18 Days Birding Experience Uganda

18 Days Birding Experience Uganda:

Uganda is a land of contrasts. In half a day you can drive from mist-shrouded volcanic mountains to hot hazy savannah, dappled with wildlife. Serene undulating hills of tea plantations, lush but ordered, give way to tangled jungle and rainforest with the musical accompaniment of chaotic, cacophonous birdlife.

Uganda is alive with these contrasts: The tiniest sunbirds, iridescent in the morning light, the massive lumbering yet silent elephant, disappearing like a vapor behind the trees, the chimpanzees crashing about the forest canopy, the lugubrious gorilla, chewing thoughtfully in the bamboo thicket.

There’s the Nile, twisting its way north like a shimmering ribbon, through arid semi-desert scattered about with rocky kopjes. Snow-capped peaks, tropical, sandy, freshwater beaches, and smiling faces everywhere. It’s all here, a feast for all the senses.

Let us show you the Uganda we know and love in this 18 Days Birding Experience Uganda .

This is Africa the way it should be!

Day 1: Arrival and Pick Up

Upon arrival at the Entebbe International Airport, you will be picked by our driver guide. Having passed immigration and luggage collected please exit the arrival hall and look out for our company driver who will be holding up a signboard with your name or group identification name. You will then be transferred to your hotel in Entebbe from the airport. Enjoy an evening birding and nature walk in the Entebbe Botanical gardens.

Day 2:  Drive to Mabamba and Birding at Mpanga Forest

After an early breakfast we will drive to Mabamba bird sanctuary known for different species crowned by Shoe Bill stock and later after lunch visit the Mpanga forest for the evening birding in the forest known for big numbers of forest birds. Dine and slumber at the hotel.

Day 3:  Birding to Masindi

Enjoy a morning breakfast and drive to Masindi. On the road, there will be many stop overs to see different bird species found in the swamps along the road. Arrive in time for lunch and after lunch, enjoy a guided evening birding in the community with lots of birds sprawling in gardens around. Retire at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 4: Birding in the Royal Mile

Drive to the Royal mile after an early morning breakfast, Royal mile is a famous trail for bird watching in the Budongo Eco forest previously used as the open canopy to view and hunting for the King of Bunyoro. Different bird species and later come back for lunch and drive through Budongo forest to Murchison Falls with lots of stop overs in the forest for birds. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 5: Birding to Murchison Falls National Park

Enjoy a morning game drive to see wildlife and lots bird species that include the northern endemics. After lunch, enjoy an afternoon to evening boat trip on the Nile to the bottom of the falls, hike to the top with for spectacular view of the falls and birding experience. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 6: Birding in Bugoma Forest

Drive to Bugoma Forest in the morning home to the Turacos, enjoy the evening birding in the forest and relax at the lodge in the middle of the forest.

Day 7: Birding to Kibale National Park

Wake up for early morning spot birding and come to the lodge for the breakfast and later drive to Kibale forest national park. Start with the strategy of seeing the rare species like the Blue breasted pitta and many more. Retire at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Birding, Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Have a morning breakfast and go for the Chimpanzee experience, tracking takes relatively 2-5hours and this will be enjoyed alongside some rare forest species of birds. After lunch, head to the Bigodi Swamp this is famous for birds including 5 species of monkeys. Retire at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 9: Birding to Semliki national park

Drive to Semuliki national park where some of the most Ugandan endemic species of birds can be seen, enjoy the day in the forest with fascinating nature like hot springs that are up to the boiling point. The experience is magical. Dinner and overnight stay as below.

Day 10: Birding to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Drive to Queen Elizabeth national park arrive in the time for lunch and an evening birding in the open Savannah with mild game viewing. Dinner and overnight stay as below.

Day 11: Birding and Afternoon boat cruise

Enjoy a morning game drive and the bird in the savannah as well as an evening boat cruise on the Kazinga channel where lots of bird species dwell along the Kazinga channel. Retire late in the evening for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 12: Birding in Maramagambo Forest in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Enjoy a morning nature walk and birding experience in the Maramagambo forest before heading to Ishasha for more savannah bird species the sprawl from the Virunga national park of Congo on to the Queen Elizabeth national park. An evening game drive to search for the climbing lions famous for the Ishasha sector and more of the savannah birds. Retire at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 13: Birding in the Ishasha Sector & Transfer to Bwindi impenetrable park

Enjoy an early morning game drive and bird watching in the Ishasha plains close to the Edward flats before heading to Bwindi where you will be having chances to see more of the southern endemics. Dine and slumber at the lodge.

Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Up relatively early for a hearty breakfast to give you the energy needed for your gorilla trek. Before 8 am report to the ranger station for registration and a talk by one of the rangers; the guides will then take you through the bush pushing your way through the undergrowth, parting thick creepers, to track the gorillas. The trek can take from half an hour to 2 hours– a reasonable degree of fitness is required as well as a sturdy pair of walking shoes.

Once you are close to the group the guides will ask you to leave behind your bags as no food items should be carried close to the gorillas. Just take your cameras with you as you are about to meet the gentle giants! Sit in the forest amongst the gorillas, listening to them grumble to each other and marvel at the sheer size of the dominant male; the silverback. It is an extraordinary feeling sitting in the dense rainforest knowing you are with a few of the last remaining mountain gorillas –  Approximately they are about 1200 of these beautiful creatures. You are allowed exactly one hour with the gorillas before returning to the base station.

Day 15: Birding to Lake Bunyonyi

Enjoy a morning breakfast and thereafter, drive to Lake Bunyonyi one of the famous lakes in Africa and second deepest which has a good number of bird species that crowned its name “Bunyonyi” meaning small birds. Enjoy a boat trip to see the birds on the shores of the lake till evening. Retire at the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 16: Birding to Lake Mburo National Park

Enjoy a morning breakfast and view of the lake Bunyonyi and later drive to Lake Mburo national park enjoy lunch and afternoon relaxation and enjoy an evening birding around the park with lots of bird species. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 17: Birding to Entebbe

Enjoy a morning birding session looking for the specific species and endemic, have lunch and drive to Entebbe to relax and preparation for the flight back.

Day 18: Departure/Farewell

Morning breakfast and transfer to the airport depending on the flight timings for flight back.

 End of the 18 Days Birding Experience Uganda

INCLUSIONS for 18 Days Birding Experience Uganda

1. Vehicle, Fuel
2. Transport in 4X4 Vehicles
3. English speaking Guide/ driver
4. All Park entrance fees
5. Accommodation as stipulated in the itinerary
6. All Meals as indicated in the itinerary
7. Bottled water while on the safari
8. Rangers in the parks
9. Chimpanzee and gorilla trekking permits

EXCLUSIONS for 18 Days Birding Experience Uganda

1. Drinks
2. Tips
3. Porters
4. Laundry services
5. Visa (Uganda)
6. Any other personal interests
7. No accommodation on last night (But can be arranged at extra cost)
8. Tips and gratuities (Guides)
9. Optional activities