15 DAYS UGANDA BIRDING SAFARI

This tour takes you to Mabamba Islands, Murhisonfalls, Kibale forest, Semliki Valley, Queen Elizabeth and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

DAY 1: ARRIVAL MAKERERE

Arrival and check in at Makerere University Guest House. Given time we shall bird around the university hill. Special birds here include; African hobby, Speckled Pigeon, Ross's Turaco, Brown and Grey Parrot, Klaas's, Dederick and Leivellants Cuckoo, Fork Tailed Drongo, Brown Crowned Tchagra, white Chinned Prinia Black-headed Gonolek, to mention but a few. Lunch,

Day 2: Birding to Mabamba

Early breakfast and transfer to Mabamba Swamp 50 kms west of Kampala. Bird enroute to the swamps lookout for papyrus specials such as the Papyrus Gonolek, White winged warbler, Nothern brown Throated, Weyns weaver to mention but a few. Move to Mabamba swamps most of the birding here is done canoeing as we look out for the rare Shoebill Stork, African Water rail, Allen's and Purple Gallinule (swamp hen) Squacco, Goliath, Purple, Grey Herons, a variety of Egrets, ducks etc There are also chances of encountering the elusive Sitatunga Antelope adapted to swampy habitats.

Day 3 & 4: Birding   Lake Mburo National Park

This is Uganda's smallest savanna park covering an area of 260sq km and is home to many zebras, Elands Mpalas and Topi. It has got a mosaic habitat of rock outcrops, dry hillside, open and wooded savanna, forests, galleries, swamps. A variety of habitats have contributed to the avifauna diversity and 313 bird species have been recorded in the park including; Red faced barbet, Long tailed cisticola(Tabora), Papyrus yellow warbler, African fin foot, Northern Brubru, Rofous bellied and white backed night heron, Black collared barbet, Brown chested plover, White winged tit, Northern brown throated weaver, White winged warbler.

DAY 5 - 7: Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Bwindi is the Bird watchers paradise! It holds 348 species of birds and
Contains 90% of all Albertine rift Endemic such as; the Short-tailed, Rusty-faced woodland and Grauer's Rush Warblers, Bar-tailed Trogon, Wilcock's Honey-guide, Yellow-eyed black Fly-catcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimson Wing, White-tailed Blue Monarch among others, difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa. An experienced bird watcher can identify up to 100 species in a day.  Stay at Gorilla Resort or Lake Kitandara Luxury Tented Camp. Gorilla tracking is an activity not to be missed in this area in due course of our stay in the forest.

DAY 8 & 9: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, we will drive to QENP with several birding hotspots, a game drive in Ishaha might be rewarding as we look out for the tree climbing lions and savannah specials we later arrive in the evening at Mweya Safari Lodge. Birding to the lodge this evening as we search for the African Hopoe, Southern Red Bishop, Red Collared Widowbird and others as we drive to the lodge for dinner and o/n at stay.
   
DAY 9: Whole Day of Birding

Whole day birding in the Park and the hostel gardens, which are very good for Grey-headed Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed Gonolek, Grey-capped Warbler, Slender-billed Weaver and Brimstone Canary. We take an early morning game drive towards the famous Kasenyi Track, winding through grassland dotted with trees and nearby crater lakes. Our main aim is to locate Lions and other mammals including Hartebeest, Buffalo, Ugandan Kob (an antelope that resembles impalas), Oribi, Waterbuck, Bushbuck and family groups of African Elephants. Along the road we may find Scaly Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, several plovers, Harlequin Quail and Common Button-quail. Larks are numerous and include Rufous-naped, Flappet and the local White-tailed. Raptors include Martial Eagle, Banded Snake Eagles and Bateleur. In the afternoon we embark on a boat trip down the Kazinga Channel. This incredible area for waterbirds will afford stunning views of Pink-backed Pelican, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Water Thick-knee, African Skimmer and over-summering Palearctic shorebirds. In the evening before dinner we will try a night drive with in the peninsular searching for Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars, as well as owls.

Day 10: Birding to Kibale National Park

After breakfast this morning, we will drive to Kibale National Park birding on the way with our lunch boxes. This is a few hours drive and therefore birding along the way or afternoon birding in the forest is fruitful. Check in at the Kibale Primate Lodge. The Tents are luxury in nature, but there is solar power and hot water is provided for bathing.

DAY 11: KIBALE NATIONAL PARK

Today we will spend our full day at the Kibale NP with activities mainly being birding and Chimp tracking. After breakfast, we assemble at the chimp tracking briefing ground, where we will learn all the required procedures. It is not strenuous, but can sometimes take longer depending on our luck. Lunch will be organized according to the trend of the day's activities, either picnic lunch or a hot menu lunch.

Kibale Conservation Area holds a good list of both special primates and birds. These include Chimpanzee, Red Colobus Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Red-tailed Monkey and Galagos. The forest is also home to the Scaly Francolin, Marsh Tchagra, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Green-backed Twinspot, Bicoloured Mannikin, White-naped Pigeon, Afep Pigeon, Narina's Trogon, Joyful Greenbul, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black Bee-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Black-faced Rufous Warbler. Dinner and o/n will be once again at Kibale Primate Lodge.

Day 12: Birding to Murchison Falls NP

After breakfast, drive to Murchison Falls National Park birding on the way and carry packed lunch or have lunch at Hoima Kolping hotel. This is a long drive with less birding.

DAY 13: MURCHISON FALLS NP

Today, we will spend the whole day birding at Murchison Falls National Park. After breakfast we cross the river for a game and birding drive on the northern section of the mighty River Nile. Lunch at Paraa Safari Lodge and after lunch we shall,proceed for a boat cruise to the bottom of the Falls. Key species of this park includes, Shoebill, Secretary bird, Bat Hawk, Red-necked Falcon, White-crested Turaco, Egyptian Plover, Bruce's Pigeon, Pel's Fish-owl, Standard-winged, Pennant-winged and Long-tailed Nightjar, Carmine Bee-eater, Brown-backed Woodpecker, African Black Scimitarbill, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Spotted Morning thrush, Silverbird, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Bronze-tailed Starling, Beautiful Sunbird, Northern Red Bishop, Rock Pratincole, Four-banded Sandgrouse, White-rumped Seedeater, Black-billed Barbet, Green-headed Olive back, White-fronted Black Chat, Cabanis's and Brown-rumped Bunting, Black-rumped Waxbill and Bar-breasted Firefinch among others.
   
Day 14: Birding to Kampala 

Leave Murchison Falls National Park birding all the way to Kampala. STAY AT mAKERERE GUEST HOUSE.

Day 15: Departure