Lush Africa Safaris

4.8/5 – 33 Reviews

$7,827 pp (USD)

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*This tour does not accept children under 16.
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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Arrive in Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe

We like to take it easy on the arrival day. When you arrive at Entebbe, our guide meets you, and you transfer to the accommodation facility. Our choice accommodations are amazingly birder friendly, and this, we have put into consideration when scouting. We like serene places that are also bird-friendly…
The hotel has a well-maintained garden filled with native plant species that attract regionally restricted bird species like the shiny Red-chested, Scarlet-chested and the Olive-bellied Sunbirds.

Main Destination:
Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)
Accommodation:
Airport Guest House
  • Mid-range guest house located in Entebbe (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2

Shoebill Search & Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Shoebill Search & Entebbe Botanical Gardens

This morning we visit the world-famous Mabamba wetlands looking for Africa’s most-desired bird; the Shoebill. We will have to be in the perfect marshes that favor its prime diet, the lungfish. We will do very minimal birding on the way in the interest of time, and that will be mainly for bird species we may not see again on the trip. Such birds include the Ovambo Sparrow-hawk and the crepuscular Bat-hawk. At Mabamba we will take a boat ride for a minimum of two hours and explore the sedge and reed marshes in search for the Shoebill, and we also hope to catch up with typical African water birds like the Yellow-billed Duck, African Jacana…We will return to Entebbe and have a short break before heading to the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for afternoon birding. Entebbe Botanical Gardens host a few species endemic to Africa. The unmissable species that always wow our groups include Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco and the Eastern Plantain Eater, plus several Weaver birds.

Main Destination:
Mabamba Swamp (Area)
Accommodation:
Airport Guest House
  • Mid-range guest house located in Entebbe (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3

Entebbe >> Masindi

Entebbe >> Masindi

We will plan accordingly and drive past Kampala without getting stuck in crazy traffic. The tour will head north to Masindi, one of Uganda's vibrant towns. We will take it slow, scanning some very productive roadside spots in search of the White Crested Turaco, White-headed Barbet, Yellow-billed Shrike and Yellow-bellied Hyliota among others.
The Masindi Hotel gardens never disappoint for late birding walks, and after those, we will enjoy the hospitality of Uganda’s oldest hotel - Masindi Hotel.

Main Destination:
Masindi (Town)
Accommodation:
Masindi Hotel
  • Mid-range hotel located in Masindi (Town)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4

Birding the Royal Mile

Birding the Royal Mile

This morning, we will leave Masindi and head to the magical Royal Mile. This one-mile walk is one of the most excellent birding spots in the country. It is also the easiest forest birding that you will encounter anywhere in the country. It is the only birding trail that is as wide as twelve meters and with over seven wide clearances on either side. Such great openings offer the most comfortable environment for looking out for canopy dwelling birds. We will scan those canopies, and the comb paths for Nahan’s Francolin, Black-capped Apalis, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Cassin’s and Sabines-spinetails, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and Dwarf kingfishers, among others.

Main Destination:
Royal Mile (Budongo Forest)
Best Time To Visit Dec to March and June to July (Easy chimp trekking)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Wildlife in Budongo Forest

ElephantOccasional
BuffaloOccasional
LionVery Rare
Show more
ZebraNone
HippoNone
Accommodation:
Budongo Eco Lodge
  • Budget lodge located inside Budongo Forest (Chimps)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5

Birding to Murchison Falls Via Kaniyo Pabidi

Birding to Murchison Falls Via Kaniyo Pabidi

This morning we will proceed to Murchison Falls National Park and take a birding stop at Kaniyo Pabidi. This is the only place in East Africa where the Puvel’s Illadopsis occurs. We will look for it and also catch up with the possibly missed birds of the previous day. The forest here stretches to the Royal Mile. We hope to find both Yellow and Grey Long-bills, Blue-breasted Kingfisher and White Spotted Flufftail. A healthy population of Common Chimpanzee, Mantled Guereza, Blue and Red-tailed Monkeys live here and typically, they are easy to encounter on a birding walk.
After lunch, we will proceed deep into the park via the top of Murchison Falls. These are the world’s most powerful and most dramatic at the top. Driving to the tops until the time to our accommodation facility, we will look for Green-backed Eremomela, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, White-fronted Black-chat among others and the Rock Pratincole.

