30 Days Hardcore Birding Safari In Uganda

30 Days Hardcore Birding Safari In Uganda departs in the dry seasons and at Journey Uganda we recommend if for the months of June, July, August, December, January and February from Entebbe International Airport Uganda for 30 days

The focus of this hardcore birding safari in Uganda  are the Albertine Rift Endemics and the only 1 species endemic to Uganda – Fox’s Weaver, the Shoebill Stork, Papyrus Gonolek, Black-breasted, Black-collared and Red-faced Barbet, White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Albertine Rift Endemics, mostly the African Green Broadbill and Short-tailed Warbler, Green-breasted Pitta, Congo Serpent Eagle, African Piculet, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Nahan’s Francolin, Cassine’s Hawk-Eagle, Lesser Kestrel Orange Weaver, Quail-Plover, Secretary Bird, Sandgrouses among others.

On this hardcore Birding trip, expect over 600 bird Species, hoping for all the best of luck with good weather, patience and great spotting as the tour takes us to numerous Important Bird Areas and hot spots for birding in Uganda.

Uganda being characterized by a wide range of habitats and vegetation types ranging from the Tropical, bamboo, Afro-montane rainforests, moorland on mountains; medium-altitude and lowland forests along the Great African Rift Valley in the south western corner and opposite these offering is the Sudan-Somalia extended woodland in the north of the country all attached to the Acacia-Commiphora bush lands and semi-desert prairies in the north-east which we shall all be exploring and having in the center lakes Kyoga and Victoria with an inland River Nile that results into extensive wetlands and flood-plains.

And the fact that it a melting pot of five biomes of central and eastern Africa, all housing different rarity bird species. These multi habitats are up by the Lake Victoria Basin biome which will be the introduction to this hardcore birding safari to Uganda with about 10 species and it will later take us to the Afro-montane and tropical Highland biome with over 80 species, the Guinea-Congo biome with close to 150 species will be visited, the Somalia-Sudan biome characterized with Savannahs has over 22 Ugandan species restricted to it and finally the Somali–Masai biome with 32 species qualify Uganda as the ‘EDEN OF BIRDING’ on the continent. This 30 days hard core birding safari will yield the best results in your entire birding life, Trust Journeys Uganda with its expert team to deliver your birding dream safari around the world.

Day 1: Arrival for our Super Birding safari and stay at Victoria View Guest House. BB

Early arrivals will be introduced to birding in Uganda at the Entebbe Botanical gardens and expect to see the almost Lake Victoria endemic Orange Weaver, Village, Golden Backed, Northern-brown Throated, Slender-billed, Grosbeak, Black-necked and Black-headed Weaver, a variety of sunbirds including but not limited to the Superb, Green-throated, Mariqua, Red-chested, Collared, Scarlet-chested, Bronze, Olive and Olive-bellied Sunbird, Pink-backed Pelican, Vieillot’s Black,  African Jacana, Yellow-billed and African Open-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, African Emerald, Red-chested  Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoo the sought after Giant Kingfisher,  African Pygmy, Pied, Woodland and Malachite all reside here, the seasonal Eurasian, the seasonal and migrating White-throated and Blue-checked Bee-eater, Yellow-billed Duck,  Wood, Common and Green Sandpiper, Black Crake, Black-and-white Casqued, African Pied and Crowned Hornbill, Africa and Red-billed Firefinch, Little Stint, Ruff, Striated Heron, Gull-billed and White-winged Tern, Blue Spotted, Red-eyed and Tambourine Dove, Little Greenbul, the usually active Green Hylia, Green Crombec and the enigmatic Bat Hawk which could even fly over the gardens in the late evenings among other bird species. 

Day 2 & 3: Birding to Mabamba Wetland and proceed to Lake Mburo National Park.

