20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda
20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda: Uganda is widely acknowledged as the Pearl of Africa, offering some of the continent’s best-remaining natural forests and exceptional birdwatching opportunities. We’ll start by searching the shores of Lake Victoria for the elusive Shoebill. We’re going to keep going north to the town of Masindi. We should reach our destination late in the afternoon, with time for some roadside birdwatching along the route. Here we explore the spectacular Victoria Nile, home to a diverse range of wildlife, as well as the rich avifauna of Murchison Falls National Park. A lot of forest species not seen throughout the remainder of the journey can be seen at the stunning Royal Mile in Budongo Forest, which is close by.
Our destination is Kibale Forest, where we have the chance to take a specific walk to see chimpanzees as we head south. Eleven kinds of monkeys can be found in this forest, and there are plenty of woodland birds to see. We’ll find a wide range of ecosystems that are more typical of East Africa in Queen Elizabeth National Park, along with a similarly diverse assortment of mammals and birds. Next, we will explore the amazing Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We’ll view some of the rarest and most sought-after birds of the trip in this enchanted location of mists, hanging mosses, and lush foliage. Nonetheless, the first animal that comes to mind in this situation is most likely to be a mammal.
This forest is home to more than half of the world’s mountain gorilla population, and while we are visiting, there will be the opportunity to go on a guided hike to look for these humble giantsAt last, we arrive at the papyrus-lined lakeshore of Lake Mburo National Park, which is well-known for its variety of mammals and birds, such as the White-backed Night-heron, African Finfoot, African Spoonbill, and the Red-faced Barbet, among others.
Outlined Itinerary of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda
Day 1: Arrival and Birding Entebbe environs
Day 2: Birding Mabamba Wetlands—Transfer to Masindi
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Day 4: Birding Murchison Falls National Park
Day 5: Transfer to Butiaba Escarpment in Masindi
Day 6: Birding the Royal Mile in Budongo forest
Day 7: Birding Budongo Forest
Day 8: Birding to Kibale Forest
Day 9: Birding Kibale Forest (Green-Breasted Pitta) and Chimp tracking
Day 10: Bird Bigodi Swamp and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
Day 11: Birding Kasenyi and Boat cruise at Kazinga Channel
Day 12: Birding Ishasha and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Day 13: Birding Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 14: Birding and Optional Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma
Day 15: Birding to Ruhija via the Neck
Day 16: Birding Ruhija
Day 17: Birding to Mubwindi Swamp
Day 18: Birding to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 19: Birding Lake Mburo National Park
Day 20: Birding Lake Mburo and Transfer to Entebbe
Detailed Itinerary of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda
Day 1: Arrival and Birding Entebbe environs
On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by a Journeys Uganda representative or birding guide who will transfer you to your hotel. Early arrivals will engage in birdwatching at the Entebbe Botanical Garden. Look out for the Eastern-grey Plantain Easter, Great Blue and Ross’s Turaco, Klaas’s, Red-chested and Diederik Cuckoos, Fantailed Widowbird, Great Reed Warbler, Malachite, Woodland, Striped, Pygmy and Giant Kingfishers, Grey Woodpecker and Black Bishop among others. Dinner and overnight at Papyrus Guest House.
Day 2: Birding Mabamba Wetlands—Transfer to Masindi
We’ll head to the Mabamba Wetlands, a locally protected marsh section of Lake Victoria that is home to the elusive and pre-historic looking Shoebill Stork, after an early breakfast and packing our picnic lunch (most days will start this way of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda). There is a considerable probability that we may spot one or more of these birds standing still within the papyrus, and there is also a great variety of waders to choose from. We should see Golden-backed, Black-headed, Slender-billed, Northern Brown-throated, Village, Vieillot’s, Black-headed, Grosbeak and Weyns’s Weaver. The Great Blue Turaco, the Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, and an amazing assortment of swallows are among the other species found here. All in all, it ought to be a great starting point for Ugandan birdwatching.
After that, we’ll head north to Masindi, where we’ll spend the night. En-route, we’ll probably spot a variety of widowbirds and bishops, as well as a Saddle-billed Stork and a White-crested Turaco. Dinner and overnight in Masindi.
Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
We will head to Kabalega Falls, also known as Murchison Falls National Park. During our journey, we will pause to search for Puvel’s Illadopsis in the Kaniyo Pabidi area of Budongo Forest. This bird is usually found far to the west, and there is a small and scattered population there. Also, Keep an eye out for the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Dusky-tailed Cuckoo, Nahan’s Patridge, Blue-throated Roller, Ituri Batis and Rufous-crowned Eronomela. We’ll take our time driving and stopping for lunch as we make our way to our lodging. Dinner and overnight at Pakuba Game Lodge or Hornbill Wilderness Lodge.
Day 4: Birding Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we will embark on a game drive in Murchison Falls National Park looking out for Abdim’s Stork, Black Scimitar Bill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Black-billed Barbet, Black-headed Lapwing, Senegal Thick Knee, Red-necked Falcon, Martial Eagle, Red-winged Grey Warbler, White-rumped Seedeater, Shelley’s Rufous Sparrow, Black-backed Cisticola, Northern Carmine Bee-eater and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater. There is a good diversity of mammals in the area, and we will keep an eye out for the Rothschild’s giraffe, Defassa waterbuck, Uganda kob, oribi, shy patas monkey, and Jackson’s hartebeest. Additionally, this is among the best locations in Uganda to see lions.
After lunch, we will embark on a boat cruise along the great river Nile on this day of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda. We’ll take a boat to the base of Murchison Falls, where a 23-foot opening allows the powerful Nile to flow through. The heavily forested riverbanks are home to a large number of waterbirds, and we’re hoping to see the elusive Shoebills there again. Other bird species to look out for include the Pale-fishing Owl, Giant Kingfisher, Rock Pratincole, African Darter, Goliath Heron, Red-throated Bee-eater, African Skimmers and the beautiful Saddle-billed Stork. Dinner and lodging at Pakuba Game Lodge.
Day 5: Transfer to Butyaba Escarpment in Masindi
We intend to return to Masindi by a different path than how we arrived, to reach the Butiaba escarpment, which offers a commanding view of Lake Albert. Many unusual species can be found in this area, such as the Mocking Cliff-Chat, Foxy Cisticola, Green-backed Eremomela, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Black-billed Barbet, Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting, Brown babbler, Black-faced Waxbill, Pygmy and Beautiful Sunbird, Vitelline’ Masked Weaver and Flappet Lark. We will then have a leisurely journey back to Masindi as we go bird-watching.
Day 6: Birding the Royal Mile in Budongo forest (Nahan’s Partridge)
On day 6 of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda, we will head for the Royal Mile area of the Budongo Forest Reserve, a broad forest trail regarded as Uganda’s best place to go forest bird watching, for the entire day. There are plenty of birds there, but many are hidden in the thick underbrush of the forest, and some are up in the canopy, so it will take some persistence to find them. In cultivated regions, where a completely new spectrum of species may be found, we’ll also look at a more open environment. Puvell’s Illadopsis, White-spotted Flufftail, Blue Malkoha, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted, and Dwarf forest kingfishers, impressive White-thighed Hornbill, barbets, such as Hairy-breasted and Yellow-billed, cryptic Green Hylia, Grey and Yellow Longbills, and regional specialities are just a few of the many species we hope to see. African Forest-Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, and Ituri Batis
Yellow-mantled Weaver, Crested Malimbe, Purple-headed Glossy-Starling, and the erroneous Grey-headed Sunbird are among the other birds that can be found. There are plenty of greenbuls, and we’ll carefully go through any flock we come across, searching for the eye-catching Spotted, Red-tailed, and Honeyguide. Although it takes time and chance to spot, the magnificent and nearly endemic Nahan’s Partridge can often be heard. We’ll comb the underbrush beside the trail for a variety of understory skulkers, possibly including Fire-crested Alethe, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, and three species of Illadopsis. We will monitor any gaps in the forest canopy where it may allow a chance to see Cassin’s and Crowned Hawk-eagles, as well as Cassin’s, Mottled, and Sabine’s Spinetails. There is a nearby woodland pond where spinetails periodically drink, and it is here that we hope to spot a pair of spectacular Kingfishers. Dinner and overnight at Masindi.
