15 days Uganda’s best Birding Safari tour

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 an astonishing 12 species of primate and provides one of the highest primates in the world. And the bird life is no less impressive-there is at least 335 species and over 144 species of butterfly. This part of the Uganda birding safari showcases some of the birds which are; Red-winged Francolin, Red-cheated Flufftail, 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, Chestnut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted and Tiny Sunbirds, Grey-headed Olive-back, came back for lunch and go back in the afternoon for bird watching. Overnight and meals at Kyaninga Lodge (High-end facility), Primate Lodge –Forest cottages (Mid facility) or Chimpanzee guest house (Budget facility) Meal plan (F/B)

After breakfast, we set off to the forest and we will spend the whole day birding. come 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. Overnight and meals at Kyaninga lodge (High-end facility), Primate Lodge –Forest cottages (Mid facility) or Chimpanzee guest house (Budget facility) Meal plan (F/B)

After an early morning breakfast, and 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, it host 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 for birding 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. Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Lodge (Lodge facility) or Enganzi lodge (Mid range facility) or Simba Safari Camp (Budget facility) Meal plan (F/B)

After morning breakfast we drive off to Maramagambo Forest for birding as we do the birding we can came 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. Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Lodge (Lodge facility) or Enganzi lodge (Mid range facility) or Simba Safari Camp (Budget facility) Meal plan (F/B)

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, birding and game viewing, ideal for the Uganda birding safari. The prolific bird life is colorful and stupendous with over 550 resident species. Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge/Mazike Lodge (Lodge facility) or Enganzi lodge (Mid range facility) or Simba Safari Camp (Budget facility) Meal plan (F/B)

This morning after breakfast, you proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. The drive will take us through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth called 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. Birding 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. Home to the rare Mountain Gorillas. 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.

Overnight and dinner at mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge (Lodge facility) or Silverback Lodge/Engagi Gorilla Lodge (Mid Lodge facility) or Buhoma Community Bandas (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB)

After breakfast, head to the ranger station by 8:00 a.m. for gorilla trekking. The trek can last 4-8 hours, requiring good fitness and sturdy shoes. Sit among the gorillas, marvel at the silverback’s size, and cherish the rare experience. Stay at Mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge, Silverback Lodge/Engagi Gorilla Lodge, or Buhoma Community Bandas. (FB)

Early morning breakfast , you 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 Honeyguide, Fine-banded and Oriole-Finch and many more 357 species. Came back for lunch and relax then go back in the afternoon for birding safari.  Overnight and dinner at mahogany Springs/Buhoma Lodge (Lodge facility) or Silverback Lodge/Engagi Gorilla Lodge (Mid Lodge facility) or Buhoma Community Bandas (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB)

Morning breakfast, this will be a full day tour to Ruhija at the Mubwindi Swamp, Overnight and dinner at Ruhija Gorilla Lodge (Lodge facility) or Gorilla Mist Camp (Mid Lodge facility) or Trekkers Tarven Cottages (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB)

After breakfast, drive to Lake Mburo National Park 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 lookout for starling, bee-eaters, crowned crane and even more exotic birds like Blue Naped Coucal, Barefaced 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 Mihingo Safari Lodge (high end), Lake Mburo Safari Lodge (Mid lodge) or Eagles Nest Lake Mburo (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB)

Early breakfast, then you take a guided lakeside walk as you do birding then return 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 lakeside. Dinner and Overnight at Mihingo Safari Lodge (high end), Lake Mburo Safari Lodge (Mid lodge) or Eagles Nest Lake Mburo (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB)

After breakfast, we go for the game drive which will enable us 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. Dinner and Overnight at Mihingo Safari Lodge (high end), Lake Mburo Safari Lodge (Mid lodge) or Eagles Nest Lake Mburo (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB)

After breakfast, we proceed to Mpanga forest for birding with a stopover at Kaaku Swamp for the Rufous-bellied 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. Overnight stay at Mpanga Forest Bandas (Budget facility) Meal plan (FB).

After breakfast, we go for a birding safari in the forest 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 trousers, a light backpack, and water bottle. Return to Entebbe for your flight connection back home. Meal plan (HB) End of Birding Safari