23 Days Uganda birding safari.
This 23 days (22 nights) Birding Safari will begin and end in Kampala. It will take you to so many memorable places which will bring a change to your entire life. You will to places like; Lutembe beach where you will see a large number of Uganda’s bird species, Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo Forest, Kibale Forest National Park, Semiliki N.P, Queen Elizabeth N.P, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest N.P, Lake Mburo N.P and Mabira Forest. On this safari, its going to be crazy as we shall be buried in birds.
You will have 2 night in Imperial Botanical Hotel in Kampala, 2night in Masindi Hotel, 3nights in Paara Uganda Safari Lodge, 1 night in Nabyeya Guest House, 2 days in Ndali Lodge or Mantana Luxury tented camp, 3 nights in Semiliki Lodge, 2 nights in Mwea Safari Lodge, 3nights at Luxury bush camp, 1night at Buhoma Community bandas, 3 nights in Ruhija camp ground. It will be really amazing.
23 days birding safari itinerary.
Day1: Arrival
You will arrive at Entebbe International Airport where you will be met by our safari guide or driver who will transfer you to Imperial Botanical Hotel for a short briefing about your birding safari to Uganda. Infact if you report to your Hotel early enough, you will begin off with a short session of birding around the hotel. In case chance gets you, you will see some of the bird species crossing over, the likes of Brown throated waver, golden backed weaver, yellow backed weaver, grey headed gull, long tailed cormorant, common squacco heron, yellow billed duck, pied kingfisher, giant kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, broad billed roller, black and white casqued hornbill, splendid glossy starling, black headed, 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. Later in the evening, you will have your dinner and overnight at Imperial Botanical Hotel.

Day2: Transfer to Lutembe Beach.
After an early breakfast, you will proceed to Lutembe beach still in Entebbe for birding. It will be a morning bird trip because this is the most appropriate time to see birds. Onthis trip, you will be able to spot birds like grey headed gull, long tailed cormorant, common squacco heron, yellow billed duck, pied kingfisher, giant kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, broad billed roller and many others. You will end this activity at around mid day such that you set off for Masindi. Because you will be tired, you will have your dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel.

Day3: Transfer to Murchison Falls Park National Park.
              
You will wake up early enough, have break fast and then leave for Chimpanzee tracking and bird watching at Kaniyo Pabidi, remember we are moving with our packed lunch. Proceed to Murchison Falls National Park National Park in the afternoon. It is crazy watching birds from this area that you might even not feel hungry, but anyway you will have a short break to take lunch then continue with birding. You will see such kind of species; the majestic shoebill, secretary bird, bat hawk, red necked falcon, white crested turaco, Egyptian plover, Bruce’s pigeon, standard winged nightjar, Pel’s fishing owl, pennant winged nightjar, long tailed nightjar, carmine bee eater, brown backed woodpecker, spotted morning thrush, silver bird, swallow tailed bee eater, beautiful sunbird, bronze tailed starling, Northern red bishop, and many more. Tired as you will be, you will just have dinner and over night at Paara Safari Lodge

