22 DAYS BIRDING DESTINATIONS WITHIN YOUR REACH

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe.

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On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Ganyana safari driver/guide will meet and transfer you to your accommodation tonight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Lake Victoria Hotel
Midrange: Admas Grand Hotel
Meal plan: Full board

Day 2: Birding to Mabamba swamp and to Lake Mburo National Park

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After breakfast, head to Mabamba swamp for the Shoebill Stork.While looking for the Shoebill, we hope to also see some more African water birds like Yellow-billed Duck, African Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Long-toed Lapwing, also chances of the Blue-checked Bee-eater and African Marsh Harrier. Later transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You shall have Lunch at the equator and along the way look out for birds like; the Augur Buzzard, Black-breasted Snake Eagle and Long Crested Eagle.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Kigambira Safari Lodge
Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 3: Birding, game drive and boat trip

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After an early morning breakfast, head out for birding, you will see different bird species like; Red-Faced Barbet a highlight of this destination, the Crested Barbet, Black Cuckoo-shrike, White-winged Black-Tit, African Pipit, Chin-spot Batis, Red-necked Spurfowl, Bataleur, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser. You will also come across animals like Zebras, impalas, elands, elephants among others. In the afternoon you will enjoy a bota trip on Lake Mburo and encounter birds like African Finfoot, the Black Crake, Saddle-billed Stork and the African Wattled Lapwing, White-backed Night-Heron, Grey-capped Warbler and good views of hippos and may be other animals on the shoreline. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Kigambira Safari Lodge
Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 4: Transfer to Kisoro- Birding             

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Breakfast will be served early, then head to Kisoro near Mgahinga National Park. You will enjoy birding around the vascnity. Later head back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Midrange: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 5: Birding in Mgahinga National Park .

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Early in the morning after breakfast, you will drive to Mgahinga. You will spend the day birding in this area and after you will head to the three to four hour Gorge Trail between Gahinga and Sabinyo which provides big chances of sighting of the Dusky turtle Dove, Cape Robin-chat, Kivu-ground Thrush, Olive Thrush, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Bronze Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Black-headed Waxbill and Streaky Seedeater.

Later you will head to the bamboo belt at about 2,500m above sea level, and the tall montane forest at 2,660m. The Rwenzori Turaco is mostly sighted at around 2,700m. Along the Uganda-Congo border and on level ground, the Chubb’s Cisticola, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Banded Prinia and Doherty’s Bush-shrike are vocal yet inconspicuous inhabitants of the tangled vegetation at the forest’s edge. Retire to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Midrange: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 6: Transfer to Ruhija and birding in Echuya Forest

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After breakfast, transfer to Ruhija and stopover at Echuya Forest for birding. This forest is a habitat to different bird species. Later head to Ruhija in Bwindi, check in the lodge and have dinner.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge
Midrange: Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 7: Birding in Mubwindi.

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After breakfast, we will spend the entire day birding in Mubwindi swamp the best place to spot birds including Jameson’s Antpecker, Pink-footed Puff back, Waller’s Starling, Crested Guinea fowl, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Grey Crowned Crane, White-headed Saw-wing, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, African Olive-pigeon, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Batis, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Klaas’s Cuckoo, White-throated Greenbul, Snowy-crowned Robin-chat, African Paradise flycatcher, Cape Wagtail, Mountain Wagtail, Yellow-fronted Canary, Archer’s Robin-chat, Dusky Twin spot, Brown-capped Weaver, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Lühder’s Bush-shrike, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Blue Spotted wood dove, Tambourine dove, Handsome francolin, Helmeted guinea fowl, African Goshawk, Sooty Falcon, Great Blue Turaco, African Wood-owl, African Pygmy-kingfisher, Double-toothed Barbet, Elliot’s Woodpecker, Yellow-whiskered, African Flycatcher-chat, African Dusky Flycatcher and ross’s Turaco. Later head to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Mahogany Springs Lodge
Midrange: Ihamba Residence
Meal plan: Full board

