Uganda Bird watching trip - day by day itinerary
Day 1 Arrivals for international visitors
On this day, you will be picked from the airport by one of our representatives and driven straight away to your hotel for refreshments, dinner and overnight stay. For early arrivals, you spend the rest of the day’s time getting over jet lag; birding around your hotel at leisure, and meet your driver guide for a briefing prior to your safari.
Overnight: Lake Victoria Serena Hotel for 2nights
Day 2 Birding Mabamba Wetland and Entebbe Botanical Gardens (EBG)
We have an early start at 6:00 after breakfast, carry a day break snack and drive to Mabamba Swamp. The swamp is located about 50km west of Kampala; and, depending on our pace, it may take us about 2hrs to get there. We shall have numerous stops on the way to look at birds.
The special trip to Mabamba today is to look for the shoebill stork. While at the swamp, we shall take a canoe that is hand-paddled through a channel of lagoons into the marsh. We look out for the shoebill. Besides the shoebill, there is a selection of common wetland species that we are likely to see here including, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Gull-billed Terns, White-winged Black Terns, Whiskered Terns, common moorhen, swamp flycatcher, Goliath and purple Herons, Spur-winged and Pygmy Geese, African snipe, blue-headed coucal, carruther’s cisticola, northern brown-throated weavers, winding cisticola, white-faced whistling ducks etc. A few trails out of the marsh, going to peoples gardens, bushes and the main road support interesting species like the grey-capped warbler, weyns’s weaver, red-headed lovebird, red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, grey-rumped swallow, sooty chat, rufous-naped lark, Pallid Harrier, didric cuckoo, golden-breasted bunting, superb sunbird, great blue turaco, mosque, grey-rumped and red-rumped swallows, blue-breasted bee-eater, striped kingfisher, etc
We shall be here till early this afternoon, drive back to Entebbe to our Hotel for a hot lunch. We have a short siesta, and later go birding to Entebbe Botanical Gardens (EBG), or any nearby site for the rest of the day, depending on our success this morning. EBG is a beautiful place situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, filled with colourful butterflies, birds and primates in an area of 40.7ha.The gardens house a collection of species of plants of the tropical, sub-tropical and temperate zones, besides several shrubs and other plants which regenerated naturally over the years. The habitat has attracted a diverse array of birds – 206 species (both forest and shorebirds) and monkeys; Black and White Colobus and Vervet Monkeys.The bird walk here is more leisurely and relaxed. Special birds here include harrier hawk, lizard buzzard, northern brown-throated wattle-eye, willow warbler, olivaceous warbler, African thrush, yellow-throated leaflove, African Grey Parrot, golden-backed, yellow-backed and orange weavers, white-spotted flufftail, ross’s Turaco, crowned, African pied and black-and-white-casqued Hornbills, Superb, olive-bellied, collared and Marica Sunbirds, ruff, green crombec, Blue-cheeked and Madagascar bee-eaters, heuglin’s robinchat, snowy-headed robin-chat, red-cheeked cordon-blue, grey-headed negro-finch, etc
Day 3 Travel to Murchison Falls National Park
We start very early today after breakfast, check out our hotel, carry picnic lunch and bird all the way to Murchison Falls National Park. We shall bird through the escarpment; enter the park through Bugungu gate up to the top of the falls. Birding the rift valley escarpment en route may produce species such as Vinaceous Dove, Black-billed Barbet, Cliff-chat, Foxy Cisticola, white-crowned helmet shrike, white-crested turaco, Red-winged Pytilia, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Rock Pratincoles etc. At the top of the falls we shall experience the powerful water surge as the Nile River waters plunge down the main pool through a 7meters gap!
