11 Days Uganda Birding Special Safari

Journey Time: 3 - 4 Hours
Early in the morning, your driver guide will pick you from the hotel to go birding in Mabamba Bay (in Lake Victoria), on a canoe.
This is a wetland on the edge of Lake Victoria, North West of the Entebbe Peninsular, with protected bird species to include the endemic shoebill stork and it is home to over 260 bird species; some of these will meet your expectations:

• Shoebill stork


• Pallid harrier


• Black kite


• Papyrus canary


• Papyrus gonolek


• Blue swallow


• White-winged warbler


• Goliath heron


• Malachite kingfisher


• Gull-billed terns


• Winding Cisticola


• Veil lot’s black weaver


• Grosbeak weaver

Right after this birding warm up you will start off your journey to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary; a place for the rare Rhinos of Uganda & the Shoebill.

Arrive & check in at the Lodge with the rest of your day at leisure, to recuperate from the journey. You may have a sundowner in the evening.

Overnight: Amuka Lodge      

Basis

Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Journey time: 3–4hrs
In the morning with breakfast at the lodge, your day starts with the fun shoebill hunt (on a canoe) together with rhino trekking in the savannahs.
Presently the sanctuary is home to 22 southern white rhinos. And it has become increasingly popular with tourists; for Rhino Trekking, Shoebill Trek and Canoe Ride, Bird Watching, Night Walk & Nature Walk.
In addition to the Shoebill stork, expect to watch other birds such as:

• Abdim’s Stork


• Blue spotted dove


• Abyssinian Ground Hornbill


• Booted eagle


• African Black Crake


• Broad billed Roller


• African Black-headed Oriole


• Bronze Manikin


• African Blue Flycatcher


• African Broad Bill


• Brown-crowned Tchagra


• African Citril


• Brown Parrot


• African Crowned Eagle


• African Darter


• Buff-spotted Flufftail


• African Fish Eagle


• Cardinal


• African Green Pigeon


• Common Chat


• African Grey (domestic)


• Common Fiscal Shrike


• African Grey Hornbill

After this wonderful experience, proceed to the lodge for lunch, and thereafter embark on your journey to Murchison Falls National Park.

Upon entrance into the park, visit the top of the falls; here you will spot a permanent rainbow right from the top as you listen to roar of the water falls.

The view is rewarding as it explains why Murchison Falls is famously known as one of the world’s strongest waterfalls. Thereafter head to the lodge and spend the rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge         

Basis

Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

After an early breakfast, you will have a game drive through the delta circuit, reputably known for high concentrations of wildlife. This 4 – 5hour game drive will reward you with stunning views of the savanna and other plant vegetation of the acacia and borassus palm trees propagated by elephants all the way from Congo.
Expect a wide variety of wildlife including; Lions, hippos, waterbucks, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hyenas, oribis, Uganda Kobs, baboons and patas
Thereafter, embark on an afternoon launch cruise on the Nile; offering you a chance to experience a variety of wildlife as you enjoy the stunning views along the world’s longest river. In addition to taking you close to the base of the waterfall, the 3-hour launch trip follows a stretch of the Nile with a compelling African atmosphere. Game viewing is excellent and the birdlife on the banks is so captivating.
After the launch cruise, return to your lodge and spend the rest of the evening at leisure watching the golden sunset.
Overnight: Murchison River Lodge
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Early in the morning after your breakfast, you will depart for a 5 Hour Nile Delta Cruise.
The Victoria Nile delta, a 20km voyage downstream from a jetty at Paraa (South Bank), is home to rare wetland birds including shoebill and papyrus endemic species.
Expect to see birds such as: the rare Shoebill Stock, Goliath Heron and pairs of elegant Grey Crowned Cranes (Uganda’s national bird), the Blue-headed Coucal, Swamp Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, African Jacana, Black-headed Gonolek, Silver bird, Weaver Birds, Pied, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Speckle-fronted Weaver and African Quail-Finch.
After this the birding cruise, you will return to the lodge for refreshment & lunch. And the rest of the day will be yours at leisure.
Overnight: Murchison River Lodge
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Journey time: 5-6 hrs.
Kibale National Park contains one of the most varied tracts of the tropical rain forest in Uganda. Forest cover, interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp, dominates the northern and central parts of the park on an elevated plateau. Upon your arrival you will drive straight to your Lodge and recuperate from the long journey.
Optional: visit the Picturesque crater lakes in Fort Portal an if time allows, go to Mahoma Waterfalls.

