Access Uganda Tours Ltd

21 -day Birding watching tour visiting Mabamba and Murchison Fall National Park for Shoebills, Lake Mburo National Park,  Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest for Gorillas, Queen Elizabeth National Park , Ishasha for Tree-climbing lions, and Kibale National Park for Chimp.

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DAY ONE:

Your trip begins when you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, depending on your time of arrival, birding may be possible around Entebbe area at the Botanical Gardens for the Orange Weaver and a variety of other birds. Overnight accommodation in Entebbe.

 

DAY TWO:

Early in the morning we will leave Entebbe for Mabamba Swamp birding while enroute, with a chance to see a variety of weavers, Black headed Oriole, Black Bishop, and many others. In Mabamba Swamp, we shall take a hand paddled canoe in search for the majestic Shoebill; along with the chance to see a variety of water birds like the Purple swamphen, Black Crake, Purple and Squacco Herons, Malachite King Fisher. After visiting Mabamba, we will go to Lake Mburo with lunch and birding enroute. We will arrive for an evening game drive as you enter park, and have the chance to see a variety of birds. We will stay overnight in lodge or camp in the park.

 

DAY THREE:

A game drive will start the morning where we have a chance to see Zebras, Impalas, Elands, Topis, Buffaloes and other safari animals, as well as such birds as the Red-faced Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, and the Tabora Cisticola. In the afternoon, we shall go for a boat ride in search for the African Finfoot, as well as have a chance to see a variety of water birds. We will conclude the day staying overnight lodge or camp in the park.

 

DAY FOUR:

Day we will be driving to Kisoro for birding Echuya Forest Reserve; enroute we will search for a variety of Albertine rift endemics and other forest species. Concluding the day with an overnight stay in a hotel in Kisoro.

 

DAY FIVE:

We will spend the day in Mgahinga National Park, birding Mount Sabinyo and the Gorge in search for Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu, Ground Thrush, Stripe-breasted Tit, Shelley's Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Batis to mention but a few of the many birds in this area. Concluding the day with an overnight stay in a hotel in Kisoro.

 

DAY SIX:

Beginning with a driving to Ruhijah we will bird the bamboo for Handsome Francolin White-starred Robin, Red-throated Alethe, Grauer's Warbler, and Dusky Crimsonwing. In the evening, we will bird go out in search for African Wood Owl and Ruwenzori Nightjar. Staying overnight with accommodation in Ruhijah.

 

DAY SEVEN:

In the morning, we will trek to Mubwindi Swamp in search of the African Green-broadbill, Grauer's Rush Warbler, Caruthers's Cisticola, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds. In the late afternoon, we will bird around the camp for Dusky Twinspot, Luhder's Bushshrike, and Rwenzori Batis.

 

DAY EIGHT:

Before heading on to Buhoma, we will have a chance in the morning, to conclude our birding around the camp for the Dusky Twinspot, Magpie Manikin, Stripe-breasted Tit and other native birds. As we travel to Buhoma, we will bird along the way at the "Neck", for a chance to see the Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Black Bee-eaters, Bronze-napped Pigeon, Many-Coloured Bush-shrike, Cassin's grey flycatcher and a variety of Albertine rift endemics. We will stay overnight in the camp or lodge in Buhoma for the next 3 nights.

 

DAY NINE:

An early morning trek into Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park with packed lunch led by experienced guides that will lead us to a family of mountain gorillas. Tracking the gorillas through the dense mountain forest is a magical experience! You will spend one hour with the gorillas and be back at the base. Some gorilla families however are more elusive, and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy. This will be our second night stay in Buhoma. ** (optional due to cost/availability)

 

DAY TEN:

In the morning, we will bird Buhomas main trail for the Handsome Francolin, Rufous-chested Flufftail, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Red-chested Owlet, Neumann's Warbler, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, White-tailed Flycatcher, and many others. In the evening, we will go in search for the Bat Hawk, or any other birds we have been unable to locate in this area. This will be our last night stay here in Buhoma.

 

DAY ELEVEN:

In the morning we will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Once in the park we will go to the Ishasha section for a game drive in search for Tree Climbing Lions as well as birding for Broad-tailed Warbler, a variety of birds of prey. We will stay overnight in accommodations in the park for 2 nights.

