Trip Overview
This trip has been organized to give an opportunity for a bird lover to exhaust their adventure with wonderful views of African bird species that have a home in Uganda or just migrants. Uganda boosts in over 1057 bird species and 50% of Africa’s bird species. You will not only view birds, but also see wild animals, and boat rides. The trip will give you the best of Uganda’s bird species destinations. The trip starts and ends in Entebbe.
Trip Summary
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from Entebbe Airport
Day 2: Transfer to Mabamba Swamp and bird in Kampala
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Birds at the Murchison Falls National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Day 6: Birds at Kibale Forest National Park
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 8: Birds at Queen Elizabeth
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Birds at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 11: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 12: Birds and boat cruise at Lake Bunyonyi
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 14: Bird drive and Departure to Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and pick up from Entebbe Airport
Our guide will warmly welcome you and pick you up from the airport in Entebbe, introduce you to your trip and then brief you about what you will expect. He will drive you to your accommodation at Lake Heights View Hotel in Entebbe, you will have dinner and relax after a long trip.
Day 2: Transfer to Mabamba Swamp and bird in Kampala
After Breakfast, our guide will transfer you to Mabamba Swamp, which will take at least 50km in the West of Kampala. Birds love water and a cool environment. Birds that will find include: white winged warbler, Gonoleck, golden backed, African water rail, squacco, purple Gallinule, Nothern throated, orange weaver, among others. All these will be seen on a canoe ride.
You will also visit more places in Kampala that are paradise for birds. Like Bahai temple, Uganda parliament, the shores of Lake Victoria in Munyonyo, among other areas.
You will have lunch in Kampala, accommodation and dinner will be at Cassia Lodge, which overlooks Lake Victoria.
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you will then drive on to Masindi town where you will have lunch. You will finally enter the park using Kichumbanyobo gate and drive to the Top of the falls to see the spot where this park got its name. You will be marveled at the top of the falls, as you watch the water thunderously exploding through a small gorge and then flow down to become a peaceful river whose riverbanks are swarmed with a profusion of animals, plus bird species. Birds enjoy water areas and you will be able to see many of the on rocks, enjoying the sun or in the sky.
You then will return to your place of accommodation and relax.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
Midrange: Murchison River Lodge
Budget: Red Chili Rest Camp
Day 4: Birds at the Murchison Falls National Park
In the morning after your breakfast, with your packed lunch, you will join your guide for more bird watching at the Delta. The Nile delta is the place where the Victoria Nile flows in Lake Albert. Lunch will be enjoyed in sight of birds. Await for scenic views while on a boat. You will also view wildlife in the area. In the evening you will visit Murchison falls and have beautiful views, and more birds in the area. You will be returned to the lodge of rest and dinner.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Following an early breakfast, our guide will drive you to Kibale Forest National Park, in Western Uganda, it has lowland and montane forests. It covers 766sqkm. It has large number of Chimpanzees and colobus monkeys and over 12 animal species and 229 species of plants. The park is famous for Chimpanzee trekking, it has over 13 primate species and over 1500 chimpanzees, with 0ver 70 species of mammals and over 375 birds can be visible in the park especially in the wet season. These include, the green breasted pitta, African Pitta, Purple-breasted sunbird, Yellow spotted Nicator, Black Capped Apalis, Little greenbul, black eared ground thrush, red faced woodland warbler, black- bee eater, white napped pigeon, red chested owlet, yellow rumped tinkerbird, Brown chested alethe, blue chested kingfisher, among others.
Lunch will be enjoyed at your accommodation place and then you will embark on a bird drive, in search for birds in the area.
Dine and overnight rest at a comfortable lodge.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ndali Lodge or Kyaninga Lodge,
Midrange: Primates Lodge,
Basic: Chimpanzee Guest House.
Meal Plan: Full Board.
Travel time: Approximately 7 hours
Day 6: Birds at Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, with your packed lunch you will drive to the park for a bird drive. Animals will also be seen. You will also enjoy a walk safari in search for birds. Enjoy the great sceneries in the park.
There’s also chimpanzee trekking which you might want to enjoy at a supplementary fee. If you are interested, you can let us know, so that we arrange it.
You will be returned to your lodge for dinner and rest at the end of an afternoon bird drive.
Day 7: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After your breakfast, you will be transferred to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It’s located in the Western region of Uganda, it covers 1978sqkm, with Maramagambo Forest, close to Lake George, Lake Edward and Kazinga Channel. It has savanna vegetation, woodland, wetlands, wildlife and birds, and also lies not far from Mountain Rwenzori. The park has over 600 bird species to be viewed. These can be found in trees, at the shores of lakes, in the sky, and where animals graze from. With the help of binoculars, a bird lover can catch over 100 species in a day. The peak season of this activity is the early wet season. These include, eagles, pink backed pelican, black rumped buttonquail, and African broadbill, African Spoonbill, among others. Animals include: elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, antelopes among others.
When you reach in the park, you will check in your accommodation place, and immediately have lunch. After lunch, you will embark on a bird drive in the park, where you will have clear views of birds in the par. Along your way, you will enjoy closer views of wildlife in the area, predators and the big five, in huge numbers. After exhausting the day, you will be returned to your place of accommodation.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge
Midrange: Enganzi Lodge
Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages
Day 8: Birds at Queen Elizabeth National Park.
