“Birding in the Pearl of Africa”
8 Day Birding Safari Tour in Uganda, the Pearl of Africa
Papyrus Guest House, Address: 2 Uringi Cres Rd, Entebbe, Uganda
Embark on a Birding Expedition in Uganda
The 8 days birding in Uganda introduces Uganda as one of the richest African Birding Destinations with over 1090 bird species. 50% of Africa’s bird species are found in Uganda, making Uganda a birding paradise. Uganda has 25 Albertine Endemics with only 1 Endemic Bird Species Fox’s Weaver.
Key information
- Maximum group size: 6
- Starting point and ending point: Entebbe
- Languages spoken: English-speaking driver/guide
- All park entrance fees are included
Highlights
- Birding in Mabamba Swamp and Botanical Gardens,
- Birding along the Kazinga Channel Cruise in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Birding during a Game safari in Queen Elizabeth NP
- Birding along Mubwindi Swamp Trail
- Ground transportation in a safari customized 4WD Toyota Landcruiser
- 7 nights accommodation
- Meals as per itinerary
- Airport transfers
Styles
6 activity days
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Airport transfer included:
Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation
The trip is based on standard hand-picked locally-owned lodges.
- Papyrus Guest House
- Bush Lodge
- Mwebesa House
Program
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Welcome to the Pearl of Africa! Arrival at Entebbe Airport where you will be welcomed by a company representative and transferred to your hotel in Kampala. Overnight at Papyrus Guest House on the start of your 8 days birding in Uganda safari.
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp & Botanical Gardens
Begin your journey with an early transfer to Mabamba Swamp, located 50 km west of Kampala. This area is renowned for its abundance of bird species, particularly the rare shoebill stork.
Explore the marsh for sightings of not only the shoebill stork but also other bird species such as the swamp flycatcher, African purple swamphen, African water rail, common moorhen, lesser jacana, African jacana, African pygmy goose, white-faced whistling-duck, squacco heron, rufous-bellied heron, and purple heron.
Additionally, you might spot a variety of other bird species including the blue-breasted bee-eater, winding cisticola, Goliath heron, black crake, African marsh harrier, hammerkop, malachite kingfisher, pied kingfisher, common waxbill, yellow-billed duck, blue-headed cuckoo, fan-tailed widowbird, intermediate egret, osprey, long-toed lapwing, African pied wagtail, and red-billed firefinch.
After lunch, proceed to the botanical gardens where you can keep an eye out for the grey kestrel, golden-backed weaver, slender-billed weaver, and various forest birds including the resplendent Ross’s turaco, the majestic great blue turaco, palm-nut vulture, African grey parrot, and even the elusive bat hawk.
Your accommodation and meals will be provided at the Papyrus Guest House.
Day 3: Kampala – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Following breakfast, embark on a journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, making a brief stop at the Uganda Equator for a demonstration of water flow illustrating the division between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Afterward, continue to Mbarara Town for lunch before proceeding to the park. Upon arrival in the evening, take time to unwind and relax. Enjoy dinner and spend the night at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge.
Renowned as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birding International, Queen Elizabeth boasts an impressive array of habitats, providing a haven for over 600 bird species. This diversity is unparalleled among East African national parks, especially considering the park’s relatively compact size.
The convergence of savanna and forest landscapes, coupled with its connection to the vast forests of the DR Congo, offers visitors the opportunity to observe avian species from both East and Central Africa.
Day 4: Game Drive and Boat Cruise
Wake up early and embark on a dawn safari, venturing towards the Uganda kobs’ mating grounds. As the sun rises, explore the wilderness in search of majestic creatures like lions, elephants, and buffaloes thriving in their natural habitat.
Look out for a myriad of avian species, including the African wattled lapwing, Temminck’s courser, martial eagle, African crake, flappet lark, and the elusive moustached grass warbler.
After lunch, indulge in a leisurely yet captivating boat cruise along the picturesque Kazinga Channel. Delight in the symphony of bird calls echoing through the air as you spot an array of avifauna, such as the African skimmer, gull-billed tern, gray-headed, and lesser black-backed gulls.
Along the banks, observe the graceful presence of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and buffaloes basking in the sun, with occasional glimpses of elephants adding to the spectacle.
Accommodation and meals at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge.
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi National Park
Following a leisurely breakfast, you’ll set off for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, the habitat of endangered mountain gorillas. You’ll arrive in time for a late lunch and some relaxation at your accommodation, the Haven Lodge.