Day 7: Birding Budongo Forest
We’ll head to a different area of Budongo Forest and look specifically for the species we missed yesterday. With the abundance of species in Budongo, there’s a good chance we missed a few.
Day 8: Birding to Kibale Forest
On day 8 of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda, we’ll leave right away after breakfast and make the lengthy drive to the Kibale Forest. This is a driving day by necessity, even though there might be stops to do some roadside birding. In the afternoon, we’ll head to the fringes of Fort Portal and travel through the tallest area of the Kibale Forest. Here, we’ll search for unique species like the elusive Green-breasted Pitta, White-napped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Sooty Flycatcher, Black-billed, Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos, Yellow-billed, Spotted, and Hairy Spotted Barbet, Masked Apalis, Joyful Greenbul, and the erratic Tiny Sunbird and Narrow-tailed Starling. Furthermore, there’s a possibility that we’ll hear Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo. If time allows, we’ll bird watch along the road until twilight as we move closer to our lodging. Night and overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day 9: Birding Kibale Forest (Green-Breasted Pitta) and Chimp tracking
Our two main goals for the day are to seek the extremely rare Green-breasted Pitta early in the morning and go chimpanzee tracking in the afternoon. Of all the reserves in East Africa, the majestic Kibale Forest boasts the highest species variety and primate concentration. Highlights among primates could be the locally found red colobus monkey of Central Africa, the unkempt grey-cheeked mangabey, and the extremely rare L’Hoest’s monkey of Uganda. Furthermore, there’s a good probability we’ll locate chimpanzees here. Afep and the threatened White-napped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, African Shrike-flycatcher, Tooro Olive Greenbul, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Grey Parrot, Superb, Green-throated, and Green-headed Sunbirds, as well as Chestnut Wattle-eye, are among the good mixed species flocks and specials found in medium-altitude forests. Dinner and overnight at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day 10: Bird Bigodi Swamp and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
On this day of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda, our destination is Bigodi, a swamp forest reserve under local community management that aims to safeguard indigenous primates and birds. The diversity of birds is astounding, ranging in size from the massive Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Ross’s and Black-billed Turacos, and Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, to the diminutive Black-and-White Hornbill, numerous sunbird species, estrildid finches, and more warblers. We will hope to see plenty of Brown-eared, Buff-spotted, and Yellow-crested Woodpeckers, as well as unique and brilliant Grey-throated Barbets and their smaller close relatives, Yellow-throated and Speckled Tinkerbirds, as we walk the single trail that circles the swamp. We hope to see the Black-and-White Shrike-Flycatcher loudly guarding its home range, the stealthy Blue-shouldered and Snowy-crowned Robin Chats, and the noticeable Vieillot Black and Yellow-backed Weavers. After touring the nearby wilderness, we will travel a short distance to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QEP) and arrive at our lodge in the afternoon.
Day 11: Birding Kasenyi and Boat cruise at Kazinga Channel
We’ll head off for the morning’s birdwatching in the primary game-viewing area along the Kasenyi route and the breathtaking crater lakes area in the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains. The Bateleur, Grey Kestrel, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-ramped Buttonquail, African Crake, Senegal Lapwing, marsh-dwelling Black Coucal, Rufous-napped, Red-capped, and the rare White-tailed Larks are a few of the species that could be seen, Wing-snapping Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Trilling Cisticola, Carruthers Cisticola, and Stout Cisticola are common residents. We may discover Marsh Tchargra among rank grass and Southern Red Bishop in reed beds.
The highlight of today’s trip will undoubtedly be seeing the mammals; we’ll be looking for lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, African elephants, African buffalo, Ugandan kobs, bushbucks, hippos, common warthogs, and the amazing big forest hog. After lunch at our lodge, we’ll set out on our Kazinga Channel launch excursion, which features a boat cruise. Highlights of the journey include seeing many waterbirds and coming up close to hippos. We hope to spot Yellow-billed, Saddle-billed, African Open-billed, and Marabou Storks, several species of gulls, terns, and pelicans, Glossy Ibis, Wattled Lapwing, Water Thick-knee, Swamp Flycatcher, and Lesser Swamp Warbler, among many more. Dinner and overnight at Buffalo Safari Lodge
Day 12: Birding Ishasha and transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
We’ll take a drive into Queen Elizabeth National Park’s vast southern Ishasha region. In addition to a wide diversity of savanna mammals, including the renowned tree-climbing lions of the region, we might be lucky enough to witness White-headed Barbet, Brubru, Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, and Twilling Cisticola. We’re going to enjoy our picnic in Ishasha. We’re going to Bwindi. At last, we will arrive at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park’s headquarters in Buhoma. Dinner and overnight at Ride 4 A Woman in Buhoma.
