18 Days of Birdlife Uganda
18 Days of Birdlife Uganda
Safari Overview:
Our birding safari will take us to the best birding spots in Uganda and here we shall take our time with our birding specialists to keenly spot the most sought-after birds.
The birding hotspots on this tour include: Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Budongo forest and Murchison Falls National Park.
Tour Highlights
- Bird watching
- Boat Cruise
- Chimpanzee tracking
- Guided Nature walk
- Gorilla trekking
- Community village walk
- Wildlife game drives
Destinations
- Mabamba Swamp
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Budongo Forest
- Murchison Falls National Park
Detailed Itinerary:
Day 1: Kampala – Mabamba Swamp – Lake Mburo
Pick you up from your accommodation in Kampala at 7.00am and head for Mabamba Swamp a warm up of birdlife that this lovely country has for you.
After here, we shall leave for Lake Mburo National Park, stopping at the Mpigi swamp for swamp species.
Yes, here we shall be searching for the shoebill stork, and then continue to Lake Mburo where we shall have a good wildlife game drive enroute to our accommodation.
Dinner and over night at:
- Mihingo Lodge/ Mantana Safari Camp/Arcadia Cottages/Rwonyo Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 2: Lake Mburo National Park
Have a full day of birding in a park that encompasses five small lakes including Mburo. The varied vegetation cover is home to various bird species resident here.
Dinner and overnight at:
- Mihingo Lodge/ Mantana Safari Camp/Arcadia Cottages/Rwonyo Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 3: Lake Mburo – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest a UNESCO world heritage site, also voted as the Number one birding spot in Africa by the African Bird club.
Good birding en-route to this ancient forest as well as great sightseeing of the marvelous landscape from woodlands, savannah lands to un ending rolling green hills with brilliant forest cover.
Dinner and Overnight at:
- Gorilla Forest Camp/Engagi Lodge/ Buhoma Community Base Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 4: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Have a full day of birding today for the rare Albertine rift endemics.
Dinner and Overnight at:
- Gorilla Forest Camp/Engagi Lodge/ Buhoma Community Base Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 5: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
After a great breakfast, we head to Ruhija in Bwindi and have our day birding at Mubwindi swamp.
Dinner and overnight:
- Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge/ Cuckooland Lodge
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
African Big Five Safaris is a specialist East African Safari Company registered in Uganda and a member of the Association of Uganda Tour Operators with our offices in the heart of Kampala City.
We have more than ten years’ experience in the tourism industry. Both our office and field staff have a broad knowledge of the history, people, culture, geography, birds and plants of East Africa.
Our exciting safaris include; encountering the big five, the Great Migration, birding, camping, student tours, mountain climbing, gorilla trekking, and volunteer safaris.
We offer a range of adventure tours to Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya and Tanzania.
Day 6: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Today we go for a gorilla trekking escapade, to encounter the rare and yet endangered mountain gorillas. What a beautiful and momentous safari experience to last your life time!
You’ll later go for a community walk as we see what and how the people live in this forest community.
Dinner and overnight:
- Gorilla Forest Camp/Engagi Lodge/ Buhoma Community Base Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 7: Bwindi – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have your breakfast, before we set off for Queen Elizabeth National Park. Expect a great birding experience as we head to Lake George and the Mweya Peninsula.
Queen Elizabeth has a record of over 610 bird species; that’s about 60% of the total bird species in Uganda.
Dinner and overnight:
- Upper range – Mweya Safari Lodge
- Medium range – Katara Lodge/Jacana Safari Lodge
- Budget Range – Simba Safari Lodge/Hostel
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have an early morning game drive as we spot our bird targets for the day. In the afternoon, the best of the best in Queen Elizabeth a launch trip on the Kazinga channel where we spot both migratory birds and resident beautiful birds.
Dinner and overnight:
- Upper range – Mweya Safari Lodge
- Medium range – Katara Lodge/Jacana Safari Lodge
- Budget Range – Simba Safari Lodge/Hostel
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Day 9: Queen Elizabeth – Kibale Forest National Park
Have breakfast and head to Maramagambo forest where birding here is very impressive. In the afternoon we shall be heading to Kibale Forest, for another amazing birding and chimp tracking experiences.
Dinner and overnight:
- Upper range – Ndali Lodge/Primate Lodge
- Medium range – Crater Valley Kibale
- Budget range – Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 10: Kibale Forest National Park
Early morning breakfast and enter the forest where we go for Chimpanzee tracking. We shall also see red colobus monkeys and a prolific forest bird life.
In the afternoon, we go to Bigodi Swamp another birding paradise.
Dinner and overnight:
- Upper range – Ndali Lodge/Primate Lodge
- Medium range – Crater Valley Kibale
- Budget range – Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 11: Kibale Forest National Park
Today we head to the Sebetoli section of Kibale Forest, where you’ll experience another amazing birdlife encounter.
Dinner and overnight:
- Upper range – Ndali Lodge/Primate Lodge
- Medium range – Crater Valley Kibale
- Budget range – Chimpanzee Guesthouse
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 12: Kibale Forest – Budongo Forest
Drive to Budongo forest and arrive late in the evening, for a good rest to revamp your energies.
Dinner and overnight:
- Budongo Eco Lodge
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 13: Budongo Forest – Royal Mile
Have a drive to the Royal mile, named after the leisure spot where the King of Bunyoro, Kabalega had a great time. This is one of the best birding grounds in Uganda.
Dinner and overnight:
- Budongo Eco Lodge
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 14: Budongo Forest – Murchison Falls National Park
After Budongo forest we shall head to the largest park in Uganda, Murchison Falls, going straight to our accommodation.
In the afternoon, we board a boat that will sail with us to the base of the Magnificent Murchison falls. Here, a dazzling host of birds will be seen, not missing the schools of hippos and crocodiles since they are hosts to the Nile waters.
Dinner and overnight:
- Upper range – Paraa Safari Lodge
- Medium range – Nile Safari Camp/Sambiya River Lodge
- Budget range – Red Chilli Safari Camp
- Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 15: Murchison Falls National Park
Have an early morning game drive that will yield to the big four animals. The afternoon is your time, to relax at your accommodation.
Day 16: Kanio Pabidi – Budongo Forest
Today we bird a different side of the Budongo forest as we head out of the park, having a night at Masindi Hotel/ Kabalega Safari Resort.
Day 17: Masindi – Kampala
After breakfast, we head back to Kampala where we shall drop you at your accommodation.
Day 18: Departure
You may choose to go for souvenir shopping on this day, and we shall later on drop you at Entebbe International Airport, for your onward journey.
Note: Let us know in case you will need an extra night in Kampala or a complimentary airport drop-off at your convenient time.
End of Tour.
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:
Tour Includes:
- Ground transportation
- Guided rhino tracking experience
- Park and conservation fees
- Services of a professional guide
- Lunch at Amuka Safari Lodge
Tour Excludes:
- Drinks and personal expenses
- Tips and gratuities
IDEAL FOR
- Wildlife and conservation enthusiasts
- Educational and eco-tourism travelers
- Families and small groups
- Day trips from Kampala
- Travelers seeking ethical wildlife encounters