12 Days Forest Birding in Uganda

Begin early and travel to Mabamba Swamp, which is 15 kilometers west of Entebbe and extends along the northern shore of Lake Victoria. It is known as one of the top ornithological sites, with outstanding water-associated bird species and the best place to see the most popular shoe bill. Look for pygmy geese, lesser jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-backed Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Blue-headed Caucal, and other swamp species. The majority of the birding at the marsh takes place in a canoe, which is paddled by our local guides. It's certainly a life-changing experience to watch this strange bird preen, displaying off its enormous grinning face and wooden-looking, clog-like bill. You may also get stunning views of it as it soars on broad wings. Look for the Swamp Flycatcher, African Purple Swamp-hen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, White-faced Whistling-duck, Squacco, Rufous-bellied and Purple Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Winding Cisticola, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, African Marsh Harrier, Hamerkop, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Common Waxbill, Yellow-billed Duck, Blue-headed Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Widowbird, and Intermediate Egret, to name a few. Dine and sleep at The Lodge/Sophie's Motel

Begin your journey to Murchison Falls National Park from Kampala via the Bombo route, which should take approximately 5 hours. On your way, you'll pass by the famed Luwero triangle, which has evolved into a little town with a trading center noted for its tragic past of the Baganda massacre. Continue and stop at Masindi Hotel for lunch. You will go via Budongo Forest and Kaniyo Pabidi. When you arrive at the park, drive straight to the Top of the Falls, which is a beautiful location for relaxation and adventure. Camp or stay at Sambiya Lodge, Red Chili, or Paraa Safari Lodge.

Take an early game drive north of the Nile. Lions, buffaloes, waterbuck, Jackson's hartebeest, oribi, and baboons are among the wildlife you'll see. Soon, you will be able to take a two-hour launch cruise on the Murchison Falls. Look for hippos, big crocodiles, and small herds of buffalo. There is abundant birdlife on the papyrus banks; keep an eye out for the shoebill stork, Africa's most sought-after bird. Go to the top of the falls; it's a beautiful setting for viewing the waterfall, and you can also park there and eat or relax. Camp or stay at Sambiya Lodge, Red Chili, or Paraa Safari Lodge.

Begin early and head to Budongo Forest, one of East Africa's most large and biologically diversified forests, with 465 plant species and a dense concentration of buttressed giant mahoganies reaching 60m in height. It has the greatest chimp population and, more importantly, over 366 bird species, making it an important ornithological site. The Royal Mile is the best birdwatching destination in Uganda. You can check out a long list of African dwarf, blue-breasted, White-shouldered Black Tit, African Penduline Tit, Black Scimitar bill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, Rattling Cisticola, the extremely shy Foxy Cisticola, Black-faced Waxbill, and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, as well as savannah raptors like Whalberg's Eagle, Bateleur, and Martial Eagle, Grey-crowned Crane, Cassin's hawk eagle, Black-headed Oriole, Carruther's Cisticola, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, Tropical Boubou, the colorful Papyrus Gonolek, Vieillot's Black Weaver and Grosbeak-Weaver, and the black-capped Apalis. Dine and sleep at Masindi Hotel/Court View Hotel.

After breakfast, stroll along the main road past Busingiro, which is a more fascinating adventure because it is easier to find the birds. Red-tailed Bristlebill, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Puvel's Illadopsis (one of the rare species), Cameroon Sombre, Slender-billed, Honey guide, Speckled Tinker bird, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Buff-throated Apalis, and both White-breasted and Grey-headed Negrofinches are among the species to look for. White-spotted Fluff tails, Crested Guinea fowl, Tambourine Dove, Grey Parrot, African Emerald and Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoos, Yellow bill, White-throated Bee-eater, Yellow-throated Tinker bird, Western Nicator, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Forest Robin, Sabine's and Cassin's Spine tails, Ituri batis, Wilcock's Honey guide, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, and Yellow-mantled Weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, and others. Dine and sleep at the Masindi Hotel/Court View Hotel.