Main Destination:
Murchison Falls National Park
Best Time To Visit December to February (Easier to spot animals)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June and July (Less rain and lower temperatures)

Wildlife in Murchison Falls NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional
ElephantCommon
GiraffeCommon
BuffaloCommon
HippoAbundant
LionOccasional
Show more
ZebraNone
Accommodation:
Murchison River Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6

Northern Bank and Boat Ride to the Bottom of falls

Northern Bank and Boat Ride to the Bottom of falls

We will visit the open Savannah that defines the beauty of Murchison Falls NP. This offers excellent photography opportunities amidst significant game species observation. We will look for species of the northern DR Congo and South Sudan on Ugandan soil since this park is the most authentic area of overlap. We should find Zitting, Foxy, Rattling, Balc-backed, Siffling, Red-faced and Croaking Cisticolas. This is also a perfect location for central African species; therefore, we will be in for birds like Heuglin’s Francolin, Denham’s and Black-bellied Bustards, Herlequin and Common Quails, Black-headed Gonolek, Spotted Morning Thrush, Northern Carmine, Swallow-tailed, and Red-throated Bee-eaters.
This park is also very famous for its massive game, but the most impressive scenes are seen when Cape Buffaloes interact with Piapiacs and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers while Red-necked Falcons hunt in pairs over them.
In the afternoon, we will take a boat ride upstream to the bottom of the falls.

Main Destination:
Murchison Falls National Park
Accommodation:
Murchison River Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7

Birding to the Delta and Game Drive Birding

Birding to the Delta and Game Drive Birding

This morning we will take a boat ride downstream. The going session is slower than when returning, and this is because we make it slow along the riverine forest. We scan the thickets and large trees overhanging the rive for the elusive Pel’s Fishing Owl, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Silverbird, White-rumped seed eater, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Beautiful Sunbird and the Grey-capped Warbler among others.
The marshes at the Delta are also famous for the Shoebill, and this will be our second and very reliable chance to first them.
When it starts cooling in the afternoon, we head back to the game drive tracks on our way back to the lodge.

Main Destination:
Lake Albert
Accommodation:
Murchison River Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8

Transfer to Kibale Forest

Transfer to Kibale Forest

Today, after breakfast, you will be transferred from Murchison to Kibale National Park with packed lunch en-route. We shall have stopovers at birding spots along the way. Arrive at Turaco Treetops in the afternoon. Check in and relax for the rest of the day. Overnight and dinner at the lodge.

Main Destination:
Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Best Time To Visit December to February and June to July
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and December to February (Least rain)

Wildlife in Kibale NP

ElephantOccasional
BuffaloOccasional
LeopardVery Rare
HippoRare
LionRare to None
Show more
ZebraNone
Accommodation:
Turaco Treetops
  • Mid-range lodge bordering Kibale NP (Chimps) without fences
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9

GReen-breasted Pitta and Chimpanzee Trekking

GReen-breasted Pitta and Chimpanzee Trekking

Early morning start of birding in the renowned haven of birdlife; Kibale forest and wander the forest as you benefit from excellent views of the bird species that nestle in Africa’s largest hardwood forest. Keep watch for the Green-breasted Pitta, Masked and Black-capped Apalis, and White-naped Pigeon, African Crowned Eagle, Scally-breasted and Brown Illadopsis, Brown-chested and Fire-crested Alethes among others.
This park also prides in the most significant number of species and the undisputed home to Common Chimpanzee. Kibale has the highest number of Common Chimpanzee for any protected area in the world. After the birding session, we will track for the chimps but should also find Red-tailed, Blue and L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Mantled Guereza, Uganda Red Colobus and Uganda Mangabey.
Afternoon walk in Bigodi wetland to see papyrus species like the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus canary, White-spotted fluff tail, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, brown Illadopsis, etc.

