Destinations visited: Mabamba swamp, Murchison Falls, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Mburo National Parks.
Uganda will have primate enthusiasts wandering around with big grins; and birdwatchers doing cartwheels. Uganda is by far the smallest of the four African countries in which more than 1,000 bird species have been recorded, and it is particularly rich in Western rainforest specialists and the only place in Africa to sight the rare ‘Shoebill’ – in practical terms, undoubtedly the finest bird watching destination in Africa.
Immerse yourself in the African wilderness separated only by canvas like an explorer of old!! Possibly the ultimate way to experience Africa. Get under the skin of the world’s most exciting country on the continent through in-depth encounters with the local communities as you go about your birding excursion.
Day to Day Itinerary:
- Day 1: Welcome Uganda
- Day 2: Mabamba Swamp
- Days 3 – 6: Birds & Wildlife of Murchison Falls National Park
- Days 6 – 8: Birds & Primates of Kibale Forest
- Days 8 – 10: Birds of Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Days 10 – 13: Gorillas & Birds
- Days 13 – 15: L. Mburo Walking safari & Birds.
- Day 16: Goodbye Uganda
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to Uganda
On arrival at Uganda’s Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by a representative and transferred to the Boma Guesthouse Entebbe. This charming 1940s guesthouse is the ideal place to relax and prepare for the coming adventure. Spend the afternoon lazing in the pool garden or rent a bicycle to explore this bustling city.
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp
set off to Mabamba Wetland, where most of the birding is done from a canoe. Look out for the Shoebill in the sky and down in the marsh. Here you will spot the African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White-faced Whistling-duck, Squacco Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Winding Cisticola, Goliath Heron and Black Crake. Later transfer to Kampala for dinner and overnight stay.
Days 3 – 6: Birds & Wildlife of Murchison falls national Park Budongo forest
Depart Kampala city heading to the North West of Uganda to Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls N.P. On arrival to Budongo Forest, embark on a birding excursion; look out for the Yellow and Grey Long bills, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Ituri Batis and Nahan’s Francolin. In the evening you might spot Bat Hawk, African Wood Owl, White-faced Wood Owl, White-crested and Ross’s Turacco, Grey Parrots, Piping and White-thighed Hornbills, Black-shouldered Nightjar, as well as Western Tree Hyrax. Murchison Falls is one of Uganda’s best highlights with exceptional wildlife and landscape. The meandering Victoria Nile and the dramatic Murchison Falls neatly bisecting Uganda’s largest park, you’d expect a wide range of animals at Murchison Falls and you’d be right. It’s a stunning habitat for wildlife and it’s where to go in Uganda for classic big game species.
Explore Murchison Falls National Park: You rise at dawn to sip on a freshly brewed hot drink and watch trails of mist lift off the Savannah grassland. Enjoy a quick breakfast in the dining room before heading out into the park with your guide. This region is endowed with a wonderful diversity of habitats that in turn support a plethora of bird and animal species. Grassy plains are dotted with Giraffes, elephants that trumpet when you get too close, hyenas, leopards, warthogs, and kob- an antelope species found only in central Africa that is an important prey species for the lions. The lions themselves are known for their black manes! Acacia woodlands and forested areas are a vital habitat for several bird species. The Budongo Forest sits in a huge area of the Rift Valley floor, and this moist semi-deciduous medium-altitude forest is home to a great number of species, including chimpanzees.
Buffalo roam the grasslands and plains, and these huge bovids are particularly fond of wallowing in mud found in marshy areas. This can give them a comical appearance as they emerge caked in a thick layer of mud, but as your guide will tell you, they are far from comical when faced with danger! On the second afternoon, a 3-hour Boat Cruise along the Victoria Nile will lead you to the base of the Murchison Falls. Along the way, you will be able to view a wide variety of birds and wildlife; numerous hippos, elephants, and crocodiles, as well as breathtaking scenery.
Before checking out of the park, you’ll drive to the top of the powerful Murchison Falls (Baker’s summit) to marvel at the spectacular Nile dropping in a wave of rapids into a 7-meter wide Rock gorge on its way to the Albert.