Day 13: Birding Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
We will spend the full day walking the Buhoma Trail. This is a very lovely section of the valley’s forest habitat, and the broad, somewhat level path we walk on is kept in excellent condition. The following are some of the species we expect to see: Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, White-bellied Crested-Flycatcher, Bar-tailed Trogon, and the rarely observed Oberlander’s Ground-Thrush. The sparkling Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, Sooty Flycatcher, Waller’s, Stulman’s, and Narrow-tailed forest starlings prefer highly exposed perches, whereas the tiny, loud, and extremely secretive Neumann’s Warbler.
African Broadbill, Banded Prinia, and the extremely intelligent male Black-faced Rufous-Warbler are possible additional understory birds. Elliot and Fine-banded Woodpeckers, Cabanis, Shelley, Ansorge’s Greenbuls, the peculiar Grauer’s Warbler, and White-browed Crombec are all supported by the mid-story and canopy. The tiny Jameson’s Antpecker can be found at any elevation, gleaning in the canopy like a warbler or peering under the moss on dead twigs. Scarce Swift scavenges over the trees overhead. We might also be lucky enough to spot chimpanzees, L’Hoest’s, blue- and red-tailed monkeys, Guereza colobus, and enormous yellow-backed duiker antelope. Seeing exotic creatures and enjoying fantastic birding are what make a trip to Buhoma genuinely unforgettable. Dinner and overnight at Ride for a Woman
Day 14: Birding and Optional Gorilla Trekking in Buhoma
See the Eastern Mountain Gorillas in their mountain sanctuary today on an optional yet amazing excursion. Depending on where the gorillas are, this expedition could take three to six hours in the wild. We will depart early from the resort to arrive at the park’s Registration Centre, where we will be greeted by the guide and given a lecture on what to anticipate and how to behave around the gorillas before the walk begins. Although going on a gorilla trek may be too strenuous for certain participants, seeing the gorillas is still an amazing experience that is not included in the trip cost. There will be a birding trip into the nearby forest with a picnic lunch for those who do not want to hike. Dinner and overnight at Ride For a Woman
Day 15: Birding to Ruhija via the Neck
On this day of 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda, we’re going to begin our ascent towards Ruhija. We’ll spend the full day on this route, despite its small distance, to maximise the excellent birdwatching. We will look for Handsome Spurfowl, Grauer’s Broadbill, Rwenzori Apalis, Equatorial Akalat, Montane Oriole, Archer’s Robin-chat, Ross’s Turaco, Red-throated Wryneck, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Bronze, Copper, and Variable Sunbirds, Black-necked and Holub’s Golden Weavers, Yellow Bishop, and Black-throated Seed-eater in the scrubby areas outside of Buhoma. Kitahurira, often known as “The Neck.” This is another popular birdwatching location that we will pass farther down the road. We’ll look for species like the rare Tiny Sunbird, Mountain Wagtail, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Willcox’s Honeyguide, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater.
