23 Days Uganda Birding Safari the Best of Albertine Endemics
23 days Uganda birding safari Uganda birding tour that encounters birding in Uganda’s top bird-watching spots with up to 1,073 Uganda birds-species, Uganda presents about 11% of the world’s total bird species and over 50% of Africa’s total bird species this has earned this amazing country its deserved reputation as a ‘birder’s Eden’. Also, on this 23-day birding safari in Uganda, we will have 4 boat cruises and one canoe ride, see much other stunning fauna and flora, experience the beautiful scenery, and enjoy the warm and friendly attitude of Ugandan people. 23 Days Uganda Birding Safari the Best of Albertine Endemics The birding spots for you to explore during this bird watching in Uganda include Mabira Forest with 315 bird species, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary where we’ll observe several of 300 bird species here and trekk the white Rhinos, Budongo Forest with over 360 bird species like the endemic Puvel’s illadopsis, and Murchison Falls National Park with about 451 bird species like the Shoebill stock, the most eagerly sought of all African birds, Kibale National Park the famous home to Chimpanzees with over 375 bird species like the rare, elusive, and beautiful Green-breasted Pitta, the community walk in Bigodi Wetland with about 200 bird species and Semuliki National Park which is home to more than 441 bird species like 46 Guinea-Congo biome species found nowhere else in East Africa, Queen Elizabeth National Park, a diverse habitats with about 610 bird species, the largest checklist of any protected area in East Africa, and 95 mammal species, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with 350 bird species recorded of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine Rift such as the near-mythical African Green Broadbill, Lake Mburo National Park majorly for the rare Red-faced Barbet, and the endemic African Finfoot. We shall end with an excursion at Lutembe bay, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, and the Mabamba swamp.
Tour highlights
Birding Mabira Forest
Birding Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Birding Budongo Forest Reserve
Game Viewing in Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Nile Delta In Murchison Falls National Park
Birding the Northern Bank of Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Victoria Nile In Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Rabogo Forest Reserve in Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Sebitoli Forest
Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Birding Kibale Forest National Park
Birding Bigodi Wetland
Birding Semiliki National Park
Birding Mweya Penisula in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Kazinga Channel In Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Buhoma Sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding Ruhija Sector in Bwindi impenetrable National Park
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding Mubwindi Trail in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding Game Drive in Lake Mburo National Park
Birding Nature Walk in Lake Mburo National Park
Birding Boat Ride in Lake Mburo National Park
Birding Entebbe Botanical Garden and Uganda Wildlife Education Centre
Birding Mabamba Wetland and Lutembe Bay Ramsar Site
Price Includes:
- Full time English professional safari driver guide
- 4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with
- Full board accommodation
- Gorilla trekking permit fees
- Boat cruise fees
- Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
- Bottled water
Price Excludes:
- International &domestic flight fees
- Visa fees
- Laundry services
- Items of personal nature
- Gratuities and tips
- Other beverages/ drinks
- Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Itinary in details
- Day1Arrive In Uganda at Entebbe International Airport and Transfer to the Hotel.Arrive at the airport where you will find our company representative dedicated to offering you a courteous welcome. You will transfer to the respective hotel for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
- Day2Birding Excursion at Mabira Forest Reserve.After breakfast, we will embark on our drive east of Uganda to Mabira Forest Reserve. We drive through the flourishing rural landscape with scattered human settlements, towns, and vegetable markets where you will see people going on with their daily lifestyle. The forest ranks among Uganda’s key birding spots with over 300 bird species recorded including several rarities like the pretty Tit Hylia and Forest wood-hoopoe, Purple-throated cuckoo-shrike, African pitta, Red-tailed leaflove, Nahan’s francolin, Weyn’s weaver, the rare Blue swallow, hornbill species, African Grey parrot, Great blue Turaco, and Sunbirds. We settle for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
- Day3Whole Day Birding in Mabira Forest Reserve.After your breakfast we will head out for a full day birding nature walk in Mabira Forest, we look out more other birds not spotted the previous day, only to break for a picnic lunch in the forest and then continue with birding adventure. Alongside bird watching there is an opportunity to see primates like Red-tailed monkeys, Uganda mangabeys and Black-and-white colobus. Retire in the late evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
- Day4Transfer to Budongo Forest via Visit to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.After breakfast, we embark on the drive northwest via Masindi town towards the Budongo Forest Reserve. This road trip offers you impressive views of the green covered flat landscapes of Central Uganda before having a stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary which is a home to Rhinos and over 300 bird species. We will enjoy a rewarding 2 hours birding nature walk for birds like the Grey-crowned crane, Black-spotted, African , African black-headed and Golden orioles, and Namaqua doves, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Broad-billed roller, African blue flycatcher, African Crowned Eagle, African black crake, Brown-backed scrub-robin, Abdim’s Stork, Bronze Manikini, Brown-crowned Tchagra, African Citril, African Goshawk and African Hawk, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Chinspot Batis, and Booted eagles. We will have lunch in the sanctuary and transfer to Budongo forest in the evening for relaxation and overnight.
