Experience the breath taking avian viewing in Uganda’s lush woods and plains during our 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari, known as the Pearl of Africa. You will get that special bird experience at Budongo Forest’s Royal Mile, and on this amazing journey, you will also get it at Semuliki, also known as the Birders’ Haven in far-western Uganda.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to Mabira Forest
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, transfer to the Hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, we bird Entebbe botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Later, drive to Mabira Forest and arrive at the lodge in time for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: (Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Rain Forest Lodge Mabira.
Day 2: Birding Watching in Mabira Forest
The largest woodland reserve nearest to the city centre is this one. With 74 of the 144 species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome that are found in Uganda, it surpasses the record of 315 bird species. Look for the IUCN Red List endangered Nahan’s Francolin; Cassin’s Hawk-eagle; White-spotted Flufftail; Afep Pigeon; Grey Parrot; Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo; Black-shouldered Nightjar; Sabine’s Spinetail; Cassin’s Spinetail; Blue-throated Roller; African Dwarf Kingfisher; White-bellied Kingfisher; Forest Woodhoopoe; African Pied Hornbill; Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill; Speckled Tinkerbird; Yellow-throated Tinkerbird; Yellow-spotted Barbet; Hairy-breasted Barbet; Yellow-billed Barbet; Green-breasted Pitta; African Shrike-flycatcher; Jameson’s and Chestnut Wattle-eyes Among them are the Red-tailed Bristlebil, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Speckle-breasted, Yellow-crested, Brown-eared, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-capped Robin-Chat, and Forest Robin.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Rain Forest Lodge Mabira.
Day 3: Birding Watching in Budongo Forest
Today, you travel birding to Budongo Forest, home to two species of rare birds in East Africa: 93 of the 144 species found in Uganda’s Guinea-Congo Forests biome, and 10 of the 22 species found in the Sudan-Guinea Savannah biome. We travel with a packed lunch.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Masindi Hotel, New Court View Hotel.
Day 4: Full Day Royal Mile Birding
We search for the Puvel’s Illadopsis and the Nahan’s Francolin, among other rare birds such as the Grey-throated and Yellow-billed Barbets, Chin-spot Batis, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, White-headed Saw-wing, White Wagtail, Black-eared Ground-Thrush, Little Crake, Honeyguide Greenbul, and African Paradise Flycatcher. Grey-backed Camaroptera, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Black-crowned Waxbill, Bronze Mannikin, Black-billed Bluebill, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Spectacled Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Compact Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Among many more are the Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Isabelline Starling, Purple Starling, Purple-headed Starling, Splendid Starling, Northern Puffback, Black-headed Gonolek, Tropical Boubou, and Western Violet-backed Sunbird.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Masindi Hotel, New Court View Hotel.
Day 5: Bird Watching in Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi
After your early morning breakfast at the lodge, you will head out to Budongo Forest for a fresh bird watching expedition. Try to see if you can spot bird species that you may have missed. Proceed to Kaniyo Pabidi for more birding opportunities. Later head to the lodge, have dinner and stay overnight.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Masindi Hotel, New Court View Hotel.
Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park
Many of the most remarkable and sought-after birds on the continent, like the Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Black-wattled Hornbill, and Nkulengu Rail, are found only in Semuliki. These species are primarily Central African and are unique to East Africa. There is only one unsubstantiated report of the Lesser Kestrel, which is endangered worldwide. Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge | Vanilla Hotel.
Day 7 & 8: Birding in Semliki Forest and the Kirumiya Trail
You will spend two days exploring the area, which is among the richest in Africa in terms of both flora and fauna, particularly birds. You will aim at a record of 400 species including; the African Piculate, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, Grey Ground-Thrush, Little Grey Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Western Nicator, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Black Saw-wing, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Grant’s Bluebill, Afep Pigeon, Blue-headed Coucal, Bates’s Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar, Cassin’ Spinetail, Sabine’s Spinetail, Blue Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Spotted Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Lowland Akalat, Red-throated Alethe, Fire-crested Alethe, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Puffback, White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, White-bellied Kingfisher, Shinning-blue Kingfisher, Gabon Woodpecker, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, just to mention but a few.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Semliki Safari Lodge, Vanilla Hotel.
Day 9: Return to Kampala
Have breakfast and with packed lunch, get on the road and travel back to Kampala City and proceed to Entebbe where you will arrive at the hotel in time for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner).
Accommodation Options: Hotel Number 5, Protea Hotel, Imperial Resort Beach Hotel.
Day 10: Departure
Wake up at leisure, have breakfast and check out of the hotel to go to the airport to catch up with your outbound flight back home. Depending on your flight time, you can go bird watching at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
End of the 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari.
The tour cost includes;
- Ground Transportation in a 4×4 safari vehicle.
- Bird watching expeditions.
- Bottled water in the car.
- Services of an English-speaking tour guide.
- Park Entrance Fees.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
However, the 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari cost excludes; International flight fare, Visa fees, Laundry services, Tips, Alcoholic drinks, travel insurance, souvenirs, personal shopping bills and items of personal nature.