4 Days Birding Safari in Murchison Falls National Park.

4 Days Birding Safari in Murchison Falls National Park.

February 26, 2024
News Journeys Uganda

The 4 Days Birding Safari will take you to the magical Murchison Falls National Park, best known for its wildlife safaris and bird-watching experiences. This astonishing park is home to over 400 of the reserve’s many bird species, spread across the different categories of activities such as game drives, nature walks, boat rides, and expeditions along the Nile to the magnificent waterfalls, avid birders have more chances to spot the avian diversity of bird life.

The Commonest birds along the savannah and woodlands include the occasional Secretary birds, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Speckle-fronted, Vitelline Masked, Black-headed and Village Weavers, Marabou Stork, Copper and Beautiful Sunbirds, open-billed Stork, Northern and Isabelline Wheatears, Denham’s and Black-bellied Bustards, African-grey Hornbill Abyssinian Roller, Swallow-tailed, Northern Carmine and Little Bee-eater, Northern Red Bishop, Black-rumped Waxbill, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Grey-backed Fiscal, Grey-headed and Pygmy Kingfisher, Spotted-palm Thrush, Sliverbird among others. Closer to the river banks along woodlands, swamps, and thickets especially around Nyamusika cliffs, you will find birds like Plovers, Ducks, Geese, Grey Heron, Goliath’s Heron, Giant Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, and Malachite Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Hamerkop, among others.

4 Days Bird Life Safari in Murchison Falls highlights.

·        Day 1: Travel to Murchison Falls Park.

·        Day 2: Full-day birding in Murchison Falls Park.

·        Day 3: Full day birding the Royale Mile-Budongo Forest.

·        Day 4: Birding at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary/ back to Kampala.

Safari birding experiences.

·        Birding near the top of the magical Murchison Falls.

·        Birding at the Royal Mile in Budongo Forest.

·        Birding along the northern banks of the Nile.

·        Spotting several Albertine endemics.

Day 1: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

Meet your birding guide at the hotel/residence and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park with a stopover in Masindi or so depending on your birding luck for lunch. After proceed with your journey up to the park and drive-up wards to the top of the magical falls and witness the spectacular cascading waters, considered to be the most powerful in the world, where every second, the equivalent of over 200-300 bathtubs of water is pushed through a narrow 7-meter gorge and 45 meters downstream into the waters of the Victoria Nile. Additionally, on your way to the top of the falls, sightings of different birds is guaranteed to bird species like the Black-rumped Waxbill, Red-winged Pytilia, Grey Kestrel, Dark-chanting Goshawk, Broad-billed Roller, White headed Barbet, Red-throated Bee-eater, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, White-crested Turaco, Crested Francolin, the shy and always in small flocking White-crested Helmet-shrike, the very distinctive Flycatcher Silverbird, the small dumpy and rather drab Striped Kingfishers, on lucky days the Ring-necked Francolin, Black winged, White Browed Sparrow Weaver, Red eyed dove among others. After you will drive to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight in preparation for the next day.

Accommodation: Red Chill Rest Camp or Pakuba Game Lodge. Meals: Lunch and Dinner.

Day 2: Full-day birding in Murchison Falls National Park.

You will have your early morning breakfast and you take off to the park for a full-day game drive and birdwatching safari experience. Along the way, you will have chance to see various bird species such as the very attractive and exciting pairs and groups of Abyssinian Ground-hornbill, Denham’s Bustard, Pale Flycatcher, Silverbird, Red-throated Bee-eater, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow Weaver, the Sparrow like appearing Speckled-fronted Weaver, Black-headed Lapwing, Grey-headed Kingfisher, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Eastern-grey Plantain Eater, White-browed Coucal, Black-Scimitarbill,  Black-billed Barbet, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Black-billed, African Mourning and the Vinaceous Dove among others.

