$3,351 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Meet your Professional Bird Guide Driver at the Guesthouse in Entebbe, Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Ranch
Meet your Professional Bird Guide Driver at the Guesthouse in Entebbe, Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Ranch
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you'll be met by your professional bird driver-guide. This marks the beginning of your adventure. You'll then embark on a scenic drive to Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch.
Ziwa Rhino Ranch: This private sanctuary is the only place in Uganda where you can track rhinos in the wild. While the primary focus here is rhino conservation, the ranch also offers excellent birding opportunities, especially around its wetlands and woodlands.
Birding Highlights: Expect to see a variety of wetland and savannah species. Notable birds include the African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Pied Kingfisher, Grey Crowned Crane (Uganda's national bird), Marabou Stork, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Double-toothed Barbet, and Red-billed Oxpecker, often seen on the backs of rhinos and other grazers.
- Main Destination:
- Ziwa Rhino and Wildlife Ranch
- Accommodation:
- Bethel Resort & Hotels
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2-3
Birding and Wildlife Safari Game Drive at Kidepo Valley National Park
Birding and Wildlife Safari Game Drive at Kidepo Valley National Park
Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park: This is a long but rewarding journey to Uganda's most remote and arguably most stunning national park, Kidepo Valley. You'll drive through varied landscapes, offering initial birding opportunities along the way.
Kidepo Valley National Park: Known for its vast savannah, rugged mountains, and unique wildlife, Kidepo is a birder's paradise, especially for dry-country species.
Birding Highlights: Kidepo boasts over 475 recorded bird species. Look out for endemic birds found only in the Karamoja region. Key species include the majestic Ostrich, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Superb Starling, Clapperton's Francolin, Golden Pipit, Taita Fiscal, Rufous Chatterer, and various raptors. Birding is excellent around Apoka Rest Camp, Narus Valley, and Namamkwenyi Valley.
Wildlife Safari: In addition to birding, you'll enjoy game drives to spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, lions, leopards, and cheetahs (though rarer).
- Main Destination:
- Kidepo Valley National Park
- Accommodation:
-
Apoka Rest Camp
Wildlife in Kidepo Valley NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4-5
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Afternoon Game Drive in the Park
Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park, Afternoon Game Drive in the Park
Transfer to Murchison Falls: You'll travel southwest to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda's largest conservation area, famous for its powerful waterfall.
Murchison Falls National Park: This park offers a diverse range of habitats, from savannah and woodlands to wetlands, making it a prime birding destination.
Birding Highlights: Murchison Falls is one of the best places in Africa to spot the elusive Shoebill Stork, particularly in the dry season (January to March) along the Nile River. Other notable species include the African Darter, Giant Kingfisher, Osprey, Long-toed Plover, and Grey-headed Kingfisher. The park boasts over 450 bird species.
Afternoon Game Drive: You'll explore the northern bank of the Nile, renowned for its abundant wildlife, including Rothschild's giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, and various antelopes.
- Main Destination:
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Accommodation:
- Red Chilli Rest Camp
Wildlife in Murchison Falls NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Forest Birding at Budongo Royal Mile
Forest Birding at Budongo Royal Mile
Budongo Royal Mile: A short drive from Murchison Falls, Budongo Forest is part of the Budongo Forest Reserve, home to one of East Africa's largest mahogany forests. The Royal Mile is a renowned birding trail within this forest.
Birding Highlights: This area is excellent for Albertine Rift Endemics and forest birds. You can expect to see species like Nahan's Francolin, Cassin's Spinetail, White-thighed Hornbill, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Ituri Batis, and various greenbuls and sunbirds. It's a flat trail, making it easy to walk.
- Main Destination:
- Budongo Forest (Chimps)
- Accommodation:
-
Murchison Backpackers
Wildlife in Budongo Forest
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Transfer to Fort Portal Town, Afternoon Nature Walk at Bigodi Swamp
Transfer to Fort Portal Town, Afternoon Nature Walk at Bigodi Swamp
Transfer to Fort Portal: A scenic drive takes you to Fort Portal, a charming town known for its crater lakes and proximity to Kibale Forest National Park.
Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary: Located just outside Kibale National Park, Bigodi is a community-run wetland that offers fantastic primate viewing and birding.
Birding Highlights: Known as the "Home of the Great Blue Turaco," Bigodi boasts over 200 bird species. Other key sightings include the Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Western Nicator, Grey-winged Robin-chat, and various kingfishers. You'll explore the wetland on guided boardwalk trails and viewing platforms.
- Main Destination:
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary (Kibale NP)
- Accommodation:
- Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Forest Birding at Semuliki Valley National Park
Forest Birding at Semuliki Valley National Park
Semuliki Valley National Park: This park is unique for its lowland rainforest, which is an extension of the Congo Basin's Ituri Forest. It's a true gem for Central African bird species.
Birding Highlights: Semuliki is a hotspot for Guinea-Congo forest biome species and Albertine Rift endemics, with over 441 bird species recorded. Look out for the Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-casqued Hornbill, Long-tailed Hawk, Nkulengu Rail, Piping Hornbill, and various Bee-eaters and Cuckoos.
