DJ UGANDA BIRDING SAFARI 17 Days 16 Nights
Mabamba, Budongo, Murchison Falls, Kibale, Semliki, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo

Day 1 – Entebbe
Upon arrival at the Airport you will be met and welcomed by our representative who will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe. Depending on your time of arrival you can be able to go birding later on at the Botanical gardens. The most common bird species are Ruff, Wood, Common, Marsh Sandpipers, Common Green Shank, Long-tailed and Great Cormorants, Madagascar Bee-eater, Green Crombec, Orange weaver, Entebbe Weaver (an endemic to Uganda that was recorded at the site only once), White spotted Fluftail. Overnight at Lake Victoria Hotel (C) or Entebbe Travellers Hotel (E). BB

Day 2 - Mabamba Wetland
After breakfast drive to the Mabamba bay, the only place and site where the elusive Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) can be spotted at any one time of the day. Other bird species to watch out for include: Rey-headed Gull, White Winged Terns, Madagascar Bee-eater, Yellow Billed Egret, Long toed Plover. Have lunch and in the afternoon you could have a walk along the tracks on the main road in search of more birds then you expect to see the Black Crake, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Cape Wagtail, Swamp Flightier, Winding Cisticola, Blue- Breasted Bee- eater, Red Chested Sunbird and many more. Dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria Hotel (C) or Entebbe Travellers Hotel (E). Full Board

Day 3 - Entebbe - Budongo
Have an early start on this day with breakfast at the hotel and then drive to Budongo Forest, one of the main birding sanctuaries in Uganda. Budongo lies at the edge of the Albertine Rift valley to the South of Murchison Falls National Park. You will however have a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, the breeding project which saw the rebirth of the endangered white and black rhinos. You can see them closely while walking freely in the reserve. Lunch. Proceed to Budongo and go birding in search for the White-crested Turaco, Ross's Turaco, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Bat Hawk, Black-shouldered Nightjar, White-crested Turaco, Crowned Eagle and African Wood-owl. Dinner and overnight at the Budongo Eco-lodge. Full Board

Day 4 - Budongo Forest (Royal Mile)
You will spend the whole day birding in the Budongo Forest Reserve. The Reserve boasts an impressive bird list of over 350 species and is the best site in Uganda for a number of sought-after birds such as Nahan's Francolin, Cassin's Spinetail, Ituri Batis and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher. This birding hot spot is also home to Uganda's largest population of Chimpanzees. An excellent network of trails and a wide track known as “The Royal Mile" provides access to the forest.
The Royal Mile is considered by some to be the country's premier forest birding locality. Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers are remarkably common and this is definitely the best place in Uganda to see these three species. Later proceed to Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest National park. Dinner and the overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (C). Full Board

Day 5 - Murchison Falls National Park (Shoebill stork)
After breakfast, go for an early morning game drive where you will do birding and also searching for the other wildlife found in the park. Return to the lodge for breakfast. In the afternoon the activity of the boat excursion to the foot of the falls will allow you to spot a dazzling variety of water birds such as the African Fish Eagle, African Skimmer and the rare shoebill stork which at times can be seen at the banks of the river. Other bird species include: Silver Bird, Blue-napped Mouse birds, Grey-crowned Crane, Bluff-bellied Warblers, Goliath Heron, Black-headed Batis, Black-headed Gonolek, Green-winged Ptyilia, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-weaver, Long-toed Plover, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Saddle-billed Stork, Spotted Mourning Thrush, Spotted and Verreaux’s Owls, Long-tailed and Pennant-winged Nightjars, standard-winged Nightjar, White-backed Night Heron and Pel’s Fishing Owl. Dinner and the overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge (C) or Red Chilli Rest Camp (C). Full Board

Day 6 - Albertine Rift Valley and Fort Portal
After breakfast you leave the National Park heading southwest along the Lake Albert and Rift Valley escarpment, with breathtaking panoramic sceneries as you birding on the way. Lunch on the way and proceed to Kibale Forest National park .The 795 sq Km Kibale National Park contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. This is home to the highest number of primates in Africa with 13 species of Chimpanzees and 325 bird species including 6 that are endemic to the Albertine Rift region. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge or Nyinabulitwa Country Resort. Full Board
Note: Today transfer is about 7 / 8 hours drive, through dirt road and the conditions are variable according to the rains.