Around noon you will drive back to the lodge with the guide for lunch and after relax for a while in preparation for the late afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls along the Victoria Nile. Here you will enjoy seeing water birds such as the rare Shoebill Stork which leaves downstream for patient fishing opportunities at the riverbanks upstream, Great Egret, Grey and Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, Senegal Thick-knee, African Darter, Giant and Malachite Kingfisher, lots of colonies of Red-throated Bee-eaters and others. In addition, you will come across several aquatic species such as the Nile Crocodiles, large schools of hippos, Nile Monitor lizards, and other mammals such as the waterbuck, Uganda Kob, lions, buffalo, the graceful Rothschild’s giraffe, elephants, and many others done come down to cool off in the hot environs of the park.

Accommodation: Red Chill Rest Camp or Pakuba Game Lodge. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Day 3: Birding the Butiaba Escarpment en-route to Budongo to -The Royal Mile.

Breakfast is served early in the morning and after you drive to the Royale Mile in Budongo for bird watching, a truly spectacular drive, and the magnificent tree canopies networking high up. as you drive out, expect bird species like the Rattling and Foxy Cisticola, Dark Chanting-goshawk, Banded Snake-eagle, Grey Kestrel, the river along the way are good for the Red-winged Grey Warbler, Dusky babbler, further to the escarpment expect to see the bright and attractive Green-backed Eremomela, Brown Babbler, Red-backed Scrub-robin, the Mocking Chat,  Pygmy and Beautiful Sunbird, Black-faced Waxbill, Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting, Black-Scimitarbill, Red-headed and Vitelline Masked Weaver among other and as we get into the open forest trail of the Royal Mile, you can spot a variety of bird species, including birds of prey such the Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, expect the Blue-throated Roller, Nahan’s Partridge, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, the too-noisy White-thighed Hornbill,  Forest Robin, graceful Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spinetail, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Tit Hylia, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Yellow Billed, Grey Throated, Hairy Breasted and Yellow Spotted Barbet, Great Blue Turaco, Black Billed Turaco, Dusky Long Tailed Cuckoo, Spotted, Plain, Slender Billed, White Throated, Little Grey and Little Greenbul, Red Tailed Bristlebill and Buff-throated and Black-capped Apalis, Green Twinspot, Red-headed Bluebill among others. On a lucky day, you may encounter some primates like the blue, red-tailed, black, white, vervet, and chimpanzees crossing the trail. Drive back to your hotel/lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Masindi Hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Day 4: Birding at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary-Drive back to Kampala.

The wildlife ranch has become a famous destination for adventure tourists. The sanctuary offers Rhino excursions, bird watching, nature walks, and canoeing among other activities. You will have the opportunity to observe various bird species along the Lugogo wetlands including the sought-after birds: the Shoebill Stork, Black-headed Stork, Black-crowned waxbill, Grey-crowned Crane, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Marabou Stork, African-grey Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Abyssinian ground Hornbill, Blue-spotted Dove, African Blue Flycatcher, African Black Crake, Booted Eagle, the open and wooded savannahs are good for the White-crested Turaco, the uniform brown Rufous Chatterer, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Yellowbill, Brown-backed scrub-Robin, the rare African Grey Flycatcher, Broad-billed Roller, Bronze Mankini, African Black-headed-Oriole, and many others.

Additionally, you are more likely to enjoy the peaceful and charming endangered white Rhinos since Ziwa is home to over 34 white Rhinos and also offers other activities such as boating, bird-watching, and nature walks with other small animals such as oribi, warthogs, sitatunga, and Kobs among others. After visiting all these wonderful and unforgettable tourist attractions, you will head back to either Kampala/Entebbe Airport and mark the end of our safari.

Accommodation: End of Trip No Accommodation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch only.

End of Tour

·        Additional accommodation can be arranged at an additional cost.

·        You will be accompanied to the airport or hotel.

The inclusions of the 4 Days Birding Safari in Murchison Falls National Park:

·        Park fees.

·        Ground Transportation by 4×4 safari Vehicle.

·        Bird-watching experiences.

·        Full board Accommodation.

·        English-speaking guide.

·        Boat trip.

·        Park Ranger Fees.

The exclusions on this 4 Days Birding Safari in Murchison Falls National Park:

·        International flight.

·        Visa and personal insurance.

·        Personal expenses such as souvenirs, and laundry.

·        Tips, drinks and gratuities.

·        Any item or activity not listed in the tour package.

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