20 days birding trip around uganda

A 20 days birding Itinerary to Uganda. Sites to be visited include, the botanical gardens Mabamba, Lake Mburo N.P, Mgahinga N.P, Bwindi N.P Queen Elizabeth N.P, Semliki N.P, Kibale N.P, Budongo forest, Murchison falls N.p.

 A 20 days birding Itinerary to Uganda. Sites to be visited include; Mabamba, Lake Mburo N.P, Mgahinga N.P, Bwindi N.P Queen Elizabeth N.P, Semliki N.P, Kibale N.P, Budongo forest, Murchison falls N.p.

Day 0: Arrival at the airport and you will be welcomed by your driver guide and check in your Hotel. Dinner and overnight at Central inn Hotel

Day 1: Mabamba.

After an early morning breakfast, we shall drive to Mabamba wetlands where we will be paddled in a canoe through the swamp looking for the mighty Shoebill and other birds like White-winged Wabler,Carruthers’ Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Saddle-billed Stork, African pygmy Goose,Lesser Jacana,Common Squacco, Purple and Goliath Herons, Yellow billed Egre, White-faced Whistling Duck, Yellow-billed Duck,Hottentont Teal, African fish Eagle, Black Crake, African Jacana, Long-toed Plover, Grey-headed Gull, Gull-billed and White-Winged terns, Malakite and pied Kingfishers, Blue-Breasted Bee-eater, Cape Wagtail,Swamp Fly catcher, Winding Cisticola, Red-chested Sunbird, Fan tailed Windowbird, Senegal Plover, Madagascar, bee-Eater, Grey-rumped Swallow. Later transfer to L.Mburo N.Park and lunch will be on the way. Dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock Camp.

Day 2: Lake Mburo N.P.

After an early breakfast, we will take an early morning boat ride in search of African Finfoot and other water birds. Our highlight will be Brown-chested Plover, Spot-Flanked, Red-faced and White Headed Barbets, Coqui’s and Red winged Francolin, Greater/Lesser Honey Guides, Marico/Scaret Chested/Variable/Copper Sunbirds, Greater Blue Eared Starling, White-Winged Warbler, Trilling cisticola, Carruthers’ Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Sulpher Breasted Bush Shrike, Tabora cistcola, white winged tit, African pendurine tit, Nubian wood pecker, Black Billed Wood Dove Green backed pecker, Yellow-billed Oxpecker and Nothern Brown –throated weaver, We shall drive later in the day and stop at Agip motel in Mbarara town for lunch break. After lunch drive to Mgahinga National Park. Dinner and overnight at Tourist Hotel.

Day 3: Bird Mgahinga National Park                                                                      

After breakfast with your packed lunch, drive to Ntebeko camp from where we will start our trek to probably the most scenic protected area in Uganda. We will take the gorge trail that loops half way up to Mt Sabinyo through a variety of montane habitats. Handsome Francolin, Dusky Turtle Dove, Western Green Tinkerbird, Rwenzori Doubler Collered Sunbird, Dwarf Honey guide, Mountain Burzard, Olive Thrush, Archers’s Robin,Brown Wood Warbler, Doherty’s Bush shrike, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Nightjar, Malachite Sun bird, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Lagden’s Bush shrike, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, Malachite Sunbird, Montane double-collared Sunbird, Cape Robin, Rwenzori Batis,Red Faced Woodland Warbler,Mt.Masked Apalis, Rwenzori Apalis, Black Headed Waxbill etc .Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 4: Transfer to Ruhija birding via Echuya Forest.

After early morning breakfast, bird as we proceed to Ruhija through Echuya forest. Look for birds such as Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush,  Mountain Masked Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, White-napped Raven, Black-crowned Waxbill and other AREs that we had missed in Mughinga. Later continue to Ruhija via Nyamuriro Swamp for Papyrus Endemics . Dinner and overnight at Ruhizha Mist Camp

