Overview of Uganda Birding Safari

The Uganda Birding Safari allows you to explore the section of Uganda’s birds that can be easily reached from Kampala. Uganda supports 11% of the world population of bird species and 50% of the African continent bird species. Uganda has 1057 Species.

 

Therefore, undertaking a 7 Day Uganda birding safari in Entebbe Wildlife Education Center, the Lutembe bay where migratory birds tend to gather including the white winged terns, the Mabamba swamp which is the mighty home of Shoebill stork along with other birds, Lake Mburo National Park with its wide range of Acacia associated Species and water birds along its wetland system that is marked by lakes derive lasting memories for this birding safari in Uganda.

Spice Tours & Travels has Uganda a 21 days Bird Watching safari that allows you to explore the birds of Uganda in detail. Standing with 1057 bird species, Uganda features 11% of the world’s bird species and 50% of Africa’s bird count.

The 21 Days Bird watching Safari takes you to Mabira forest with 312 species, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary with 250 bird species, Budongo forest with over 360 species of birds including the endemic Yellow footed fly catcher and Illadopsis Puvelli, Murchison Falls National Park with 451 species of birds with sights of rare Shoe bill Stork, Kibale National Park with 375 species of birds with the endemic Kibale ground thrush, Bigodi wetland Sanctuary with 138 bird species including the famous Great Blue Turaco, Queen Elizabeth National Park with over 600 bird species making it the habitat with many bird species in East Africa and the second in Africa, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with 350 species of birds including 23 Species endemic to the Albertine rift, Lake Mburo National Park with over 350 Species with endemic Red faced Barbet, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Lutembe bay and the famous Mabamba swamp. It is an adventure birding encounter for all seasoned world birders.

Detailed Safari Itinerary of the of the 14 Days Uganda Birding Safari.

Day 1: Arrive for your Birding safari in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the Hotel

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport for your Birding watching tour in Uganda you shall meet our company representative who will warmly welcome and transfer you to your Hotel. But depending on your time of arrival you may go birding in either the botanical gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education center. Any of these places is a good representative of Uganda`s bird species hence they can inaugurate one to the different bird species in the country.

Accommodation
Up market / Luxury: Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Midrange / Standard: Humura Resorts
Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort
Camping at Back Packers Hostel

Day 2: Transfer from Kampala and go Birding in Uganda`s Semuliki National Park

After an early breakfast embark on your transfer to Semuliki National park taking the road through fort portal- Bundibugyo to reach the park. This route has beautiful mountains of the moon sceneries plus plantations. After arrival but with enough rest you shall go for a late afternoon birding at the entrance of the park. That passes through beautiful Borassus savannah and extensive grass lands that harbor bird species such as the African grey horn bill, common scimitar bill, helmeted guinea fowl and crested francolin among other birds.

Accommodation
Semliki Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 3: Whole day Birding watching- Semuliki National Park

After an early morning breakfast, but with packed lunch embark on a full day birding on the Kirumia trail or forest. This early morning birding offers you species like African scops Owl, and Pearl spotted Owlet just to mention but a few. Being a home to some of the Congo bird species, this Uganda birding safari in Africa will also reward you with birds like, red breasted sparrow hawk, African piculet, African pied horn bills, Zenkel, Red billed, piping, dwarf and Pygmy kingfishers, Nkurengu rail, honey guide red rumped tinkerbird, Rufous sided broad bill, Black chested cuckoo, Green tailed bristle bill, White bellied, white thighed, black and white casqued, forest scrub robin, fire crested alethe, red bellied and blue billed malimbe, black wattled, swamp palm bulbul, black bill and white crested horn bill and Leaf love among others.

Accommodation
Semliki Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 4: Whole day Birding safari tour in Uganda`s Semuliki National Park

Just after breakfast again with packed lunch to embark on another birding trip on either the main road Sempaya trail or the Kirumia trail, depending on the previous’ day`s results. The choice remains in interest of the group.

