PRICE: from $2500
The finest birding safari in Uganda with best safari guides and good accommodation facilities. This safari can be taken in a group or an individually planned safari.

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda for the safari

Day 2: Birding in Mabamba bay Wetlands - Transfer to Murchison falls N. Park

After Early breakfast, then out to nearby Mabamba Wetlands on the shore of Lake Victoria. This is one of the few remaining swamps in the country protected by the local communities - an extensive papyrus swamp with its labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an IBA (Important Bird Area) and home to several pairs of Shoebills, Uganda's most famous avian resident. This charismatic species, the only representative in its family, is certainly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa and we'll make special efforts today to find it by paddling through the channels by boat.

There will of course be a good selection of classic East African waterbirds: Pink-backed Pelican, Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath Heron, African Fish-Eagle, African Marsh-Harrier, Yellow-billed Duck, African Water Rail, Allen's Gallinule, Malachite Kingfisher along with slightly more local species such as Long-toed Plover, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Swamp Flycatcher, White-winged & Papyrus Yellow Warblers. Other areas in and around Entebbe/Kampala may produce African Open-billed Stork, Grey Kestrel, Eastern Grey Plantain-Eater, African Green Pigeon, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher

Murchison Falls National Park is Uganda's largest and famous for its big game, spectacular scenery and the falls for which the park was named. Abundant Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob and Waterbuck can be seen along with occasional Lions and Patas Monkeys. More importantly for us is another good chance of finding Shoebill.

Amongst a huge variety of widespread African bird species in the wetlands and various dry savanna and open woodland habitats are more special birds: African Finfoot, Stanley's Bustard, Saddle-billed Stork, Rock Pratincole, Bat Hawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Bruce's Green-Pigeon, Red-necked Falcon, Senegal Thick-knee, Long-toed Plover, Blue-headed Coucal, White-crested Turaco, Heuglin's Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-spotted and Black-billed Wood Doves, Blue-breasted, Madagascar, Red-throated and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Broad-billed & Abyssinian Rollers, Piapiac, Black-billed & Double-toothed Barbets, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Marsh Tchagra, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Black & Black-winged Red Bishops, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Whistling, Siffling & Singing Cisticolas, Broad-tailed, Red-winged & Red-winged Grey Warblers, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Black-headed Gonolek, White-fronted Black-Chat, Sooty Chat, Copper & Olive-bellied Sunbirds, Brown Babbler, Black-headed Batis, Slender-billed & Compact Weavers, Black-bellied and Bar-breasted Firefinches and African Quailfinch, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, White-rumped Seedeater, and Cabanis's Bunting.

Day 3: Whole day birding in Uganda - Murchison falls

Day 4: Transfer to Budongo forest - Primate watching and birding in Uganda

We will have a full day spent birding some of the excellent sites around Budongo Forest Reserve. There should be a good mix of widespread species and more local specialities such as White-crested Turaco, Chestnut-crowned Eremomela, Yellow & Grey Longbills, Olive-bellied Crombec, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Little Green Sunbird, Crested Malimbe and Red-headed Bluebill among others.

Kanio Pabidi is a well-known section of protected primary forest where we will concentrate our efforts today. Here are many other special birds with a West African origin: White-thighed Hornbill, Blue-breasted, Dwarf & Chocolate-backed Kingfishers, Yellow-crested & Brown-eared Woodpeckers, Yellowbill, Western Black-headed Oriole, Yellow-spotted, Hairy-breasted & Yellow-billed Barbets, Green Hylia, Buff-throated, Black-throated & Black-capped Apalises, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, the elusive Lemon-bellied Crombec, Crested & Red-headed Malimbes various forest starlings among others.

Several species are more easily found at Kanio Pabidi, particularly the very local Puvel's Illadopsis. We will also be in the prime area for a wide range of primates such as the Blue & Red-tailed Monkeys and Black and white Colobus - and if lucky Chimpanzees (this area is home to Uganda's largest population of Chimpanzees).

Day 5 Birding Budongo Royal Mile.

We'll be at Budongo's famous Royal Mile by early morning - a wide forestry track considered by many to be the country's premier forest birding locality. This is the best place in Uganda for Nahan's Francolin, Cassin's Spinetail, and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher. There are many confusing forest greenbuls to test us including Xavier's, White-throated, Red-tailed & Honeyguide Greenbuls. Canopy flocks support Yellow-mantled Weaver, Rufous Thrush and Uganda Woodland-Warbler. Undergrowth alongside the track holds numerous skulkers including Scaly-breasted, Brown & Pale-breasted Illadopses, Fire-crested Alethe, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Yellow Longbill and Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher .

