16 Days Pure Birding Ugandan Safari
16 Days Pure Birding Ugandan Safari
You will be welcomed by our professional guide at the Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel for check-in dinner and overnight.
Wake early morning for a cup of coffee and later proceed to Entebbe Botanical Gardens on the shores of Lake Victoria for a birding experience and here you will be able to catch up with some of the bird species. The garden hosts a variety of water, open country, and woodland bird species among which include: the Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Yellow-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, and African Open-billed Stork after return for Lunch and relaxation later proceed to Lutembe bay located in Sissa and Katabi sub-counties, Wakiso district, Uganda and is among the critical wetland systems in the Lake Victoria basin. It was designated as a Ramsar site in 2006 based on its importance as a habitat for migratory birds and seven globally threatened bird species including Papyrus Yellow Warbler Chloropeta gracilirostris, Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius, Shoebill, African Skimmer Rhynchops flavirostris, Pallid Harrier Circus macrouros, Great Snipe Gallinago media and Madagascar Squacco Heron Ardeola idea. It is also a rich breeding ground for fish and a source of water for the surrounding communities. After retiring for the day break at the lodge with dinner and overnight.
Wake up early morning for breakfast and transfer to Mabamba wetland swamp which is famous for its shoebill it lies 50 Km west of the Entebbe area on the shores of Lake Victoria and it is one of the few remaining swamps in the country protected by local communities with an extensive papyrus swamp which harbors the endangered shoebill species hence being classified as IBA (Important Birding Area). This charismatic species, the only representative in its family, is certainly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa and we’ll make special efforts today to find it by paddling through the channels by boat. In the afternoon you will drive to Lake Mburo National Park and on our way we shall have Lunch at the Equator and after lunch we shall continue with our journey. The park has a superb wetland and Acacia savanna sanctuary. Birding here is a delightful experience, with superb scenery and markedly different fauna to other reserves. This is the best place in the country to see game animals such as Eland as well as Zebras, Topis, Impalas, and acacia-associated birds. The lakes within the park attract Hippos, Crocodiles, and a variety of water birds, while fringing swamps hide secretive papyrus specialists such as Sitatunga, plus much rarer Roan, Leopards, Hyenas, and Jackals. You will arrive in the evening and check in for dinner and overnight.
Wake up early morning for breakfast and proceed with a game drive throughout the park as you embark on your journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with a brief stopover for lunch and leg stretching at Igongo Museum in Mbarara town after proceeding with the journey to Bwindi where we will rich later in the evening and go check in at the lodge for Dinner and overnight.
Wake up early morning for breakfast and report to the ranger station for briefing about the gorilla tracking experience and thereafter embark on the gorilla tracking adventure. You will spend only one hour with the gorillas as you listen, and watch them. It is amazing, for one to be in an audience with these giants. However, they are known not to attack anybody unless they are threatened and sometimes tease you by jumping up and down while hitting their chests to scare you. Under the circumstances, it is advisable not to look at them directly into their eyes, but to look down and don’t show any actions that may be interpreted as an attack on them, keep silent, and talk in small tones. This will also enable you to see some of the other primate species like the Lehoist Monkey, Black and White Colobus; Red-tailed, and Blue monkeys. Mammals include the Rwenzori Duiker, Yellowback duiker, Caruthers squirrel, Bohm’s, and Alexander squirrels, If you have the afternoon free, we could walk to the waterfall nearby or you can take a guided village walk amongst the locals and many other species. Later you will drive to the Buhoma area in Bwindi where you will have dinner and overnight
Wake up early for breakfast and move with a packed lunch we drive to Mubwindi Swamp for birding. In Mubwindi Swamp we look out for the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, White-tailed Blue-flycatcher, Brown-capped warbler, Black-billed weaver, Black-necked weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, Grey-headed Sparrow, Waller’s Starling. We shall have our packed lunch later and proceed to bird at Mubwindi Swamp till the evening after retiring for the daybreak to the lodge with dinner and overnight.