Accommodation
Semliki Safari Lodge
Wild Camping

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park & do Birding in Uganda`s Sebitoli sector

After taking a cup of tea early in the morning transfer to Kibale National park- Sebitoli birding site, recommended as the best birding site in Uganda. As you reach in the afternoon have lunch and embark on your birding fascination. Look out for specials species like, Toro olive and Cameroon sombre green buls, African black duck, Joyful, cabanis, Brown-capped Weaver, Brown and scaly breasted illadopsis, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Pink-footed Puff Back, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Green-throated Sunbird, Green-breasted Pita, African pita, -headed Sunbird just to mention but a few.

Accommodation
Accommodation (click on a particular accommodation to view more information about it)
Upmarket / Luxury: Ndali Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse
Wild Camping at Primate Lodge Campsite / Kanyanchu River Camp

Day 6: Whole day Uganda Birding safari adventure in Kibale Forest

Early in the morning after breakfast go for a guided birding trip in the Kanyanchu area where you will watch out for birds like; grey parrots, the African go-shwak, masked apalis, the majestic crowned eagle etc. You will have picnic lunch in the forest and the afternoon then head to the Bigodi wetland sanctuary through the Magombe swamp to see birds such as papyrus canary, papyrus Gonolek, brown headed Tchagra and mosque swallow.

Accommodation
Up market / Luxury: Ndali Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Chimpanzee Forest Guesthouse
Budget / Basic: Rwenzori View Guesthouse

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Buhoma Sector)

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park but watch out for birds and game en route. You enjoy the scenic views of Rwenzori Mountains rising to 5,109m with snowcapped peaks. You also explore the savannah landscapes of Queen Elizabeth National Park with 600 species of birds that makes it the largest single habitat with great bird species in East Africa. Arrive in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Silverback Lodge
Budget / Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 8: Whole day birding tour in Uganda`s Bwindi Impenetrable

After an early breakfast, move into the Bwindi forest along the water fall trail for birding encounter. Look out for birds such as Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Kivu ground thrush, Mountain Buzzard, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Sooty Boubou, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Hill-Babbler, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Black-and-white Shriker-flycatche white bellied Robin-chat and slender billed starling Dusky Tit, Ashy Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Rwenzori Batis, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Doherty’s Bush-shrike. Retire in the evening for relaxation, dinner and overnight.

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Silverback Lodge
Budget / Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking Bwindi – Buhoma

Undertake gorilla trekking in the Buhoma sector where you have an opportunity to trek any of the three gorilla families of Mubare, Habinyanja and Rushegura. The trekking encounter commences at 8am at the Buhoma Park Headquarters and in the company of the ranger guide you follow the trail in search of the respective allocated gorilla family. The hike takes you through the hilly forested landscapes of Bwindi with mature trees and thick undergrowth that makes it memorable and beyond the gorillas alone. The gorilla trek also offers you birding opportunities in this number one birding destination in Africa as noted by the Africa’s bird club. The eventual encounter with the gorillas takes one full hour and allows you to re-unite with these ancient cousins. Take photos and gain in depth viewing whole maintaining the flash off and the 7m distance. Retreat from the activity back to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Buhoma Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Silverback Lodge
Budget / Basic: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 10: Birding on the Neck continuing to Ruhiija

Early morning after breakfast go birding in the ruhiija area and look out for birds like the Grey-throated Barbet, Red-tailed and Shelley’s Greenbul, Common Buzzard, Red-throated Alethe, African Shrike-flycatcher Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater to mention but a few.

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Chameleon Hill Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Gorilla Mist Camp
Budget / Basic: Broadbill Forest Camp
Wild Camping

Day 11: Transfer from Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park

After your early morning breakfast, drive towards Lake Mburo National Park driving through the magical Kigezi Highlands. You make a lunch stop at Igongo Cultural Center 12km past Mbarara town after which you proceed for 33km to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in the afternoon. You will bird along the entrance road to Rwonyo in the late afternoon to watch out for acacia associated bird species like Rupell’s long-tailed starling, mosque swallow and black bellied bustard.