After breakfast, we bird to Mabamba Wetland an Important Bird Area on the shores of Lake Victoria west of Entebbe. This is the home and one of the reliable sights in Uganda to see the Shoebill stork. Other special birds include Lesser Jacana, Purple and Allen’s Gallinule, Blue Swallow which is seasonal, Slender-billed and Northern-brown Throated Weaver, Common and Lesser Moorhen, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Glossy Ibis, African Pygmy-Goose, Spur-winged Geese, White Faced and Fulvous Whistling duck, Long-toed Lapwing, Blue-breasted and Madagascar Bee-eaters, Gray-rumped Swallow, Greater and Lesser-swamp Warbler, African Reed Warbler, Lizard Buzzard, the ever hovering Black-shouldered Kite, Malachite Kingfisher, White Winged Tern, Grey Headed Gull, Black Tailed Godwit, Ruff, Three Banded Plover, African Wattled Plover and many more. We proceed to Mburo looking out for Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Red-necked Spurfawl, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Temmincks Courser, Common Quails, Green Wood hoopoe, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, African Grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Lilac-breasted Roller, Coqui Francolin, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks, Rufous-chested Swallow, Southern Red Bishop, and Yellow-throated Long Claw among others. The fringing swamps in the park also hide secretive papyrus specialties such as the Papyrus Gonolek. Common conspicuous birds we may encounter on our journey to Lake Mburo include Crested Francolin, Common Scimitarbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Trilling Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Northern Black Tit, Chin-spot Batis, Great Blue-eared Starling, and Marico Sunbird. The woodland in the immediate vicinity of Rwonyo also supports many of these widespread species.

The more open grassland north of the Rwonyo Camp, particularly along the Zebra Track, is worth exploring for species such as Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Rufous-chested Swallow, the largest Violet-tipped and Temminck’s courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous-napped and Flappet Lark, there have been recent sightings of the Striped Pipit around the Rwakobo Rock Lodge, Yellow-throated Long Claw and Southern Red Bishop, be keen and differentiate the glossy blue black Southern Black Flycatcher from the Northern Black. A small number of the migratory Brown-chested Plover is regularly observed along the Eland Track, in the afternoon we go for a boat ride in search for the African Finfoot, White-backed and Black-crowned Night Herons, Giant Kingfisher and many more, Spot lighting along the entrance road may produce interesting nocturnal species such as the African Scops-Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and Freckled, Black Shouldered and Pennant-winged Nightjars. Stay at Eagles Nest.

Day 4: Birding on Boat and transfer to Kisoro Via Echuya

Morning birding on foot along the park trails with an armed ranger then back to our lodge for breakfast, after this we proceed for a game and birding drive which gives us higher chances of viewing mammals like the Zebras, Impalas, Elands, Topis, Buffaloes, Rothschild’s Giraffe among others, as we bird we focus our attention on the search for the Crested, Black Collared and Red Faced Barbet, Coqui Francolin, Brown Chested Plover, Tabora Cisticola, Red Headed Weaver, Lesser-blue Eared Starling, Buff-bellied Warbler, Black Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Green Capped Eremomela, Bare faced Go-away-bird, Red Billed Wood Hope and more  acacia associated birds, we later drive out and head to Kisoro having stopovers in search for the Carruther’s Cisticola, African Stonechat, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Greater and Lesser Swamp Warbler, Highland Rush Warbler and the localized littler known resident of dense papyrus beds – the Papyrus Yellow Warbler among the papyrus rarities, we shall carry on and spend a few hours in the Echuya Forest Reserve which will give us a small introduction to a few Albertine Rift Endemics and high altitude dwellers like the Dusky Crimsonwing, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Apalis and Batis, Strange Weaver, Black Faced Apalis, the Rockefeller’s like looking Regal Sunbird, Handsome Francolin among the endemics then the Doherty’s Bush-shrike, the olive green washed Mountain Yellow Warbler,  the Intra African migrating Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Rameron Pigeon, Thick-billed Seedeater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Brown-capped Weaver and many more, as we descend to our lodge watch out for Cape Robin-chat, Yellow Bishop, Yellow-crowned Canary, East African Swee, White-necked Raven, Mountain Buzzard the list is endless  stay at Kisoro Travelers Hotel.