Day 8: Birding in Bwindi forest

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Breakfast will be served early, then leave for Buhoma sector which is one of the areas in this rainforest that offers an excellent birding experience.  You will look for species like; the Black Bee-Eater, Brown-caped Weaver, Dusky Tit, the Yellow-spotted Barbets, the African Shrike-flycatchers, Brown-throated and Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Common Stonechat, Alethe to mention but a few of the forest species along the way. In the evening you will enjoy another birding activity around the lodge.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Mahogany Springs Lodge
Midrange:  Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 9: Gorilla Tracking and Birding

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After an early morning breakfast, you will drive to the park headquarters for briefing with your packed lunch and later go for gorilla trekking, this could take 4-8 hours depending on the movement of the gorillas. After trekking, meet your driver and transfer back to the hotel where you will unwind as you reflect on the memorable gorilla trek.  Later in the evening head out for bird watching.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Mahogany Springs Lodge
Midrange:  Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 10: Transfer to Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth NP

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This morning, you will check out of the lodge and set out for a game drive in the Ishasha area bracing yourself for a chance to see the rare tree-climbing lions. The climbing lions can be seen lounging in the fig trees during mid- morning as they rest from the previous night strenuous hunt! However, it is not a guarantee that the lions will be seen. Sometimes it depends on the luck and time of reaching the area. Look out for birds like: Croaking Cisticolas, White-headed Barbet, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike and White-winged Widowbird, Red-necked Francolins among many others. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Ishasha Wilderness Camp
Midrange: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 11: Birding and game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP

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Ishasha sector is the home for the famous tree climbing lions, another morning game drive to see the king of the jungle alongside birding will be worth it. You will look out for more savannah birds as you transfer further north of Queen Elizabeth National Park and later return to the lodge.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Kyangabi Crater Resort
Midrange: Kyangabi Crater Resort
Meal plan: Full board

Day 12: Morning game drive at Kasenyi Plains and Boat trip on Kazinga Channel

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Kasenyi plains is a mating ground for Kobs. It hosts a range of wildlife and birds in the grassland and sparsely distributed thickets. We’ll look for birds including; Flappet Lark, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Jackson’s Pipit, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Wattled Lapwing and some birds of prey in the sky. You will take on different tracks, look out for more birds and chances of seeing lions, Kob, elephants, warthogs, buffalos and leopards.  In the afternoon, you will embark on a two- hour boat trip on Kazinga channel, getting up close to hippos, buffalos and other wildlife. The boat trip offers excellent bird watching opportunities like African Skimmer, Common Sandpiper, the amazing African Spoonbill, Three-banded Plover, Pink-backed Pelican and Long-tailed Cormorants to mention but a few.As well as the chance to see elephants, warthogs and kobs. The banks of the channel are home to a rich variety of wildlife. Later Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Kyangabi Crater Resort
Midrange: Kyangabi Crater Resort
Meal plan: Full board

Day 13: Drive to Kibale National Park and visit the crater lakes

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After breakfast, drive to Kibale Narional Park. Enjoy a scenic through the beautiful and geologically fascinating area, past crater lakes. In the afternoon, go for bigodi swamp walk with your site guide. Look out for White Shrike-Flycatcher, Blue-throated Roller, Shinning Blue Kingfisher, White-collared Oliveback, White-spotted Flufftail, Joyful Greenbul, Spurb Sunbird as well some primates, like black and white colobus monkeys and red-tailed monkeys. Later head to the lodge for dinner and overnight

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Chimpundu Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal plan: Full board

Day 14: Chimpanzee tracking and birding

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Our day starts with an early breakfast before meeting our tour guide on a briefing of chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest. We then head off on foot to track the chimpanzees of Kibale national park, home of an impressive 500 chimpanzees. The dense jungles are considered the best place to view chimpanzees in Africa. The chimpanzees are commonly found feeding on fig tree fruits in the game park. The guided walk offers a great opportunity to learn more about chimpanzees and other primates along with the various creatures of the jungle. Kibale national park covers 795km squared mostly equatorial rainforest terrain. This national park is home to numerous forest wildlife species, bird species boasting one of the highest concentrations of primates in the world. The 13 primate species include black and white colobus monkeys etc. Continue enjoy birding near the lodge.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Chimpundu Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal plan: Full board