Days 6 – 8: Birds & Primates
After Murchison Falls, you embark on a Safari route that traces through small villages, picturesque green tea plantations, and beautiful landscapes of numerous crater lakes of volcanic origin. Proceed to Kibale forest- home of great apes!
Kibale Forest boasts the highest number of primate species in the world, including our delightful cousins- the Chimpanzees. At this moment, in Uganda, there are approximately 4,950 Chimps left in the wild, which makes this forest a perfect and best place to spot chimpanzees in Africa! During the excursion, your ranger will point out the other species living in the forest, including birds, flora, and fauna.
A birding/community excursion is also possible in the Kibale region. Your swamp walk (1- 2 hours) will take you through grassland, small communities, and some beautiful scenery, where the locals are likely to greet you with enthusiastic waves. It is usual to spot 3 or 4 different primate species during this walk, though the highlight is catching a glimpse of the Great Blue Turaco bird!
Of course, the stars of the show are chimpanzees and nine other species of primate. Smaller than their gorilla cousins but no less charming, intelligent, or expressive, chimp families can cover vast distances, and the trek in the Kibale forest to find them will be filled with all sorts of enchanting encounters.
Optional activity: Chimpanzee Habituation tracking:
At an additional fee, you do the chimpanzee habituation tracking instead of the regular chimpanzee tracking. This will take all day and you will be 100% sure to have a very close encounter with your closest relatives. Book this in time because only 6 persons per day are allowed to go.
Days 8 – 10: Explore Queen Elizabeth National Park
Embark on a 3-hour Safari route that traces the Western Rift Valley in the heart of Africa to the southwest of Uganda through many hills, surrounded by small villages, picturesque green tea plantations, and beautiful landscapes. This part of Uganda is characterized by the presence of numerous crater lakes of volcanic origin fairy–like surroundings and charming green Tea plantations.
Set on a peninsular overlooking the Kazinga Channel, Mweya Safari Lodge consists of a series of thatch luxurious suites that are individually decorated in an eclectic style. Sundowners are taken on the airy veranda or by the pool and meals at communal tables in the dining room.
Your days here start early as you set off in the cool of the morning to look for a game like lions; elephants, buffaloes, Ugandan kob and antelope on the Kasenyi plains while the dense thickets of the Mweya peninsula is the ideal hiding spot for notoriously shy leopard.
On your final afternoon, you will cruise the Kazinga Channel, which flows between Lakes George and Edward. One of the continent’s densest concentrations of hippos lives here, as well as large numbers of elephants, crocodiles, and water birds like African fish eagles and pelicans.
Optional activity: Hot Air Balloon Safari:
Experience the wildlife of Queen Elizabeth NP in a new, unique way. Wake up early to catch the sunrise, as you silently fly over the plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Admire the herds of buffaloes, and elephants and enjoy the serene tranquility of the African bush…
You will take off early at dawn for a flight that lasts for approximately 1 hour. Rise as the sun rises and float in whatever direction the winds of the morning take you. Fly higher than the trees and hills and enjoy the best of Uganda, with many great photo opportunities of the scenery and wildlife below.
After a smooth landing, you can celebrate this amazing adventure with a glass of sparkling juice before returning to your lodge to continue your safari.
Optional activity: Lion Tracking:
For visitors who yearn to get up close to wild African fauna, a research trip is a rewarding adventure. This new and unique experience allows visitors to actively participate in monitoring some of the lions in the park, using locator devices and learning habituation calls, as well as monitoring weather, surroundings, and behavior. The results are added to researchers’ databases, contributing valuable information to the overall understanding of wildlife ecology – and helping to conserve this wonderful ecosystem. This will also give you a 95% chance to see the lions!
The number of people on each outing is limited to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
The experiential tourism activities currently available are Mongoose Tracking, Lion Tracking, Hippo Census, and Bird Counts. The number of people on each outing is limited to reduce stress on the animals and to increase the quality of the experience for visitors.
Experiential tours last between one and three hours. They usually take place in the early morning or evening, or occasionally at night. All activities must be booked through the Visitor Information Centre in Mweya at least 24 hours in advance.
Days 10 – 13: Birds & Gorillas.