Day 5: Whole day Hardcore birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Uganda

Start early and head to Ntebeko head trail, Birding Mgahinga is very adrenaline taking in the birding world as there are special bird species expected here like the Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Black-headed waxbill, white tailed crested flycatcher, Dusky and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Brown wood warbler, Kivu Ground and Olive Thrush, Evergreen Forest and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Afep pigeon, Dusky Turtle Dove, Stripe Breasted Tit, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Malachite Sunbird, Archer’s Robin-chat and White Starred Robin-chat, Rwanzori Batis, Regal, Sunbird, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Montane Oriole, Rwenzori and Black Faced Apalis, Handsome Francolin  and many others. Dinner and overnight at Kisoro Travelers Hotel. FB.

Day 6: Early morning transfer to Ruhija birding via Echuya Forest.

After early morning breakfast, bird as we proceed to Ruhija through Echuya forest for Archer’s Robin-Chat, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Black-faced Apalis, White-napped Raven, Black-crowned Waxbill, birding around the forest margins is always very productive. This part of Bwindi is generally at a higher altitude. Forest birding at Bwindi ranks the best in Uganda and perhaps the whole of Africa. It is home to over 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics and the No. 1 Birding site in Africa as per the African Birding Club. Here we mostly look out for bird species like Black-billed Turaco, Fine-banded Woodpecker, African Green-Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Mountain Greenbul, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Grauer’s Rush, Red-faced Woodland, Grauer’s and Mountain Yellow Warbler, Buff Throated, Chestnut-throated, Black-faced and Rwenzori Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Black Boubou, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted and Blue-headed Sunbird, , Red-throated Alethe, African Shrike, Ashy, Dusky-blue, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, White-napped Raven, Montane Oriole, Sharpe’s, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Waller’s and Narrow-tailed Starling, Brown-capped, Strange, Baglafecht, Black-necked and Black-billed Weaver, the dark grey Dusky Crimsonwing, Bar-tailed Trogon, East African Swee, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick-billed and Streaky Seedeater, Oriole Finch, Mountain Buzzard, Cassine’s and Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Handsome Francolin, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Wood-Owl, Scarce Swift, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Elliot’s Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Archer’s Robinchat, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, Olive Thrush, Red-faced Woodland Warbler and many more. We stay at Bakiga Lodge or Equivalent.

Day 7 & 8: Birding safari to Mubwindi Swamp and Gorilla tracking

After breakfast we head for a whole day birding to Mubwindi Swamp. This is the best birding spot for the Albertine rift endemics including African Green Broadbill, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Batis, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbird, Black Headed Waxbill, and African Hill Babbler, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Northern Double Collared, Eastern Olive and Collared Sunbird, and many more bird species mentioned on day 6.

One of these 2 days is devoted to a noncompulsory but unforgettable trek to see the Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda in their natural haven. The gorilla trekking adventure could take anywhere from two to six hours in the jungles, depending on where the gorillas are located by the ranger guides /trekkers. We will start with a very morning breakfast then leave the lodge early to reach the park’s Registration Center, where the trek will start after introductions and a briefing from the head guide on what to expect and how to act once you find the gorillas. Viewing the Mountain gorillas is a philosophical experience, but because the trek may be too difficult for some participants if not physical fit and psychologically unprepared, we are leaving it as an optional activity to your choice. For those who opt not to take the trek, there will be a birding excursion in Ruhija and the environs. Our dinner and overnight stay will be at Bakiga Lodge or Equivalent.

