GHS--27 DAYS BIRDING SAFARI WITH MOST SOUGHT MONTANE, SAVANNA AND ENDEMIC BIRD SPECIES OF UGANDA

Itinerary

Day 1

Entebbe Airport

Arrival in the afternoon and bird the botanical gardens. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 2

Early morningbird Mabamba, afternoon transfer to LakeMburo NationalPark

After 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,LesserJacana,CommonSquacco, Purple and Goliath Herons, Yellow billed Egre, White-faced Whistling Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, African fish Eagle, Black Crake, African Jacana, Long-toed Plover, 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, Shoebill, Senegal Plover, Madagascar, bee-Eater, Grey-rumped Swallow, Blue Swallow and Plain-backed Pipit. Later transfer to L.Mburo N.Park.

Day 3

Whole day birding Lake Mburo National Park

After an early breakfast, we shall head for a morning boat trip for the Finfoot, white backed/ black crowned night herons, Papyrus Gonolek, yellow backed/ golden backed/slender billed/ village/ spectacled and Northern brown throated weavers, Greater swamp Warbler. Afternoon game drives for Toppies, Zebras, Buffaloes, Impalas, Elands and many others.

Day 4

Transfer to Akagera National Park

Birding on the way. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 5

Whole day birding Akagera National Park

Birds to see: Black collared barbet, Crested Barbet, Taboracisticola, grey wren warbler, Trilling cisticola, white crowned black chat and other birds of the Miyombo woodland type. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 6

Transfer to Nyungwe Forest N. Park

Birding en-route. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 7

Whole day birding Nyungwe Forest.

Nyungwe National Park has the highest number of the Albertine Endemics and 46 species have been recorded. Key species like red collard mountain babler, Kungweapalis, albertine owlet, Rock fella sunbird are the birds which occur in Nyungwe that don’t occur in Uganda. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 8

Transfer to Kisoro

Birding on the way. Dinner and overnight at the Hotel

Day 9

Whole day birding Mgahinga National Park.

After Breakfast, transfer to Mgahinga for birds like lagdens bush sht\rike, RwenzoriTuraco, Rwenzori Sun bird, black headed waxbill, Afeppegion, white tailed crested flycatcher, Dusky crimsom wing, Shelly’s Crimsom wing, Brown wood warbler, kivu Ground thrush, Olive thrush, Balck billed Turaco, Stripe Breasted tit, Malakite sunbird and many others. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 10

Gorilla tracking in Nkuringo

Gorilla tracking in Nkuringo. Dinner and overnight as above

Day 11

Transfer to Ruhija

Birding on the way. Dinner and overnight at the lodge

Day 12

Whole day birding Mubwindi swamp.

After early breakfast, we will walk down with packed lunch to Mubwindi swamp looking for specials like Archer’s Robin-Chat,Evergreen Forest Warbler,Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Dwarf Honey-guide,Grey ChestedIlladopsis,RwenzoriBatis,Doherty’s/Lagden’sBushShrikes,Grauer’sRushWarbler,Grauer’sWarbler,White Headed Wood Hoope,African Green Broadbill,Archer’sRobin,White Starred Robin,Grey Cuckoo Shrike,Red Throated Alethe,RwenzoriNightjar,Northern, Double collared Sunbird,Reagle SunbirdCabanis’sGreenbul, Oriole Finch,the incredible Purple-breasted Sunbird,Slender-billed, Wallers, Narrow-tailed and Stuhlmann’sSatarlings,Dusky Twin sport and many other specials. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 13

Transfer to Buhoma via the “neck”.

Depart for Buhoma via the neck birding en-route for species like Tambourine Dove, Black bee-Eater, Mountain Wagtail, Toro Olive/Cabanis/Mt/Yellow streaked and Y.WhiskeredGreenbuls, White-starred-Robin, Strange Weaver, Dusky Twin Spot, Black bee-eater among others. We shall do a short village walk around Buhoma area after arrival for Magpie Mannikin in the evening.Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 14

Whole day birding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After Breakfast, bird along the main trail for species like Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis,Collared Apalis, Gruaer’s Warbler, Short-tailed Wabler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, RwenzoriBatisanad Strange Weaver,Western Bronze-napedPegion,Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos,Fraser’s Eagle owl, Montane (Rwenzori)Nightjar, Bar-tailed Trogon,Black bee-eater,Willcock’shoneyguide,Fine-banded and Elliot’s Wood peckers,Grey-chested and Mountain Illadopses, White bellied Robin-Chat, Forest Ground Thrush, Black-faced Rofous Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Many-coloured Bush-Shrike,Brown-capped Weaver, White-collared Olive-back, Red-fronted Antpecker and Oriole-Finch Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 15

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha sector.

