10 Days birding Safari
Day 1 Arrival
Arrive in Uganda through Entebbe International Airport. Depending on the time of arrival, you may choose to rest while others may go for birding in and around Entebbe or Kampala. Dinner and overnight at Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel/ Boma Guest House Entebbe.
Day 2 Mabamba Swamp
After an early breakfast, drive to Mabamba Swamp, 50km west of Kampala. The wetland is newly discovered home for the most sought after bird the shoebill. Birding is done on the canoes in marsh channels. Special birds include White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, yellow-backed weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Blue-headed Coucal and other swamp specialties. Look out for the shoebill stork both in the sky and down on the marsh. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight at Windsor Lake Victoria Hotel/ Boma Guest House.
Day 3 Kampala to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, you drive northwards to Murchison Falls National Park birding through the Escarpment. Special birds include Cliff Chat, Yellow fronted tinkerbird, Grey headed Bush Shrike, Singing Cisticola, African Finfoot, Namaqua dove, Green Winged Pytilia, Red Backed Shrike, Crested Francolin, Black Headed Bush Shrike, Northern and Black winged Red Bishops, Black Bellied Firefinch, and Black faced Waxbill and March Tchagra. We either cross River Nile and stay at Para Safari Lodge or stay at Nile Safari Camp.
Day 4 Nile Birding
Take a boat along the Victoria Nile to the Lake Albert. This is home to hippos and many enormous Nile crocodiles as well as special birds which include shoebill, secretary bird, Abyssinian roller and ground hornbill, pied kingfishers, Goliath heron, water thick-knees, black-headed and long-toed lapwing and grosbeak weaver. This afternoon cross for birding to the top of the falls. Look out for White fronted black chat, Rock pranticoles, white-crested turaco, grey woodpecker, Darter and giant kingfisher, red-throated bee-eater among other birds. Dinner and overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge.
Day 5 Birding on the northern bank, top of the falls and Nile Delta
We start birding after an early breakfast. We may take a game drive to the delta and there after a trip to the top of the falls. Special birds to look for include Shoebill, Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller and Ground Hornbill, Pied Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eaters, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Senegal Thick-knee, Water Thick-knee, Black-headed Lapwing, Long-toed Lapwing, Little Bittern, Osprey, Red-necked Falcon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Vinaceous Dove and Grosbeak Weaver. Other specials include Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Marabou Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silver bird, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver and White-rumped Seedeater, Pels Fishing Owl, White Crested Turaco, Vinaceous Dove, Senegal Thicknee, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, Carmine Bee-eater, Night jars(Pennant-winged &Standard-winged), White rumped canary etc.
Day 6 Murchison falls to Budongo Forest
Take a long drive to Budongo arriving Budongo area late in the afternoon. If time allows there may be chances for birding along the way at Busingiro Section of Budongo forest. Dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel.
Day 7 Whole day birding the Royal Mile
Have breakfast and drive to one of the best of Uganda's bird watching spot, the Royal Mile. This is the Uganda's historically known leisure spot for the traditional King, hence the name Royal Mile. Key species include African dwarf and Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Yellow and grey Long bills, Olive-bellied Crombec, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Crowned eagle, Forest Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaropera, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow-mantled Weaver, yellow-browed Camaroptera, Green Crombec, Crested Malimbe and red-headed bluebill. Dinner and overnight.
Day 8 Budongo to Kibale National Park
After an early breakfast, leave early for Kbale National Park. This is rather a longer drive. Kible forest birds include Grey-winged Robin, Blue shouldered robin chat, yellow spotted barbet, black billed turaco, white-naped pigeon, Green-brested pitta, Red-cested Flufftail, Africa pita, joyful greenbul, Cabanis greenbul etc. Dinner and overnight at Ndali Lodge or Primate Lodge.
Day 9 Whole day birding in the Forest
Have breakfast and head to the forest to look for other specialties which include Hite-tailed Ant-thrushes, purple-headed Glossy-Starling, Brown Illadopsis, Green-breasted Pitta, White-naped pigeon, Masked Apalis, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Black-billed Turaco, Buff-spotted Woodpecker and Green Crombec dinner and overnight stay at Ndali Lodge/ Primate Lodge.
Day 10 Kibale National Park to Kampala
After breakfast, depart Kibale National Park for Kampala having lunch en route and arriving at your own hotel in the evening.
HAVE FUN WITH ASL SAFARIS
