16 Days Birding the Forests of Uganda

16 Days Birding the Forests of Uganda, Uganda is endowed with varied bird species some of which have fascinating colors which has made the birding safari so adventurous. These bird species in Uganda are in different destinations and these include ; Mabira Forest, Bundongo Forest Reserve, Kibale National Park, among others. Some of these bird species include; Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, White-spotted Fluff tail, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spine tail.

Highlights;

Arrival in Uganda the pearl of Africa

Kampala-Mabira Forest(60 kms)

Kampala-Budongo Forest Reserve (195 KMS):

Budongo Forest Reserve (Puvel’s Illadopsis):

Busingiro-Kibale National Park(146 kms)

Kibale National Park: (Optional activity: chimp tracing)

Semiliki National Park:

Birding at Kilumiya Trail:

Transfer to Bwindi Park (220 kms)

Explore the Albertine Rift Endemics( Optional activity; Gorilla tracing):

Birding in Ruhija:

Mubwindi swamp

Bwindi Park- Kampala: (527KMS)

Departure:

Detailed itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda the pearl of Africa

Furthermore, in 14 Days Birding the Forests of Uganda, on your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by a birding safari guide from Bonobos African safaris. He will welcome you and later transfer you to the Hotel. However, depending on the time of arrival, you may perhaps go for birding in Entebbe botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport

Accommodation Option: 

Luxury: Serena Hotel.
Mid-range: via via guest house
Budget: via via guest house

Meals plan

Water and fruits throughout

Break first, lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Kampala-Mabira Forest(60 kms):

In fact, this is the most serious forest reserve closest to the city Centre. However, it boasts 315 bird types recording with 74 of the 144 types of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome that occurs in Uganda. However, you will also search for Nahan’s Francolin which is an IUCN Red list’ endangered types, as well as Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, White-spotted Fluff tail, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spine tail.

In addition to that, there is also Cassin’s Spine tail, African Pied Hornbill, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Speckled Tinker bird, Yellow-throated Tinker bird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Green-breasted Pitta, African Shrike-flycatcher, Jameson’s and Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Forest Robin, Fire-crested Alethe, Cassin’s Honey guide.

As well as the Red-tailed Bristle bill among others. Chin-spot Batis, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Lemon-bellied Crombec, African Moustached Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, African Citril,  Northern Puff back, Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike and Western Violet-backed Sunbird.

Main Destination: Entebbe International Airport

Accommodation Option: 

Luxury: Serena Hotel.
Mid-range: via via guest house
Budget: via via guest house

Meals plan

Water and fruits throughout

Break first, lunch & Dinner

Day 3; Kampala-Budongo Forest Reserve (195 KMS):

Meanwhile, Budongo forest reserve is located in the North West of Uganda on your way to Murchison falls. And is also the biggest Mahogany forest in East Africa. However, the major tourist sites are Kanio Pabidi Ecotourism site and Busingiro Eco tourism site. Lastly, there are 2 endemic types found in Budongo forest and not anywhere in East Africa.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Budongo Eco lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4; Budongo Forest Reserve (Puvel’s Illadopsis):

Furthermore, early morning you will head to the Royal mile and several other walks in search of great types. In addition to, search for the Puvel’s Illadopsis and Nahan’s Francolin as well as other special birds like the Yellow-billed Barbet, Grey-throated Barbet, Honey guide Greenbul and White Wagtail.

At the same time, the African Paradise Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Lemon-bellied Crombec, African Moustached Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, African Citril,  Northern Puff back, Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Western Violet-backed Sunbird and many more.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Budongo Eco lodge.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 5; Busingiro-Kibale National Park(146 kms):

For the early hours of the day, you will go for birding in Busingiro and thereafter transfer to Kibale Forest National Park arriving early evening

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Crater safari lodge.

Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp.

Budget: Rweteera Safa.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Day 6; Kibale National Park: (Optional activity: chimp tracing)

Early in the morning, you will then head out to the forest that is known for at least 339 types. While still here, you will also go for a walk in the Bigodi Wetland home and Sebitoli for special forest types, papyrus endemics and some shorebirds. However, Kibale is famed for its variety of animal types. In the same way, you may opt to go for Chimp tracing too.

Similarly, the park has the Green-breasted Pitta as the most sought-after types along with, Chubb’s Cist cola, Black-capped Waxbill, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green-pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African Wood Owl. Not only that -but also the Olive-green and Grey-backed Camaroptera, White-chinned Prinia, Green Hylia, Short-tailed Warbler, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, and the White-browedCrombec.

As well as Bo cage’ Bush-shrike, Bronze Manikin, Zebra Waxbill, Bronze Sunbird, Brown Illadopsis, Brown-capped Weaver, Brown-chested Alethe, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Brown-headed Tchagra, Afep Pigeon, endless list.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Crater safari lodge.

Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp.

Budget: Rweteera Safari camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Day 7; Semiliki National Park:

Similarly, Central African species which cannot be seen anywhere in East Africa can be seen in Semiliki National Park. That is to say, the Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honey guide, Black-wattled Hornbill, the Nkulengu Rail, will be some of the types sought after. Meanwhile, There is a single, unconfirmed report of the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Crater safari lodge.

Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp.

Budget: Rweteera Safari camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Day 8; Birding at Kilumiya Trail:

Most useful, Kilumiya being one of the wealthiest areas for both plants and animals in Africa, you will then bird in the place for two days. However, you will aim at a record of 400 types. Meanwhile, the African Piculet, Blue Swallow, Red-eyed Puff back.

As well as, White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, Grey Ground-Thrush, Little Grey Greenbul, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike.

Not only that-but also, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Grant’s Bluebill, Afep Pigeon, Blue-headed Coucal, Batas’s Nightjar, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Black-billed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, just to mention but a few.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Crater safari lodge.

Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp.

Budget: Rweteera Safari camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.

Day 9; Transfer to Bwindi Park (220 kms)

Furthermore, Bwindi park with its thick tropical forests is the best place and one of Africa’s best birding areas. However, Bwindi Park boasts around 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics. These include, the globally threatened types such as the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimson wing,

plus others such as Oberlaender’s/Forest Ground Thrush, Sassi’s Olive Greenbul, Dusky Crimson-wing, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird.

As well as, the Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collared Apalis, Montane Masked Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, and Handsome Francolin.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Mahogany springs.

Mid-range: Silverback lodge.

Budget: Buhoma community rest camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 10; Explore the Albertine Rift Endemics( Optional activity; Gorilla tracing):

There are less than 800 mountain gorillas in the whole world. Uganda is home to more than half of these beautiful, majestic, soft huge and yet endangered apes. Therefore, Gorilla tracing in Uganda is a must meeting not to be missed. Bwindi impassable forest seasoned families of mountain gorillas along with other types of animals, for example, Chimpanzees, Colobus, Olive baboons, name it.

Meanwhile, at Buhoma, we lookout for types like the Black Bee-Eater, Dusky Tit, Brown-caped Weaver, the Yellow-billed and yellow-spotted Barbets, the African and Black-and-white Shrike Flycatchers, Grey Apalis and Chestnut-throated Apalis.

Not only that -but also the Olive-green and Grey-backed Camaroptera, Sassi’s Olive Greenbul, Dusky Crimson-wing, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird. White-chinned Prinia, Green Hylia, Short-tailed Warbler, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, and the White-browedCrombec.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Mahogany springs.

Mid-range: Silverback lodge.

Budget: Buhoma community rest camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 11; Birding in Ruhija:

Moreover, the Grauer’s Broadbill, will be the most sought after type as well as other types. In other words, the Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimson-wings, Stripe-breasted Tit, as well as Rwenzori Apalises and many more.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Mahogany springs

Mid-range: Silverback lodge

Budget: Buhoma community rest camp

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 12;  Mubwindi swamp

Afterward your breakfast, you will head to Mubwindi Swamp in search for the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, White-tailed blue flycatcher, plus Grey-capped Warbler, Black Billed weaver, as well as Black Necked weaver.

Accommodation Options:

Luxury: Mahogany springs.

Mid-range: Silverback lodge.

Budget: Buhoma community rest camp.

Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Day 13; Bwindi Park- Kampala: (527KMS)

However, you will be moved back to Kampala. This allows you to have a second pause for lunch at the Igongo Cultural center and then proceed to the Uganda Equator.

While here you will be able to make simple studies, stand in both the Northern and Southern part at the same time. You will take photographs and buy trophy as well and then continue to Kampala arriving early evening.

Accommodations option:

Luxury: Serena Hotel.

Mid-range: Cassia lodge.

Budget: Red chili Hideaway.

Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast.

Day 14; Departure:

Meanwhile, you will be dropped at Entebbe International airport in time to catch your flights back home.

Inclusions on 14 Days Birding the Forests of Uganda

• A 4×4 land cruiser/ Minibus with a professional English-speaking bird safari guide and fuel.
• All park entrance fees.
• Full board accommodation as per the itinerary.
• Nature walks.
• Water throughout the safari.

Exclusions on 16 Days Birding the Forests of Uganda

• International flights,
• Visas,
• Tips,
• Drinks,
• Insurance and
• Any other personal expenses.

What to carry for the safari on 16 Days Birding the Forests of Uganda

• Light weight long-sleeved shirts,
• Pants of neutral colors,
• Hiking boots,
• Field guide book,
• Cameras,
• Pair of binoculars,
• Water bottle,
• Wide–brimmed hat,
• Light rain jacket,
• Flashlights and
• Charger and cables.