- Day4Full Day Birding in Budongo Forest ReserveAfter your breakfast, we have a full day to explore the delights Budongo Forest a magnificent rainforest that is home to over 360 bird species. Special bird species include the blue-breasted, and chocolate-backed kingfishers and African dwarf, Cassin’s Spinetail, Nahan’s Francolin, and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, forest Greenbuls and Spotted, Honeyguide Greenbuls and Xavier’s, White-throated, Red-tailed, Illadopsis species, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Fire-crested Alethe, Grey-throated Flycatcher, and Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Mottled and Sabine’s Spinetails Cassin’s and Crowned Hawk-eagles, White-thighed Hornbill, barbets including Hairy-breasted and Yellow-billed, Blue Malkoha, cryptic Green Hylia, Grey, and Yellow Longbills, Lemon-bellied Crombec, African Forest-Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Grey-headed Sunbird, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Crested Malimbe.
- Day5Half-day birding in Budongo and transfer to Murchison FallsAfter breakfast, we will transfer to the Kaniyo Pabidi sector in Budongo Forest for more bird watching. Among the bird species to look out for include; the Narina trogon, Little greenbul, Chestnut wattle eye, Chestnut-winged starling, African shrike flycatchers, Grey Apalis, Dwarf, and a great many forest sunbirds and hornbills, and Pygmy kingfishers, Puvel’s Illadopsis, garish Green-breasted pitta. Later proceed to Murchison falls National Park for lunch and afternoon lookout for the 451 which may include Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, White-rumped Seedeater, Senegal Lapwing, and the weird Piapiac the Pel’s Fishing Owl, and the Red-winged grey warbler Chest-nut crowned. Later we connect to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
- Day6Birding Boat Cruise to the Nile Delta and Birding in the plainsThe day starts with an early morning breakfast. We then embark on a morning birding boat cruise downstream to the Nile Delta to see the majestic Shoebill, and other species include the Piapiac, the Goliath heron, Grey crowned-crane, Saddle-billed stork, Senegal Thick-knee, Long-toed, African fish-eagle, and Spur-winged Lapwings, African Skimmers, Giant, Pied and like Malachite Kingfishers and Red-throated bee-eaters African Jacana. With luck, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Red-necked in addition with mammals like Buffalos, Elephants, antelopes, and giraffes. The morning boat cruise will be accompanied by a birding game drive in the savannah in the afternoon as we look out for the Abyssinian ground hornbill, Secretary Bird, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Heuglin’s Francolin, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Black-headed Lapwing, Black Scimitar-bill, Black-backed Cisticola, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow, Swallow-tailed and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, and Black-faced Quailfinch and also several mammal species are also represented.