Bwindi is renowned for its exceptional montane forest bird watching, making it a must-visit for birders in Uganda. The park boasts around 350 bird species, including 23 endemics to the Albertine Rift and 14 exclusive to Uganda.
Among these are globally threatened species like the African green broadbill and Shelley’s crimsonwing. Additionally, you can spot a variety of other birds such as the handsome francolin, black-billed turaco, African broadbill, black and cinnamon-chested bee-eaters, western green tinkerbird, purple-breasted, and blue-headed.
Other bird species include regal sunbirds, short-tailed and black-faced rufous warblers, mountain-masked and collared apalis, mountain and yellow-streaked greenbuls, and many-colored bush-shrike, among others.
Day 6: Birding Excursion / Optional Gorilla Trekking
After breakfast, head out for a birding session along the 4 km Mubwindi Swamp. This is the best place for some of the Albertine rift endemics including Grauer’s (African green) broadbill, the beautiful regal sunbird, the great blue turaco, and the skulking Doherty’s bushshrike.
Along the forest roadsides and trails, we expect to find endemics such as Ruwenzori (collared) apalis, skulking red-crested alethe, and Archer’s robin-chat, white-headed woodhoopoes.
Some common bird species in Bwindi include purple-breasted, blue-headed, and regal sunbirds, sooty boubou, yellow-eyed black-flycatcher, Ruwenzori hill babbler, red-faced woodland, Neumann’s, and Grauer’s warblers, black-faced apalis, white-tailed blue-flycatcher, stripe-breasted tit, dusky crimson-wing, and strange weaver. Rare gems we’ll hope to see include Kivu ground-thrush, white-bellied robin-chat, and dusky twinspot.
Many primates roam the canopy including chimpanzees, Guereza colobus, and blue and L’Hoests monkeys.
Optional Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi National Park
Get an early start today and gear up for the pinnacle of your safari: an unparalleled encounter with the gentle giants! After breakfast, make your way to the national park offices, where you’ll be grouped into teams of 8 and assigned a gorilla family, along with a seasoned gorilla tracking guide.
The Gorilla Experience:
Following a briefing from your guide covering general gorilla information, details about your assigned gorilla family, and safety protocols, embark on an exhilarating journey. You’ll drive to the trailhead, ready to begin your adventure.
Be prepared for a trek lasting anywhere from 2 to 8 hours, navigating through steep and slippery terrain, often under the canopy of rain. This demanding terrain requires a reasonable level of fitness.
Once you catch sight of the gorillas, you’ll spend a precious hour observing them in their natural habitat: feeding, moving about, playing, and grooming. It’s an utterly unique and unforgettable experience!
Afterward, return to the lodge to unwind and reflect on the day’s extraordinary encounters.
Accommodation and meals at the Haven Lodge.
Day 7: Bwindi Forest – Kampala
After breakfast, we depart the impenetrable forest of Bwindi and head back to Kampala. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then proceed back to Kampala arriving in the evening. Dinner and overnight at Papyrus Guest House. Alternatively, you may decide to depart through Rwanda – Kigali or continue a birding expedition in Rwanda.
Day 8: Departure
Soaked with a wealth of experiences and creating unforgettable memories, it’s time to bid farewell to the captivating Pearl of Africa.
Depending on your flight arrangements, you have the option to partake in a city tour with our guide before heading to Entebbe Airport for your international departure.
Location
During this safari, you will visit Mabamba Swamp & Botanical Gardens, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park, Bwindi Forest, and Kampala.
Food
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
What's included
- Ground transportation in a safari-customized 4WD Toyota Landcruiser with gasoline/fuel
- Mineral water
- English-speaking driver/guide
- All birding activities
- Nature walks
- Boat cruises
- Game drives
- 7 nights accommodation
- Meals as shown (B-breakfast, L-lunch, D-dinner)
- All park entrance fees
- Boat rides where applicable
- Statutory taxes where applicable
- Airport transfers
What's not included
- International airfares
- Excess baggage charges
- Ugandan entry visa fees of USD 50 per person
- Alcoholic drinks and beverages
- Laundry
- Tips and gratuities for your driver/guide and hotel staff
- Shopping charges for curios and crafts
- International airport departure taxes
- Optional activities unless specified as included
- Any other services not expressly shown in the itinerary or indicated as included
How to get there
Recommended Airports
EBB
Entebbe International Airport
3 km
Transfer included
Airport: Entebbe International Airport
Airport transfer included: Entebbe International Airport
No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 21 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookAllSafaris.com. All major credit cards supported.
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