Day 9: Birding to Buhoma via The Neck

Whole day birding on the road to Buhoma through the “Neck”. Key bird species include: Fine-banded Woodpecker, at the bridge be keen on finding the Cassine’s Flycatcher, African Black Duck and Mountain Wagtail, Chin-spot Batis, Black-billed Turacco, Dwarf Honeyguide, Shelley’s, Ansorge’s, Little, Red-tailed, Cabanis’s, Slender Billed and Toro Olive, Little Grey Greenbul, expect Bee-eaters including Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Many-coloured Bush-shrike, the clouds are a good habitat for Cassin’s and Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Black Saw-wing, Rock Martin, Narina Trogon, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-throated Alethe, African Shrike-flycatcher and Red-headed Malimbe; and in areas of dry fern vegetation, we expect to find the bright red rumped Dusky Twinspot, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Chubb’s Cisticola, African Stonechat, Streaky Seed-eater and as we get back into the forested area, look out for Grey Apalis, Augur Buzzard, Petit’s Cuckoo Shrike, Pink-footed and Northern Puffback, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Northern Yellow White-eye, Yellow-billed Kite, Yellow-rumped, Speckled and Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Stripe-breasted Tit, Black Faced Apalis, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Yellow-throated Leaf Love, Black-necked Weaver, Crested Guinea Fowl, Crowned Hornbill, Lead-colored Flycatcher, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-spotted Barbet, African Harrier Hawk. Dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Homestay for 3 nights. FB

Day 10 & 11: Birding Buhoma and the environs

After an early breakfast, we start birding at this lower side of Bwindi in search for the Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Black Bee-Eater, this is the best site for the African Broadbill, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Fine Banded, Elliot’s and Buff Spotted Woodpecker, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue Headed, Blue Throated, Little Green and Blue Throated Brown Sunbird, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, the very special Short-tailed Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Many-coloured, Bocage’s and Luhder’s Bush-shrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s and Narrow Tailed Starlings, Black-billed, Brown-capped and Black Necked weaver, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, the unusual Woodhouse’s Antpecker  among other birds.

Day 12: Birding to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast you will drive to the second biggest protected area in Uganda – Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birding here exposes us to a variety of savannah birds including the Larks and Pipits, Harlequin Quail, Blue Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, Black Coucal, African Moustached, Broad Tailed and Grey Capped Warbler, Martial Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Amur Falcon, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Terek Sandpiper, Common, Fawn-breasted and Crimson-rumped Waxbill, Temminck’s Courser, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Golden Breasted Bunting, Senegal and Wattled Lapwing, checkout the ponds for the Gret Painted Snipe and the seasonal Madagascar Squacco Heron, Brown Snake Eagle and many more bird species. This park has a great number of mammals numbering to 96 which are both diurnal and nocturnal. We stay at Pumba Safari Lodge.

Day 13: Whole day Birding in the park: recorded 612 bird species

You start early for a game drive and birding the vast grassland area the whole morning. Later in the afternoon you have an exciting boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This is a natural water channel connecting Lakes George and Edward, with excellent photographic opportunities for waterside birds and abundant Hippopotamus. Birding on the boat avails us opportunities of seeing the African Skimmer, African Spoonbill, Striated Heron, Water Thick-knee, Marsh, Green, Three-banded Plover, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black Backed and Gray-headed Gull, White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern, Plain Martin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Terek Sandpiper most of which are winter visitors.

Day 14: Transfer to Semliki National Park birding on the way.

After breakfast (maybe short game drive) we will transfer to Semliki birding en-route. Having reached in the afternoon, you will check in at the lodge and head for evening birding exploring the Sempaya area and the main road may produce Red-billed Dwarf, pairs of Piping and Black Wattled Casqued Hornbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Long-tailed Hawk, Rameron and the rare White-napped Pigeon, Forest Robin, Fire-crested Alethe, Brown and Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Fawn-breasted and Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch and many more, trying out the Bate’s Nightjar and Nkulengu Rail later is worthwhile and at dawn the Spot-breasted Ibis are always heard  Dinner and overnight at UWA Bandas.

Day 15:  Whole day Hardcore birding Semliki Valley National Park and the environs.