One this day, it will be only be bird watching, but at Kazinga Channel, on a launch cruise. After your breakfast, with your packed lunch, you will hit the road to the home for birds and animals. As you enjoy the views in the area, the Mountains of the Moon inclusive, the clear views of birds in the area will blow you away. After exhausting the day, you will be returned to your lodge for rest and dinner.
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park going through the Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park known for its population of unique tree climbing lions commonly see in Fig plus acacia trees and over 348 bird species. In this area you will see various animals such as the tree climbing lions, and elephants, mountain gorillas, and other primates. Birds include: Dusky crimson wing, yellow eyed black fly catcher, bar tailed trogon, short tailed warbler, rusty faced woodland warbler, white tailed blue monarch, Gruer’s rush warbler, among others.
You will enjoy bird drives and view as many birds as you can, and then you will be returned to the lodge for lunch and rest after an afternoon bird drive.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 10: Birds at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After your breakfast, with your packed lunch, we will dedicate this day to view more birds in park especially the forest. You will one bird drive after another along with wildlife and the end of day you will be returned to your lodge.
There’s also gorilla trekking that you may want to enjoy at a supplementary fee.. If you wish to enjoy it, you can let us know.
Day 11: Drive to Lake Bunyonyi
With your packed lunch, you will drive to this beautiful lake which is a paradise for birds. There are various activities for the guest to enjoy here such as swimming, bird watching, sun bathing as well as cycling. It also flows through Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park. The beautiful lake is so amazing the watch and much better to explore it. It has over 29 islands which will be seen while on a canoe. It’s the second deepest lake in Africa, coming after Lake Tanganyika. You will enjoy clear views of the lake, and also see the most unique birds which crush the banks of the lake for food. You will also be able to view some wild animals at the shores of the lake drinking water as you enjoy your canoe ride for the waters are so calm.
When you reach, you will enjoy walk safari n search for birds and for better views. You will explore the lake and then you will return to your lodge for rest and dinner.
Day 12: Birds and boat cruise at Lake Bunyonyi
After breakfast, you will head out on the Lake to meet the birds with your packed lunch to save time. Lunch will be enjoyed on a canoe ride or at the shores. You will use a canoe to explore the lake, have better views and for more birds and animals in the place. Later you will be returned to your place of accommodation.
Day 13: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Following your breakfast, with your packed lunch, you will then be transferred to Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest park in Uganda but with wildlife and birds to see. It has large numbers of Zebras, Impalas, topis, leopards, among others. The park has a beautiful scenery that you will enjoy during your bird drives. You will also visit Lake Mburo for a boat ride and you will be amazed.
Reaching the park, you will check in your place of accommodation for lunch dinner and rest.
After lunch, you will head on for a bird drive in the park. You will roam the park to favorite bird spots, which are very well known to the guides. The park has over 350 species to be seen. More noticeable especially in the wet season. The likes of blue quails, brown parrot, blue spotted wood dove, greenwood hoopoe, red necked spurfowl, black winged bishop, common squacco, great white and pink backed pelicans, yellow throated longclaw, and herons, among others can be well observed with help of binoculars.
Later you will be returned to your place of accommodation for dinner and rest.
Accommodation Options
Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge
Midrange: Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Budget: Eagle’s Nest Mburo
Day 14: Bird drive and Departure to Entebbe
You will enjoy a cup of hot African coffee, or African tea, and then head out for a bird walk in the park, to have a look at the early birds on foot. After exhausting your time, you will return to your accommodation place for breakfast. After breakfast, you hit the road for your return journey. Enjoy to road trip as you stop over at the Equator for lunch then head for a straight drive to Entebbe Airport for your flight.
End of your 14 Days Birding Safari
Note: We assume that your departure flight will be in the afternoon. If you wish to prolong your trip to another destination, please let us know so we can arrange.
What you need to carry for your adventure.
• Hiking boots/ shoes
• Drinking water
• Hat
• Sun glasses
• Insect repellent (to keep those persistent insects away)
• Light Rain jacket in case it rains
• Water proof backpack for you small required items
• Gloves, as you move through the vegetation
• Light pants and shirts (most times the sun is bright)
• Sunscreen
• A pair of Binoculars
• Camera with spare batteries
Inclusions on your trip
• Ground transportation in a private 4WD Custom built vehicle
• Accommodation during the safari as indicated on the itinerary on full board basis.
• Park entry fees
• Fees for morning and sunset birding drives, boat trip on the Kazinga Channel and other activities mentioned in the Itinerary
• Sightseeing as per your safari itinerary
• Drinking water during the trip
Exclusions on your trip
• Flight tickets plus departure taxes
• Travel documentation such as visas
• Travel plus medical insurance
• Excursions indicated as optional
• Surplus baggage charges,
• Laundry, tip or gratuities for your guides
• Accommodation staff
• Beverages besides minerals water served in the vehicle and during the meals
• Personal expenses for example telephone calls and postage fees.
• Porters where need be.