We will keep an eye on any openings in the forest canopy as Cassin's and Crowned Hawk-eagles, Cassin's and Sabine's spinetails, and White-throated Bee-eater are all possible. The area around the Forest Headquarters is the only site in East Africa for the elusive canopy-dwelling Ituri Batis

Day 6 -7: Birding to Kibale for Primate watching and birding

After breakfast we drive south towards the Kibale area .This is a very long distance and we shall spend most of the day driving with less birding. If time allows we shall bird in the evening after arriving or just before we arrive at the Camp.
Kibale is an extensive National Park, c760 sq.km, at an altitude of c.4,000', protecting a large block of rainforest that offers excellent birding. It harbours the greatest variety and concentration of primates found anywhere in East Africa and is famous for its Chimpanzees. Superb birds and primates combined with easy access, a good infrastructure and a variety of interesting activities make this forest a "must-see". Bird life in Kibale is magnificent and prolific with over 335 species recorded: African Crowned-Eagle, Afep Pigeon, Red-winged Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Narina Trogon, Black Bee-eater, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, African and Green Breasted Pitta, Grey-winged Robin-chat, African Broadbill, Willcock's & Thick-billed Honeyguides, Cassin's Honeybird, Mountain Wagtail, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Petit's Cuckoo-Shrike, Joyful & Honeyguide Greenbuls, Banded Prinia, Masked Apalis, Black-and-white Flycatcher, Pink-footed Puffback, Chestnut-winged Starling, Superb, Green-headed & Green-throated Sunbirds, Dark-backed Weaver are all possible specials of the area.

Day 8-9 Birding to Queen Elizabeth National Park

This park is the second largest park in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most diverse ecosystems in Africa. The melting glacier waters of the Rwenzoir Mountains create a vast wetland system comprising of two main lakes, George and Edward, as well as the connecting Kazinga Channel. Thousands of Hippos populate these lake shorelines. Open savannah dotted with Acacia and Euphorbia trees provide habitat for elephants, lions, leopards, Uganda Kobs and big herds of buffaloes. Ten primate species including chimpanzees are present. Among the many other animals seen frequently are giant forest hog, boasts or more bird species than any other park in Africa.

We will have optional early morning birding around the lodge grounds, returning for breakfast. We'll probably do a morning game drive/birding after breakfast, returning to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon we may take a good-sized launch for a two-hour boat trip on the Kazinga Channel. Mammals will be prominent here. Species we have a good chance of finding are Lion, Leopard, Spotted Hyaena, African Elephant, African Buffalo, Giraffe, Uganda Kob, Common Bushbuck, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog and the spectacular Giant Forest-Hog, the largest and undeniably ugliest pig on earth. There are many other key bird species in the area: White-faced Whistling & Knob-billed Ducks, African Spoonbill, Open-billed & Saddle-billed Storks, Collared Pratincole, Water Thick-knee, Spur-winged & African Wattled Plovers, African Skimmer, Martial Eagle, Gabon & Slender-tailed Nightjars, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Common Quail, Malachite Kingfisher, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Black Bee-eater, White-tailed Lark, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Black-headed & Papyrus Gonoleks, Winding & Carruther's Cisticolas, Red-chested & Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Swamp Flycatcher, Grey-capped & White-winged Warblers, Yellow backed & Slender-billed Weavers.

Day 10 - 13 Birding to Bwindi.

Bwindi is a bird watchers' haven, it holds 347 species of birds. The forest has 10 of the 26 globally threatened species in Uganda, five of which are vulnerable. It has 24 of the 25 Albertine Rift endemic species in the country and some, such as African Green Broadbill, Chapin's Flycatcher.

Bwindi has 76 of 144 Guinea –Congo forest biome species that occur in Uganda, recorded especially in the North sector. The site also qualifies for Afro tropical highland biome species with 68 of 86, and for the Lake Victoria biome with 4 of 12 species.

The park is blessed with 90% of all albertine rift endemics, difficult or impossible to see in any other part of East Africa and seven IUCN red data listed species. An experienced birder watcher can identify over 100 species in a day.

Ruhiija is likely to be one of the highlights of any trip to Uganda with excellent birding in spectacular surroundings. Birds are both plentiful and easy to see; many species associating in mixed feeding flocks that are active throughout the day. An early start offers the best chance of finding the striking handsome Francolin, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, western Green Tinkerbird, Mountain and yellow-streaked Greenbuls, Mountain marked and chestnut-throated Apalises, red-faced woodland Warbler, Rwenzori batis, white–tailed crested Flycatcher and many more. Mubwindi Swamp is home to Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Ruwenzori Apalis and African Hill Babbler (sometimes treated as a separate species from Rwenzori Hill Babbler), the rare and localized Grauer's Scrub-Warbler and Carruthers' Cisticola, including very difficult to see species Fraser's Eagle-Owl, African Green Broadbill, Grauer's Rush Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Grauer's Broadbills, Archer's Robin-chat, Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, Strange Weaver, Black-headed Waxbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Waller's Starling, Stuhlmann's Starling, Ludher's Bushshrike, Handsome Francolin and Montane Nightjar.

Day 14 Birding to Lake Mburo National Park

We start after breakfast and continue birding to Lake Mburo National Park. We stay at Mantana Tented Camp. Special birds include Crested Francolin, Emerald spotted wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Barefaced Go-away –bird. Blue-napped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller, and Green Wood-hoopoe, common scimitarbill, African Grey Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Yellow-Breasted Apalis, Northern Black Tit, Chin-spot Batis, Greater Blue-eared starling and Marico sunbird, Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spur fowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck's Courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous-Naped lark, Rufous-chested Swallow, Yellow-throated Longclaw and Southern Red Bishop, Pennant-winged Nightjars.

Day 15 Birding to Entebbe for evening departure.