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Day 1: Bird Mabamba Bay on Lake Victoria in the Morning and Botanical Gardens
Return to Lodge in Entebbe
Day 1: Morning birding Botanical and afternoon transfer to Mabira Forest
Day 2: Bird Mabira Forest in the morning and afternoon drive back to Entebbe
Day 1: Arrival and bird Botanical Gardens in the afternoon
Day 2: Bird Mabamba Bay on Lake Victoria and transfer to Masindi for overnight
Day 3: Bird Budongo Royal Mile and Transfer to Murchison
Day 4: Bird Murchison Savanna tracks and afternoon bird River Nile during the Boat Cruise
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale while doing enroute birding
Day 6: Early morning search for Green-breasted Pitta and afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking
Day 7: Morning scans in the Bigodi Wetland and afternoon transfer to Queen Elizabeth
Day 8: Bird Queen Savanna tracks and afternoon bird Kazinga Channel during the Boat Cruise
Day 9: Bird enroute to Ishasha Wilderness Sector in Queen Elizabeth as we transfer to Bwindi
Day 10: Bird the Water Falls track in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Transfer to Ruhija Sector with enroute birding of the “BWINDI NECK”
Day 12: Gorilla Tracking
Day 13: Bird Umubwindi Swamp where most the Albertine Rift Endemics occur
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo while birding enroute
Day 15: Bird Lake Mburo Woodland tracks and afternoon bird Lake Mburo during the Boat Cruise
Day 16: Morning birding and transfer to Kampala / Entebbe
Day 1: Early morning drive from Kampala to Kitgum town combined with enroute.
Day 2: Morning drive from Kitgum and bird Kidepo Narus valley in the afternoon
Day 3: Full day birding in Kidepo valley
Day 4: Early morning Drive from Kidepo to Murchison and evening biding
Day 5: Early morning birding on the savanna tacks of Murchison park, afternoon birding on River Nile while Boat Cruising
Day 6: Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Botanical Gardens Birding
Day 2: Early morning transfer to Mabira Forest and do whole day birding
Day 3: Transfer to Masindi for overnight
Day 4: Full day Birding Budongo Forest Royal Mile
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest, we scan through the highway remnant rainforests enroute
Day 6: Early morning search for theGreen-breasted Pitta and other forest interior species, then afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking.
Day 7: Morning scans in the Bigodi Wetland and mid-morning bird enroute bird Kibale Forest, then transfer to transfer to Fortportal for accommodation.
Day 8: Early morning drive to Semuliki Forest mostly for the Congo-biome species and come back to Fortportal for accommodation.
Day 9: Morning transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 10: Bird the Water Falls track in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Transfer to Ruhija Sector with enroute birding of the “BWINDI NECK”
Day 12: Gorilla Tracking
Day 13: Bird Umubwindi Swamp where most the Albertine Rift Endemics occur
Day 14: Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth, and do afternoon savanna birding
Day 2: Bird Queen Kasenyi tracks and afternoon bird Kazinga Channel during the Boat Cruise.
Day 3: Bird enroute to Ishasha Wilderness Sector in Queen Elizabeth as we transfer to Bwindi
Day 4: Bird the Water Falls track in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 5: Transfer to Ruhija Sector with enroute birding of the “BWINDI NECK”
Day 6: Gorilla Tracking
Day 7: Bird Umubwindi Swamp where most the Albertine Rift Endemics occur.
Day 8: Transfer to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Early morning transfer to Mount elgon and afternoon birding.
Day 2: Early morning Elgon birding and transfer to Pian-Upe for afternoon birding
Day 3: Full day birding in Pian-Upe open savanna
Day 4: Transfer to Opeta/Bisina lakes for the Shoebill
Day 5: Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Overview
Uganda boasts of 1083 species of birds which is 50% and 10% of Africa’s and world’s totals respectively! The list includes the 23 Albertine Rift endemics out of the 26 species recorded in the region, the endemic weaver (Fox’s weaver) and the old-world human-sized African bird the “Shoebill”
This itinerary primarily emphasizes the systematic approach to watching birds by use of visual enhancement equipment led by specialised bird guides but at the same time encourages the viewing of other wildlife with whom birds share the ecosystems!