Day 7 - Kibale Forest National Park.
Early morning go chimp trekking in Kibale Forest National park, and along the way you will go birding in the forest and see a number of bird species which include: black-capped apalis, blue-headed sunbird, collared apalis, dusky crimsonwing, purple-breasted sunbird and red-faced woodland warbler. Other Kibale specials include the African pitta, green breasted pitta, black bee-eater, yellow spotted nicator, yellow rumped tinker bird, little greenbul, black-eared ground thrush, brownchested alethe, blue-breasted kingfisher, Abyssinian groundthrush, and the crowned eagle. Have lunch and in the afternoon go birding in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary that is found 5 kms from the Kibale Forest National Park on the road to Kamwenge.
Birding is a major activity around the swamp with paths cut and areas of the swamp board walked to give access to areas of the swamp that would be otherwise inaccessible. Specialties for Bigodi include Great Blue Turaco, Black Billed Turaco and White Spotted Crake. Dinner and overnight at Primate Lodge or Nyinabulitwa Country Resort. Full Board

Day 8 - Semiliki Reserve
On this day, drive to Semiliki Reserve and go for a boat ride on Lake Albert, where you will have a chance of sighting the enigmatic, swamp -dwelling shoebill and other water birds found in this area. You will have picnic lunch and later go for a game drive to look for more birds which include: Congo serpent eagle, Rail (Nkulengu & Grey throated), Spot breasted ibis, Yellow throated nicator, Red rumped tinker bird, Black winged oriole, Horn bills (Black dwarf, Red billed, Piping, White crested, White thighed ,Black casqued wattle), Western bronze napped pigeon, Capuchin babbler, White bellied king fisher, Black collared love bird, Zenkers honey guide, etc. Overnight and dinner at Semiliki Safari Lodge (C) or in Fort Portal (E). Full Board

Day 9 - Semiliki N.P – Queen Elizabeth National Park
Have a game drive as you leave the park to do some birding and there after proceed to Queen Elizabeth National park which is home to total of 604 different bird species. There are also good chances of seeing Elephants and Hippos here. Lunch enroute.
Key species: African Skimmer, Black Rumped Button Quail, Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Red Footed Falcon, Lesser Flamingoes, Grey Capped Warbler, White's and Abdim's Storks (in season), Amur Falcon, Ovampo Sparrowhawk, Wooly-necked and Saddle-billed Storks, and numerous classes of Raptors, Vultures and Plovers etc. Birding in the evening and over night and dinner at Mweya Safari Lodge (C) or Hippo Hill Camp (E). Full Board

Day 10 - Queen Elizabeth National
Spend this whole day birding in the park while on a morning game drive but also see other wildlife like the mammals that include Lions, Hippos, Buffaloes, Leopard, Spotted Hyena, Elephants and the elusive Giant Forest Hog in this park. Primates like the chimps and monkeys and Reptiles. All these are regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsul. In the afternoon go for the boat cruise along Kazinga Channel, where the concentration of water birds and photographs is extraordinary. A variety of birds grace the grasses on the channel’s edge and these may include the Great White and Pink-Backed Pelicans, Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Open-billed Stork, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers. There is also a Bird Observatory here, which was set up with the aim of studying both migratory and resident birds. Since its inception in 1997 more new species have been identified, including Uganda's first record of the Bar-tailed Godwit. Overnight and dinner at Mweya safari Lodge (C) or Hippo Hill Camp (E). Full Board

Day 11 – Queen Elizabeth – Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest
After breakfast, drive as you go birding to the southern region of the park, the Ishasha Sector where you will have a chance to see the tree climbing lions that enjoy lying on the top of fig trees during the hot hours of the day. Later proceed to Bwindi National park best known for gorillas. Lunch en route.
Though the gorillas are its most famous inhabitants, Bwindi is also noted for its biodiversity and the richness of its flora and fauna. The diversity of birds in Bwindi National Park is extremely high, representing one of the forest's avifauna in Africa. The bird list for the park currently totals 334 species, 67 non-forest-dependent species, and 182 forest-dependent species. Thirteen of these species occur nowhere else in Uganda, seven are not known to occur anywhere else in East Africa, and 17 are known for East Africa only in Bwindi and one or two other East African forests.
Rare species include the spectacular globally threatened endemics like the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimson wing. Overnight and dinner at Bwindi Engagi Lodge (C) or Buhoma Community Tented Camp (E). Full Board