Leave early for the Kibale Forest National Park. This is a long drive, and we'll stop at a few significant birding areas along the way. Kibale is particularly appealing to nature lovers because of its excellent chimp tracking and birding. It is also worth noting that it has the largest concentration of primates in East Africa, with approximately 13 primates. These include chimps, vervet, red-tailed, L'Hoest, and blue monkeys. Aside from monkeys, there are several bird species present. Kibale Forest birds include the Grey-winged Robin, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black-billed Turaco, White-naped Pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta, Red-chested Flufftail, African Pitta, Cabanis Greenbul, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, and Masked Apalis, to name a few. Dine and sleep at Ndali Lodge or Primates Lodge

If you are a primatologist, you are in the proper place. This morning, go in quest of chimps near Kanyanchu. Chimps live in groups of roughly 100 people; learn about the physical and behavioral characteristics we have in common. Discover more primates, including the golden monkey, olive baboons, red Colobus, white and black Colobus monkeys, grey checkered mangabeys, and blue monkeys. Dine and sleep at Ndali Lodge (luxury) or Primates Lodge (cheap).

We leave at dawn for Bigodi refuge (Magombe swamp), which boasts one of the best guided paths in East Africa and is home to a diverse range of wildlife, butterflies, and tree species. The Great Blue Turaco and Papyrus Gonolek are the swamp's most popular creatures. Committed birders admire this sanctuary for its "quality rather than quantity." Birds easily spotted include the Tinker-barbets, Blue-throated roller, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Crowned Hornbill, Yellow bill, Narina Trogon, Honey guide Bulbuls, Cassin's Honeybird, Masked Apalis, White-chinned Prinia and Banded Prinia, Pink-footed Puffback, Black-and-White Flycatcher, Superb Sunbird, Mountain Wagtail, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Purple-headed Starling, Black-necked Weaver, Dark There are butterflies as well. Expect to observe the sitatunga antelope, as well as there are also primates in the vicinity. Dine and sleep at Ndali Lodge or Primates Lodge.

Transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. On your way, you will see a variety of Albertine bird species. Bwindi is unusual among other parks due to the presence of mountain gorillas, but it has more to offer dedicated birders. It is productive to watch the woodland boundaries in the evening. Bwindi is home to around 23 extremely isolated Albertine Rift endemics, including the black-faced Rufous Warbler, Grauer's Warbler, banded Prinia, black-throated Apalis, and Mountain Masked Apalis, to name a few. Take a guided walk along the Munyanja River route from Buhoma, following the Bizenga River. The bright blue Kingfisher is easy to detect. Along the Waterfall Trail, you can view around 40 species, such as Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, McKinnon’s grey shrike, Luhder’s and Doherty’s bush-shrikes. Dine and rest at Gorilla Resort/ Buhoma Community Bandas.

Ruhija possesses a unique Albertine endemic species, making Bwindi one of the top ornithological sites in Africa. As we ascend to this high altitude section of Bwindi, you will observe not just a variation in avifauna, but also unusual bird species. In Ruhija, you can spot the four crimson-wings, augur buzzard, handsome Francolin, red-throated Wryneck, Archer's Robin Chat, Collared Apalis, Bronze Sunbird, Scarce Swift, Black Saw-wing, Cassin's Grey, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Toro Olive Greenbul, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, yellow-crested helmet shrike, Stripe-breasted Tit, Yellow Bishop, Collared Apalis, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Stripe-breasted Tit, White-naped Raven, Dine and sleep at Trekker's Tavern or Ruhija Campground.

After breakfast, we hike to the Mubwindi Swamp for a full day of bird watching. The 4 km walk to Mubwindi Swamp descends from 2,350 m to 2,050 m and is ideal for viewing some of the most secretive rift endemics, such as the stunning Regal Sunbird and Archer's Robin Chat. Others include the Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Fraser's Eagle-Owl, African Green Broadbill, Grauer's Rush Warbler, purple-breasted, Blue-headed, Archer's Robin Chat, Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, strange Weaver, bar-tailed Trogon, white-headed Wood hoopoe, Waller's and Stuhlmann's Starling, and Montane Nightjar.

Enjoy breakfast and then transfer back to Kampala so as to reach when it is still early. End of safari Tour Includes;

• Gorilla permit
• Accommodation
• All meals
• Transport in 4×4
• Guides & Park fees

Excludes

• International flight ticket
• Tourist Insurance
• Beverages
• Tips