Several major airlines provide service to Entebbe, including United, Delta, Emirates, Ethiopian, KLM, and others. Note, you book your flight depending on your country of origin. Usually, day 1 is planned as just a day of rest; for those arriving in time we gather for a welcome dinner at a hotel. For those that arrive early in the day, you can rest and enjoy birding in the Botanical Gardens around Entebbe and Lake Victoria at a small fee! The gardens are an eye opener to Uganda’s tropical rain forests and aquatic bird species.
The hotels are close to the airport, and provides dependable and convenient shuttle services.
Accommodation in Entebbe town
After an early breakfast, we proceed to the Mabamba Swamp, a Wetland of International Conservation Importance (RAMSAR site), in search for water birds including Uganda’s iconic Shoebill. In these narrow bays, lined by papyrus vegetation, other special birds include Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Hamerkop, African and Lesser Jacanas, Blue Swallow, Blue-breasted and Madagascar Bee-eaters, Gray-rumped Swallow, Greater Swamp-Warbler, Slender-billed Weaver, African Pygmy-Kingfisher, and Plain-backed Pipit.
Aquatic specialists include African Pygmy-Goose, Spur-winged Goose, Long-toed Lapwing, Gray-headed Gull, and three species of terns: Gull-billed, White-winged Black, and Whiskered. We may be lucky and find the giant of all herons, the Goliath.
Raptors include the interesting the Palm-nut Vulture and Lizard Buzzard, and. Mammal enthusiasts want to be on the lookout for Spot-necked Otter, occasionally seen in the water around.
Mabamba Swamp is a passage of channels and lagoons. Even getting there holds exciting birding! The murram road to Mabamba winds its way through areas of secondary forests, broken wetlands and agricultural land, attracting Red-headed Lovebird, African Crowned-Hornbill, and a range of sunbirds including the Green-headed, Green, Red-chested, Collared, Marico, and Scarlet-chested. The road
finally ends at a papyrus reed vegetation adjoining Lake Victoria, whereby canoes are used to explore a number of channels and mudflats for a reliable resident, the elusive and majestic Shoebill.
In the afternoon we explore a guided botanic gardens excursion. Trails are well-maintained and easy for walking and birding.
Accommodations in Entebbe town
If we missed on the Shoebill yesterday, we head back to Mabamba Wetlands this morning before we drive to Lake Mburo. If we were successful, we depart directly for Lake Mburo National Park, the drive takes us through broken forests and savanna vegetations, of course good for enroute birding, a quick stopover at the Equator, then to the smallest of all savanna parks in Uganda (370 sq km). The Park has outstanding biodiversity, with numerous species of birds and an excellent array of large mammals including Plain Zebra, Impala, Common Elands, Topis, Giraffes and Buffalo.
Oribi can be found here, as well as Olive Baboon, and Waterbuck and Reedbuck that enjoy the
lush habitat. Where grazing mammals occur, we find Yellow-billed Oxpecker as well.
The Park contains an extensive area of wetland including lakes and marshes. Ancient Precambrian rock tells a fascinating geologic story. The bird population in this park is rich and it gives us chances of seeing some Tanzanian species because the Park is an extension of the Serengeti national Park. Birds here include; the Tabora/Long-tailed Cisticola, Red-faced Barbet, Living Stone Turaco, Green backed
Woodpecker, African Finfoot, Brown-chested Plover, Southern Ground Hornbill, Spot-flanked, Red-faced and Black-collared Barbets, White–winged Warbler, Carruther’s Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, and Northern Brown-throated Weaver. Gray-crowned Crane are often the photographers’ catch.
After a full and rewarding day, we enjoy dinner and our comfortable lodgings. And keep on the lookout for nightjars!
Accommodations in/around Lake Mburo park
On this day we start early after breakfast, with an exciting destination in mind—the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This is mainly a day’s drive which takes is 6 – 7 hours or more, depending on the stop-overs we make for scenery and birding (and lunch) along the way.
Bwindi National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to approximately half of the world’s endangered population of Mountain Gorillas. This vast reserve offers arguably the most productive montane forest birding in Africa and supports 23 of the 26 Albertine Rift endemic bird species.