Day 12 – Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest
On this day you will go, optional, gorilla tracking in Bwindi Forest National park; perhaps one of the most exciting wildlife experiences. The activity starts with a briefing from the ranger guides after which you proceed with the trekking. Bwindi forest in Uganda has a population of about 370 gorillas, which is half the world population according to 2007 gorilla population surveys. It is not predictable the time you will spend to encounter the gorillas but it normally takes between 2 – 6 hours. You have an hour to observe the primates and their behaviors, while taking photographs. Do not forget to carry your lunch boxes and water. If you are not interested in the gorilla tracking, early morning you can go birding in the forest with your guide.
Return later for dinner and the overnight at Bwindi Engagi Lodge (C) or Buhoma Community Tented Camp (E). Full Board

Day 13 – Bwindi National Park – Ruhiija Sector
Have breakfast and proceed to Ruhiija sector which is found in the southern part of the park for birding the whole day.
Ruhiija is likely to be one of the highlights of any trip to Uganda with excellent birding in spectacular surroundings. Birds are both plentiful and easy to see; many species associating in mixed feeding flocks that are active throughout the day. An early start offers the best chance of finding the striking handsome Francolin, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, western Green Tinkerbird, Mountain and yellow-streaked Greenbuls, Mountain marked and chestnut-throated Apalises, red-faced woodland Warbler, Rwenzori batis, white-tailed crested Flycatcher and many more. Overnight and dinner at Ruhija Gorilla Lodge. Full Board

Day 14 – Bwindi – Lake Bunyonyi
Depart from Bwindi and proceed to Lake Bunyonyi as you go birding on the way. The lake is one of the most popular destinations for birding and the guide will help you spotting birds by stopping over in different islands. The word Bunyonyi means “place of little birds”, its 200 species of birds are found both on main land and islands. Bird species include: Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Cinnamon chested bee eater, Bronzy sun bird, Knobed coot. Very rara, Pied wagtail, Black clake, Common stone chat, Grey shrike, Grey crowned crested crane, Hadada ibis, Swamp fly catcher, Black heron, Great commrant, Fan tailed widow bird, Streaky seed eater, Speckled mouse bird, Pin tailed whyder, Bronze manikin, Black headed weaver. Overnight and dinner at Heritage Lodge Habuharo or Bird Nest Resort. Full Board

Day 15 – Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo
In the morning, have a boat ride on lake bunyonyi to go birding. Bird species include; Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Cinnamon chested bee eater, Bronzy sun bird, Knobed coot. Very rara, Pied wagtail, Black clake, Common stone chat, Grey shrike, Grey crowned crested crane, Hadada ibis, Swamp fly catcher, Black heron, Great commrant, Fan tailed widow bird, Streaky seed eater, Speckled mouse bird, Pin tailed whyder, Bronze manikin, Black headed weaver. Have lunch in Kabale and from there proceed to Lake Mburo where you will have a game drive as you enter the park. Overnight and dinner at Arcadia Cottages Mburo. Full Board

Day 16 – Lake Mburo National Park
Have a morning drive and go birding in the park. The park has about 313 different bird species which include the rare Shoebill stork, White-winged Warblers, Black-billed Barbet, Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Red necked Spur, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Temminck’s Courser, common Quails, Greenwood Hoopoe, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Barefaced Go-away bird, African-grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Lilac-breasted Roller, Coqui Francolin, Red necked spur fowl, Black Bellied Bustard, African-wattled Plover Rufous napped and Flappet larks, Rufous chested Swallow , Southern Red Bishop and Yellow-throated Long claw among others. The fringing swamps in the park also hide secretive papyrus specialists such as the red, black and yellow papyrus gonalek. In the afternoon go for a boat ride. Dinner and overnight at Arcadia Cottages Mburo. Full Board

Day 17 – Entebbe
After breakfast have a game drive while leaving the Park, have a stop to look at the Royal Drum makers, stand on the Equator and be in both hemispheres at once and later proceed to the Airport for your flight out. BB

Book this Tour / Safari
Inquire on the tariffs and departures.
Choose between Comfort or Economy tariffs

The tariff includes:
- Airport transfer
- Accommodation in hotels or lodge/bandas, in double room, full board treatment (FB)
- All the transfer in private means 4x4 ordinary Land Cruiser
- English speaking Birding Driver/Guide
- Entrance fees, taxes

The tariff does not include:
- Air ticket.
- Tourist insurance
- Entrance visas: 50 USD directly from Entebbe Int. Airport.
- Drinks and tips.
- Optional: ex. Gorilla permits 500 USD
- Everything not directly mentioned in the programme itinerary.