Multitudes of seedeaters, hopefully including Dusky Twinspot, Yellow-bellied Waxbills, and Black-crowned Waxbills, can be found feeding in cultivated areas even farther up the road. There may also be Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed Seedeater, and African Stonechat. We’ll also look for the raucous Chubb’s Cisticola, which sings happily from deep inside the bracken, the magnificent Doherty’s Bush-shrike, which emerges from the thick undergrowth, and the Mackinnon’s Shrike, which stands high and exposed to survey the road. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp
Day 16: Birding Ruhija
At Ruhija, we’ll walk the road for the entire day. Enormous heather, enormous lobelia, and a lot of bracken are now among the vegetation at this elevation, which is very different from what we saw in Buhoma. Black-billed Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Western Green Tinkerbird, Olive Woodpecker, Dwarf Honeyguide, Eastern Mountain, Yellow-streaked Greenbuls, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Stripe-breasted Tit, Mountain Illadopsis, and the beautifully voiced Grey-chested Kakamega, are among the bird species we hope to see here. Furthermore, we anticipate seeing the loud and energetic African Hill Babbler (also known as, Rwenzori Hill Babbler), Mountain Masked, Rwenzori, and Chestnut-throated Apalises. Also, Black-eyed Yellow-faced Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Lagden’s Bush-shrike, and Mountain Sooty Boubou, among others
Blooming Symphonia trees attract stunning endemics of the Albertine Rift, such as the magnificent Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, and Regal Sunbird. It will also be possible to observe Dusky and Red-faced Crimson wings, two of the most striking and sought-after African seedeaters. We’ll go in search of African Wood-Owl and Rwenzori Nightjar at night. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp.
Day 17: Birding to Mubwindi Swamp
On the 17th day of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda, we’ll head off in the direction of the steep fall into Mubwindi Swamp and the equally steep ascent back! This will be our sole opportunity to see the incredibly elusive and mysterious African Green Broadbill, which inhabits the area along the trail’s base near the marsh. Walking sticks are advised due to the trail’s steepness. It will be possible to borrow walking sticks and hire porters to carry everything but cameras and binoculars. We are hoping to see the Grauer’s Rush Warbler, an endemic of the Albertine Rift that lives in the marshy environment here. This will be another all-day adventure. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp or Bakiga Lodge.
Day 18: Birding to Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, we will transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. Naturally, as we make our way through the bamboo zone and exit the forest, we’ll be scanning the area for any wildlife that may have escaped. Handsome Francolin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler, and perhaps the highland Kandt’s Waxbill are a few of these. The birds we see along the way will be more recognisable as we move east, but that won’t stop us from searching for any fascinating habitat. We will travel to Lake Mburo National Park in the afternoon, where we can go birdwatching in the open grassland and scrubby woodland. Dinner and overnight at Eagles Nest
Day 19: Birding Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast on this day of the 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda, we will visit Lake Mburo National Park Savannah. A fantastic wetland and Acacia savanna sanctuary, Lake Mburo National Park is home to numerous endangered species. Our day will include a lot of raptor observation. African Marsh-Harrier, massive Lappet-faced and White-headed Vultures, and the three species of Snake-eagles—Brown, Banded, and Beaudouin’s—are possible sightings. The forests around Lake Mburo represent the southern savanna system’s northernmost point and are home to several species that are nearing the end of their range. Of them, the most sought-after is the elusive Red-faced Barbet, found here in Uganda and in isolated northeastern Rwanda.
Additionally, we will look for Coqui Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, which is unique to this region of Uganda, Levaillant’s, Klaas’s, and Diederik Cuckoos, Lilac-breasted Roller, Green Woodhoopoe, Common Scimitar-bill, Nubian and Bearded Woodpeckers, and several swallows, such as Lesser Striped, Rufous-chested, Mosque, and White-headed Saw-wing, White-browed Scrub-Robin, Rattling and Tabora Cisticolas, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, African Penduline-Tit, the noisy Arrow-marked Babbler, Wattled and Greater Blue-eared Starlings, and Red-headed Weaver. We will have an excellent opportunity to see the greatly sought-after African Finfoot and potentially the White-backed Night-Heron on our afternoon boat cruise on the lake.
Foraging groups of banded and dwarf mongooses, common zebra, impala, eland, bushbuck, oribi, hippopotamus, and common warthog are among the mammals we expect to see. We’ll search for nightjars in the evening; the more common Black-shouldered, Square-tailed, Swamp, and Freckled are the alternatives, or the strange Pennant-winged. You will then be transferred to your Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay
Day 20: Birding Lake Mburo and Transfer to Entebbe
After breakfast, We’ll head out for one more look at Lake Mburo before getting comfortable for the drive back to Entebbe. We’re hoping to see a couple more species that we might not have seen before. You will then prepare for your flight back home. This will mark the end of our 20-day Classic Birding Safari in Uganda