The main trail is the Kirumia with its interlinking tracks which provide special Guinea-Congo biome endemic species like the striking rather large but very shy Hartlaub’s duck, the white vented Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Yellow-throated Green Cuckoo, the extra ordinary large Long-tailed Hawk, Nkurengu Rail, Black-billed Dwarf, the very sensitive and shy White-crested, Red-Billed Dwarf, Piping and Black-wattled Casqued Hornbills, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, Red-Chested Owlet, Bates’ Nightjar, Chocolate-backed, White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted, Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honey guides, African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Rufous-sided Broadbill, White-throated blue Swallow if you get close the oxbow lakes, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Swamp, Xavier’s, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Capuchin Babbler, Northern bearded Scrub Robin, Forest and Grey ground Thrush, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Rufous-crowned Eremomela. Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet-Shrike, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Black-winged Oriole, Chestnut-winged Starling, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes, Pale-Fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Grant’s blue bill, Black-bellied Seedcracker  and many more. Dinner and overnight at UWA Bandas.

 

Day 16: Transfer to Kibale birding on the way.

Whole day drive to Kibale Forest National Park Birding on the way for bird like; birding the old road can produce small noisy flocks of the Leaf-love, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Ross’s and White crested Turaco, Cabanis’s Bunting, Orange-winged and Red-winged Pytilia, African Reed Warbler, Brown Babbler, Whistling Cisticola, Long-crested and Brown Snake-Eagle as we get into Kibale forest, stretch out as you look for the Grey and Black throated Apalis, Blue-throated Roller, Afep Pigeon, Narrow-tailed Starling, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Narina Trogon, Yellow-mantled Weaver, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Bee-eater among others. Dinner and overnight at Kibale Forest Lodge. FB

 

Day 17 & 18: Whole day hardcore birding and Chimp tracking Kibale Forest N. Park.

Birding in Kibale Forest National Park is a delightful experience. We shall look for species such as Red-winged Francolin, White-spotted Flufftail, White-napped Pigeon, the Green-breasted Pitta,  Joyful Greenbul, Red-capped, Blue-shouldered and Grey-winged Robin-chat, White tailed Ant-Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Masked Apalis, Splendid Glossy, Purple headed glossy, Chestnut-winged and Stuhlmann’s Starling, Tiny, Superb, Bronze, Little Green, Green headed, Olive Bellied, Green, Green throated and Eastern Olive sunbird, White-collared Oliveback and many more. Lunch at the hotel later bird around the hotel in the evening or the Bigodi wetland which offers chances of the Village Weavers and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, most of which are always in the act of nest building. Expect White-headed Saw-wing, Black-headed Weaver, Red-faced Cisticola, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Black-and-white Mannikin, White-chinned Prinia, Little and Joyful Greenbul, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Yellow-spotted, Yellow-billed and Hairy-breasted Barbet, this is trail offers the best views of Great-blue Turaco, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, African-shrike and the Black-and-white-shrike Flycatchers White-spotted Flufftail always shows up very well here is the rains are not much, Black-necked Weaver, Collared, Green-throated, Scarlet-chested and Green-headed Sunbird, Green Hylia. White at the boardwalk vicinity which traverses part of the swamp expect White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek among the primates look out for the Red Colobus Monkey, Red-tailed Monkeys , Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Varvet and L’hoest’s Monkey. Later back to the Lodge for dinner and overnight.

 

Day 19: Bird watching to Masindi Uganda

After an early breakfast, hardcore Uganda birding safari takes us to Masindi, birding stops will be at certain secret spots of your experienced Uganda safari guide trying to find special species like the Buff-throated and Masked Apalis, Yellow Mantled and Forest Weaver, Olive and Ducky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Joyful Greenbul, Afep Pigeon, on the river look out for African Black Duck, Cassine’s Flycatcher and Mountain Wagtail, White-collared Oliveback, over the forest and in the canopies we have a collection of Purple-headed Glossy, Narrow Tailed, Waller’s and Stuhlmann’s Starling, Yellow Billed, Grey Throated, Yellow Spotted and Hairy Breasted Barbet, the skies provide opportunities for the Mottled and Sabine’s Spinetail among others. As we continue further to Masindi, keep looking out for the Whistling and Singing Cisticola, Brown Twinspot, Grey-headed Oliveback, Western-violet Backed Sunbird, White-thighed Hornbill, Yellow-mantled Widowbird among others. We later get to our destination and spend our night at Masindi Hotel for two nights.

