Day 1: Arrival for forest birding safari in Uganda.
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, then transfer to a Hotel. First, we bird at Entebbe botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Center depending on the time of arrival.
Then overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Midrange: Cassia Lodge
Budget: Common Lens Inn Hotel
Day 2: Uganda Birding Tour in Mabira Forest (Nahan’s Francolin).
This is the largest forest reserve closest to the city center. It boosts of a 315 bird species record with 74 of the 144 species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome that occur in Uganda.
Search for Nahan’s Francolin which is an IUCN Red list’s endangered species, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, White-spotted Flufftail, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spinetail, Cassin’s Spinetail, Blue-throated Roller, African Dwarf Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Forest Woodhoopoe, African Pied Hornbill, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird. In addition, you will search for; Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Green-breasted Pitta, African Shrike-flycatcher, Jameson’sand Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Forest Robin, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-capped Robin-Chat, the Speckle-breasted, Yellow-crested, Brown-eared, and the Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Red-tailed Bristlebil among others.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Rain Forest Lodge
Midrange / Budget: Griffin Falls Camp
Day 3: Transfer to Budongo Forest for Birding Uganda safari.
This time, we do birding in Budongo Forest. It has a prolific bird-life with two species of birds not found elsewhere in East Africa: 10 of the 22 species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome and 93 of the 144 species Guinea–Congo Forests biome that occur in Uganda.
Then dine and overnight at the hotel.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Budongo Eco Lodge
Midrange: Masindi Hotel
Budget: New court view hotel
Day 4: Birding in Budongo Forest Uganda (Puvel’s Illadopsis).
We bird the marvelous Royal mile and several other trails for magnificent bird species. Then we look for the Puvel’s Illadopsis and Nahan’s Francolin. Other special birds include; Little Crake, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, African Paradise Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Afthe Yellow-billed Barbet, Grey-throated Barbet, Honeyguide Greenbul, Chocolate–backed Kingfisher,White-headed Saw-wing, White Wagtail, Black-eared Ground-Thrush, rican Moustached Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, African Citril. In addition to the above, others include; African Golden-breasted Bunting, Black-crowned Waxbill, Bronze Mannikin, Black-billed Bluebill, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Fan-tailedWidowbird, Spectacled Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Compact Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Purple Starling, Purple-headed Starling, Splendid Starling, Northern Puffback, Black-headed Gonolek, Tropical Boubou, Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Western Violet-backed Sun bird and many more.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Budongo Eco Lodge
Midrange: Masindi Hotel
Budget: New court view hotel
Day 5: Uganda Birding Safari from Busingiro-Kibale Forest National Park.
For the early hours of the day, we bird Busingiro. Then later transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. This is the most accessible of Uganda’s major rain-forests.
Then overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Rwenzori view guest house
Day 6 & 7: Green-breasted Pitta Search and optional Chimpanzee trekking.
In Kibale we will bird areas of the forest, Bigodi wetland Sanctuary and Sebitoli for unique forest species, papyrus endemics and some shore birds.
So far, over 339 species of birds have been recorded; but more species are likely to be added. The park has the Green-breasted Pitta as the most sought-after species along with others; Chubb’s Cisticola, Black-capped Waxbill,Africa Shrike-flycatcher, African Black-headed Oriole,African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green-pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African Wood Owl, African/Rwenzori/Abyssinian Hill-Babbler, Alpine Swift, Ashy Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Black Bee-eater, Black Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Black-and-white Mannikin, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Black-billed Weaver, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, African Dusky Flycatcher. In addition, others include; Black-headed Weaver, Black-necked Weaver,African/Western Citril,Black-throated Apalis, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird,Blue-throated Roller, African Blue Flycatcher, Bocage’ Bush-shrike,Bronze Mannikin, Zebra Waxbill,Bronze Sunbird, Brown Illadopsis, Brown-capped Weaver,Brown-chested Alethe,Brown-eared Woodpecker,Brown-headed Tchagra,African-pied Wagtail, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul,Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Yellow-billed Barbet,Afep Pigeon, endless list.Mackinnon’s Fiscal
Then dine and overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Primate Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Budget: Rwenzori view guest house
Day 8: Bird watching in Semliki National Park in Uganda.