Once part of a much larger forest that included the Virunga Volcanoes in neighbouring Rwanda and DR Congo Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is now an ecological island within a sea of human settlement and cultivation and therefore of big conservation importance. We have several days here to enjoy the world heritage.
Mountain Gorillas (permits booked in advance) and some spectacular birding.
Lodging near Bwindi Forest
After an early breakfast, we report to the park
headquarters for a briefing prior to the Gorilla tracking expedition. This activity may take anywhere from 2-8 hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness is required. The hike starts about 8:30 – 9:00 AM and we are back anytime of the day. It may be just be 2 hours or several hours. It is a wonderful experience to stare into the eyes of these gentle giants; watch them in awe as they play and go about their daily activities. It is indeed a “once in a lifetime experience”
Each encounter is different and has its own rewards; we are likely to enjoy close
view of adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters play and swing from lianas in a delightfully joyful display. Only a limited number of people are allowed in to see the family groups each day, so the earlier we purchase the permits
the better. The forest ecosystem is fascinating, with lush greenery and of course, a repository of birds. Visits to the gorilla groups support their conservation and
rangers who work hard to pace the hike for you to have success in finding them.
Accommodations near Bwindi
Forest birding at Bwindi ranks the best birdwatching in Uganda and Africa as well, having been voted the number one hot spot in Africa. It is home to over 23 highly-localized Albertine Rift endemics. Birding takes place at different elevations, much of it in mid-montane forest.
The list of special birds is long! Sunbirds appear like American Hummingbirds, but are passerine songbirds that sing. We scan for Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Green-throated Sunbird, and Blue-throated Brown Sunbird. Stunning and colourful are the Black-billed Turaco, Bar-tailed Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Laghden’s Bush-shrike, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Montane Oriole, African Golden Oriole, and the smaller Oriole Finch. Flycatchers and other small birds of the forest include Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Banded Prinia, two species of Apalis: Black-throated and Mountain Masked, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Rwenzori Batis, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Mountain Illadopsis, and Dusky Tit.
Noisy are the African Hill-Babbler, Sooty Boubou, Pink-footed Puffback, and White-naped Raven, Starlings, various finches, sparrows, and weavers abound, including Stuhlmann’s Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller’s Starling, Strange Weaver, Brown-capped Weaver, Black-billed, Weaver, Dusky Crimson-wing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Magpie Mannikin, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater, and Shelly’s Crimson-wing. Overhead, we look for two resident raptors, Mountain Buzzard and Ayre’s Hawk-eagle.
Sought after as we traverse through a mix of elevations are African Wood-Owl, Scarce Swift, Black Bee-eater, Red-chested Owlet, Tullberg’s and Elliot’s Woodpeckers, African Broadbill, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Archer’s Ground Robin, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-chat, Abyssinian Thrush, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Short-tailed
Warbler, and Red-faced Woodland-Warbler.
We could continue, but you can see from those species mentioned here that the area is abundantly rich!
Extremely rare and likely tough to find, requiring more extensive hiking and breed timing is the endemic African Green Broadbill.
We return to the hospitality of our lodge, to dine and enjoy the evening.
Accommodations near Bwindi Forest
We start early because it is a travel day, with a 5 – 6-hour drive to Queen Elizabeth
National Park. We pass through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park (known for its tree climbing lions), watching for mammals and birding along the way. We hope to find African Long Crested Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Black-headed Waxbill, Black and white Mannikin, Senegal Coucal, Red-chested Cuckoo, Grey-capped Warbler, African Cuckoo-Hawk and other species.
The Park is named after the Queen of England, who visited in 1954. It is the second largest national park in Uganda (>1900 sq km). In terms of diversity, this park ranks among the best birding destinations in Uganda with over 610 species recorded, and a one-day record of 296 species.
Mammals include African Elephant, Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Lion, Ugandan Kobs, Side-striped, Jackal, Olive Baboon, Bush and Water Bucks, Warthog, and Giant Forest Hog to mention but a few. Specialty birds of this park include Harlequin Quail, Blue Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, White-winged Warbler, Martial Eagle, African Skimmer, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Papyrus Gonolek, Amur Falcon, Ovampo Sparrowhawk, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Shoebill, Black Bee-eater, Caruthers’s Cisticola, Terek Sandpiper, and Temminck’s Courser.