We shall later cross the Nile and go to our lodge for refreshment, dinner and overnight stay
Overnight: Para Safari Lodge for 3nights
Day 4 Birding in Murchison Falls National Park for the whole day
Amongst a huge variety of widespread African bird species, in the wetlands and various dry savannas and open woodland habitats, are more special birds. These include, among others; African Finfoot, Stanley‟s Bustard, Saddle-billed Stork, Rock Pratincole, Bat Hawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Bruce’s Green-Pigeon, Red-necked Falcon, Senegal Thick-knee, Long-toed Plover, Blue-headed Coucal, White-crested Turaco, Heuglin's Francolin, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Blue-spotted and Black-billed Wood Doves, Blue-breasted, Madagascar, Red-throated and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Broad-billed & Abyssinian Rollers, Piapiac, Black-billed barbet, Moustached Grass-Warbler, Marsh Tchagra, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Northern & Black-winged Red Bishops, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Whistling, Siffling & Singing Cisticolas, Broad-tailed, Red-winged & Red-winged Grey Warblers, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Black-headed Gonolek, White-fronted Black-Chat, Copper & Olive-bellied Sunbirds, Brown Babbler, Black-headed Batis, Slender-billed & Compact Weavers, Black-bellied and Bar-breasted Firefinches and African Quail finch, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, white-crested helmet shrike, White-rumped Seedeater, and Cabanis‟s Bunting.
Today we shall concentrate our efforts along the delta trail where there is yet another chance of the shoebill. Besides the birds, you will most likely meet some of the African big game like elephant, giraffe, occasional lion and leopard, buffalo, and many antelopes.
Day 5 Another day birding the Northern bank of the park and afternoon Launch cruise along the Nile River
Today we take another trail and bird the savanna area for the whole morning. We return to our lodge for lunch, have a short siesta and later go for a Launch cruise along the Nile to the bottom of the falls. The Launch cruise along the Nile is most celebrated for the abundant pools of hippos thronging the banks and many giant Nile crocodile basking in the sun alongside numerous species of birds; to mention but a few; Goliath Heron, Saddle billed stock, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous whistling-duck, Senegal and Water Thick knees, the new Ugandan addition – white-crowned lapwing, Black-headed and long-toed lapwing, Little bittern, Osprey, northern carmine bee-eater, Egyptian plover, Darter, and Giant Kingfisher.
Day 6 Birding the Southern part of the park in the Woodland and later transfer to Masindi
Today, we start early at 7:00 after breakfast, we check out Para Safari Lodge, cross the Nile again and head for birding in the woodland close to Mubaku Rangers Camp. Depending on the trail condition, we may take a walk or drive while birding along the main road. We shall need to carry picnic lunch in case we have a very active morning that may delay our arrival in Masindi at our Hotel.
After here, we head to Masindi town for refreshments, dinner and overnight stay.
Overnight: Masindi Hotel
Day 7 Birding in Budongo forest along the celebrated “Royal Mile”
We shall have an early morning breakfast, carry picnic lunch and drive to one of “Uganda's bird watching hotspots”, the Royal Mile. This is the Uganda's historically known leisure spot for the traditional King of Bunyoro, hence the name “Royal”. This forest comprises of very huge mahogany trees. Here the forest has been cut back a few meters along the sides of the main trail providing an excellent viewing area. Birds cavort and skulk in the canopy and in the understory – most of these being the most challenging Allethes, illadopses and Greenbuls.
Key species include, among others; African dwarf and Chocolate-backed kingfisher, Yellow and grey Long bills, Olive-bellied Crombec, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Crowned Eagle, Forest Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaropera, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow-mantled Weaver, yellow-browed Camaroptera, Green Crombec, Crested and Red-headed Malimbe, red-headed bluebill, White-thighed and Black-and-white-casqued Hornbills, Yellow-spotted and Yellow-billed Barbets, Crested guineafowl, Western Black-headed Oriole, Sabine's and Cassin's Spinetail (sometimes seen soaring above canopy or over clearings), Red-tailed Ant-Thrush. Red-tailed Bristlebill, Scaly-breasted, Pale-breasted and Brown Illadopses, Cameroon Sombre, Slender-billed, Honeyguide and Spotted Greenbuls. Regular and interesting species include chestnut-capped flycatcher, Jameson's Wattle-eye, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Little Green Sunbird, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Ituri Batis, and Uganda Woodland Warbler.
