at Entebbe international airport. Our driver guide will be waiting for you, to welcome and brief you about the 15 days birding safari in Uganda and later transfer you to the booked hotel in Kampala. There you will get rest, shake off that flight fatigue and rejuvenate your body and spirit for the amazing adventure ahead of you.
Accommodation options Kampala serena hotel/Forest cottages/Tourist hotel
Day 2: Transfer to Murchison national park and stop at Ziwa rhino sanctuary
On your second day, depart for the most beautiful and protected area in Uganda; Murchison Falls National Park after your breakfast. This is the largest and oldest conservation area in Uganda and it is a home of over 76 species of mammals and over 451 birds. The park is located in the north western Uganda and it is divided into two by the Victoria Nile which plunges 45m over the remnant rift valley wall hence creating the famous, most world’s powerful and beautiful Murchison Falls in the center of the park.
Make a stopover at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino trekking and lunch. It is located 176 km North of Kampala on Gulu High way. It is the only place you will see Rhinos in the wilderness in Uganda. This place is known for its Rhino trekking, birding, nature walks and much more. Here you will have your lunch and proceed to Budongo. In the Afternoon, arrive at Budongo forest where you are introduced to the very rich bird life of Uganda. You will be guided in to taking a lovely guided forest walk before dinner and an overnight rest.
Accommodation options: Budongo eco Lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge/Kaniyo Padibi campsite
Day 3: Birding in Budongo forest
After your breakfast, you will dedicate this Full day to birding in Budongo forest reserve. This reserve is to a birder what ingredients are to a chef. This place is residence to all sorts of melodies from very many bird species and it is approximated to have over 360 different species of birds.
Budongo is well known for its biodiversity in Birds and is home for the rare Puvel’s Illadopses and the yellow footed fly catcher which are an endemic species to this area. Other species include the yellow browned camaroptera, Chocolate baked kingfishers, black headed paradise flycatcher, chestnut crowned cuckoo, slender billed Greenbul, green crombec and forest Robin. After so much birding, you will retire to dinner and sleep overnight.
Accommodation options: Budongo eco Lodge/ Sambiya River Lodge/Kaniyo Padibi campsite
Day 4: Transfer to Semliki national park and stopover in fort portal
Enjoy a cup of tea/coffee and later depart from Murchison falls national park after an early birding experience in in the wild. Head towards Fort Portal where you shall have an enroute lunch. Fort Portal is an amazing, wonderful and lovely town that rests in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains and it is well known for its tea plantations so it is no surprise that your eyes will see on a lot of green.
Proceed to Semliki national park as you pass in the valleys and hills of Rwenzori Mountains where you will have your accommodation.
Accommodation options Semuliki safari Lodge/vanilla hotel/Ntoroko game lodge
Day 5: Birding in Semliki national park
After breakfast, have a forest walk for your Birding safari experience. Move through the national park trekking in search of these sounds and sights of the different birds that will appeal to our ears and sights.
There are more than 400 species of birds protected in the area including many West African species such as four different horn bill species that are only spotted in this area in Uganda. Also the red Rumped Tinker Bird and Palm Greenbul are endemics in the afternoon.
With our five sense we shall enjoy the different melodies which we shall use to identify different birds and with a help of an accommodating and very knowledgeable guide, you will surely have an unforgettable birding experience. Have Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options Semuliki safari Lodge/vanilla hotel/Ntoroko game lodge
Day 6: Transfer to Kibale national park and birding in Kasenda craters
After taking breakfast, you shall head out in search of the many different crater lakes that have made their home with in these dominant hills with beautiful views. These lakes are so calm and such a beautiful sight and the thought of how they were made will sink very overwhelming images into your head and with a very good guide, it will almost be as if you were there at their formation.
At Lake Nkuruba, you will take a hike to encounter different species of birds. This is an experience for that will give your body exercise so we advise you to get yourself comfortable but strong hiking shoes that can withstand the hiking and almost make this activity seem effortless and flawless for you. Proceed to Kibale national park for your dinner and get some well-deserved rest that will let you rejuvenate your body for the rest of the adventurous days ahead.
Accommodation options Primates lodge/Isunga lodge/Chimpanzee Guest house
Day 7: Birding in Kibale national park and Bigodi swamp
After your early morning breakfast, you will head to Kibale national park for another birding experience. Kibale national park is a home of 13 primates including our cousin’s – chimpanzees, more so it’s a home of over 600 bird species such as the green breasted pitta among others. Here you will spot a number of birds in the forest and other attractions such as olive baboons, varvet monkeys, among others.