Main Destination:
Kibale National Park (Chimps)
Accommodation:
Turaco Treetops
  • Mid-range lodge bordering Kibale NP (Chimps) without fences
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10

Kibale >> Queen Elizabeth NP

Kibale >> Queen Elizabeth NP

The Pitta is a very shy and elusive bird, so this morning we will go again looking for the bird early morning. Depending on the previous day’s results, we will return to the forest or bird around the forest for other restricted-range species. We hope to find, Sabine’s Spinetail, Cassin’s and Ayer’s Hawk-Eagles, White-tailed Anti-thrush, Red-chested owlet, Black-capped Apalis, Green-throated and Green-headed sunbirds, Black bee-eater, Scarce Swift, Cassin’s Flycatcher, and Mountain wagtail and many others. In the afternoon, we will transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Best Time To Visit January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June to July and January to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP

ChimpanzeeOccasional
ElephantCommon
LionCommon
BuffaloCommon
HippoAbundant
LeopardOccasional
Show more
ZebraNone
Accommodation:
Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Luxury lodge located inside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11

Birding In Queen Elizabeth National Park

Birding In Queen Elizabeth National Park

It’s a merry morning and indeed a moment for you to follow a network of trails as you do your morning game-drive. This drive abundantly rewards you with impressive views of most of the Savannah birds and some animals like lions, elephants, Uganda kob, Bush-buck, Water-buck, buffalo, etc. The afternoon Boat ride on the Kazinga channel will provide you a platform to see lots of water birds as well as hippos and crocodiles. Return to your domicile at the splendidly comfortable Mweya Safari Lodge.

Main Destination:
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Accommodation:
Mweya Safari Lodge
  • Luxury lodge located inside Queen Elizabeth NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 12

Birding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Birding to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Follow your earnest desire to explore more of Uganda’s birdlife by embarking on a morning transfer to Bwindi National Park. The drive traverses Ishasha; a sector of Queen Elizabeth National park that is famous for the Tree Climbing Lions. Amidst the search for the tree-climbing lions and other mammals, we will focus on the birds. The open country here is excellent for a couple of birds of prey which we are most likely to spot soaring overhead, and this include, the Long-crested, Wahlberg’s and Tawny Eagles, Banded, Brown and Black-chested Snake-Eagles. Palm-nut, Hooded, White-backed, Ruppel’s Griffon, White-headed and Lapped-faced Vultures are also common in the skies here. The bushes are fantastic for African Pygmy, Stripped and Woodland Kingfishers, Marsh, Black and Brown-crowned Tchagras, Moustached Grass Warbler, etc.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)
Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi NP

Accommodation:
Silverback Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 13

Gorilla Trekking

Gorilla Trekking

As dawn reveals the full beauty of the forest at your accommodation, you ought to wake up for an early breakfast. Get hold of your walking stick and rally behind your allocated ranger/guide and follow the path of evolution as you track one of man’s closest relatives, the highly-sought Mountain Gorillas. Follow rules and regulations as the guide leads the way to the gorilla sanctuary. Once you get to where the gorillas are, keep calm and watch them play, feed, and swing from one tree branch to another.
The maximum time allowed with a mountain gorilla family is strictly One Hour, after which the ranger shall lead you back to the base. Upon return, you will receive your tracking certificate. With your certificate in hand and a souvenir – if you choose to buy one – return to your lodging facility with the great memories of the time spent with the great apes.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Silverback Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 14

Birding In Buhoma

Birding In Buhoma

This part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is unique for its set of individual birds, and this is because it is a mid-elevation forest hence an overlapping zone. This is where birds of the lowland and montane forests overlap. We make good use of our time by spending the day in the forest. We will enjoy the goodness of a less humid forest while scanning its impenetrable undergrowth for some of the continent’s most famous skulkers. We will look for Kivu Ground thrush, Neumann’s Warbler, Red-faced woodland warbler, Willard’s Sooty Boubou.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Silverback Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 15