Accommodations near Queen Elizabeth Park
Day 10: Game Drive in the Park | Boat Cruise on the Kazinga Channel
After breakfast we set out for a nearly full day game drive and birdwatching drive in the park. We save the active hours of late-afternoon for our exciting boat cruise on the Kazinga channel. The launch is one of the most exciting water activities in Uganda. The channel is a narrow strip of water that connects Lakes George and Edward, with excellent photo opportunities for waterside birds and abundant Hippopotamus and Crocodiles. Amongst the birds we are likely to encounter African
Skimmer, Striated Heron, African Spoonbill, Water Thick-knee, Three-banded Plover, Marsh, Green, Wood, and Common Sandpipers, Gray-headed Gull, Plain Martin, Lesser Swamp-Warbler and following the mammals is the Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
Accommodations near Queen Elizabeth Park
After breakfast, we drive to Kibale National Park, crossing the Equator with views of the Mountains of the Moon (the Rwenzoris) as part of our day. Kibale is the best safari destination for Chimpanzee tracking in East Africa. It contains one of the loveliest and most varied remnants of all tropical forests in Uganda. It hosts 15 species of primates, including the Chimpanzee rendering it as the ‘’primate capital’’ of the world. The population encountered on this expedition is among the estimated 1450 chimpanzees, Uganda’s largest population of this
endangered primate.
In the afternoon we reach Kibale National Park visitor centre for a briefing and chimp tracking. The activity lasts a few hours to several hours. It is an extraordinary experience, and just like the Gorillas, Chimpanzee require advance payments for tracking permits, hiking for Chimps here is gentler than at Bwindi. You enjoy the antics of these fascinating apes! This itinerary proposes afternoon tracking to save tomorrow early morning’s search for the displaying rare, elegant and restricted specie the “Green-breasted Pitta”
It is also home to the rare L’hoest’s Monkey and East Africa’s largest population of the threatened Red Colobus Monkey. Other primates that you may see include the Black-and-white Colobus, Blue Monkey, the Ugandan near endemic Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Red-tailed Monkey, Olive Baboon, Bush Baby, and Potto.
Kibale’s lush forest cover predominates in the northern and central parts of the park. Kibale’s highest point is at the park’s northern tip, reaching around 1600 metres above sea level.
Accommodations near Kibale Forest Park
An early drive to the Forest Park offices and with the accompaniment of an armed park ranger walk to the forest interiors to luckily pursue for the Green-breasted Pitta. The bird is fond of displaying between times 6:30am and 7am! An opportune moment for viewing it, after which it quietly settles on the ground for feeding the rest of the day.
The Park boasts of 325 bird species, including six that are endemic to the Albertine Rift region. They include the Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimson Wing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Red-faced Woodland-Warbler, other species include the Black Bee-eater, Western and Yellow-throated Nicators, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Little Greenbul, Black-eared Ground-thrush, Brown-chested Alethe, White and red-tailed Ant Thrushes, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground-thrush, and perhaps the African Crowned Eagle. Kibale National Park is a good site for a number of birds that are hard to find elsewhere, including Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Cabanis’s Greenbul and Joyful Greenbul, as well as, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Lesser Honeyguide, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, White-chinned Prinia, Grey Apalis, Olive-green Camaroptera, and White-collared Olive-back.
Birding in the afternoon along the main road may be productive. Depending on the weather conditions, birding Bigodi Wetland is also productive for riverine forest birds; the White-winged warblers, White-spotted Flufftail, Shinning Blue Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, Bocage’s Bush-shrike It is also far much easier to see the threatened Red Colobus Monkey and other primates like the Black-and-white Colobus, Blue Monkey, the Ugandan near endemic Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Red-tailed Monkey in the Bigodi Wetland because of the habitat broken canopies at some points. After the wetland birding, an evening drive is made to Fortportal town.