Head south through the lush wilderness to the Ishasha Plains and enjoy a short game drive to spot the plains’ well-known tree-climbing lions. After seeing these brilliantly adapted creatures you’ll exit the park and travel through the rolling hills of central Africa as you make your way to the Mahogany Springs Lodge in the great Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Despite its rather forbidding name, Bwindi is a tropical forest wonderland. The landscape changes dramatically: Bwindi is a place of steep hillsides, dense jungle, and towering trees.
Your second day is the one you have been waiting for: today you make the acquaintance of rare mountain gorillas, one of the most memorable wildlife encounters in the world. Led by experienced trackers who are intimately familiar with each gorilla and who understand their overnight movements, you will hike through the forest until you find these gentle creatures. For mutual safety, you will have to observe them from a distance, and no children under 15 are allowed on a trek. It can be tough going in the rain and mud but it is worth the effort to look into the emotional brown eyes of these marvelous creatures while in their natural habitat.
Birding in Ruhiija: After an early breakfast, you will drive to Ruhiija for a birding excursion where you will expect to see the Black, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Cuckoo Shrike, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Yellow-billed Waxbill, Black Saw-wing, Chubbs’ Cisticola, Grey Apalis, Augur Buzzard, Petit’s Cuckoo Shrike, Pink-footed, Northern Puffbacks, Red-tailed, Little Grey Greenbuls, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Red-throated Martin, Yellow White-eye, Dark-capped Bulbul and many others.
Meet the Batwa pygmies: After a refreshing night’s sleep, you once again lace up your hiking boots and set out to meet members of the Twa tribe, who are thought to be the longest-standing inhabitants of the Great Lakes region. Their history can be traced back at least 4 000 years and they are renowned as dancers and storytellers. You will learn more about the Batwa’s hunting and gathering techniques, their goddess, and their musical performances.
The Batwa Experience was created by the displaced Batwa pygmies to educate their children and to share their amazing heritage and traditions with the world. Step back in time to see how the pygmies lived for millennia in the Bwindi, one of the most beautiful jungles on earth and home to the famous mountain gorillas. Enjoy an incredible day hike in the rain forest with Batwa guides, see how the Batwa lived and hunted, learn about medicinal plants, and watch for animals and birds. A Forest Walk with the Batwa people can be taken in Buhoma, in Buniga Forest, and at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
After two days of hiking, you will no doubt enjoy some relaxing after dinner, sharing stories as the moon rises over Bwindi.
Days 13 – 15: Explore Lake Mburo National Park
Head out this morning to Lake Mburo National Park via the town of Mbarara – the largest urban center in western Uganda. You will stop over for a cultural tour of the Igongo Museum then proceed to the Park with a game drive en route. Look out for the herds of Ankole cattle on the way to the entrance. After checking in at the Lodge, you can enjoy a relaxed but exciting night drive to seek the nocturnal animals that call Lake Mburo their home.
Enjoy one last walking Safari
Start your last morning with a guided bush walk to a nearby natural salt lick, frequented by the local wildlife. Lake Mburo N.P. is one of two parks in Uganda where it is permitted to go for a walking safari with an experienced ranger. This opportunity should not be missed. From footprints and animal droppings, the ranger will be able to tell you which animal has left it and how long ago. It is exciting to approach wildlife at such close range. Note: Instead of going for the bush walk, you can also opt for a mountain bike safari – or go on a horseback riding safari in the park.
Full-day Birding Safari
Indulge in a full- day birding excursion that starts with a morning game drive and ends with an afternoon boat ride where you will spot a variety of water birds which include; the Grey Hornbill, White-browed Coucal, Lesser Masked Weaver, Water Thick-knee, Wood Hoopoe, Verreux’s Eagle Owl, Woodland Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Little Bee-eater, Chinspot, Tawny Eagle, and Senegal Lapwing among others.
Day 16: Farewell Uganda!
After sixteen days of trekking gorillas, enjoying the antics of chimpanzees, and immersing yourself in all of the country’s greatest wildlife areas, it is time to bid farewell to Uganda. You will stay in Entebbe town until you catch your departure flight back home.
This marks the end of what we hope will be an adventurous trip.