12 Days Forest Bird Watching Safari
12 Days Forest Bird Watching Safari
An adventurous Uganda safari consisting of 12 Days Uganda bird watching safari, visiting almost all birding sanctuaries in Uganda to mention Entebbe botanical gardens, Kibale forest, Bwindi impenetrable national park, budongo forest, birding at semuliki, birding at ruhija.
Day 1: BOTANICAL GARDENS: INTRODUCTORY BIRDING
Depending on your time of arrival into Uganda, we shall organize an afternoon birding at the botanical gardens and shores of Lake Victoria and the Kajjansi ponds before transferring to your hotel for overnight in BB. Key species: Great blue Turaco, White & Black casqued Hornbills, Grey-crowned crane, compact weaver, Hadada Ibis, African open bill stork, Woodland Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, Grey heron, and Pied Kingfisher.
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Accommodation Options:
Mid-range – Cassia Lodge
Budget – Red Chili Camp – Kampala
Day 2: FOREST BIRDING: BIRDING MABIRA FOREST
Go birding in the Mabira forest gets you early enough at the forest center, where you register and later enjoy a full day forest birding.
Mabira forest species: Purple throated cuckoo shrike, Nahan’s francolins, Forest wood hoopoe, Green-tailed bristle bill, Joyful Greenbul, Tit Hylia, Grey long bill, Great blue turaco, Weyns weaver, African harrier-hawk, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Brown-eared woodpecker, White-headed Saw-wing. Dinner and overnight in the lodge in Mabira Forest
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Accommodation Options:
Mid-range – The Rain Forest Lodge
Day 3: BUDONGO FOREST: BIRDING BUSINGIRO SECTOR
This day, transfer to Budongo forest birding along the way to Budongo forest, transfer from Kampala to Busingiro sector for an afternoon forest birding, depending on the time of arrival, continue birding along the main road and areas around the lodge.
Birds of interest include: African Dwarf Kingfisher, chestnut capped flycatcher, western black headed oriole, Sabine’s Spinetail, white-breasted negro finch, Yellow-crested woodpecker, Yellow-footed flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Piping Hornbill, Sabine’s Spinetail. Dinner & overnight in Masindi town
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
Travel time: 5 – 6 hours
Accommodation Options:
Mid-range – Masindi Hotel
Day 4: BIRDING BUDONGO FOREST – ROYAL MILE
Budongo Forest birding: With an early rise with a packed lunch, head for the royal mile and enjoy a full day bird watching along the forest road ending at the Forest Bridge. This day, be prepared for more forest birds which may include: Forest species: Ituri Batis, Nahan’s francolin, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Brown twin spot, White-spotted Flufftail, Jameson’s wattle eye, white-breasted negro finch, Grey-headed sunbird, Red-headed bluebill, Green Sunbird, Little green sunbird and more. Returning to the hotel for dinner and overnight at the night before.
Day 5: BIRDING TO KIBALE: FOREST SPECIES
More forest species birding: Early transfer to Kibale forest birding en –route with a picnic lunch. Arriving in Fort Portal in the evening while enjoying the rest of the afternoon birding around the lodge and along the forest main trail.
Possible sightings include Black-billed turaco, Yellow-billed Barbet, Great blue turaco, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Vanga flycatcher, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Western Nicator, Yellow bill, and Red-bellied paradise flycatcher.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
Travel time: 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation Options:
Mid-range – Primate Lodge
Budget – Chimpanzee Guest House
Day 6: SWAMP WALK, KIBALE FOREST
Whole day birding Kibale forest park with the early morning walk in Bigodi swamp, and afternoon birding in the forest for forest birds. Forest species: White collared Olive back, Red Tailed Bristlebill, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-bellied crested flycatcher, Joyful Greenbul, Black-billed Turaco, Blue-shouldered robin chat, Green-breasted Pitta, white spotted Flufftail. Dinner and overnight at the night before
Day 7: BIRDING TO SEMLIKI, SEMULIKI RATITES
Birding in Semuliki forest starts early morning with a packed lunch drive down the Semuliki valleys for forest experience, visit Sempaya hot springs and continue birding to Kirumia trail the rest of the day.
Semuliki Rarities: Spot-breasted ibis, Grey-throated rail, Capuchin babbler, Congo serpent eagle, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, White-crested hornbill, African Piculet, Red-bellied Malimbe, Zenker’s honeyguide. Return late afternoon to Fort portal town and check into your lodge or hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 8: BIRDING TO BWINDI PARK – FOREST SPECIES
Early morning transfer to Bwindi Park: birding along the way to Buhoma and its surroundings. Possible sightings in this area include Albertine species: Banded Prinia, Narina dragon, Magie Manikin, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Black-billed Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Stuhlmann’s starling, Pink-footed puff back, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Ludher’s bush shrike Narina dragon, Banded Prinia, blue-headed sunbird, Ross’s Turaco, Black-billed Turaco.
Dinner and overnight in Buhoma
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
Travel time: 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation Options:
Mid-range – Silverback lodge
Budget – Buhoma Community Bandas
Day 9: WHOLE DAY BIRDING BWINDI FOREST PARK – ALBERTINE RIFT ENDEMICS
Trekking Mountain Gorillas (optional US$ 600) otherwise full day bird watching along the waterfall loop searching for ratites and rift valley endemics which may include: Red-throated Alethe, Black Bee-eater, Short-tailed Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Red-faced woodland warbler, Blue-headed Sunbird, Brown-capped Weaver, Strange weaver. Dinner and overnight at the night before
Day 10: BIRDING TO RUHIJA – BUNYONYI
Birding Bwindi forest starting with the neck, Ruhija surroundings, and Bamboo zone before transferring to Bunyonyi for dinner and overnight stay. Albertine rift species: Mountain Wagtail, Black Bee-eater, Bar-tailed Trogon, Regal Sunbird, olive pigeon,white-tailed ant-thrush, Banded Prinia, Mountain capped Apalis, Handsome Francolin, Chapin’s flycatcher, sooty flycatcher.
Dinner and overnight at the lodge of your choice.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Accommodation Options:
Mid-range – Birdnest Resort
Budget – Bunyonyi Overland Resort
Day 11: BIRDING BACK TO KAMPALA
Depart Lake Bunyonyi early morning birding at interesting points en-route to Kampala and check in at a booked hotel for a night stay as first night
Day 12: DEPARTURE
Reserved for departures through Entebbe International Airport.
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