Wake up early morning for breakfast and later go to Nyombi Swamp which is a must for bird watchers. Lake Bunyonyi is home to more than 200 bird species. After the activity, you will have our packed lunch and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Park opens from savannah to rainforest, dense papyrus swamps, and brooding crater lakes to the vastness of Lake Edward, it is little wonder that Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any game reserve in the world. Almost 100 mammal species and a remarkable 612 bird species make this superb safari territory, with elephant, a profusion of hippos, the elusive giant forest hog and handsome Uganda Kob all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula – which also boasts of a marvelous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzori Mountains. Dinner and overnight.
We start early morning prepare breakfast and go for a game drive to look at the big game and beautiful scenery. We return for lunch and later in the afternoon, proceed for the boat cruise on the spectacular Kazinga Channel. This will allow you to site water birds and other mammals that come to drink at the banks and those that live in the water. Dinner and overnight.
Wake up early for breakfast, later we shall have a game drive as we search for more birds in the park, and then we shall drive to the Ishasha sector in search of climbing lions and later have a brief stopover for lunch, you will transfer to Kibale forest. Kibale’s major attraction is the chimpanzees, these delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendously fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees. A network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with 335 species. Check-in at the lodge for dinner and overnight
You will go for a briefing at the park headquarters at around 8:00 am, carry a packed lunch, and go to the forest for chimp trekking. Trekking the chimpanzee that is our ‘cousin’ is a very interesting experience. The way they feed, climb trees, respond to humans, caring for their young ones, is just phenomenal. This is a drama of life in a rainforest. This park is notable for its primate population, with the chimpanzees being the most famous. Abundant birds like; Scaly Francolin, Marsh Tchagra, Black-bellied Seedcraker, Green-backed Twinspot, Bicoloured Manikin, White-naped Pigeon, Afep Pigeon, Narina’s Trogon, Joyful Greenbull, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black Bee-eater and many others. This is home to the Blue-Headed Coucal, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Scaly-Throated Honeyguide and Black-face Rufous Warbler. If time allows, it will be possible to have a nature walk at Bigodi Wetland which is managed by the community. This demonstrates a successful story of the ecotourism development benefits.
After breakfast, we transfer to Murchison Falls. On this day more time is spent on the road up North. This is one of the very bumpy roads in Uganda. There shall be a few stops for birding along the way. A choice will be made by the guide on which road to use. Lunch will be en route. On arrival at the resort, you can enjoy any of these activities. Bird Watching in the Gardens and swimming, campfire in the nice gardens with a nice breeze, evening Walks in the Gardens Fishing / watching in the unique ponds. In the evening for check-in dinner and overnight at Budongo Forest Kanio Pabide.
Today morning you will drive to Budongo forest after breakfast. It’s home to various bird species and including Rufous-sided Broadbill, Puvell’sIlladopsis, Grey Long bill, Yellow Browed camaroptera, White Thighed Hornbill, and Red Tailed Ant thrush.
After an early breakfast and go for a whole Morning game drive in the delta area in search of wildlife and bird species. We will return to have lunch at the lodge. We later take the afternoon launch cruise to the bottom of the falls. You will get closer to the edge of the waterfall and see it plunging in the gorge from a 50-meter wide gorge down to a 7-meter gorge this is an interesting site that brings us to the closest distance to the magnificent falls. Drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast, we again have another chance to enjoy viewing the big game in the largest conservation area in Uganda as we look out for more birds in the park Lunch at the Lodge. Another evening game drive may offer opportunities for Nocturnal species of wildlife.
After breakfast, we shall have an early morning birding in search of other bird species that we might have missed during the previous birding sessions, we shall drive to the Ziwa rhino sanctuary for rhino tracking and have lunch, then proceed to Kampala reaching in the evening for diner and overnight.
After breakfast, we shall transfer to the Airport for our departure back home