Birder’s Paradise

Today we drive north to Budongo Forest Reserve, located at the south-western edge of the Murchison Falls National Park. It is one of the largest forests in Uganda. With over 360 bird species, it’s sure to be a great place to start your bird watching tour of Uganda. After we reach the forest you will take an easy birding walk. How many species will you see today?

We start today with an early bird-watching expedition. The cooler hours of the morning are often the best time to see Yellow-footed Flycatchers (Yellow-footed flycatcher and Illadopsis Puveli are found nowhere else in East Africa), Black-caped Apalis, Yellow-billed Barbet, Blue-breasted and Chocolate-backed Kingfishers, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, and many other bird species. There are also 290 different types of butterflies. Later, we will transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

Your next day in the area starts with a long boat safari will bring you to the delta of the Nile where you will look for the shy Shoebill. You also have the chance to spot Malachite Kingfishers, Fish Eagles, African Skimmers, Goliath Herons, Saddle-billed Storks, African Jacanas, Yellow-mantled Widowbirds, and Black-winged Red Bishops. In the sandy areas of the Nile, you might spot the nesting and colorful red-throated bee-eaters (depending on the season).

An early morning game drive today – and a chance to see the sunrise across the savannah. Later, enjoy a relaxing afternoon boat ride along the Victoria Nile River where you will encounter animals gathering on the riverbanks and an abundance of crocodiles and hippos. The boat will take you close to the bottom of the thundering Murchison waterfall, where the powerful river Nile forces its way through a gap only 7 meters wide and over 40 meters high.

Indulge in a lovely breakfast, then sit back and enjoy the beautiful Ugandan countryside on our 9-hour drive to Fort Portal.

We drive to Semuliki National Park this morning. It is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda with over 400 species having been recorded here: Chestnut Owlet, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Blue-billed Malimbe, Northern Bearded Scrub-robin, Firey-breasted Bushshrike, Red-eyed Puffback, and Palm Swamp Green Bulbul are just a few of the birds you might spot in this area. Always be prepared with binoculars and a camera ready in order not to miss the opportunity to capture something unusual. We drive on to Kibale Forest later in the day overnight.

In the morning you will take a primate and bird walk at Bigodi Swamp. Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-rumped and Yellow-throated Tinker Barbets, and Double-toothed Barbets are only a few of the many bird species visible in this area. If you wish, you can also choose to do a chimpanzee tracking expedition, off the beaten track in the forest – a great birdwatching opportunity, also. This needs to be booked in advance. Meanwhile don’t forget to take a birding walk around this great camp.

On our way to Queen Elizabeth National Park, we cross the Equator. Hippos, buffaloes, and a myriad of birds like pelicans, fish-eagle, and different plovers can be spotted during the afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.

We will start the second day with an early morning game drive while many animals are still on the move during the cool part of the day. On a good day, you could see lions, buffalo, elephants, antelopes, and the elusive bush pig and you might even be lucky to spot a leopard! In the afternoon you have time to relax in the lodge and to find the birds in this beautiful area.

A leisurely drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park brings us to Ishasha, one of the few regions in Africa where lions can be spotted climbing trees and lounging on branches. Therefore, make sure that during the game drive you are not only looking out over the savannah but also have your eyes focused up on the trees!

The search for the tree-climbing lions continues on the morning game drive. The Broad-billed Roller, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, the Ross’s Turaco, the Double-toothed Barbet and Black Bee-eater are just some of the many birds that can be spotted in the rich birding sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. After, we head to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive can take from 2 to 5 hours, depending on your chosen accommodation and the condition of the road.

Put your boots on and grab a sturdy walking stick, today is a once in a lifetime experience: Gorilla tracking! It is one of the best Ugandan travel experiences you can have. You will be hiking up in the mountains which can take between 2 to 6 hours depending on how far the Gorillas are. If you don’t want to track the Gorillas you could continue your birdwatching on the Buhoma Waterfall Trail or visit the Batwa community.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is known for being the home of mountain Gorillas. However, it is also a special place for birders as there are about 350 bird species, and 23 of them are endemic. Some of the birds you can spot here include the Grey-throated Barbet, Black Bee-eater, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, the Black-billed Turaco, Elliot’s Woodpecker, Red-tailed Bulbul, Dusky and Barred Long-tailed Cuckoos, Bar-tailed Trogon, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Luhder’s and Doherty’s Bushshrikes and the Black-headed Waxbill.

After an early birding tour, we proceed to Ruhija, another paradise for birds. You can relax here and bird-watch in comfort as most of the birds in this area can be spotted right from your lodge. On the edge of Bwindi, you have a panoramic view of the mountains and the World Heritage Site (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, due to its ecological importance).

After breakfast on our second day, we head out to Ruhija birding trail, where you will hopefully spot Francolins and various Apalis species, African Green Broadbills and Grauer’s Rush-warblers.

The wonder visit to Kiyebe village day! Today you will visit Kiyebe, the complete wonder village. This is perhaps one of the most remote, and traditional village in Uganda. It is the only village with no access through by road as its main rough mountainous road only stops at the small trading centre called mukyogo a name originating from the only community elephant pond in Uganda. You can plant your own tree, collect honey from the beehive and then if you want, enjoy local and national beers with the villagers.
You will also have great local food that is fresh and organic and the dancing and singing of this community is nothing you can even imagine. It’s impossible to miss a visit to this village.

Our next stop will be Lake Bunyonyi, one of the deepest and most beautiful lakes in Africa. You will have time to relax, take a nature walk or go bird watching – Bunyonyi does mean “place of many little birds”, after all! You could try your hand at paddling a dugout canoe or go swimming in the hippo, croc, and bilharzia-free waters. You can also visit the local community.

Then we head to Lake Bunyonyi’s Ecuya Forest, where we’ll have the chance to see the following birds: The red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, the Blue-headed Sunbird, the Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, the White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, African Hill Babbler, the Regal and African Harrier-hawks, and Chubb’s Cisticola.

After breakfast, we will drive 4-5 hours to Lake Mburo National Park. The park has a variety of animals such as leopard, zebra, impala, buffalo and over 300 bird species, many of which you will see on the afternoon game drive. Horseback safaris and boat trips on the lake are also available.

On your second day, you will have game drive in the morning and come for a relaxed breakfast. You have option of just relaxing at this lodge and go back for the afternoon game drive to this small but incredible National Park with many chances to just be with animals.

Lake Mburo National Park

You will have game drive in the morning and come for a relaxed breakfast. You have option of just relaxing at this lodge and go back for the afternoon game drive to this small but incredible National Park with many chances to just be with animals.

After breakfast on your last day, we will drive to Mabamba Swamp to search for the shy, prehistoric-looking shoebill. After a farewell dinner (maybe some famous Lake Victoria grilled fish) and drinks, we will drop you at the airport for your flight home. As your plane takes off, we hope you are already starting to plan your next African safari adventure!