If we are successful early enough today, we may choose to bird the Busingiro section of Budongo. Some of the species missed on the Royal Mile, and many can be found here.
Specialties here include; Red-headed Malimbe, Sooty Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Tit Hylia, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Buff-throated Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Green Sunbird, Superb Sunbird, Tambourine Dove, Golden-breasted Bunting, Brown twinspot, Sabine's Spinetail, White-rumped Spinetail, Pied Kingfisher, Angola Swallow, Purple-headed Starling, Hamerkop, White-headed Saw-wing, Cassin's Spinetail, Osprey, Black-shouldered Kite, and Senegal Coucal.
We return to Masindi to our hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8 Travel to Kibale Area
We shall start at dawn after an early breakfast and set off with our packed lunch. This is rather a long journey that may likely take us most our day with limited birding. Numerous stops will be done at strategic points to stretch legs and look at birds. Early arrivals will also give a chance to bird around our camp in the evening.
Overnight: Kimbla Mantana – Kibale Camp
Day 9 Birding in Kibale Forest for the whole day
Kibale is an extensive National Park, protecting a large block of rainforest that offers excellent birding with over 330 species recorded. Kibale is most celebrated for its greatest variety and concentration of primates than any other reserve in East Africa; the most prominent being the Chimpanzee. Kibale protects a remarkable 13 primate species, including the very localized Red Colobus and L'Hoest's Monkey, Galagos, Blue monkey, Black and White Colobus, Red-tailed and Vervet Monkey.
After an early morning breakfast, carry our picnic lunch and make very early start for the forest. Our target today should be among many other species, the most sought-after bird; the Green-breasted Pitta. Today we should also be treated to the numerous treasures of this forest, to mention but a few; African Crowned Eagle, Afep Pigeon, Red-winged Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Narina Trogon, Black Bee-eater, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, African Pitta, Grey-winged Robin-chat, African Broadbill, Willcock's, Scaly-throated & Thick-billed Honeyguides, Cassin's Honeybird, Mountain Wagtail, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Petit's Cuckoo-Shrike, Joyful & Honeyguide Greenbuls, Banded Prinia, Masked Apalis, Black-and-white Flycatcher, Pink-footed Puffback, Chestnut-winged Starling, Superb, Green-headed & Green-throated Sunbirds, Dark-backed Weaver, White-napped Pigeon, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Red-chested Flufftail, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Leaf-love and African Broadbill.
Day 10 Chimp tracking in the morning and afternoon bird walk along the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
After breakfast, we shall carry a snack and drive for a short while to Kanyanchu Tourism Centre for briefing prior to the exhilarating activity, Chimp Trekking.
The movement of the chimps depends upon the availability of food and hopefully they won't be too far away! As we tour one of the chimps groups, we shall witness the behavioral characteristics of these living closest cousins to human beings demonstrating a distrustful fleeting look at our sudden interruptive visit into their private world, which is comforted by the chuckling made by the knowledgeable tracker guides. The noisy giant male uses loud vocalizations and drumming on large tree buttresses as a means of communicating with the other members of their group.
We shall return to our camp later this afternoon for lunch, have a siesta and later go for an afternoon walk at Bigodi Community wetland. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a community owned and managed nature reserve. A 4km trail has been created in the wetland adjacent to the forest. The habitat here consists of a swamp surrounded by low, scrubby secondary forest and cultivation. Key species include among others; White-spotted flufftail, Green-backed Twinspot, Cabanis's and Joyful Greenbuls, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Olive-green Camaroptera, White-collared oliveback, white-winged warbler, white-chinned Prinia, Blue-shouldered Robinchat, Lesser honeyguide, Uganda Spotted and speckle-breasted Woodpeckers, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Red-capped Robin Chat, Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush, Great Sparrow-hawk, Red-headed Bluebill, and Luhdher's Bush Shrike.
Occasional encounters are chimps; black and white colobus and red-tailed monkeys are also residents here.
Day 11 Travel to Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
We do an early morning start; check out our lodge and bird on the way to Semliki area. Along the main Bundibugho road from Fort-Portal, look out for Pin-tailed Whydah, black bishop, southern red bishop, brown twinspot, black-crowned and common waxbills, plus many other open country species. We should arrive in time for lunch at our lodge. After lunch, we shall spend the rest of our afternoon birding in the reserve.
Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
Day 12 Birding Semliki National Park along the famous Kirumila Trail
We shall wake-up very early after an early morning breakfast, carry packed lunch and drive to Semliki Forest National Park. The forest is one of the richest for lowland forest birds in Uganda and marks the eastern extension of the great Ituri Forest. A large number of Guinea-Congo biome species reach their eastern limits here. This therefore makes it the best place in Uganda with high chances of encountering some of the West African species that cannot be easily accessed from other places.
We spend the whole day bird watching the Kirumila Trail or any other part of the forest depending on the reliable information from our site guides. Key species include Red-billed, Black-wattled, Black-billed and White-crested Hornbills, African Piculet, Zenkel Honey-guide, Black-chested Cuckoo, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Nkurengu Rail, White-bellied, Dwarf, and Pygmy Kingfishers, Piping, White-thighed, Black and White-casqued, and African Pied Hornbills, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-bellied and Blue-billed Malimbe, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Lowland Akalat, Forest Scrub Robin, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Leaf Love, Red-breasted Sparrowhawk, Long-tailed Hawk, Pale-fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negrofinches, Black-winged Oriole, and others.
If we are successful early enough here, we do a short visit to the Sempaya hot springs as we head back to our lodge.
Day 13 Travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park
This day, we shall check out Semliki Safari Lodge and leave this part of the country as we head to the famous Queen Elizabeth National Park. We shall go birding on the way as we time ourselves to reach the Mweya Peninsula by Lunch time at our lodge. We have lunch at Mweya Safara Lodge as we check in.
After lunch, we shall have a short snooze, and afterwards go for a Launch Cruise along Kazinga Channel. Kazinga Channel is a narrow neck of water body connecting lakes Edward and George. The cruise is the most luxurious in the region; plying these waters with comfort, elegance and attentive service, affording superb wildlife viewing from your observation deck, is far much re-assuring! Along the Kazinga Channel, there are chances of spotting the African Skimmers, the new record for Uganda – Grey prantincole, snowy-capped robin, kittliz plover, flamingos, spoonbills, crowned lapwing and many other shorebirds both migratory and resident.
Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 14 Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Queen Elizabeth National Park is yet another area with some of the highest biodiversity ratings than any National Game Reserve in the world. Its varied habitats of open savannahs, acacia woodlands, tropical rain forests, dense papyrus swamps and lakes, make it one of the richest parks in Africa. Game in the park includes elephant, buffalo, waterbuck, bushbuck, a profusion of Hippos, the elusive Giant Forest Hog and handsome Uganda Kob, with occasional Lion and Leopard. The park boosts of over 610 bird species recorded, and a one-day record of 296 species!
Start early this morning after breakfast, we carry our lunch packs and do a birding drive in the park for the whole day. Following one of the numerous trails in the park on a game / birding drive will produce interesting sightings of such species as Harlequin Quail, Blue Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, Martial Eagle, Stout Cisticola, Black-crowned Tchagra, Trilling Cisticola, Speckle-breasted woodpecker, African Skimmer, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Amur Falcon, Pallid and Montagu’s Harriers, Ovampo Sparrowhawk, African crake, marsh tchagra, black coucal, Secretary Bird (on a lucky day!) etc.
Day 15 Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest – Buhoma
Start early after breakfast for Buhoma. This is a rather long journey that may take most of our time this day. We shall have a few stops for stretching legs, to have our packed lunch and birding on the way. Depending on weather and road conditions, we may drive through Ishasha section of Queen Elizabeth national park, famed for its tree climbing lions. Alternatively, we drive through the beautiful sceneries of Rukungiri district.
We arrive late this evening at our lodge, refresh, have dinner and sleep.