After Breakfast, You will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha we shall have lunch on the way. At Ishasha we shall view a variety of game including Climbing Lions, Buffaloes and other games. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 16

Early morning game drive, afternoon boat trip on Kazinga channel

After breakfast, a morning game drive and birding will be ideal. Lunch at the lodge and go for the boat trip in the afternoon on Kazinga channel 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, Bushbuck, Defassa waterbuck, warthog will also be viewed. A number of bird species are also available here which 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

Day 17

Transfer to Semliki birding on the way.

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.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 18

Whole day birding Kirumia trail.

Look for species like Spot-Breasted Ibis, Hartlaub’sduck,Chestnut-flanked Goshawk,Long-tailed Hawk,Nkurengu Rail,Western Bronze-napedPegion, 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-rumpedTinkerbird, Spotted/Lyre-tailed and Zenker’sHoneyguides,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, IturiBatis, 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 19

Transfer to Kibale birding on the way.

Whole day drive to Kibale Forest N.Park Birding on the way for bird like; Papyrus gonolek, white collard grey headed olive backs, brown twin spot, Hartlaub’s Mash widowbird, white winged warbler, White crested Turaco, Joyful Green bul, Collared Apalis, Black throated Apalis, Long crested eagle etc. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 20

Whole day birding Kibale Forest National Park.

Birding in Kibale N.P is a delightful experience. We shall look for species such as Red-winged Francolin, White sportedFlufftail, White-napedPegion, Green-breasted Pitta, JoyfulGreenbul, Grey-winged Robin, White tailed Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Masked and black-throated Apalis ,Splendid glossyStarling,Purple headed glossy Starling, Tiny/Superb/Bronze/Green headed/Green/Green throated/Little green sunbirds, Grey-headed Olive-backand many more. Lunch at the hotel later bird around the hotel in the evening.Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 21

Whole day transfer to Masindi

Birding on the way. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 22

Whole day 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, Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Spotted Greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe, Red Tailled Ant Thrush,Black-capped Apalis, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Grey and yellow Longbills, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Forest Flycatcher, IturiBatis, Jameson’s Wattle-eye,Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Brown Twinspot. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 23

Transfer to Murchison falls National Park birding via Kanio Pabidi

After Breakfast, we shall drive to Kanio Pabidi birding along the road. Species such as Puvell’sIlladopsis, Rufous-sidede Broadbill, AfepPegion, Yellow Bill, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Honey guide Greenbul, Red-tailed Ant-thrush,Fire Crested Alethe, Forest Robin,Green Hylia, Grey-throated Tit Fly-catcher, Common Bristle bill, Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Forest Fly-catcher, Cassins’s and Sabines’s Spine tails will be targeted at KaniyoPabidi. Later in the afternoon proceed to Murchison Falls National Park

Day 24

Whole day birding Murchison Falls National Park.

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. Our key species in Murchison will be Shoebill, Secretary bird, Bat Hawk, Red-necked Falcon, Heuglin’s Francolin, Denham’s Bustard, Senegal Thick-Knee, Rock Pranticole, Black-headed Plover,AfricanSkimmer,Bruce’s Green Pegion, Vinaceous dove, White-crested Turaco, 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, Foxy and Black-backed Cisticolas, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-billed and Emin’s Shrikes, 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-breastedFirefinches, Black-rumped Waxbill, Paradise Whydah, White-rumped Seedeater and Brown-rumped and Cabanis Buntings. Later return to the lodge. Dinner and overnight as above.

Day 25

Transfer to Soroti

Birding on the way. Dinner and overnight at the hotel

Day 26

Early morning bird Lake Bisina afternoon transfer to Jinja.

After Breakfast, drive to Lake Bisina for the fox weaver the only endemic to Uganda. Other birds we are likely to see are; Lesser jacana, Pygmy goose, Purple Swamphen, lesser swamp hen, Common moohen, Shoebill and many other water birds. Later we go to the Hotel for lunch as we transfer to Jinja via Mbale.

Day 27

Whole day birding Mabira Forest later transfer to Entebbe

After breakfast, Bird Mabira for Nahan’s Francolin, Borown/ Scaly/Pale breasted illadopsis,Grey Parrot, Yellow mantled/wynes weavers, Forest wood hoope, Forest robin, Turacos black billed and great blue, Purple throated cuckoo shrike,Black bellied seed craker, red headed blue bill, Tithylia, Gray long bill, Yellow long bill , Cassin hawk eagle, Crown eagle and many other forest birds. Later in the afternoon transfer to Entebbe for your return flight.