9 Days Bird Watching Safari Uganda
The 9 Days Bird Watching Safari involves transferring to the different National Parks around Uganda for example at deltas to watch the numerous species of birds flying from one place to another.This is very rewarding as it will take you to numerous safari places around the country.
Trip Overview
Day 1: Arrival
Day 2: Kampala City Tour
Day 3: Transfer-Masindi
Day 4: Bird Watching
Day 5: Transfer-kibale
Day 6: Morning Forest Walk
Day 7: Transfer-Queen Elizabeth
Day 8: Game Drive-Queen Elizabeth
Day 9: Departure-Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Our Tour Company driver guide will pick you upon your arrival into the country at Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your time of arrival, for early arrivals you will proceed to Entebbe Botanical gardens and enjoy sightings of various bird life on the lake shores, possible sightings may include orange tufted, red chested Sunbirds, orange weaver, slender-billed,Northern Brown –throated, yellow backed, Jackson’s Golden –backed, Black-headed, Vieillot’s black weavers, you may also spot the long tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco and black-headed herons, hamerkop, African Open-billed Stork, yellow billed duck, Grey headed gull, various terns, giant and pied Kingfishers and swamp Flycatcher on the lake and around it’s shores. Thereafter you will transfer for dinner and overnight stay at Sheraton Hotel (luxury) Cassia Lodge (Midrange)/Excellent Hotel (Budget).
Day 2: Kampala city tour
You will be picked from your hotel after your breakfast for a short city tour in Kampala. Expect to explore the Uganda Museum known to be the oldest in East Africa, Namugongo shrines among other sites.
Thereafter you will transfer to Mabira forest, the largest standing indigenous forest in the central Uganda. Upon your arrival you will set off for bird watching in the forest where you expect birds like the African pitta, purple throated cuckoo-shrike and many more. After the walk through the forest you will return to Kampala. Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Hotel (Luxury) Cassia Lodge (Midrange)-Excellent Hotel (Budget)
Day 3: Drive to Masindi
In the morning after breakfast depart Kampala for Budongo forest in Masindi. You will be picked up by your driver guide with an enroute lunch stopover. After your lunch, you will take a guided walk in the Nyabyeya region the best place to do a guided bird walk along the Royal mile which runs between Nyabyeya Forestry College and the research station. Dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel / Nyabyeya Forestry College Guest House.
Day 4: Bird Watching
After your breakfast you will set off for a whole days birding experience in Budongo Forest in the Royal mile area. You will carry packed lunch or have a picnic lunch in the forest. Expect to see birds that can not be found else where in East Africa but only in Budongo forest, the Guinea-Congo forest Biome and Yellow-footed Flycatcher. Other species that make Budongo amongst the best bird watching spots in East Africa with well facilitated and extensive maintained 115km trail system include Ceratogymna fistulator, Smithornis rufolateralis, Ixonotus guttatus, Neafrapus cassini, Sylvietta denti, Batis ituriensis and Zoothers camaronensis. These species are also known from a few other forests in Uganda besides the Pitta reichenowi and Parmoptila woodhousei, the Blue-breasted and sunbirds Dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel / Nyabyeya Forestry College Guest House.
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale NP
You will transfer to Kibale National park after your breakfast. This day requires an early start with an enroute lunch stopover. Upon your arrival check in at your lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Primate Lodge / Chimpanzee Guest house/Chimp’s nest
Day 6: Morning Forest Walk
In the morning after your breakfast you will go for a walk in the forest searching for birds. The walk will also reward you with primates like the red tailed monkeys, and baboons. After your lunch take pleasure in a guided afternoon walk in the Bigodi wetland. This wetland walk will reward you with wetland endemics like the Masked Apalis, white headed wood hoopoe and many more. Dinner and Overnight at Primate Lodge / Chimpanzee Guest house/Chimp’s nest
Day 7: Drive to Queen Elizabeth NP
In the morning right after breakfast you will drive to Queen Elizabeth national park a known home to over 60% of Uganda’s bird species which will indeed be a haven for your birding tour.
You will then check in your lodge to have lunch and there after go for a launch cruise on the Kazinga channel that will reward you with a sight of many water birds that may include the pink pelicans, king fishers, and many eagles. Dinner and Overnight at Hippo hill camp /Simba safari Camp/Jacana
Day 8: Game Drive
Today after your breakfast you will setoff for a whole day game drive in the park with your packed lunch. This drive will reward you with views of the aquatic birds rivaled those of the Nile. Possible sightings on this trip may include, African Skimmer, Striated Heron, African Spoonbill, Water Thick-knee, Three-banded Plover, Marsh, Green, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Gray-headed Gull, Plain Martin, Lesser Swamp-Warbler and Yellow-billed Oxpecker and many others. Dinner and overnight at Jacana/ Hippo Hill camp/ Simba Safari lodge.
Day 9: Transfer to Kampala
Today after your break fast leave the magnificent and diverse queen Elizabeth Park and drive back to Kampala. End your safari upon your arrival.