Overnight: Exclusive Camps – Buhoma lodge
Day 16 Gorilla tracking at Buhoma (Optional Activity)
For the Gorilla trek, we set off early after breakfast, carry packed lunch and gather at the park headquarters for briefing prior to the activity. Trekking up the hillside to view a family of gorillas nestled in casual, frolicking lifestyle is a fascinating, once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will have an opportunity to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing from vines in a delightful and gentle display.
Day 17 Birding at Buhoma
Today, we start early after breakfast, carry picnic lunch and begin a whole day birding along the main trail at Buhoma.
Bwindi is generally at a higher altitude and therefore is cooler. Temperatures in the morning and evenings range between10 - 18 ° C. Forest birding at Bwindi ranks the best in Uganda and Africa as well. It is home to 23 highly localized Albertine Rift Endemics.
Key species here include Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Banded Prinia, Black-faced Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Chapin's Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, cassin's Grey Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill-Babbler, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Mackinnon's Fiscal, Sooty Boubou, Pink-footed Puffback, Doherty's Bush-shrike, White-naped Raven, Montane Oriole, Oriole finch, African Golden Oriole, Stuhlmann's Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller's Starling, Strange Weaver, Brown-capped Weaver, Black-billed Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Magpie Mannikin, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick- billed Seedeater, Shelly's Crimsonwing, Mountain Buzzard, Ayre's Hawk-eagle, Handsome Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Wood-Owl, Rwenzori Nightjar, Scarce Swift, Bar-tailed Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, (Western) Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Tullberg's Woodpecker, Elliot's Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, African Green Broadbill, Lagdens Bush Shrike, Petit's Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Archer's Ground Robin, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Ansorge's Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-chat, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Short-tailed Warbler, Neumann's Warbler and Red-faced Woodland-Warbler.
In addition to the birds, other likely encounters include Ruwenzori Red and Yellow-backed Duikers, African Golden Cat and the beautiful L’Hoest and Blue Monkeys.
We return to our Camp this evening for refreshments, dinner and overnight stay
Day 18 Birding to Ruhiija Section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest through the NECK”
We shall travel to Ruhiija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while birding en route – we do the popular “NECK” birding the whole morning. The neck is a relatively narrow stretch connecting the main body of the forest to a protruding section of Bwindi Impenetrable forest that is almost circular in shape; hence the name “NECK”. It is characterized by riverine forest vegetation. Birding here along the main road to Ruhiija is very productive.
Some of the species we are likely to see here include; Mountain Wagtail, Red-tailed and Shelley's Greenbul, Cassin's Flycatcher, Black Duck, Banded Prinia, Grey-throated Barbet, Common Buzzard, Black-billed Turaco, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Dwarf Honeyguide, Red-tailed Greenbul, Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Many-coloured Bush-shrike, Ayres's Hawk-eagle, Bronze-naped Pigeon, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-throated Alethe, Gray Apalis, African Shrike-flycatcher, Red-headed Malimbe, Dusky Twinspot etc.
Lunch will be at our camp. In the afternoon, we shall bird along the main road, or follow the road that goes to the community.
Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp
Day 19 Birding Ruhiija – Mubwindi Swamp
After breakfast, we shall carry our picnic lunch and head for a whole day birding following the famous trail through the forest up to Mubwindi Swamp. The 4km trail to Mubwindi Swamp drops from 2350m to 2050m ASL and is the best place for some of the most difficult to find of all the Albertine Rift Endemics including; the rare and localized Grauer's Rush Warbler, African Green Broadbill, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, and Archer's Robin Chat. Mubwindi Swamp trail is home to Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Apalis and African / Rwenzori Hill Babbler, and Carruthers' Cisticola. Other key species here include Fraser's Eagle-Owl, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, Strange Weaver, Black-headed Waxbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Waller's Starling, Stuhlmann's Starling, Ludher's Bush-shrike, Handsome Francolin, Montane Oriole and Montane Nightjar. The walk takes a minimum of 8hours, to and fro, and it is very strenuous.