- Main Destination:
- Semuliki National Park
- Accommodation:
- Ruwenzori View Guesthouse
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Afternoon Boat Trip at Kazinga Channel
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Afternoon Boat Trip at Kazinga Channel
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth: You'll head south to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda's second-largest and most biodiverse national park.
Kazinga Channel Boat Trip: This is a highlight of any visit to Queen Elizabeth. The boat trip along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George, offers incredible birding and wildlife viewing.
Birding Highlights: The channel banks are teeming with waterbirds, including various pelicans, cormorants, kingfishers, herons, egrets, and storks. Keep an eye out for the African Skimmer, Fish Eagle, and numerous migratory species (seasonal).
Wildlife Viewing: You'll see large concentrations of hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo cooling off in the water, and elephants often come to drink at the banks.
Afternoon Game Drive (Optional/Flexible): Depending on arrival time, a short game drive in the Mweya Peninsula can be incorporated.
- Main Destination:
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Accommodation:
- Engiri Game Lodge
Wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Birding on the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-Buhoma Sector
Birding on the way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park-Buhoma Sector
Transfer to Bwindi (Buhoma Sector): The journey to Bwindi is known for its stunning scenery, winding roads through hills, and traditional villages.
En-route Birding: Your guide will make stops along the way in various habitats (savannah, agricultural land, forest edges) to look for birds. This often includes driving through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, famous for its tree-climbing lions.
Birding Highlights: Expect to see a mix of savannah and forest edge species, depending on the route. In Ishasha, you might spot various raptors and open-country birds. As you approach Bwindi, forest species will become more prevalent.
Buhoma Sector, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park: This sector is one of the main entry points for gorilla trekking and offers fantastic forest birding.
- Main Destination:
- Buhoma Sector (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)
- Accommodation:
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Forest Birding at Buhoma Sector-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Forest Birding at Buhoma Sector-Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Full Day Birding: Dedicate a full day to exploring the rich avifauna of the Buhoma sector. Bwindi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a key habitat for Albertine Rift Endemics.
Birding Highlights: Bwindi boasts over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics. In Buhoma, look for the African Green Broadbill (rare), Black-billed Turaco, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Oriole, Doherty's Bushshrike, African Emerald Cuckoo, various flycatchers, and other more. Birding trails often lead to the waterfall and bamboo zones.
- Main Destination:
- Buhoma Sector (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)
- Accommodation:
- Buhoma Community Rest Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Forest Birding at Ruhija Sector - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Forest Birding at Ruhija Sector - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Transfer to Ruhija Sector: Another scenic drive, this time to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi, which is at a higher altitude and offers a different set of bird species.
Full Day Birding: You'll explore the unique birdlife of Ruhija.
Birding Highlights: Ruhija is particularly good for species like the Grauer's Broadbill (African Green Broadbill), Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Doherty's Bush-shrike, Red-chested Flufftail, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, and other high-altitude Albertine Rift Endemics. The Mubwindi Swamp trail is a well-known birding spot in this area.
- Main Destination:
- Ruhija Sector (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)
- Accommodation:
- Trekker's Tavern Cottages
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 13
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, Add Afternoon Game Drive in the Park
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park, Add Afternoon Game Drive in the Park
Transfer to Lake Mburo: You'll head east to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda's smallest savanna national park, known for its acacia woodlands and open grasslands.
Lake Mburo National Park: Despite its size, Lake Mburo is surprisingly rich in birdlife, especially for acacia-associated species and waterbirds.
Birding Highlights: Over 310 bird species have been recorded. Look for the African Finfoot (best seen on a boat trip), Red-faced Barbet (endemic to the area), Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Tabora Cisticola, Black-bellied Bustard, Papyrus Gonolek, and various starlings, kingfishers, and raptors.
Afternoon Game Drive: You'll enjoy a game drive through the park, where you might spot zebras, impalas, elands, topis, and buffaloes.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Accommodation:
- Eagle's Nest Camp
Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 14
Transfer back to Entebbe Airport with a detour at Mabamba Shoebill Watching Site
Transfer back to Entebbe Airport with a detour at Mabamba Shoebill Watching Site
Morning Game/Birding (Optional): Depending on your flight schedule, a short morning game drive or bird walk in Lake Mburo can be arranged.
Transfer to Mabamba: You'll begin the drive back to Entebbe.
Mabamba Shoebill Watching Site: This is a crucial stop and one of the best places in Uganda to see the highly sought-after Shoebill Stork. You'll take a canoe through the papyrus swamps.
Birding Highlights: Besides the Shoebill, Mabamba is home to over 300 bird species, including the Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Blue Swallow, Lesser Jacana, Goliath Heron, Black Egret, and African Marsh Harrier.
Transfer to Entebbe Airport: After your unforgettable shoebill encounter, you'll be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your departure, concluding your remarkable Ugandan birding adventure.
- Main Destination:
- Mabamba Swamp
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