Accommodations in Fortportal town
Situated in a remote corner of South western Uganda, Semuliki national park protects an eastern extension of the vast Ituri Forest and forms part of a forest continuum that stretches across the Democratic Republic of Congo to the Congo River. Being a relatively stable forest “refugium” during the climatic upheavals of the Pleistocene, this is one of the richest areas for forest birds in Africa. A large number of “Congo Biome species” reach the eastern limit of their distribution here and cannot be found anywhere in East Africa, these include some of the continent’s most spectacular and sought-after birds such as Long-tailed Hawk, Black-wattled Hornbill, Nkulengu Rail, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide and Congo Serpent Eagle. Other species of attraction in this forest are; Rufous-sided Broadbill, African Piculet, Crested Malimbe, Piping Hornbill, Red-tailed Ant thrush, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Forest Francolin, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, White-crested, black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf and Black wattled Hornbills. What you cannot miss in this forest also are both the male and female hot springs where boiling water (105 degrees Celsius) squirts and bubbles out from the ground, This hot water can incredibly boil eggs in 5 minutes!
In the evening we drive back to Fortportal town for accommodation
The day is a long drive from Fortportal town arriving late in Masindi town. Of course enroute birding cannot be ignored in the broken forests, wetlands and gardens along the way. Species seen include the conspicuous Long-crested Eagle, Lizard buzzard, yellow-billed kite, Village weaver, African harrier Hawk, different kinds of doves among others
Accommodations in Masindi town
We rise early to be in the lush forests of Budongo at dawn, when birds are singing. The area we bird is dominated by tall trees and is known as the Royal Mile that belonged to Legend King of Bunyoro during the pre and colonial times. Who can resist the chance to find the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Eremomela? This forest area is home to over 360 species of birds and brings a notable number of species from Central and Western Africa into the mix. We take a packed lunch to have as much of the day here as possible. By visiting a mix of habitats, we may find Blue-breasted and Dwarf Kingfisher, White-spotted Flufftail, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, a new variety of sunbirds and greenbuls, and overhead, possibly Crowned Eagle or Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle. Afternoon drive to Murchison Falls National Park via Albertine Escarpment with peeps at Lake Albert. This route produces the following species; Foxy Cisticola, Beautiful sunbird, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Red-winged Prinia, Brown-backed and White-browed Scrub Robins, Rufous and Chestnut-crowned Sparrow weavers, Klaas Cuckoo…
Reaching in the evening and check in one of lodges near Murchison Falls Park.
In appearance the park is compared to the Savanna parks of Kenya and Tanzania. The Park derives its name from Sir Roderick Murchison who was the then President of the Royal Geographical Society and it was named by one of the early British explorers Samuel Baker.
Murchison Falls are on the Victoria Nile and are impressive for here as the Nile narrows, it pushes water through a narrow cleft (7metres). The drop is almost 150 feet, majestic and mesmerizing.
The rocks below the falls are great habitat for Rock Pratincole which we look for on our boat trip along with colourful Red-throated Bee-eaters and more.
This is Uganda’s largest national park (>3,000 sq km), impressive for both birds (over 450 species) and mammals (76 species). Many famous visitors, including Winston Churchill and Ernest Hemingway explored here. Many first knew of it from movie scenes in the film the African Queen, filmed here and starring Humphrey Bogart. Part of the park is on the shores of Lake Albert at the northern end of the Albertine Rift Valley. This is ecologically the most intact park in Uganda, with predators including Leopard and Lion.
Accommodations in the lodges near Murchison Falls Park
After early breakfasts each day, we have morning game drives. In the lush Borassus Palm savanna we may be able to encounter the Silverbird, Speckle-fronted weaver, Trilling Cisticola, Walberg’s Eagle, Abyssinian Roller, White-crested Turaco, Black-billed Barbet, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Red-necked Falcon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Vinaceous Dove, and Grosbeak
Weaver. Other specialties include Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Red-throated Bee eater, Black-headed Gonolek, Golden-backed Weaver, White-rumped Seedeater, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, White-rumped Canary, and more. Two impressive rare species are possible here: Pel’s Fishing Owl and Pennant-winged Nightjar. Birds of the grassland include the Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller, Black-bellied Bustard, and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill. Mammals which can be seen are Elephant, African Buffalo, Giraffe, and a variety of
antelopes. With luck, we may also see Lion and Leopard is also possible.
