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UGANDA : BIRDING SAFARI - 15 days
Overview: Birding , Mabamba, Mburo, Bwindi, Ruhiija, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Semliki valley wildlife reserve.
Day One: Arrival - Kampala. 42km.
On arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be warmly welcomed by birding guide from Trinita safaris and thereafter transfer to Sheraton or Serena Kampala Hotel (Up market Luxurious accommodation),Hotel Africana or Triangle Hotel (Moderate/medium class accommodation), Hotel Ruch or Holiday Express (Budget/basic accommodation). Bed and Breakfast.
Day Two: Kampala - Mabamba - Kampala
After early morning breakfast you will be briefed by your birding guide and thereafter, set off for Mabamba Wetland where you will see the shoebill, Lesser Jacana, Blue Swallow, Black-Shouldered Nightjar, Afep Pigeon, Blue Breasted Bee-Eater, Papyrus Gonolek, White Winged Warbler. You will spend a whole day in this wetland and the surrounding area birding, which will give you an opportunity to see even more birds. Here you will have panic lunch and later return to your Hotel in Kampala Sheraton or Serena Kampala Hotel (Up market Luxurious accommodation), Hotel Africana or Triangle Hotel (Moderate/medium class accommodation), Hotel Ruch or Holiday Express (Budget/basic accommodation). Bed and Breakfast.
Day Three: Kampala - Lake Mburo. 230 km
On this day, you will leave Kampala for Lake Mburo National Park, having a stopover at the Equator for pictures then proceed via the green hills of Masaka to Lake Mbura National Park. The park horbours a record 315 bird species and it is the best place for one to see the acacia-associated birds, and Rwonyo Camp is as good a place as any to look the likes of the mosque swallow, black-bellied bustard, bare-faced go-way bird and Ruppell's long-tailede starling. The park also gives you an opportunity to view game that may not easily be seen in other parks. Some species found here include; the gigantic Eland Antelope, as well as Zebra, Topi, Impala. The five lakes within the park attract Hippos, Crocodiles, and a variety of other water birds. Have an evening game drive and over night at Mihingo Lodge (Upmarket/luxurious accommodation), Mantana Tented Camp (middle class) or UWA's Tents (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Four: Lake Mburo National park.
On an early morning game drive, watch out for the Brown Chested Plover, Red Faced Barbet, Southern Ground Hornbill, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Yellow Billed Oxpecker, African Fin foot, Black Collard Barbet birds and many more.
After lunch, go for an afternoon boat trip and thereafter evening game drive, both will give you an opportunity to see birdspecies that you may have missed during the early game drive. Retire for dinner and overnight sleep Mantana Tented Camp/ Muhingo Lodge (Upmarket/luxurious accommodation), or UWA Park Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Five: Lake Mburo - Bwindi
You will go for a game drive after breakfast. Thereafter transfer via the lush hills of Kigezi to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, best known for Gorillas arriving there in the evening. This rainforest is one of the most biologically diverse forest in Africa which spreads over a series of steep ridges and valleys that form the eastern edge of the Albertine Rift valley. This Montane Forest is a home to 350 bird species, 23 birdspecies endemic to the Albertine Rift, and at least 14 birdspecies recorded nowhere else in the country, among them the African green broadbill, white-tailed blue flycatcher, brown-necked parrot, white- bellied robin chat and Frazer's eagle owl, etc. Overnight at A&K's Mobile camp/ G & C's Tented camp (Up market /luxurious accommodation), or Ruhiija Guest House (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full board
Day Six: Bwindi.
On this day of your birding safari you will transfer to Buhoma a sector of Bwindi Impenetrable forest after birding in Mubwindi swamo where you will see more bird species. Retire for at night at Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp (Upmarket/luxurious accommodation), or Lake Kitandara's Tented Camp/ Buhoma Homestead (Medium class accommodation) or the Community Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Seven: Bwindi- gorilla trackinging and birding
Start your day early in the morning, prepared to do two things at the same time. You will report at the park office at 7:15 am where you will be briefted by the game range about the activity of the day. You will go tracking gorillas in the forest with your packed lunch, it is necessary to wear appropriate shoes, carry camera and get ready for a memorable wild adventure. 320 or more individuals living in troops of 15 are resident in the forest. You will also encounter the other 120 mammal species harboured in the forest including Grey Cheeked Mangabey Blue monkeys and others species. Spend the night at either Gorilla Forest Camp / Mantana Tented Camp (Up market/luxurious accommodation), or Lake Kitandara's Tented Camp/ Buhoma Homestead (Medium class accommodation) or the Community Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Eight: Bwindi - Queen Elizabeth.
After breakfast, you will drive north to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is predom innately associated with open savannah, studded in some areas with dense cover of acacia and euphorbia trees and also embraces with large swamp around Lake George and the Maramagambo forest. The park is a home to more than 610 bird species the number being the greatest in the world!. In addition to 54 raptors, the list includes every waterbird species found in the country and a great variety of wood and forest birds. Birding anywhere in the park is good, but the Mweya stands out for the myriad water birds on the Kazinga Channel. Ishasha sector is a good place for more the unusual species. Key bird species here include; African Skimmer, Black Rumped Button Quail, Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Red Footed Falcon, Lesser Flamingoes, Grey Capped Warbler, White's and Abdim's Storks (in season), Amur Falcon, Ovampo Sparrowhawk, Wooly-necked and Saddle-billed Storks, Vultures and Plovers etc. Retire for overnight at either Mweya Lodge/ Jacana safari Lodge (Upmarketd/luxurious accommodation), King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba/ Hill TompCamp (Medium class accommodation) or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Nine: Queen Elizabeth.