After a delicious hot lunch, you will head to Bigodi swamp in search for more unique birds such as the great blue turacco among others. This swamp is a home of over 200 bird species. Late in the evening, re-embark to the lodge for your dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options Primates lodge/Isunga lodge/Chimpanzee Guest house
Day 8: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
You will transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park after a relaxed breakfast at the lodge. You will make several stopovers as you search for more birds on the way and take your packed lunch. You will reach in the evening for your hot dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options Mweya safari lodge/Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Simba safari camp
Day 9: Game drive & afternoon boat cruise
The day stars early after breakfast and you start with a morning game drive and head to the mating ground of the Uganda Kob. This is not only an area for excellent game viewing but also offers plenty for birders to feast their eyes on. Kobs are ecologically restricted, preferring low lying flats that are mostly free of the annoying season extremes. They too love to stay at least near a permanent water source. Therefore, their breeding only takes place with in an area controlled by an individual territorial male.
Later, you will take on a boat cruise along the Kazinga channel, a natural channel between Lake Edward and Lake George. Watch hundreds of hippos, elephaants and many migratory bird species such as the Grey headed gulis, African skimmers, water Dikkops and the Great White and Pink-Baked Pelican. After watching these birds to your heart’s content, we shall then transfer back for Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options Mweya safari lodge/Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge/Simba safari camp
Day 10: Transfer to Bwindi national park and birding
Start the day fresh with breakfast and then Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable forest arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, you will have a walk and trek through the forest in search of bird species such as African wattled plover, Black cracks, long toed clover, and African jacana, Woolly-neck black storks, Ducks and Geese and other grassland species such as black belly bustard and African crake. These are some of the species we might see. You will continue to Bwindi, settling and getting comfortable in our accommodation in any of Gorilla Resort/Buhoma Lodge/ wagtail eco safari camp
Day 11: Full day birding in Bwindi national park
On this day of this safari, continue with our Birding safari to the main trail looking out for Albertine rift endemics such as the short tailed warbler, black bee-eater, White tailed ant thrush, kivu ground, Thrush and other species such as Equatorial Akalat, Grey throated Barbets, Tullibergs, woodpecker, Gosbeck weaver, Brown caped, blackfaced rufous warbler, weaver and the yellow mantled weaver. We come back for lunch. In the afternoon, we go birding at the Munyanga river trail. This trail is found in the valley below Buhoma, an ideal walkable distance to view birds. After, we return to Dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options Gorilla Resort/Buhoma Lodge/ wagtail eco safari camp
Day 12: Transfer to Ruhija sector and birding
After breakfast, you will transfer to Ruhija sector-Mubwindi swamp. This area is known for some of the difficult to find of all rift endemics including broadbill regal sunbird and ancers robin chart dwarf honey guide among others. Later, we have dinner and overnight.
Accommodation options Gorilla Resort/Buhoma Lodge/ wagtail eco safari camp
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo national park and boat cruise
Have your Breakfast and head to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, have a boat ride on Lake Mburo searching for water bird species among other water animals on the shores of the lake.
The magnificent Lake Mburo is an important birding destination not only in Uganda but also Africa and it is famous for its rather rich birding safari experience with variety of birds calling this place home. When here, you will not lack in any birding adventures that might cross your mind throughout the flow of events. Other attractions in the park are antelopes like Topis, zebras, impalas among others. After, you shall a set camp here for Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Mburo Safari Lodge/Arcadia lodge/Eagles nest camp
Day 14: Transfer to Kampala and visit Mabamba wetland
Our birding adventures will then take us back to Kampala and on the way we shall pass the Equator where we shall stop for some photos and any souvenir shopping of your choice. You will be allowed to savor the moment and take in the whole Equator experience with the knowledge at the back of your mind that you are actually balancing with in two hemispheres.
Head to Mabamba Swamp which is 50km west to Kampala home for the Rare Shoe bill stork. This swamp is one of the best places to spot the rare shoebill stork even though other species too have made home of this place. These species are such as, the Allen’s Gallinule, Grey heroes, African water rail, Goliath, Purple and a variety of Egrets and ducks.
The only and best way to explore this bird rich wetland is by taking a traditional dugout canoe to the interior. Among the many birds you can expect is the shoe bill stork and Mabamba provides the best opportunities of Shoe bill viewing. Late in the afternoon transfer to Kampala for overnight stay.
Accommodation options: Kampala Serena hotel/Forest cottages/Cassia Lodge
Day 15: Transfer to Entebbe airport and visit Entebbe botanical gardens
After your breakfast, you will transfer to Entebbe airport for your flight. You will have a stopover at Entebbe botanical gardens for another experience depending on the flight schedule. This will make the end of the safari in Uganda
