8 days birding safari is an introduction to bird watching in Uganda. If you are a keen birder you need a minimum of 2weeks to bird in Uganda. Uganda is among the best destinations suitable for bird watching plus other wildlife species. With over 1100 bird species, Uganda is a must visit for any birder. “Wherever there is a tree in Uganda there is a bird.”
DETAILED 8 DAYS BIRDING IN UGANDA ITINERARY
DAY 1: ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Arrive at Entebbe Airport. Meet your local Shoebill Safaris guide and transfer you to Airport Guest House.
Entebbe Airport located along Lake Victoria boosts of fresh and cool breeze from the lake and surrounding ever green forests. A stroll to various sandy beaches is worth the effort. The main delicacy here is fish, fresh from the lake straight to the pan.
Early arrivals will be welcomed by an afternoon birding orientation at Entebbe Botanical gardens. Watch out for the Brown throated weaver, Golden backed weaver, Yellow backed weaver, Long tailed Cormorant, Yellow billed duck, Pied kingfisher, Giant kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, Broad billed roller, Black and white Casqued hornbill, splendid glossy Starling, black headed Gonolek, Orange weaver, Red chested sunbird, Slender billed weaver, Ross’s turaco, Pied hornbill, Crowned hornbill, Open billed stork, Great red warbler, Sedge warbler, Grey caped warbler and many other species. Dinner and overnight at Airport Guest House.
DAY 2: ENTEBBE AND ENVIRONS
After breakfast we will go birding the forest trail at Uganda Wildlife Education Center, Lincoln trail and environs of Entebbe. Several tracks will yield several bird species. From these trails you should be able to record over 100 bird species. Some of which include; Pink- backed Pelican, Gray Crowned Crane, African Fish Eagle, Ostrich, African Gray Parrot, White-headed Barbet, Red headed Lovebird, Double toothed Barbet, Brown twin Spot, Tambourine dove, Black-headed Bush Shrike, Scaly Francolin, Tropical Boubou and many more. Dinner and overnight at Airport Guest house.
DAY 3: MABAMBA SWAMP
Early cup of tea/coffee with packed breakfast we head to Mabamba Important Bird Area. Mabamba swamp is the closest place to Entebbe and Kampala where you can track the illusive, majestic shy shoebills in their natural habitat. It’s a home to several other wetland bird species apart from the shoebill.
We will spend the whole morning exploring the swamp. Look out for the shoebill in the sky exploring the heights or down in the marshy swamp. Other bird species found here are Swamp Flycatcher, Purple Swamp Hen, African water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White faced Whistling Duck, Squacco Heron, Blue breasted Bee-eater, Winding Cisticola, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, Papyrus Gonolek, White winged Warbler, Yellow backed Weaver, Northern brown-throated Weaver, Blue-headed Coucal and many more.
Birding here is done on boat/canoe. Afternoon we will bird Nkima forest for more forest birds and return to the guest house in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Airport guest House.
DAY 4: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, birding enroute to Queen Elizabeth National Park. There several bird stops that will yield a great number of bird species. Lunch break at Igongo Cultural Center. As you relax, take some time off to learn about the Ankole culture more especially the long horned Ankole Cattle. Thereafter, proceed to Queen Elizabeth arriving in the evening.
Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the Western part of Uganda and is nestled between Lake George and Lake Albert with Kazinga channel crossing through. About 618 different bird species have been recorded here. Queen Elizabeth also boosts of the famous tree climbing lions of Ishasha, Chimpanzee tracking at Kalinzu, Kyambura gorge and a boat cruise on Kazinga channel. Other mammal species here include elephants, Uganda Kobs, Bush bucks, Hippos, Buffalos, Lions, Leopards, spotted hyenas among others. Key bird species are kingfishers, Martins, Swallows, Kites, Skimmers, Pelicans and Weavers. Dinner and overnight at Munyanyange caves lodge.
DAY 5: QUEEN ELIZABETH NATIONAL PARK
With packed breakfast we will go for early morning birding to the open savanna. Besides birding, you will spot some game along the tracks as well, making the tracks perfect for both birds and animals.
Return to the hotel for lunch, relax and chat away or if you wish you may have a short dip in the luxurious swimming pool. Afternoon enjoy birding along Kazinga channel on boat.
Kazinga channel joins Lake Edward and Lake George, which gives it a wonderful site in a lovely environment with its various beautiful water birds along the channel. Dinner and overnight at Munyanyange caves lodge.
DAY 6: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Breakfast, birding around the peninsular is quite productive. Check out and transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. . Enjoy the free songs of the morning Dove, Deidrick Cuckoo, Grey-capped Warbler and Black-headed Weaver.
Your drive will be punctuated with several stopovers, look out for bird species like Barefaced go away bird, Crowned Plover, Wattled Lapwing, Southern red Bishop, Variable Sunbird, African Harrier Hawk, Larks and many more. Dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge.
DAY 7: LAKE MBURO NATIONAL PARK
Leave at dawn to catch the African fin foot at Lake Mburo before it disappears into the papyrus beds floating on the Lake. Look out for the brown chested lapwing, lilac breasted roller, black bellied bustard, helmet guinea fowl, coqui francolin, rufous napped lark, vultures, eagles, kites and many more. Lunch and then we go for a boat trip on Lake Mburo, from which the Park derives its name.
Lake Mburo is the closest Park to Kampala where you can see Zebras. Other animal species include Buffalos, Giraffes, Duikers, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Topis, Hippos, Leopards and crocodiles. It is also a home to over 315 bird species and the best park to see Acacia birds. Dinner and overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge.
DAY 8: ENTEBBE
Breakfast and make a return journey back to Entebbe. Evening flight back home or overnight. We will have a stopover at the Equator for memorable photography, sip on a cup of Ugandan coffee, buy some souvenirs and proceed.
| 8 days birding in Uganda safari INCLUDES | 8 days birding in Uganda Safari EXCLUDES |
| 1. All meals and accommodations as per the itinerary
2. All transportation, both airport pick and drop 3. Full-time English-speaking driver guide 4. All activities as per the itinerary 5. Park entrance fees 6. Community visit |
Airport visas
· Items of personal nature like phone calls, tips, and many others Activities not mentioned on the itinerary Personal insurance · Wines and alcohol, expect bottled water. |