Overnight: Turaco Treetops / Papaya Lake Lodge
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Kibale National Park is famously known as the ‘’primate capital of the world’’ with 13 primate species and the highest number of Chimpanzees (over 1450 chimps), 372 bird species (60% recorded as Uganda’s forest birds) together with other animals like the elusive forest elephants, giant forest hogs, buffalos, genet cats and more.
In the morning, you will go birding, spiced up with primate treks (chimps and monkeys), nature walks and more. You will come across birds which include the following:

• Black eared ground-thrush        


• Brown-chested alethe


• Crowned eagle                           


• Blue-breasted kingfisher


• Abyssinian ground thrush & many more others

Some of the primates you will encounter include but not limited to the following:

• Chimpanzee, L’Hoest’s monkey, Blue monkey, Black & white colobus, Olive baboons


• Grey cheeked Mangabey, Ugandan Mangabey, Red-tailed monkeys, bush babies & Pottos

After the morning session of your birding experience, return to your lodge for your lunch break.

After lunch, you will be taking the Bigodi trail and get to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary where you will see the following bird species:

• Speckle-breasted woodpecker


• Cabanis’s greenbul


• White-collared olive back


• Olive-green camaroptera


• Grey apalis


• White-chinned prinia


• Joyful greenbul


• Blue-shouldered robin-chat


• Lesser honey guide


• Olive long tailed cuckoo

You will also have an opportunity to visit the local communities of Bigodi where you will be interacting with the locals and share experiences.

And late in the evening, return to your lodge and relax after the long day.

Overnight: Turaco Treetops / Papaya Lake Lodge

Basis

Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

• Journey time: 2 Hrs. 30mins: KNP – SNP


• Journey time: 3 – 4: SNP - QENP

Early in the morning after your breakfast, you will travel to Semuliki National Park (a wonderful place for birding).

Upon entrance into the park, you will hike/nature walk Kirumia trail through Ituri forest to river Semliki where you will spot a variety of endemic birds like:

• White-crested hornbill                


• White-tailed hornbill


• Red-billed dwarf hornbill            


• Black-wattled hornbill


• Piping hornbill                           


• Crested flycatcher


• Yellow throated Nicator               


• Great blue turaco                        


• Orange weaver


• Ross’ turaco                                


• Congo serpent eagle


• Shoebill stork                        


• Red-billed malimbe


• Canather’s Cisticola & more             

You will also tour Sempaya Hot springs; boil some eggs and plantain and have a taste of what has been boiled by the natural hot water. You will also spot some primates like the grey-cheeked Mangabey, black and white colobus monkeys and visit a tree house where you will experience an aerial view of the park.

Thereafter you will proceed out of the park with an En-route lunch included & travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

On arrival after a stopover at the equator, you will check into your lodge for refreshment and leisure or do an evening game drive optional.  Dinner is arranged at the lodge.

Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Mazike Valley Lodge      

Basis

Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Start off the day with a tasty breakfast and then get deeper into the highlights of this amazing park.
Dawn Game Drive; explore the park’s flora and fauna to include elusive bird species and a wide variety of animals like elephants, buffaloes, hippos, bushbucks, waterbucks, Kobs, warthogs and many more. Don’t miss out the scenic views of the crater lakes like Nyamunuka which is medicinal to the animals.
Katwe Community; interact with the people learn about salt mining by local means and share cultural experiences. Return to your lodge for lunch and relaxation in preparation for the afternoon activities.
Boat cruise; this is the main activity after lunch where you will spot a number of birds like; the African fish eagle, pelicans, Hammerkop, egrets, pied kingfishers, marabou storks, vultures, kites and many more, together with animals like hippos, buffalos, warthogs, crocodiles, waterbucks and more as most of them visit to water and cool off. This boat cruise is spiced up with stunning views of the Mweya peninsular and a local fishing village along the lake shores.
Overnight: Buffalo Safari Lodge / Mazike Valley Lodge
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Journey time: 6 – 7 Hours
After breakfast at the lodge, next will be your journey to Kampala via the scenic Masaka – Mbarara route.
This will enable you explore the southern sector of the park with a stunning view of Lake Africa (Locally Lake Nkugute) in Rubirizi District.
Have your lunch stopover in Mbarara and proceed to another stopover at the Equator in Masaka.
The journey ends in Kampala whereupon arrival the rest of the evening will be at leisure.

Overnight: Fairway Hotel & Spa / Speke Resort Munyonyo
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch

Depending on your flight time, you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport to check in for your outbound flight.
Basis
Full Board - Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
END OF SAFARI
DISCLAIMER: 1. The journey time(s) stated in the itinerary is an estimation and it is subject to variation depending on traffic and road conditions.
2. Listed accommodation options are subject to availability at the time of booking. If not available, similar properties will be considered.