- Day7Birding Boat Cruise to the Nile Delta and Birding in the plainsThe day starts with an early morning breakfast. We then embark on a morning birding boat cruise downstream to the Nile Delta to see the majestic Shoebill, and other species include the Piapiac, the Goliath heron, Grey crowned-crane, Saddle-billed stork, Senegal Thick-knee, Long-toed, African fish-eagle, and Spur-winged Lapwings, African Skimmers, Giant, Pied and like Malachite Kingfishers and Red-throated bee-eaters African Jacana. With luck, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Red-necked in addition with mammals like Buffalos, Elephants, antelopes, and giraffes. The morning boat cruise will be accompanied by a birding game drive in the savannah in the afternoon as we look out for the Abyssinian ground hornbill, Secretary Bird, Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Heuglin’s Francolin, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Black-headed Lapwing, Black Scimitar-bill, Black-backed Cisticola, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow, Swallow-tailed and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, and Black-faced Quailfinch and also several mammal species are also represented.
- Day8Morning Birding in the Savannah and Afternoon Nile Launch Cruise to the Bottom of the fall.After breakfast, we head out for an extensive birding adventure in northern back Murchison falls, and in the afternoon, we embark on a thrilling three hours boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison, this comes along with various bird species like Rock Pratincole, African fish eagles, Egyptian geese, Pied Kingfisher, Saddle bellied stork, Goliath heron, and the iconic shoebill. We retreat to the lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
- Day9Birding in Rabongo Forest and Transfer to Hoima Town.We will have breakfast and then embark on a birding tour to Rabongo Forest. The area is home to impressive Primates including the Black and white colobus, olive Baboons among others. Retreat from the adventure and embark on a transfer to Hoima town driving along the scenic Albertine rift escarpment with the best views.
- Day10Birding Transfer to Kibale National Park with BirdingImmediately after breakfast, we’ll embark on the drive to the Kibale Forest National Park, with added stops along the way for bird watching. You enjoy amazing birding encounters along the way including Sebitoli forest in Kibale National Park with possibilities to spotting the Joyful Masked Apalis, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Greenbul, and Slender-tailed Starling. The Park constitutes a population of 375 bird species including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine rift valley, over recorded 70 mammal species, most famously 13 primate species which includes chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s monkey, Red Colobus Monkey, Guereza Colobus, Blue monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Olive Baboon, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Bushbabies, and Pottos.
- Day11Birding in Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.This day starts with an early morning breakfast after which we drive to the Kanyanchu visitors’ center for a wonderful birding encounter. Look out for the Green-breasted Pitta, African pitta, African Grey Parrot, Afep, Cassin’s spinetail, Blue-headed bee-eater, White-naped Pigeon, Nahan’s francolin, Masked Apalis, Western Nicator, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Crowned Eagle, Black Bee-eater, Brown Illadopsis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Ruwenzori Apalis, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Little Greenbul, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Abyssinian ground-thrush. We shall also engage in chimpanzee trekking adventures in the park.
- Day12Birding Travel to Semuliki National Park for Whole Day BirdingWe have breakfast and embark on a very scenic vehicle transfer to Semliki National Park. Semuliki will present an incredible bird checklist of 441 species with over 46 Guinea-Congo forest biome species of bird unknown elsewhere in East Africa like the Nkulengu rail, Maxwell’s black weaver, the Congo serpent eagle, Blue-billed malimbe, Spot-breasted Ibis, African Piculet, Hornbills including Black-wattled, Lyre-tailed, and Zenker’s Honeyguides, White-crested, Black dwarf and Red-billed dwarf, Greenbuls Eastern bearded, Sassi’s olive and Simple greenbuls, Northern bearded scrub-robin, Red-eyed Puffback, Yellow-throated Nictor, Grant’s bluebill, and Black-winged Oriole, Lowland akalat, the Western bronze-naped pigeon, Piping Hornbill, Rufous-sided broadbill, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Xavier’s greenbul, Capuchin babbler, Red-billed helmet-shrike, Crested malimbe, Pale-fronted ant pecker, Yellow long bill, Blue-headed flycatcher, and Chestnut-breasted Nigrita. The park is also home to several mammal species, and like Olive Baboon, Ugandan Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Angola Colobus, Vervet, and Red-tailed Monkey. This will be a full-day birding expedition here. Transfer back to the Hotel for dinner and overnight.