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Mihingo Safari Lodge
Midrange / Standard: Arcadia Cottages Mburo
Budget / Basic: Eagles Nest
Wild Camping

Day 12: Transfer from Lake Mburo to Kampala

Take a morning bird encounter and transfer back to Kampala. Explore the savanna landscapes of Lake Mburo with a wide range of acacia associated birds and other Species including like Batelour, Green-capped Eremomela, Austral migrant, black cuckoo-shrike Tawny, African Hawk, and so many other species en route. Retreat from the activity and transfer to Kampala 240km about 3 – 4 hours’ drive making a stop at Uganda Equator crossing Kayabwe for amazing photo shoots and water experiments that justifies the divide between the south and north hemispheres. Arrive in Kampala in the evening to mark the end of your safari.

Accommodation
Upmarket / Luxury: Sheraton Kampala Hotel
Midrange / Standard: Humura Resorts
Budget / Basic: Buziga Country Resort
Camping at Back Packers Hostel

Day 13: Whole day birding in Mabamba Swamp

Transfer after an early breakfast to Mabamba swamp which is about 50kms west of Kampala. On your way to the destination and at the destination, you will have opportunities of encountering White Shouldered Tit, Papyrus Gonolek, Red Cap, White Winged Warbler, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Weyns Weaver and White Spotted Fluftail. Mabamba swamp offers ideal encounters with the rare and highly sought after shoebill stork along with other species like Allen’s and Purple Gallinule, Jacanas, Grey herons, Ruffaus Squaco, Purple and Goliath Heron, Bellied Heron, the Pallid Harrier which is globally threatened and migrant species of blue swallow, egrets, ducks among others. The bird encounter is done on a canoe where you also have opportunity of encountering the elusive Sitatunga Antelope. You will retire from the activity and connect to Entebbe for overnight

Accommodation:
Upmarket / Luxury: Lake Victoria Serena Resort
Midrange / Standard: Boma Hotel
Budget / Basic: Airport Guesthouse

Day 14: Departure

One of our staff will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport for your flight.

End of birding safari in Uganda

TRANSPORTATION

4X4 Safari Land cruisers For Hire In Uganda & Rwanda

One of the best known 4×4 WD that you can use for your safari in Uganda’s Parks and Rural countryside. Our car hire is based on limited mileage and applies to travel within Uganda. (Terms and conditions apply)

4X4 Safari Vans For Hire In Uganda & Rwanda

Looking for 4X4 Safari Vans for hire in Uganda, Spice Tours and Travels is available to your service. We have customized safari vans that have 4 wheel drives and have demonstrated the capacity to access distant Uganda Safari destinations and across borders such as Rwanda.

4X4 Minivan|Coaster|Mini Buses For Hire in Uganda & Rwanda

We have minivans for hire to groups of eight up to twelve. Make sure to find the class to suit your large group. In this Category, we have 4X4 Safari Mini bus with capacity ranging from 6 seater to 14 seater and they’ve got a pop up roof for game viewing purposes. These have got diesel powered engines and come with a driver guide but excluding fuel.( Terms and conditions apply)

General Safari Inclusions

• Gorilla Permit (for gorilla trekking safaris)
• Chimpanzee Permit (for chimpanzee trekking safaris)
• Full Board Accommodation on Safari
• Transportation in either 4X4 Safari Van or 4X4 Safari Land Cruiser all with Pop up roof & AC
• Fuel
• Professional English Speaking driver guide. Any other foreign language speaking guide can be arranged on request.
• Entrance fees to the tourist sites including Protected areas mentioned
• Activity fees of the tourist activities mentioned
• Bottled water while on safari
• Border crossing fees (for cross border safaris)
• binoculars

General Safari Exclusions

• General tips for the driver guide, site guides and service staff at the lodges
• Laundry Services
• Other Beverages / drinks of personal nature like Alcohol
• International Flights (Arranged on request)
• Domestic Flights (Arranged on request)
• Visas
• Optional Activity fees
• Other extras not mentioned in the Itinerary
• Airport Transfer (Arranged on request)
• Accommodation in Kampala or Kigali unless it is part of the Itinerary (Arranged on request)

Call us on our 24/7 hotlines:
Mobile number: +256752 480 239 /+256 714 480 239
Office number: +256 414 699 398 /+256 392 615 161
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