Day 20: Bird to Budongo Forest – Royal Mile and Busingiro.

We begin birding at dawn. Key bird species for the two sections include: Blue Breasted, African Dwarf and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Brown-eared and Yellow Crested Woodpecker, Dusky long-tailed Cuckoo, Crowned Eagle, Forest and Chestnut Capped Flycatcher, Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Narina Trogon, , Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Chestnut-crowned Eremomera, White-spotted Flufftail, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Olive-bellied Crombec, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, Little Green Sunbird, Green Sunbird, White-Breasted Negrofinch, Western Black-headed Oriole, Dusky Long-tailed and African Emerald Cuckoo, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Yellow and Grey Longbill, Forest Robin, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Tit Hylia, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Green Crombec, Crested Malimbe and Red-headed Bluebill, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Xavier’s, Ictrine, Slender-billed, White-throated, Spotted, Plain, Spotted and Toro Olive Greenbul. Back to Masindi for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 21: Birding to northern Murchison falls

You start early birding via Busingiro to the escarpment or Kaniyo Pabid for the Puvel’s Illadopsis. This stretch is one of the best of Uganda Birding spots. Recorded birds here include Foxy Cisticola, White-headed and black billed Barbet, Northern Crombec, Singing Cisticola, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Grey-headed Oliveback, Red Winged Pytilia, Black-bellied Firefinch, Lesser-masked Weaver, we check in at Pakuba Game Lodge or equivalent. Later we do a night drive in search of the nightjars and nocturnal mammal.

Day 22: Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Today our birding starts after an early breakfast. We may bird on a boat along the Victoria Nile to the delta or do a birding drive to the delta. Later in the afternoon, you take a launch trip to the bottom of the falls. Recorded birds in this park include Shoebill, Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller and Ground Hornbill, Pied Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eaters, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Senegal and Water Thick-knees, Black-headed and Long-toed Lapwing, Little Bittern, Osprey, Red-necked Falcon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Vinaceous Dove and Grosbeak Weaver. Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Marabou Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silver Bird, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver and White-rumped Seedeater, Rock Pratincole, African Darter and Giant Kingfisher. FB

Day 23: Birding to Kidepo

In the morning, set off further north east to the spectacular and most beautiful National Park in Uganda. Though the journey is mostly on unpaved road and a bit rough it is very rewarding once you reach this rich unmatched national park there are high chances of viewing almost all attractions that are found in the park though hard for naturalists to do this on a single visit to any natural enclave and for this case Kidepo Valley National Park. We shall have lunch en route and then continue to the vast plains, in the Kalenga hills, scan through for the Hemprich’s Hornbill then head to the park and we check-in into Savannah lodge (3 nights) for dinner and overnight stay. Kidepo is very interesting and has a variety of species not common in other Savannah park of Uganda, among which we shall be looking out for the Brown-rumped bunting, Red-billed and Jackson’s Hornbill, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Quail plover, Karamoja Apalis, Black-faced Firefinch, Cut-throat Finch, Brown-backed woodpecker, Emin’s shrike, Heuglin’s wheatear, Familiar Chat, the brightly coloured  Purple Grenadier, Jameson’s Firefinch, Orange and Red-winged Pytilia, Orange River and Ring-necked Francolin, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Swallow-tailed kite, White-fronted Black-chat, Three-streaked Tchagra, the gigantic Black-breasted Barbet, Yellow-spotted Petronia, White-bellied Tit, Pygmy Sunbird, White-crested Turaco, Mocking, Cliff-chat, Kori, Long-billed Crombec, White-bellied and Hartlaub’s Bustards, Heuglin’s Courser, Rufous Chatterer Black-headed Plover, Boran, Foxy, Red-pate and Wing-snapping Cisticola, Four-banded Sand Grouse at dusk we try out a late drive to look for Abyssinian nightjar, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars and other nocturnal counterparts. FB