- Day13Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and Birding in the Mweya Peninsular.After a relaxed breakfast, we set off to Queen Elizabeth National park drive enjoying the sights of the rolling Rwenzori Mountains ranges along the way. We have a stopover for lunch in the peninsular and embark on birding in Mweya Peninsular between Lake Edward and the Kazinga Channel. Look out for the Black-headed gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, weavers, Swamp nightjar, Little bee-eater, African mourning dove, Swifts, Martins, Swallows, and Nubian woodpeckers. Retire for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
- Day14Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Afternoon Kazinga Channel Launch Cruise.After our breakfast in the morning, we embark on the drive towards the beautiful Lake Kikorongo and the Kasenyi track for more birding in the park. Queen Elizabeth is home to over 610 bird species and about 95 mammal species including the rare tree-climbing Lions and bird species to look out include the Bateleur, Grey Kestrel, Black-rumped Buttonquail, African Crake, Red-necked Francolin, Senegal Lapwing, Black Coucal, Southern Red Bishop, Marsh Tchagra, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Flappet, Red-capped, and White-tailed Larks, Red-faced, Carruther’s, Trilling, and Stout. Today we will have a chance to spot Lion, Leopard, Spotted hyena, Cape buffalo, Ugandan kob, Bushbuck, African elephant, Hippos, Warthog, and the spectacular Giant forest hog. In the afternoon, we take a boat cruise on the stunning Kazinga Channel. The highlight of this cruise ranks among the most amazing birding and photographic adventure experiences in Africa. Among a multitude of other species, we will look out for the African Open-billed, Saddle-billed and Marabou Storks, Yellow-billed, African spoonbill, Wattled Lapwing, Water Thick-knee, Glossy Ibis, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Swamp Flycatcher, gulls, terns, and pelicans. Return to the lodge for relaxation dinner and overnight stay.
- Day15Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with Birding in Ishasha Sector.Early in the morning after breakfast, we embark on the drive to Bwindi national park in the Buhoma sector going through the extensive southern Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. We will likely observe the variety of savanna birds and mammal species inclusive of the tree-climbing lions. The sector features birds species like Palm-nut, Ruppell’s Griffon, African White-backed Hooded and Lappet-faced, Brown Snake, Wahlberg’s, Bateleur, Crowned, Long-crested, and Martial Eagles, African Grey Kestrel, Helmeted, Black-bellied Bustard, Senegal Plover, Guineafowl, African Crake African Green Pigeon, African Wattled Plover, Double-toothed and White-headed Barbets, Broad-billed Roller, Ross’s Turaco, Striped Kingfisher, Greater Honeyguide, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, White-browed Robin-Chat, Green Crombec, Cisticolas, Yellow-billed Oxpecker Grey Woodpecker, and Grey-backed Fiscal. We will have our lunch at Ishasha sector and then drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Buhoma arriving in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
- Day16Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkIn the morning after an early breakfast, we embark on a full day of birding experience to look out for birdlife in Buhoma Sector, along the waterfall trail. The park is Africa’s finest destination constituting over 350 including 23 Albertine rift valley endemics. Special species to look out include; the Bar-tailed Trogon, Dusky tit, Handsome francolin, Kivu ground thrush, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, the Oberlander’s Ground-Thrush, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Bocage’s Bushshrike, Black-billed Weaver, White-bellied Crested-Flycatcher, and Magpie Mannikin, dazzling Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, Sooty Flycatcher, and Stuhlmann’s, and Narrow-tailed, forest starlings including Waller’s, Neumann’s Warbler is buried, African Broadbill, Banded Prinia, Black-faced Rufous-Warbler, Elliot’s and Tullberg’s Woodpeckers, Cabanis’s, the strange Grauer’s Warbler, Shelley’s and Ansorge’s greenbul, and White-browed Crombec, Jameson’s Antpecker. Other wildlife that we may be fortunate enough to encounter includes the huge yellow-backed duiker antelope, L’Hoest’s, blue and red-tailed monkeys, Guereza colobus. Retire from the activity for relaxation dinner and overnight.
