12 Days birding & Wildlife Adventure Safari

Travel schedule

Day 1: Transfer to Mabamba swamp

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park-Top of the falls

Day 3: Wildlife safari at Murchison falls

Day 4: Birding in Budongo Forest

Day 5: Budongo Forest-main road past Nsingiro

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest

Day 7: Chimpanzee tracking

Day 8: Birding in Kibale

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Day 10: Ruhija-Bwindi

Day 11: Mubwindi Swamp-Bwindi

Day 12: Bwindi-Kampala

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Mabamba Wetland

Early morning after breakfast our tour guide will pick you from your hotel, head to Mabamba swamp, 15km west of Entebbe which extends across the Northern shore of the Lake Victoria and marked as one of the best ornithological sites associated with excellent water- associated bird species and the best place to see the most popular shoebill, which is life changing moment looking at this bizarre bird as it preens, showing off its huge grinning, and wooden-looking, clog-like bill. Also look out for pygmy goose, lesser jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-backed Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, African Purple Swamp-hen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, White-faced Whistling-duck, Squacco, Rufous-billed and Purple Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Winding Cisticola, Goliath Heron, Black crake, African Marsh Harrier, Hamerkop, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Common Waxbill, Yellow-billed Duck, Blue-headed Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Intermediate Egret, to mention but a few. At the swamp, most of the birding is on a canoe, paddled by our local site guides. Dinner and overnight stay will be at the Lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Sophie’s Motel (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison falls national park-Top of the falls

After an early morning breakfast, our tour guide will pick you and drive towards to Murchison Falls National Park, branch off at Masindi town for lunch. When you reach to the park, drive direct to the top of the falls, such a pretty site for relaxing and adventure. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Sambiya lodge (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 3: Wildlife safari at Murchison Falls

After an early morning breakfast, go for an early game drive on the North of the Nile and while here watch out for different wildlife like Lions, Buffalos, Waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, giraffes, elephants, baboons and many more.  After you will go back to the lodge for lunch as you prepare for a launch cruise on the Victoria Nile. Spot schools of hippos, large crocodiles and other animals as they quench their thirst at the banks of the river like kobs, buffalos and waterbucks. There’s rich birdlife on the papyrus banks like the kingfishers, herons, bee-eaters, eagles and so much more. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Sambiya lodge (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 4: Birding in Budongo Forest

After an early morning breakfast head to Budongo forest; this is one of the most extensive and ecologically diverse forest in East Africa with over 465 plant species. The best spot to do superb birding is the Royal Mile (the single best birding spot in Uganda). You can check out a long list of African dwarf, blue breasted kingfishers, White-shouldered Black Tit, Spot-flanked Barbet, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, Rattling Cisticola, Black-faced Waxbill, Bateleur and Martial Eagle, Grey-crowned Crane, Cassin’s hawk eagle, Black-headed Oriole, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, Tropical Boubou, the colorful Papyrus Gonolek, Vieillot’s Black Weaver and Grosbeak-Weaver and the black-capped Apalis. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Court view hotel (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 5: Budongo Forest-main road past Nsingiro

After early morning breakfast, walk along the main road past Nsingiro which is another exciting venture altogether as it is easier to locate birds. Some of these species to look out for include; the Red-tailed bristle bill, Cameroon somber, Slender-billed, speckled tinker bird, Yellow-crested woodpecker, Yellow- browed Camaroptera, Buff-throated Apalis, and both White-breasted and Grey-headed Negro finches, White-spotted fluff tails, Crested guinea fowl, Tambourine dove, Grey parrot, African Emerald, Dusky long-tailed cuckoos,  White-throated bee-eater, Yellow-throated tinker bird, Western nicater, blue-shouldered robin-chat,  Sabine’s and Cassin’s spine tails, Wilcock’s honey guide, yellow and grey long bills, Rufous flycatcher thrush, Yellow-mantled weaver, Red-headed malimbe among others. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Court View Hotel (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale Forest

After an early morning breakfast, you will transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. This is a long drive and you will bird at a few key spots along the way. Kibale is particularly alluring to nature lovers known for its excellent chimp tracking and birding also having the highest concentration of primates in East Africa with about 13 primates such as; Chimps, Vervet monkeys, Red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus and many more.  Kibale Forest birds include Grey-winged robin, Blue-shouldered robin chat, Yellow-spotted barbet, Black-billed turaco, White-throated flycatcher, White bellied crested flycatcher, Masked Apalis to mention but a few. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Ndali lodge (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 7: Chimpanzee Tracking

This morning, go in search for Chimpanzees in the forest. Chimps live in communities of about 100 individuals; learn about the physical and behavioral aspects we share in common. Check out for more primates such as the olive baboons, white and black colobus monkeys, grey checked mangabey and blue monkeys. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Ndali lodge (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 8: Birding in Kibale

After an early morning breakfast, you will go for full day birding in Bigodi Sanctuary (Magombe Swamp), which offers an array of birdlife, butterflies and tree species and has one of the best guided trails in East Africa. The Great blue Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek are the most popular in the swamp. Committed birders admire this sanctuary for its “quality rather than quantity” birds easily spotted include; the  Blue-throated roller, White-headed wood hoopoe, crowned hornbill, Cassin’s honey bird, Masked Apalis, pink-footed puff back, black and white flycatcher, Superb Sunbird, Mountain wagtail, purple-headed starling, Black-necked weaver, Dark-backed weaver and Red-headed bluebill and there are butterflies as well. Do not be surprised to see the sitatunga antelope as well as primates in the vicinity. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Ndali lodge (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Bwindi is unique among other parks because of the presence of the mountain gorillas but it has more to offer for committed birders. bird watching in the evening around the forest margins of the forest is productive. Bwindi is home of over 23 highly localized Albertine rift endemic like the black-faced Rufous warbler, Black-throated Apalis and Mountain masked Apalis to mention but a few. Do a guided walk along the Munyanja River trail from Buhoma following Bizenga River and here the shinning blue kingfisher can easily be spotted. Along the waterfall trail, you will be able to spot over 40 species such as Yellow-eyed black-flycatcher,  Doherty’s bush-shrikes. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Gorilla Resort (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 10: Ruhija-Bwindi

Ruhija has unique Albertine endemic species which has ranked Bwindi to be one of the best ornithological sites in Africa.  In Ruhija you can spot the four crimson-wings, handsome francolin, Red-throated wryneck, Collared Apalis, Bronze sunbird, Scarce swift, Black saw-wing’ Cassin’s grey, Browned Tchagra, Toro Olive Greenbul, Black-faced Rufous warbler, Red-faced woodland warbler, Yellow-crested helmet shrike, shrike, Stripe-breasted tit, Yellow bishop, Collared Apalis, Purple-breasted sunbird, White-napped raven and so much more. Dinner and overnight will be at the lodge.

Accommodation:

•  Trekkers Tavern (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 11: Mubwindi Swamp-Bwindi

After breakfast, you will hike to the Mubwindi Swamp for a whole day birding. The 4km trail to Mubwindi Swamp drops from 2,350m to 2,050m and is the best place for some of the most elusive rift endemics like the beautiful regal sunbird and Archer’s robin chat. Others include; Rwenzori Apalis and African hill babbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, African Green broadbill, Archer’s Robin, White-headed wood hoopoe, Bar-tailed trogon among others.

Accommodation:

•  Trekkers Tavern (Bed & Breakfast)

Day 12: Bwindi-Kampala

After early morning breakfast you will check out of the lodge and then transfer back to Kampala where you will be drop you at your hotel/residence.

END OF BIRDING TRIP