Each day we either enjoy a packed lunch or return to our hotel for a hot lunch, and then venture off on an afternoon boat trip. One is to the Victoria Nile. Here, we have chances of dazzling variety of water birds, including species like Pied Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Senegal Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing, Long-toed Lapwing, Little Bittern, and one familiar Eurasian winter visitor – the Osprey. There are also good numbers of Nile Crocodile.
Accommodations in the lodges near Murchison Falls Park
Lying in the rugged, semi-arid valleys of Karamoja province on the far northern border with the South Sudan, Kidepo Valley is Uganda’s most remote national Park. Not many undertake pilgrimage to the park but the spectacular beauty of this pristine wilderness impresses all that make it. For the visiting birder Kidepo Valley Park boasts of 475 species, a total second only to Queen Elizabeth Park. Amongst the host of dry, eastern “specials” not found in any other Ugandan National Park are some of East Africa’s rarest and most sought-after birds such as Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apalis.
Kidepo valley Park is accessed from Murchison Park through Gulu and Kitgum towns which are connected by tar road, the road from Kitgum to the park is dusty murram. Among the many birds that can be encountered enroute are the Dark Chanting Goshawk, Yellow-billed Shrike, Black-bellied Firefinch, African Hoopoe, Superb Starling, Black Coucal, African Moustached and Broad-tailed Warblers, Grey kestrel among others.
Accommodations in the lodges near/in Kidepo park
The Apoka rest camp and park headquarters overlooking the shallow, southern Narus Valley is a great spot to begin our Kidepo birding. You cannot miss out the Marsh Tchagra, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Brown Parrot.
The grasslands around the airstrip are a good place to search for the striking Black-headed Plover and Singing Bush Lark, whilst Harlequin quail, Common buttonquail, Black-bellied Bustard, Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks and croaking Cisticola are common and easily seen.
The seasonally lush grasslands of the upper Narus valley support Clapperton’s Francolin, migrant Harriers, Red-winged Lark, Cardinal Quelea, Black-winged and Northern Red Bishops, White-winged. Permanent pools along the Narus Valley attract a variety of aquatic birds including the Dwarf Bittern and Greater painted snipe. Large herds of elephants and buffaloes congregate here during the dry season. These herds present Piapiacs and both Red and yellow-billed Oxpeckers. Controlled grassland burnings between October and April act as magnets to Temminck’s Courser, Black headed and Senegal Plovers, Plain-backed Pipits and the localised Heuglin’s Wheatear…..
Other exciting birding at Kidepo on Day 2 lies along the road to Kananorok Hot springs in the Kidepo Valley, for it’s here that most of the “arid specials” may be found, including the globally vulnerable Karamoja Apalis, others include; Pygmy Falcon, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Red-billed Hornbill, d’Arnaud’s Barbet, Rattling Cisticola, the Special Secretary Bird, Croak calls of White-bellied Bustard, Little Green Bee-eater in the southern limit of its African range, Abyssinian Scimitarbill,, Jackson’s Hornbill, Red-fronted and Spot-flanked Barbets, African Grey Flycatcher, Mouse-coloured Pendulin Tit, Pygmy Batis, chestnut Sparrow, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Vitelline-masked and Chestnut Black-cheeked Waxbill and Purple Grenadier skulks in the dense cover.
Kidepo’s mammal list of over 80 species includes 28 that are found in no other Ugandan national parks. Amongst these are such charismatic African animals as Bat-eared Fox, Caracal, Cheetah and Klipspringer. Other mammals of interest that are recovered from the years of poaching during the Amin era are Striped Hyena, Lesser Kudu, grant’s Gazelle and Beisa Oryx. What probably can’t be missed in Kidepo park are the Common Zebras and Elands, Buffaloes, Bohor reedbucks, Elephants, Defassa Waterbucks. Predators are plentiful and Spotted hyena, Lion and Leopard are frequently seen.