Day 5: Bird Mubwindi Swamp

After early breakfast, we will walk down with packed lunch to Mubwindi swamp looking for specials like the green Broabill, Grauer’s Rush warbler,Evergreen Forest Warbler,  Dwarf Honey-guide,Grey Chested Illadopsis, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Mt.Greenbul,Sharps Barred Long Tailed Cuckoo, Starling, Oriole Finch,the incredible Purple-breasted Sunbird,Slender-billed, Wallers, Narrow-tailed and Stuhlmann’s Satarlings,Dusky, Red-faced, Abyssynian and Shelleys Crimsonwings, Strange weaver  and many other specials. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 6: Transfer to Bwindi N.Park( Buhoma Sector) birding via the ‘neck’

Depart for Buhoma via the neck birding en-route for species like Tambourine Dove, Black bee-Eater, Mountain Wagtail, Toro Olive-Greenbul, White-starred-Robin, Strange Weaver, Dusky Twin Spot, Grauer’s Warbler, Black bee-eter, Red Throted Wryneck among others.We will be birding through farmland, forest edge and forest Habitats. We shall do a short village walk around Buhoma area after arrival for Magpie Mannikin in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma community rest Camp.

Day 7: Gorilla Tracking

After early morning breakfast, we will visit the highest elevation forest, one of the world’s great natural treasures providing home to Mountain Gorillas and various endemic birds. Goriollas are often watched from just a few feet away and hopefully we should find  a party of Gorillas. If you come back from tracking early, we will do evening birding. Lunch and dinner as above.

Day 8: Bird Bwindi N.Park

After Breakfast, bird along the main trail for species like Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Short-tailed Wabler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Western Bronze-naped Pegion,Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos,Fraser’s Eagle owl, Montane( Rwenzori)Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon,Black bee-eater,Willcock’s honeyguide, Fine-banded and Elliot’s Woodpeckers, Grey-chested and Mountain Illadopses, White bellied Robin-Chat, Oberlander’s Ground Thrush, Black-faced Rofous Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Many-coloured Bush-Shrike,Brown-capped Weaver, Red-fronted Antpecker ,Ansorge’s.Carmeron Somber, Redtailed,Yellow Whiskered Little Greenbuls,Green throted,Grey Headed ,Green Headed, Bluethroted Brown, Bronze Green, Little Green Olive(western) Sunbirds and Oriole-Finch Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 9: Transfer to QUENP

Early morning transfer to Queen Elizabeth N.Park via Ishasha and we shall have our lunch on the way. At Ishasha, We shall see a variety of Game including climbing lions, Elepahnts Buffaloes and other game. Having reached in the evening , we shall bird around the hotel on arrival in the evening for species like Blue quail, African Crake, Ross’s Turaco, Jackson’s Pipit, Red-headed lovebird, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Black bee-eater,White-backed,Lappet Faced,Ruppel’s,White headed,Palmnut Vultures,Martial,Wahlbergs,Weterh Bandedsneck,A.Fish Egales, Shining Blue King fisher have our dinner and spend a night at Albertine Camp.

Day 10: Bird Queen Elizabeth N. Park.

After breakfast, a morning game drive and birding will be ideal. Lunch at the lodge and go for the boat launch at Kazinga Channel in the afternoon where we shall see a variety of wild life and bird life as well. A variety of game such as hundreds of hippos, crocodiles will be viewed. Other animals like Elephants, Buffaloes, Uganda Kob, Bush buck, Warthog will include Green-backed heron, Yellow billed stork, Saddle billed Stork, African spoonbill, martial eagle, African Skimmer, grey headed gull, grey, purple and goliath herons, black Crake, African Crake, Common quail and Rufous-naped lark. Late in the evening after the boat we head for an evening drive for Night jars. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 11: Transfer to Semliki N.Park

After breakfast we will transfer to Semliki birding en-route Through QENP and the northern side of Rwenzori Mts that are dry Savanna woodland and later bird along the edge of the Park later check in at the lodge in evening. Dinner and overnight at Vanilla Lodge.

Day 12: Whole day Birding Kirumia Trail.