Birding In Ruhija

Birding In Ruhija

Get pleasure from the freshness of the Buhoma ambience as you transfer to the Ruhija area of Bwindi National park. Before we get to the mountains, we stop at the “neck” which is also a magnet of mid-elevation birds. Its streams are great Mountain Wagtail, African Black Duck, and Cassin’s Flycatcher. Still, we will also look in the undergrowth and canopy for Chapin’s Flycatcher, Many coloured –bush shrike, Luhder’s Bush-Shrike and Pettit’s Cuckoo-shrike, among others.
Later in the afternoon and after checking in to our accommodation facility, we will do a walk along the community trail and catch up with a few high-quality birds that only occur this high. Settle in at the lodge.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 16

Birding In the Ruhija Trails

Birding In the Ruhija Trails

Ruhija is a higher elevated part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with cooler and very comfortable birding weather. We will take on the forests early and keep in there for the rest of the day. This is where the Albertine Rift endemics are plenty, and we want to get a good number of them. The major Mubwindi trail ends at the bottom of Mubwindi swamp, and that is where the highly desired Grauer’s Broadbill and Grauer’s Rush Warbler are found in big numbers. However, on our way to this swamp, we will take it slowly checking out the impenetrable bits of this part of the park. We hope to find Regal, Grauer’s Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Black-faced Apalis, Blue-headed and Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Strange Weaver, Red-throated Alethe, Rwenzori Batis, Rwenzori Apalis among other Albertine rift endemics. The list of restricted-range species will also be worth to brag about, should see Bar-tailed Trogon, Mountain and Augur Buzzard, African Hill Babbler.

Main Destination:
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
Accommodation:
Ruhija Gorilla Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located just outside Bwindi NP (Gorillas)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 17

Birding to Lake Mburo National Park

Birding to Lake Mburo National Park

Enjoy the uniquely scenic drive this morning as you transfer from Bwindi to Lake Mburo National Park. En-route birding is a must, and we will do stops to have brilliant views of birds as part of the adventure along the way. Sail on the calm waters of L. Mburo as you spend your evening watching bird species like the African finfoot, Green Backed Heron, Roufus Bellied Heron, Black Crowned Night Heron, Giant Kingfisher and Africa Fish Eagle among others.

Main Destination:
Lake Mburo National Park
Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February
High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)
Best Weather June, July and January to February (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP

BuffaloCommon
ZebraCommon
HippoCommon
GiraffeOccasional
LeopardOccasional
HyenaOccasional
Show more
LionRare
Accommodation:
Lake Mburo Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located inside Lake Mburo NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 18

Birding In Lake Mburo NP

Birding In Lake Mburo NP

The crack of dawn invites you to wake up for a morning walking safari in the CoquiFrancolin and Temminck’s Courser. After a short briefing by your guide, start the trek and search for the Red-face Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Lilac-breasted Roller, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove, Green Wood-hoopoe, Spot-flanked Barbet, Chin-spot Batis among many others.
In the afternoon, take a boat ride in search for the African Finfoot which most iconic bird of the park, Giant Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler.
By the end of the day, we will have done magnificent finding mammals during birding excursions. Some of the big ones include the recently introduced Giraffes, Zebra, Eland, Topi, Impala among others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:
Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation:
Lake Mburo Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located inside Lake Mburo NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 19

Lake Mburo >> Igongo Cultural Center >> Entebbe

Lake Mburo >> Igongo Cultural Center >> Entebbe

We will bird our way out of the park, doing stops to look for Collared, Red-faced and Crested Barbets, Violet-backed Starling, Common Scimitterbill, Green Wood-hoopoe, among others. At the same time, we enjoy the incredible rolling hills of Uganda’s smallest national park. We shall visit Igongo Cultural Center for lunch and to see the museum as well. Later in the afternoon, we shall leave for Kampala or Entebbe, depending on your preference as the launch pad for your flight back home the following day.

Main Destination:
Entebbe (City)
Accommodation:
Airport Guest House
  • Mid-range guest house located in Entebbe (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 20

Departure at Entebbe Airport

Departure at Entebbe Airport

Wake up this morning and enjoy a relaxed breakfast. Enjoy the gardens at your hotel and spot a few birds before collecting your bags for departure. We shall drive you to the airport in time for your outbound flight. Thank you for visiting the Pearl of Africa. See you again soon.

Main Destination:
Entebbe International Airport (Entebbe)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Lush Africa Safaris, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • Gorilla tracking permits are subject to availability.