On this day, you will go birdwatching in the park on an early morning game drive and return to the lodge for lunch after birding. This birding safari will leave no little wonder why Queen Elizabeth boasts of having the highest bird species in African .Close to 100 mammal species including lion, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog are resident in this park.
The Primates include Chimps, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Blue, Black faced Red Colobus, and Red tailed monkeys and Olive Baboons.
Reptiles are the amazing huge rock-Python, Puffadders, Spitting Cobras, Gabon Rippers, Green Mambas, Turtles etc. All these are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula and all this makes a superb safari territory. Over night at either Mweya Lodge/ Jacana safari Lodge (Up market/luxurious accommodation), King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba/ Hill TompCamp (Medium class accommodation) or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Ten: Queen Elizabeth.
You will go birdwatching on this day along the Kazinga Channel which will not only give you an opportunity to see birds but also more of the wildlife in the park.You will see at close quarter herds of Hippos, Buffalos in aboat and a great variety of water birds including the Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Open-billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers. There is also a Bird Observatory here, which was set up with the aim of studying both migratory and resident birds. Since its inception in 1997 more new species have been identified, including Uganda's first record of the Bar-tailed Godwit. Have a game drive and over night at either Mweya Lodge/ Jacana safari Lodge (Upmarket/luxurious accommodation), King Fisher Lodge Kichwamba/ Hill TompCamp (Medium class accommodation) or the Institute of Ecology Cottages (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Eleven: Queen Elizabeth - Kibale.
After great days of birding in Queen Elizabeth, you will transfer to Kibale National Park for another birding adventure arriving Kibale in the evening. Dinner and over night at either Ndali lodge, Mantana, Rwenzori Guest House, Ataco or Primate lodge Kibale. Full Board .
Total of 335 bird species are resident in Kibale forest Kibale Forest, including 4 bird species not recorded in any other park: White Collard Oliveback, Leaf Love, African Broadbill, Willcock's Honeyguide, Green Breasted Pitta, African Pitta, Grey Winged Robin, Red Winged Francolin, Joyful Greenbul, White Bellied Crested Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Red Chested Fluftail, Grey Winged Robin, White Napped Pigeon, Chestnut Winged Starling etc. . and retire for overnight at either Ndali lodge, a stunning location overlooking a dramatic Crater Lake and the fabled "Mountains of the Moon"/ Mantana Tented Camp (Upmarket/luxurious accommodation), Rwenzori View Guest House/Ataco Guest house (Medium class accommodation) or Primate Lodge Kibale Bandas (Low budget/basic accommodation). Full Board.
Day Twelve: Kibale.
Beautiful bird sounds will wake you up, reminding you that your birding adventures still goes on in this remarkably wonderful forest. You will see more birds species the Grey-Throated Flycatcher, Masked & Black-Capped Apalis', Chestnut-Winged Starling, Orange -Tufted & Tiny Sunbirds. Besides birds, the park is very attractive and ideal for nature walk. There are a network of forest trails that radiate out from the visitor centre, allowing you to search for a number of species that shun the vicinity of the main road. Birding in the Forest interior can be frustrating, however, as many species are very shy and difficult to see in the under growth. You will visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a superb community development fringing the Park. We will be able to see the fruiting trees, which attract Narina Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Yellow Spotted, Hairy Breasted and
Yellow-billed Barbets, back to either Ndali lodge, Mantana, Rwenzori Guest House, Ataco or Primate lodge Kibale in the evening. Full Board.
Day Thirteen: Kibale - Semliki Valley.
On this day of your birdwatching, you will head north to Semliki Valley Reserve. 350 and more birds are recorded here including the rare Shoebill and other Wetland varieties. The key species here include the African Pygmy Goose, Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-Breasted Bee-Eater, Black-billed Barbet, Piapiac, Leaflove and Black-chinned Quail-Finch. After tea by the pool, watch as the Hamerkop dips into the water and the Weaver birds flock nearby. The most exciting aspect is that new species are still being discovered in the reserve. You might be lucky enough to discover one. Have an afternoon boat trip on Lake Albert in search for the Shoebill and over night at Semliki Safari Lodge or the Camp site. Full Board.
Day Fourteen: Semliki Valley.
This memorable birdwatching adventure gives you an opportunity to track chimps in the Gallery Forest of the Mugiri River. Leaflove are in proliferation here, despite being scarce in the rest of Uganda. In the forest you may see: White-spotted Flufftail, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush and Blue-breasted Kingfisher.
A late afternoon, a game drive will reveal herds of Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Reed Buck, several monkey species as well as lots of bird opportunities: White-crested Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Mouse birds, Kingfishers and Bee-Eaters, to name a few. Or take a night drive if possible to see Pennant and Standard Wing Nightjars within 2 metres. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge or the Camp site.
Day Fifteen: Semliki Valley - Entebbe - Depature
You have come to the end of this memorable birdwatching adventure! You will have breakfast and later transfer to Kampala to catch your flight back home. CONTACT US
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