After breakfast we will transfer to Semliki birding en-route. Having reached in the afternoon, you will check in at the lodge and head for evening birding. Look for species like Spot-Breasted Ibis, Hartlaub’s duck,Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Long-tailed Hawk,  Nkurengu Rail, Western Bronze-naped  Pegion, Black-collared Lovebird, Yellow-throated Cuckoo,Red-Chested Owlet,Bates’ Nightjar, Chocolate-backed/ White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-crested/ Blackbilled Dwarf/Red-Billed Dwarf Hornbills, Piping and Black-wattled Hornbills, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted/Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides ,African Piculet, Gabon Wood pecker ,Red-sided Broadbill, White-throated blue Swallow, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Xavier’s, Swamp, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Nicator,Capuchin Babbler, Nothern bearded Scrub Robin,Forest and Grey ground Thrushes,Lemon-bellied Crombec, Brown-crowned Eremomela. Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet-Shrike,Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Black-winged Oriole, Chestnut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes,Plae-Fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negrofinches, Grant’s blue bill and many more. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 13: Whole day drive to Kibale N. park.

Transfer to Kibale birding on the way if time permits try Sebitore another site in Kibale N.Park . Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Guest House.

Day 14: Wholeday Birding Kibale N.Park

Birding in Kibale N.P is a delightful experience. We shall look for species such as Afep Pegion, Green-breasted Pitta,  Joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Dark Backed Weaver,White Browed Crombec,Olive long Tailed Cuckoo,Yellow Mantled Weaver Emard Cuckoo. Masked and black-throated Apalises, Chestnut winged Starling, Orange-tufted and tiny sunbirds, White-collared Olive-back and many more. Lunch at the hotel. Go birding bigode swamp in the evening. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 15: Transfer to Murchison Falls N.Park:

After Breakfast we shall drive to Murchison Falls N.Park. This will be a wholeday drive and you will get there in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Redchilli Camp.

Day 16: Whole day Birding Murchison Fall N.P

After Breakfast, We will head for a game drive around the park where a number game will be viewed like giraffes, Elephants, buffaloes, Impalas and many more. You will head to Albertine Nile for the Albertine endemics . Our key species in Murchison will be

Shoebill, Secretary bird,  Red-necked Falcon, Heuglin’s Francolin, Denham’s Bustard, Senegal Thick-Knee, Egyptian-plover, Rock Pranticole, Black-headed Plover,African Skimmer, Bruce’s Green Pegion, Vinaceous dove, White-crested Turaco, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Long-tailed,Pennant-winged and Standard winged Nightjars, Red-throated, Swallow-tailed and Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian Roller, Black Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Spotted Morning Thrush, White-fronted Black Chat, Silverbird , Singing bird,Foxy and Black-backed Cisticolas, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-billed and Emin’s Shrikes, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Lesser Blue-eared and Bronze-tailed Starlings, Beautiful Sunbird,Chestnut-crowned Sparrow weaver, Northern Red Bishop, Grey-headed Olive-back, Red-winged Pytilia, Brown Twinspot, Bar-bellied Firefinches, Black-rumped Waxbill, Paradise Whydah,White-rumped Seedeater and brown-rumped and Cabanis’s Buntings. Later return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight as above

Day 17:  Whole day Murchison Falls.

After an early Breakfast, we shall head for a game drive for the missed bird species and games and later after lunch we visit the top of the falls. It is a beautiful experience! Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 18: Morning boat trip afternoon Transfer to Budongo Forest.

After Early morning Breakfast, we will head for a boat trip in search of water birds as listed above up to the bottom of the Nile. Later head to Budongo Forest via Kaniyo Pabidi for the Puvel’s Illadopsis and many other birds. Later you will continue to Masindi and overnight at Court view Hotel

Day 19: Wholeday birding the royal mile

After  breakfast, proceed to bird at Royale mile for the new birds, coming
back in time for lunch. After lunch drive back for afternoon birding. Look
out for species like Cassins’s Hawk Eagle, Nahan’s Francolin, Black-collared Lovebird, Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spine tails, Chocolate-backed, blue breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers, Piping Hornbill, Red-sided Broadbill, Green-breasted pitta, Spotted Greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe,,Black-capped Apalis, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Grey and yellow Longbills, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Jameson’s Wattle-eye,Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Brown Twinspot and Grey-headed Olive-back. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 20:  Transfer back to the airport

After Breakfast, Drive back to the airport for your return flight birding en-route. Alternatively, you may have a morning Forest walk and later you transfer back to the airport for return flight.