Accommodation in/around Kidepo park
Early morning drive from Kidepo through Kotido town, enroute birding in Bokora-Matheniko wild life reserve not to miss out the Red-pate Cisticola, Buff-bellied Warbler, Harlequin Quail, Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Kori Bustard, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Ethiopian Swallow, Pied, Isabelline and Heughlin’s Wheatears, Slate-coloured Boubou, White-winged Widowbird, Red and Yellow Barbet… then drive to Moroto town for overnight.
Accommodations in Moroto town
Mountain Moroto lies in the extreme East of Uganda and is the most accessible place to see some of the dry northeastern “specials”. It is one of the chains of the volcanoes along the Kenyan border that begins with Mt. Elgon in the south and includes mounts Kadam and Morungole. Moroto is a forest reserve protecting a range of habitats from arid thorn savanna to dry montane forest. The area is a habitat to numerous open woodland and dry savanna bird species which include; the Fawn-coloured Lark, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Brubru, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Buff-crested Bustard, Black headed Plover, Three-streaked Tchagra, Black-cheeked Waxbill, White-bellied Canary, Straw-tailed Whydah, Northern White-crowned Shrike ….
Afternoon transfer to Pian Upe as we capture some species which can show up during the drive.
Accommodations around Pian Upe
Pian Upe, a game reserve soon to be upgraded to a national park because of enormous biodiversity is also a good stopover between Kidepo national park and Mount Elgon national park. A total of 242 species have been recorded in this reserve including the migratory and endemic species and among them that can be seen are the Common Ostrich, Dusky turtle dove, Superb Starling, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Long-billed Pipit, Fan-tailed Raven, Stone Partridge, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Blue-naped Mousebird, Black-throated Barbet, Grey-headed Batis, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Kori Bustard. Chances are there to scan for the endemic and rare Fox’s Weaver which usually forages in the open woodlands of the area.
Afternoon transfer to Mount Elgon while conducting enroute birding.
Accommodations around Sipi Falls near Mountain Elgon
The Forest Exploration Centre lies in the forested Chebonet valley at an altitude of 2057m above sea level with a network of trails providing access to surrounding montane forest. The broken forest and thick scrub along the Chebonet River near camp supports the African Goshawk, Chubb’s Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, African Blue Flycatcher, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Doherty’s and Ludher’s Bush-Shrike.
Another superb birding stretch is along the “Mountain Bamboo trail” a 7km loop that traverse a variety of montane habitats and takes 5-6 hours to complete on a birding pace. The trail crosses the Chebonet River, then ascends steeply to the southern run of the Gorge, passing a number of fig trees that attract an impressive variety of frugivores; Olive Pigeon, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Slender-billed and Mountain Greenbuls, Red-winged, Slender-billed, Waller’s and Stuhlmann’s Starling, Grey-throated barbet and Montane Oriole are all conspicuous when these trees are in fruit, but you will have to search carefully for the diminutive Moustached Green Tinkerbird and the retiring Oriole-Finch.
Accommodations around Sipi Falls
Transfer to Mabira Forest through Jinja town and cross the Nile International waters
Mabira Forest is the largest remaining block of the low land rainforest in Central Uganda, it covers 306 sq km and at least 46% of Uganda’s forest birds can be seen here; afternoon birding to see the Red-capped, Blue-shouldered and Snowy-crowned robinchats, Forest Robin, Jameson’s wattle-eye, Grey-throated Barbet, Green-tailed, Cameroon Sombre, Little, Red-tailed and White-throated Greenbuls, Fire-crested and Brown-chested Alethes, Scaly-breasted and Brown-chested Illadopsises, the endangered Nahan’s Francolin and the rare Tit Hylia
Accommodations around Mabira Forest
Bird Mabira Forest in the morning to see the Great Blue Turaco, White Spotted Flufftail, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Grey-throated Barbet, Forest Woodhoopoe, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Red-tailed Greenbul, Brown-eared, Yellow-crested and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Blue-breasted, Shinning and Pygmy Kingfishers, Black and casqued, Pied and Crowned Hornbills, Leaflove, Brown-throated Blue, Green-headed, Collared, Superb, Red-chested, Scarlet-chested and Olive-bellied Sunbirds………………………
Mid-morning transfer to Entebbe airport for flight
Trip ends
Note
Airport is Entebbe International (EBB)
Safari Style
Safaris involve extensive time in game-viewing vehicles for safety reasons; we travel among large predators and herbivores in the parks. A walking safari may be available during the journey at a birder’s pace with a guard. We can walk at camps but typically not on game drives.