Semliki harbours a large number of predominantly Central African species. These species cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa. They include birds like; the Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honey guide, Black-wattled Hornbill, the Nkulengu Rail, just to mention but a few. But there is a single, unconfirmed report of the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Semliki Safari Lodge
Midrange: Ntoroko Game Lodge
Budget: Kirimia Guest House
Day 9 & 10: Birding tour in Semliki forest and the Kirumiya trail (Blue Swallow).
It’s one of the richest areas for both flora and fauna in Africa; most especially birds. We bird the place for only two days. Then aim at a record of 400 species which will include the White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, Grey Ground-Thrush, Little Grey Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Western Nicator, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Black Saw-wing, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Long-tailed Hawk, the African Piculate,Blue Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Spotted Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Lowland Akalat, Red-throated Alethe. In addition, the species include; Fire-crested Alethe, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Puffback, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Grant’s Bluebill, Afep Pigeon, Blue-headed Coucal, Bates’s Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar, Cassin’ Spinetail, Sabine’s Spinetail, White-bellied Kingfisher, Shinning-blue Kingfisher, Gabon Woodpecker, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, just to mention but a few.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Semliki Safari Lodge
Midrange: Ntoroko Game Lodge
Budget: Kirimia Guest House
Day 11: Uganda Birding Safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Probably this is the best place for forest birding in Uganda and yet Africa’ number one birding spot. The park has 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics; including the globally threatened species such as the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Others such as Oberlander’s/Forest Ground Thrush, Sassi’s Olive Greenbul, Dusky Crimson-wing, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple -breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Short -tailed/Neumann’s Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler.Furthermore,the species include; Collared Apalis, Montane Masked Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, and finally the Handsome Francolin.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 12: Albertine Rift endemics tour and Optional Gorilla Trekking in Uganda.
There are less than 800 mountain gorillas in the whole world. Uganda is home to more than a half of these beautiful, majestic gentle giants and yet endangered apes. Therefore, Gorilla tracking in Uganda is a must experience not to be missed. Bwindi impenetrable forest habituates families of mountain gorillas along with other species of primates. They include Chimpanzees, Colubus monkeys, Olive baboons, name it.
At Buhoma, we look out for species like, the Black Bee-Eater, Dusky Tit, Brown-caped Weaver, the Yellow-billed and yellow-spotted Barbets, the African Black-and-white Shrike Flycatchers, Common Stonechat, Brown-throated and Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Apalises, Equatorial Akalat, Slaty Flyacatcher, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Grey Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, the Olive-green and Grey-backed Camaropteras. In addition,we shall look out for more species like; the White-chinned Prinnia, Green Hylia, Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Antithrush, Cape Wagtail, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, White-browed Crombec, and finally the White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher
Then finally overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 13: Birding Tour to Ruhija (African Green Broadbill).
Today we do birding in Ruhija in search for the darling African Green Broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimson-wings, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis. Also we shall search out for; the White-browed Crombec, White-aped Raven, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Sharp’s Starling, Mountain masked and Rwenzori Apalises and many more.
Then overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 14: Mubwindi Birding
Whole day Mubwindi Swamp birding. So, here we will look out for the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, White tailed blue flycatcher, Brown capped warbler, Black Billed weaver, Black Necked weaver, Red Headed Malimbe, Grey headed Sparrow, Waller’s Starling, Stuhlmann’s starling, Montane Oriole, Many Coloured Bush Shrike, Bocage’s Bush Shrike. We will also look out for the Brown Crowned Tchagra, Pink Footed Puffback, Ludher’s Bush Shrike, Doherty`s Bush-shrike, Mountain Illadopsis and the Rwenzori Nightjar.
Then overnight at the lodge.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Gorilla Safari Lodge
Midrange: Bakiga Lodge
Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 15: Birding to Kampala / Entebbe.
Birding to Kampala/Entebbe
Accommodation:
Luxury: Serena Lake Victoria Resort
Midrange: Cassia Lodge
Budget: Common Lens Inn Hotel
Day 16: Departure
End of bird watching holiday Uganda Africa.