Day4:  Bird watching _ Murchison Falls National Park.
In the morning after early breakfast, you will take a boat along the Victoria Nile to the delta at Lake Albert. This is the home to many Hippos and enormous Nile Crocodiles as well as special birds which include the shoebill, secretary bird, Abyssinian roller and ground hornbill, pied Kingfisher, Red throated bee eaters lignin at the banks, Goliath heron, saddle Billed stork, sacred Ibis, Fulvous whistling Duck, Senegal and water Thick Knees, Black-headed and long toed lapwing, little Bittern, Osprey, red Necked Falcon and Blue Breasted Bee Eater. You will have a break for lunch and then go to top of the Falls , you will spot some other birds some of which include;  Bruce’s Pigeon and Osprey, red winged grey Warbler, Rock Prantincoles, white Crested Turaco, Grey Wood pecker, Darter and giant Kingfisher, Red throated Bee Eater, Red Shouldered Cuckoo-strike, Western Violet Backed sun bird and many others. Dinner and Overnight at Paara Safari Lodge.
Day5: Murchison Falls National Park
Just as you wake up in the morning, you will have breakfast and spend the whole day game driving on the Victoria Nile as you spot other bird species which might include;  Egyptian plover, shoebill, red winged grey warbler, Rock Prantincoles, secretary bird, bat hawk, Denham’s bustard, Pels fishing owl, white crested Turaco, , Senegal thick knee, chestnut crowned sparrow weaver, carmine bee eater, Night Jars (permanent winged and standard winged) white rumped canary. You will have dinner and over night at Paraa safari lodge.
Day6: Budongo Forest
You will have an early breakfast and later transfer to Budongo Forest through the escarpment looking for these bird species; foxs Cisticola, white-headed barbet, Northern Crombec, singing Cisticola, Grey headed bush shrike, black billed barbet, grey headed Oliveback, Black fire finch, Madagascar Heron, lesser masked wearver and shikra. In the after noon, you will do birding again from Budongo Forest which is a home many bird species some of which include; African Dwarf Kingfisher, African crowned eagle, olive Camaroptera, yellow and grey longbills, Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, velvet-mantled Drongo, Rufous Crowned Eremomera, Ituri Batis and Nahans Francolin. Dinner and overnight will be at Masindi Hotel.
Day7: Budongo Forest; Royal Mille and Busingiro
Like previously, you will wake up and then have break fast, then you will go birding in the Royal Mille and Busingiro for the whole day and you will be able to see these bird species; African Dwarf and Chocolate Backed kingfisher, chestnut Crowned Eremomera, white spotted Flufftail, yellow and grey longbills, olive bellied Crombec, brown Eared woodpecker, Dusky Long tailed Cuckoo, Blue breasted kingfisher, crowned eagle, Forest Fly catcher, yellow browed Camaroptera, and cabanis bunting, Brown backed scrub Robin, golden crowned wood pecker, Rufous Flycatcher thrush, Chestnut Capped Fly catcher, Black Headed Paradise Fly catcher, little green sun bird, green sun bird, both Negrofinches, western black headed Oriole, Dusky Long tailed Cuckoo, African Emerald, Cuckoo, red tailed Breasted Illadopsis, Rufous crowned  Eremomela, yellow mantled wearver, yellow browed camaroptera, green crombec, crested Malimbe, red headed blue, just to mention but a few. Dinner and overnight will be at Masindi Hotel.
Day8: Birding in Kibale Forest National Park
Leave early for Kibale National park. Stopover for lunch in Fort portal. Kibale National Park. Kibale N.P is a rainy forest and a home to over 9 different species of primates. Some of these include chimpanzees, red colobus monkeys, grey checked mangaby, red tailed monkeys and galagos. The forest is also home to scaly francolins, marsh tchagra, black bellied seed cracker, green backed twinspot, Bicoloured manikin, white napped pigeon, Afep pigeon, Narina’s trogon, joyful greenbull, olive long tailed cuckoo, the superb black bee eater and many more. An afternoon nature walk at Bigodi wetland will yield species like Blue headed coucal, blue breasted kingfisher, scaly throated honey guide, black faced Rufous wabler and others. Dinner and overnight at Mantana luxury tented camp or Ndali lodge.

Day9: Kibale Forest National Park
Immediately after breakfast, there will not be any excuse for you, you will spend the whole day birding inside the Forest and only have a break of about 30 minutes for lunch. You will see bird species like; white tailed Ant-thrushes, purple headed glossy starling, brown Illadopsis, green Breastedpitta, white napped pigeon, Mashed Apalis, Toro olive green bull, blacked billed turaco, buff spotted woodpecker and green crombec dinner and overnight.
Day10: Semiliki National Park- Birding.
Have an early break fast and later drive to Semiliki. When you reach there, you will bird for the whole day and be able to see certain number of species which may include;   Congo Serpent Eagle, Black throated Coucal, Grey throated rail, Nkulengu Rail, long tailed Hawk, spot breasted ibis, Cauchin babbler, Yellow Throated Nicator, Northern bearded scrub Robin, Red chested Owlet, Western Bronze Napped Pigeon, Black Collared lovebird, white bellied kingfisher, red rumped tinker bird, Lyretailed honeyguide, zenkers Honey guide, white throated blue swallow, Bates nightjar, yellow throated cuckoo, Orange tufted sunbird, Black winged Oriole, Red billed Helmet shrike, Lemon bellied crombec, Rufous sided Broadbill, Icterine Greenbul, swamp Palm Bulbul, Crested Malimbe and blue billed Malimbe, fiery breasted Bush shrike, pale fronted Negrofinches and piping, Red bellied Dwarf, Black Dwarf, white crested, Black Casqued wattled and white thighed Hornbill. Dinner and overnight at Semiliki Lodge.
Day11: Semiliki National Park.
After an early breakfast, you will not do anything else apart from birding the whole day inside the Forest. You will as well move with packed lunch, you will have a break of 30 minutes, have it and later continue with the activity. Inside the Forest, you will see Kirumira trail which has become the most popular trail for its richness in the diversity of bird species. Dinner and overnight will be at Semiliki Lodge.
Day12: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
At the break of the day, start off for Maramagambo forest west of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Key species include dark capped yellow warbler, fawn breasted waxbill, black headed batis, Brubru sulphur breasted bush shrike, Eurasian golden oriole, bat hawk, red tailed bristle bill, green crombec, black and white flycatcher, brown eared wood pecker, redheaded bluebill, African hobby, African green pigeon, Ross’s turaco, African fin foot. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day13: Queen Elizabeth National Park
Whole day birding. 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. You will entertain your eyes with different bird species some of which include;  Heron, African spoonbill, African crake, water think knee, three banded plover, marsh, green, wood and common Sandpipers, gray headed gull, plain Martin lesser swamp-Warbler and Yellow-billed Ox-pecker. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.
Day14: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable N.P.
You will wake up early in the morning, have breakfast and later transfer Southwards to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. Through the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth N.P in Ishasha, you will have a chance to see tree-climbing lions. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park is home to the forest giants that are cousins to human beings, the gorillas. Birding begins early in the morning with the early risers at the Luxury bush camp. After breakfast with our packed lunch we set off for the whole birding. This forest has over 300 bird species recorded. These include among other forest rarities, red throated alethe, equatorial akalat, forest robin, montane oriole, grey throated barbet, hairy breasted barbet, African broadbill, and black bee eater, pale breasted Illadopsis, Narina’s trogon, Pettit’s cuckoo shrike and black faced Rufous warbler. Dinner and overnight will still be at the Luxury bush camp.
Day15: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
You will wake up, have your break fast. This will be an optional day for Gorilla tracking inside Bwindi impenetrable N.P. Later in the evening, you will have an evening tea, rest a little bit, chat with friends and then have dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas.
Day16:  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Buhoma
On this day, there will be no any other activity other than birding the whole day. You will just wake up early in the morning, have your breakfast and continue for your activity. This will take place in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Buhoma sector. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma Community Bandas.