 

DAY TWELVE:

Morning game drive in search for Elephants, Lions, Hyena, Leopard, Uganda Kobs and a variety of Savanna birds like the Temminck's Courser, Senegal Lap wing, Black-crowned Lapwing, African Crake, common Button quail, Blue Quail e.t.c there also chances of the secretary bird here, afternoon go for a cruise on Kazinga Channel where we may have a chance to see a variety of water birds, Hippos, Crocodiles, Cape buffalos, Elephants and many other wildlife. This will be the last night we will be staying overnight here in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

 

DAY THIRTEEN:

We will be driving to Kibaale, birding enroute and staying overnight at the Primate Lodge Bandas.

 

DAY FOURTEEN:

After an early morning breakfast, we go Chimp tracking by walking to Kibale National Park reported to be home to the greatest variety and highest concentration of primates in the world. Some of the thirteen (13) different species have been identified here are the Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Vervet, L'Hoerst and Red tailed Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Red, Black and White Colobus Monkeys! Also while in the Forest, we will have a chance to bird in search for the Green-breasted Pitta, Western bronze-napped Pigeon, and many-coloured Bush shrike, to mention but a few of the native birds. In the afternoon, we will take a Swamp walk in Bigodi wetland for the Papyrus endemics and a variety of primates. We will have overnight accommodations in Kibaale or Fort Portal.

 

DAY FIFTEEN:

Transfer to Budongo birding Kibaale Forest western part of Fort portal enroute where we have a chance to see Luhder's, many coloured Bush shrikes, Cassin's grey flycatcher, African Black duck, White napped and Afep Pigeons, white-headed Cuckoo, Joyful Greenbul and many others. We will stay overnight at hotel in Masindi.

 

DAY SIXTEEN:

Morning transfer to Budongo, birding the Royal Mile searching for Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Nahan's Francolin, Chocolate-backed and Dwarf Kingfisher, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, and other native birds. We will stay overnight at a hotel in Budongo.

 

DAY SEVENTEEN:

After an early breakfast, we will head to Murchison Falls where we will be able to bird along the main road with the possibility to see the Spotted Greenbul, Blue-throated Roller, Chestnut capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, and Tit Hylia. As we will also be able to bird the escarpment in search for Foxy Cisticola, Cliff chats, Western Violet backed Sunbird, chestnut crowned sparrow, Cinnamon Bunting, Red-winged, yellow winged and Green Pytlias, Black Billed Barbet and many others. We will stay overnight in accommodations the park.

 

DAY EIGHTEEN:

In the morning we will cross with a ferry for a game drive to the Delta. A few of the animals we are likely to see include: the Lion, Leopards, Giraffes, Oribis, Hartebeests, and Elephants. A few of the many birds here include: the Shoebill stork, the Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian ground Hornbills and many others. After the game drive, we will take an afternoon boat ride to the bottom of Murchison Falls—a magical trip through a beautiful scenery; The whole of the 50 meters wide Nile River is forced into a gap only 7 meters wide – the immense force of the water and the views of the falls is awe inspiring! During the boat ride, we may have a chance to see variety water birds, schools of Hippos and Crocodiles. We will conclude the day with an evening drive to the top of the falls, here we may a possibility to see the Pel's fishing Owl, Rock Prantincoles, Bat Hawk, and we may bird till late; in hopes to see the Nightjars. Overnight camp or lodge in the park.

 

DAY NINETEEN:

We will be driving bird through Kaniyo Pabidi as we are on our way to Jinja.  Kaniyo Pabidi Forest is where we may have a chance to see Puvell's Illadopsis, the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher and even the White-thighed Hornbill. We will conclude the day with overnight accommodation in the Mabira.

 

DAY TWENTY:

In the morning we will Bird the Mabira Forest for Shining-blue Kingfisher, Greenbul, Tit Hylia, Green Hylia, Sunbirds, Black-bellied Seed cracker, Forest Wood Hoopoe and a variety of forest birds. overnight accommodation in the Mabira.

 

DAY TWENTY-ONE:

Depending on your timing of your flight, we may bird the Botanical Gardens before transfer to the Airport for your flight. This will thus conclude your 21 Day Birding experience.

 

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Gorilla permits cost US$ 600 per person; these are booked in advance for they are sold on first come first serve basis and only confirmed with cash.

Please note: the birds mentioned in the itinerary are most likely to be seen in the places mentioned but typical to bird nature this is not a guarantee.

 

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