Uganda Birding Safari, 9 Days

Black-Crowned Waxbill – Bwindi Forest Birding

Birding Safari Tour in Mgahinga & Bwindi Forest

Uganda Birding Safari Overview

This 9-day Uganda Birding Safari takes you to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park in Southwestern Uganda. Forest birding in this part of the country ranks the best in Uganda as it is home to over 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics.

Uganda Birding Safari Highlights

• Equator experience
• Birding safari tour in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Birding safari tour in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Uganda Birding Safari Itinerary 

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda and travel to Kisoro

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our birding guide with whom you will travel to Kisoro town in the southwestern tip of the country. You will have a stopover at the Equator and proceed to Mbarara where you will have lunch before heading further down to Kisoro. You will spend the night at your lodge of booking.

Safari Accommodation

• Budget: Kisoro Travellers Hotel
• Meal plan: Dinner

Day 2: Birding in Mgahinga

After breakfast, we will drive to Ntebeko Camp in the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park from where we will start our trek to probably the most scenic and protected area in Uganda. We will take the gorge trail that loops halfway up Mt. Sabinyo and pass through a variety of montane habitats looking for birds like the Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori Turaco, Cape Robin-Chat, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Grassland Pipit and many more. You will spend the night at your lodge of booking.

Grey-Headed Negrofinch – Mgahinga National Park Birding Safari

Safari Accommodation

• Budget: Kisoro Travellers Hotel
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Birding in the Echuya forest and Ruhija

On our way to Ruhija, we will bird through Echuya forest with a stop at a spent papyrus swamp on the outflow of Lake Bunyonyi for Greater Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler and Papyrus Canary they are elusive and need a little luck but we will also look for: Carruther’s Cisticola and Little Rush Warbler. Then continue with the drive to Ruhija looking for birds including Handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon, Western Green Tinkerbird and more. You will spend the night at your lodge of booking.

• Budget: Gorilla Forest camp/ Lake Kitandara lodge / Buhoma Homestead.
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Birding in Mubwindi swamp

After breakfast, we shall walk down to the Mubwindi Swamp looking for birds like Black-billed Turaco, Western Green Tinkerbird, Fine-banded Woodpecker, African Green-Broadbill, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler and much more. You will spend the night at your lodge after booking

Safari Accommodation

• Budget: Gorilla Forest camp/ Lake Kitandara lodge / Buhoma Homestead.
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Birding on the way to Bwindi

We shall drive while birding to Bwindi (Buhoma) in search of birds including the Tambourine Dove, Black Bee-eater, Red-throated Wryneck, Mountain Wagtail, Toro Olive-Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Olive Thrush, Cassin’s-grey Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Chubb’s Cisticola, Banded Prinia, Mountain Masked Apalis and many more. You will spend the night at your lodge of booking.

Mackinnons Fiscal – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Birding Safari

Safari Accommodation

• Budget: Gorilla Forest camp/ Lake Kitandara lodge / Buhoma Homestead.
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Birding in Bwindi

After an early breakfast, we shall start birding the main trail in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in search of species like African Goshawk, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black Bee-Eater, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Tinkerbirds and Barbets, Woodpeckers, African Broadbill, assorted Greenbuls, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Black-faced Rufous Warbler and many more. You will spend the night at your lodge of booking.

Safari Accommodation

• Budget: Gorilla Forest camp/ Lake Kitandara lodge / Buhoma Homestead.
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi

After an early breakfast, we shall go for gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to meet the awesome Mountain gorillas. For those who prefer to continue birding, we will have an early breakfast and start birding the waterfall trail looking out for species we may have missed and perhaps better views of the ones we saw the previous day. Looking for birds like Red-chested Owlet, if lucky Fraser’s Eagle Owl, Black Bee-Eater, African Broadbill, and White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher. You will spend the night at your lodge of booking.

A Gorilla Family Relaxing in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Jungles

Safari Accommodation

• Budget: Gorilla Forest camp/ Lake Kitandara lodge / Buhoma Homestead.
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Birding in Kaku swamp

It will take us a whole day to drive to Kampala, arriving in the late afternoon with a stop on the way at Kaku swamp for more birds including Rufous-bellied Heron, Hottentot Teal, Purple Swamp Hen, Lilac-breasted Roller, Striped Kingfisher, Golden-backed Weaver, then continue with the drive to Entebbe for overnight. Overnight will be at your lodge of booking.

• Budget: Windsor Hotel or Sophie’s Motel.
• Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Departure

Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your flight back home.

This safari package includes;

• Transportation in a land cruiser/super custom with pop-up roof
• Birding
• All fuel for the trip.
• Driver/guide.
• Guide ranger fees.
• Accommodation and meals as per itinerary.
• All activities are described in the itinerary.
• Park fee is according to the program.
• Meals are according to the program.

However, the package excludes:  Personal Expenses like tobacco, telephone, drinks, laundry, porter fee, personal insurance, Visa, and tips to guides

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