- Day17Birding to Ruhija through Neck.After breakfast, we go bird-watching in the Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Park. We look out for Ross’s Turaco, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Bronze, Copper, Red-throated Wryneck, Variable Sunbirds, Yellow Bishop and Black-throated Seed-eater Black-necked and Holub’s Golden Weavers, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Willcox’s Honeyguide, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Pink-footed Puffback, and the rare Tiny Sunbird, Mountain Wagtail, Dusky Twinspot and Yellow-bellied and Black-crowned Waxbills, Thick-billed Seedeater, African Stonechat, and Yellow-crowned Canary, Chubb’s Cisticola, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Mackinnon’s Shrike surveying. Retire for dinner and overnight stay.
- Day18Whole day Birding Exploration in Ruhija and Mubwindi Swamp.After your breakfast, we embark on a whole day of birding experience in Ruhija and Mubwindi Swamp. We head out for the steep descent to Mubwindi and the seemingly steeper ascent. This will be our only chance to spot the exceeding number of birds like Grauer’s broadbill and African green broadbill, the Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, Rwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori Batis Regal sunbird, and Dusky Crimsonwing. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
- Day19Transfer to Lake Mburo National ParkAfter your early morning breakfast, embark on the drive towards Lake Mburo National Park through the magical Kigezi Highlands. Along with the lookout for the missed bird species and this may include Handsome Francolin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler, Kandt’s Waxbill. You make a lunch stopover at Igongo Cultural Center in Mbarara town after which you proceed to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in the afternoon. Look out for bird species like Ruppell’s long-tailed starling, black-bellied bustard mosque swallow.
- Day20Do Half-Day Birding, Wildlife Walking Safari, and Boat Ride on Lake Mburo.After early morning breakfast and embark on the extensive wildlife and birding exploration in the savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park, look out for the Red-faced Barbet, Tabora Cisticola, Green-capped Eremomela, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Spot-flanked Barbet, and Gray Penduline Tit, Rufous-bellied Heron, Grey Crowned Crane, Brown-chested Lapwing, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Bateleur, Coqui Francolin, Ross’s Turaco, Brown Parrot, Green Wood-hoopoe, White-headed Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Nubian Woodpecker, Common Scimitarbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Finfoot, White-winged Tit, and Yellow-breasted Apalis among other bird species. Lake Mburo is also endowed with various mammal species like Rothschild giraffes, the Topis, elands, Buffaloes, Burchell’s Zebra, Impala, waterbucks, Warthogs among others. In the late evening, you embark on a boat ride on Lake Mburo to search for the Neotropical Sungrebe, African Finfoot, and White-backed Night-Heron. Retire from the activity for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.
- Day21Transfer to Entebbe and Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens.After a relaxed breakfast, we embark on the transfer to Entebbe with a stopover at Uganda Equator crossing for amazing photo shoots and experiments that justify the geographical divide between the north and southern hemispheres. Continue to Entebbe for an afternoon birding exploration in the Botanical Gardens where you have chances of experiencing birds like the Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek Red-chested sunbirds, Verreaux’s Eagle, golden-backed weaver, just to mention but a few.
- Day22Birding in Mabamba Swamp in the Morning and Lutembe BayAfter an early breakfast, we’ll depart for the Mabamba Swamp experience, a Ramsar site, and an Important Birding spot on the shore of Lake Victoria. Look out for the rare shoebill, Golden-backed, Slender-billed, Village, Vieillot’s, Orange, Northern Brown-throated, Black-headed, and Grosbeak, Weyn’s Weaver, Great Blue Turaco, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill. You will retreat from the adventure and return to Entebbe. In the afternoon, embark on the Lutembe bay birding experience for the migratory birds like white-winged terns and Grey-headed Gulls, Caspian Tern, Temminck’s Stint, Hottentot Teal, the Broad-billed Sandpiper, and Great Knot. Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
- Day23DepartureTransfer to Entebbe International Airport to catch up with the departure flight back home.
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