Day 15: Birding in Kibale Forest

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After a cup of coffee, head to Kibale Forest for birding. You will start for birding in pursuit of the rare Green Breasted Pitta, along with birds including; African Green-pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African Wood Owl, African Blue Flycatcher, Black Cuckoo Shrike, Black Necked Weaver, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Brown-throated Apalis, Red-winged Francolin and White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Abyssinian Hill-Babbler and Alpine Swift. Later head to the lodge for relaxation.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury:  Chimpundu Lodge
Midrange: Kibale Forest Camp
Meal plan: Full board

Day 16: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

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After an early morning breakfast, transfer to Murchison Falls national Park. You will reach in the late evening. Check in the lodge and relax as you prepare for your next day for birding.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 17: Birding along the Royal Mile in Budongo Forest

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Wake up in the morning and have a delicious breakfast. You will spend the day birding in the forest and along the Royal Mile, a peaceful stretch of a private road through the tropical rainforest. The forest edges and interior impressively present birds including; Compact Weaver, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Grey-headed Oliveback, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Shining Blue Kingfishers, Nahan’s Francolin, Rufus-crowned Eremomela, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Grey-headed Oliveback, Compact Weaver, Spotted Greenbul, African Dwarf, Fire-crested Alethe and Chocolate-backed. You may also glimpse a blue monkey. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 18: Game drive and birding in Murchison Falls National Park

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Head out go for a morning game drive in the Northern sector of the park, on a good day, you will see animals like buffaloes, antelopes, lions, elephants and many more. Bird species may include the Black chest snake Eagle, blue napped mouse birds, the secretary bird and many more. In the evening, the birding aim will among many include; Senegal Coucal, Denham’s Bustard, Black-headed Lapwing, Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-headed Vulture, Red-billed Quelea, Tawny Eagle, Heuglin’s Francolin, Red-necked Falcon, Spotted Thick-knee, and Swallow-tailed Martin, Pale Flycatcher, Senegal Thick-knee and some of the seasonal migrants. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 19: Boat trip at the bottom of the falls and evening game drive.

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Early breakfast and enjoy a boat cruise on the placid Victoria Nile to the bottom of the magnificent Murchison Falls where the Nile plunges through a narrow crevice. You will be able to see the Nile crocodile, bloat of hippos and a variety of bird species. The target will be the riverine forest, thickets and banks for the Shoebill, Little Bittern, Saddle-billed Stork, the Giant Kingfisher, White-backed Heron that may come around. In the evening head out for a game drive, you will encounter birds as they return to their roosts, mammals and enjoy photogenic moments of the plains. At dusk, we’ll try the chances for nightjars like the Pennant-winged Nightjar. Later return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge
Midrange: Fort Murchison Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 20: Visit top of the falls and transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

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After breakfast, you will head to the southern part of Murchison and view the top of the falls and enjoy the Magnificent Murchison falls as they squeeze their way through a gorge in the rocks and plunges with a thunderous roar into the “Devil’s Cauldron”, creating a trademark rainbow.  Head to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for Rhino tracking alongside some birding. You will track the rhinos accompanied by an experienced guide and also find some of its 300 bird’s species as you enjoy your nature walk. Later transfer back to Entebbe.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Amuka Lodge
Midrange: Ziwa Rhino Lodge
Meal plan: Full board

Day 21: Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens

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You will have delicious breakfast, then drive to Entebbe Botanical gardens. The garden hosts a variety of water, open country and woodland bird species among which include: the Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Yellow-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, African Open-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black Crake, Long-tailed Cormorant, Crowned Hornbill, Vieillot’ Black Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, the Africa and Red-billed Firefinch, Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill, Senegal Coucal, Little Stint, Little Weaver, Striated Heron, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Green Crombec, Tambourine Dove, Cameroon, Little and Tooro Olive Greenbuls, Water Thick-knee, Madagascar Bee-eater, Egyptian Goose, Black-headed Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Long-tailed Sterling, Grey-Headed Sparrow, the Spur-winged Lapwing, endless list. The gardens are also clouded with butterflies, different plant species, Primates and other wildlife. Later return the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Lake Victoria Hotel
Midrange: Admas Grand Hotel
Meal plan: Full board

Day 22: Departure

Breakfast will be served early, and the driver will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport in time for your flight.