We shall return to our lodge this evening for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 20 Birding to Mgahinga through Echuya
Spend the whole morning at Echuya forest. While in echuya forest, we may choose to bird along the main road or follow one of the numerous trails in the forest. We look out for; Handsome Francolin, yellow-crowned Canary, Dusky Turtle Dove, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimson-wing, Kivu Ground and Olive Thrush, Stripe Breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, White-browed Crombec, White-naped Raven, Purple Breasted Sunbird, Sharp’s Starling, Mountain masked and Rwenzori Apalises. Lunch in Kisoro town and later continue to Mgahinga National Park. We shall have time this afternoon to do some birding along the lower slopes of the park on the main trail.
Overnight: Volcanoes Mount Gahinga Lodge
Day 21 Whole day birding in the forest
Mgahinga mountain ranges merit a visit to appreciate scenery and the diverse vegetation types, with the associated fauna. The slopes are covered with a series of distinct altitudinal bands of vegetation. From grass and bush land on the lower slopes, to montane woodland followed by the bamboo zone, montane forest and the ericaceous zone which contains giant tree heathers; ultimately ending with the spectacular alpine zone which occurs only on East African Mountains above 3000m and includes bizarre giant forms of lobelia and groundsel. Most sought-after birds here include, among others: Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Archer`s Robin chat, Dwarf honey guide, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Western green tinker-bird, many-coloured bush-shrike, Rwenzori hill babbler, thick-billed and streaky seedeater, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Regal Sunbird, Lagden`s Bush-Shrike, Mackinnon`s Fiscal, Black-headed Waxbill and the elusive Shelley’s Crimson-wing.
Day 22 Travel to Lake Mburo
Arrival here will be towards dusk, which will be graced with a birding drive along the main road in the park. We may also choose to do an optional night game drive here to see the night jars and other nocturnal animals.
Overnight: Mihingo Lodge
Day 23 Birding in the park for the whole day
We shall do an early morning boat ride along the lake and in the afternoon, we go for a bird walk in the woodland. Along the lake, the rare African finfoot, night herons and the rare papyrus yellow warbler, are the highlights of the boat trip!
Most sought-after species in the wooded grassland include tabora cisticola, red-faced barbet, and possibilities of the rare Crested Barbet which are only known in the remote north-eastern Tanzania, Rwanda and here. Other interesting species include brown-chested lapwing, chinspot batis, emerald spotted wood dove etc. These are especially encountered while on a bird walk in the woodland.
Birding here is a delightful experience, with beautiful scenery and a markedly different fauna from other reserves. This is the best place in the country to see game animals such as Eland, Zebra, Topi, Impala, and acacia-associated birds.
Day 24 Birding in the morning and afternoon transfer to Kampala
We start very early after breakfast, check out the lodge and carry picnic lunch as we bird en route up to Kampala.
Overnight: Emini Pasha Hotel
Day 25 We have a day in Kampala, doing some shopping, and later transfer to Entebbe for your flight back home.
Note: For late night flights, we may decide to spend this day at Mabira central forest reserve. This implies that we shall spend our last night (day 24) at the Mabira Eco- lodge. We have a whole day in the forest. Mabira Central Forest reserve is one of Uganda's largest surviving natural forests covering an area of 306 sq. km. It is 54km from Kampala city. It is home to 315 species of Birds some of which can be found nowhere else. An excellent trail system allows access to both undisturbed primary and good secondary forest. Special birds of this forest include among others; Nahan's Francolin, sooty flycatcher, dusky tit, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Forest wood-hoope, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Tit hylia, Red-headed blue-bill, Black-bellied seedcracker, Shinning Blue kingfisher; a variety of sunbirds such as green, Little Olive, Blue throated, brown, Green throated, olive bellied and superb sunbirds
You may also not miss the Green tailed bristle bill, Grey long bill, Leaf love, Paradise flycatcher, Sooty boubou, yellow-breasted, buff-throated and black-throated Apalis, speckle –breasted woodpecker, Grey-crowned Negrofinch, Forest Robin, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, African emerald cuckoo, olive green camaroptera, western-violet backed sunbird, black-and-white shrike flycatcher, dusky blue flycatcher, Jameson’s wattle-eye, hairy-breasted barbet, dusky long-tailed and red-chested cuckoo, yellowbill , and blue-shouldered robinchat.
End of trip