Day 24 & 25- Kidepo Exclusive Birding And Wildlife Adventure

After a very early morning breakfast we spend a full day discovering one of the most           beautiful and certainly most remote national parks which is least visited in Uganda, we can drive to Kanangorok hot spring and a combined exploration of the Narus River Valley. Kidepo Valley National Park is home to 86 mammal species being the third highest area as far as wildlife diversity is concerned in Uganda. It shields larger herbivores and small ones inclusive than any other protected area in Uganda with 28 species found nowhere else in Uganda. The bird checklist comprises of 463 confirmed and 26 unconfirmed bird species all at your exposure to be looked out for. After lunch we can opt for another game drive or a visit Kalenga and Kadepo for a cultural performance given by the native Karamojongs who are well known for their unique nomadic lifestyle and rich traditions of storytelling and dancing not only fixed to them but almost all tribes in Uganda, each has something unique that you can share and learn just utilize your time in Uganda with our enthusiastic interpreters, dinner and overnight stay at Savannah Lodge. FB

Day 26: Birding to Moroto via Matheniko Bokora

Depending on what was missed on the last game drive, start birding as you bird out of the park I just did this stretch a few years back and it is so soo ‘birdy’ look out for Bruce’s Green Pigeon, White-headed and White Billed Buffalo-Weaver not leaving out the White Browed Sparrow which keep crossing and feeding on the road, Fox and Lesser Kestrel, Yellow Bellied Eremomela, White Bellied Canary are common spp of the drive not leaving out the Dark and Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Fantailed Raven, as you drive through Matheniko, be keen on the Buff Crest Bustard, Jackson and Red-billed Hornbill, Steel Blue Whydah, Greater, Superb and Lesser Blue-eared Starling  to mention but a few. Dinner and overnight stay at Kara Tunga Safari Camp which has a resident Barn Owl.

Day 27: Birding to Pian Upe and stay at UWA Bandas.

 

Day 28: Birding Pian Upe and Transfer to Mount Elgon

After a morning breakfast, explore the least visited haven of Eastern Uganda Birding, Virgin grassland and wooded habitats have created an incredibly welcoming habitat for dry country birds and unique mammals that are highly sought not leaving out the Roan Antelope and Cheetah. Dotted with the Red acacia and Bushwillows with Harrisonia abyssinica with the skies as a great habitat for many birds of prey, on the search look out for Secretary Bird, Four Banded Sandgrouse, Quil-plover, Fawny Lark, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, the Fox’s Weaver has plenty of nests on the main road trails, almost a must see as they are breeding around Feb/March, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Jackson’s Hornbill, Karamoja Apalis, Beautiful Sunbird among others, later transfer to Elgon and stay at Lacalm Lodge. FB

 

Day 29: Birding Mt Elgon National Park

Whole day birding, search for Hunter’s Cisticola and Jackson Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Alpine Chat, White-starred Robin, Cape Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Little Rock-Thrush, Northern Anteater Chat, Nightingale, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Mountain Yellow Warbler, African Reed Warbler, Little Rush Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Blackcap, Common Whitethroat, Common Chiffchaff, the Uganda and Brown Woodland Warblers, Green Hylia, White-browed Crombec, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Stout, Thrilling, and Rattling Cisticolas, chances of seeing the Banded Prinia, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Ludher’s Bush-shrike, Cape Rook, Fan-tailed and White-napped Raven, Chestnut Sparrow, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, and many more. Overnight at Lacalm Lodge (FB)

Day 30 Birding to Entebbe onwards