Responsible Travel is a priority
Breakfasts and dinners are served from lodge points while the lunches may be boxed or served enroute.
Day 1: Bird Mabamba Bay on Lake Victoria in the Morning and Botanical Gardens
Return to Lodge in Entebbe
Day 1: Morning birding Botanical and afternoon transfer to Mabira Forest
Day 2: Bird Mabira Forest in the morning and afternoon drive back to Entebbe
Day 1: Arrival and bird Botanical Gardens in the afternoon
Day 2: Bird Mabamba Bay on Lake Victoria and transfer to Masindi for overnight
Day 3: Bird Budongo Royal Mile and Transfer to Murchison
Day 4: Bird Murchison Savanna tracks and afternoon bird River Nile during the Boat Cruise
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale while doing enroute birding
Day 6: Early morning search for Green-breasted Pitta and afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking
Day 7: Morning scans in the Bigodi Wetland and afternoon transfer to Queen Elizabeth
Day 8: Bird Queen Savanna tracks and afternoon bird Kazinga Channel during the Boat Cruise
Day 9: Bird enroute to Ishasha Wilderness Sector in Queen Elizabeth as we transfer to Bwindi
Day 10: Bird the Water Falls track in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Transfer to Ruhija Sector with enroute birding of the “BWINDI NECK”
Day 12: Gorilla Tracking
Day 13: Bird Umubwindi Swamp where most the Albertine Rift Endemics occur
Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo while birding enroute
Day 15: Bird Lake Mburo Woodland tracks and afternoon bird Lake Mburo during the Boat Cruise
Day 16: Morning birding and transfer to Kampala / Entebbe
Day 1: Early morning drive from Kampala to Kitgum town combined with enroute.
Day 2: Morning drive from Kitgum and bird Kidepo Narus valley in the afternoon
Day 3: Full day birding in Kidepo valley
Day 4: Early morning Drive from Kidepo to Murchison and evening biding
Day 5: Early morning birding on the savanna tacks of Murchison park, afternoon birding on River Nile while Boat Cruising
Day 6: Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Botanical Gardens Birding
Day 2: Early morning transfer to Mabira Forest and do whole day birding
Day 3: Transfer to Masindi for overnight
Day 4: Full day Birding Budongo Forest Royal Mile
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest, we scan through the highway remnant rainforests enroute
Day 6: Early morning search for theGreen-breasted Pitta and other forest interior species, then afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking.
Day 7: Morning scans in the Bigodi Wetland and mid-morning bird enroute bird Kibale Forest, then transfer to transfer to Fortportal for accommodation.
Day 8: Early morning drive to Semuliki Forest mostly for the Congo-biome species and come back to Fortportal for accommodation.
Day 9: Morning transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 10: Bird the Water Falls track in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 11: Transfer to Ruhija Sector with enroute birding of the “BWINDI NECK”
Day 12: Gorilla Tracking
Day 13: Bird Umubwindi Swamp where most the Albertine Rift Endemics occur
Day 14: Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth, and do afternoon savanna birding
Day 2: Bird Queen Kasenyi tracks and afternoon bird Kazinga Channel during the Boat Cruise.
Day 3: Bird enroute to Ishasha Wilderness Sector in Queen Elizabeth as we transfer to Bwindi
Day 4: Bird the Water Falls track in Buhoma Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 5: Transfer to Ruhija Sector with enroute birding of the “BWINDI NECK”
Day 6: Gorilla Tracking
Day 7: Bird Umubwindi Swamp where most the Albertine Rift Endemics occur.
Day 8: Transfer to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
Day 1: Early morning transfer to Mount elgon and afternoon birding.
Day 2: Early morning Elgon birding and transfer to Pian-Upe for afternoon birding
Day 3: Full day birding in Pian-Upe open savanna
Day 4: Transfer to Opeta/Bisina lakes for the Shoebill
Day 5: Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe Airport