Day17, 18&19:  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Ruhiija
Have an early break fast and later drive to the highest peak of the forest- Ruhija. You will bird from Ruhiija for two days (17 and 18). Several checks at the rare bird spots may produce rare species such as white starred robin, grey cuckoo shrike, strange weaver, banded prinia, brown chested alethe, slender billed greenbull, yellow streaked greenbull, white browned crombec, mountain Illadopsis, Luehder’s bush shrike, grey bush shrike, grey green bush shrike; all these and many others are among the 345 species recorded in this park. On the 19th day, go to Mubwindi swamp for another birding which is very rewarding. One has to be prepared to walk on steep mountains. You drop from 2400m to 2050m above sea level. Birding in the bamboo zone is good for handsome francolin, archers robin chat, stripe breasted tit, purple breasted sunbird, mountain greenbull, duikers, wallers, chestnut winged starling, dusky crimsonwing, mountain Illadopsis, mountain yellow warbler to mention a few. Birders who come with camping equipment can camp at Ruhija campground.
Day20: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Since this day includes traveling, you will wake up early enough, have your breakfast and later drive to Lake Mburo National Park, and you will bird from the Lakeside. The Park contains extensive area of wetlands, it also harbours several species of mammals including Zebras, Impalas, elands, topi and buffaloes. Track at kigambira Loop to look for savanna and Acacia woodland species including Blue-naped Mousebird, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Northern Black Tit, Red-headed Lovebird, Green-capped Eremomela, Ross' Turaco and the highly sought-after Red-faced Barbet. Other bird population here includes green backed collared barbets, white winged warbler, Papyrus yellow warbler, carruthers, Cisticola, Papyrus Gonoleka, Yellow Billed Oxpecker and Northern Brown throated weaver. Dinner and Overnight at Lake Mburo N.P.
Day21: Transfer back to Kampala.
This Park contains extensive area of wetlands. Lake Mburo National park harbours several species of mammals including Zebras, Impalas, elands, topi and buffaloes. Track at kigambira Loop to look for savanna and Acacia woodland species including Blue-naped Mousebird, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Northern Black Tit, Red-headed Lovebird, Green-capped Eremomela, Ross' Turaco and the highly sought-after Red-faced Barbet. Other bird population here includes green backed collared barbets, white winged warbler, Papyrus yellow warbler, carruthers, Cisticola, Papyrus Gonoleka, Yellow Billed Oxpecker and Northern Brown throated weaver. Dinner and overnight at Imperial Botanical Hotel Kampala.
 Day22:
You will wake up early enough, pack your luggage and proceed to have your break fast. You will later continue and drive to Mabira forest for the last birding activity. Here you will see quite many bird species like; Onthis trip, you will be able to spot birds like grey headed gull, long tailed cormorant, common squacco heron, yellow billed duck, pied kingfisher, giant kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, broad billed roller and many others. You will move with packed lunch to avoid cases of hunger. Dinner and Over night at Imperial Botanical Hotel.
Day 23:
Because you packed your luggage before, you will not wake up very early in the morning instead you will be up at around 8:30 or 9:00 depending on your flight schedule. If time Allows, you will have a city drive to Kampala boutiques for shopping, Garden City, Shoprite, Nakasero Market for fruits and then you will be transferred back to the Air port for you departure flight.

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