11 Days Uganda Forest Birding Holiday

Day 1: Botanical Gardens Birding

The Uganda forest birding safari begins with an introductory birding at the botanical beach of Lake Victoria and the Kajansi ponds. Birds in these points include the White & Black casqued Hornbills, Grey crowned crane, compact weaver, Hadada Ibis, Open billed stork, Woodland Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, Great blue Turaco, Grey heron and Pied King fisher. Form here you will then be transferred to the hotel in either Kampala or Entebbe for your dinner and overnight stay.

Day 2: Forest Birding, Mabira Forest

This morning you will go to the Mabira forest centre where you will register and later enjoy a full day forest birding. Species Mabira forest include the Purple throated cuckoo shrike, Nahan’s francolins, Forest wood hoopoe, Green tailed bristle bill, Joyful greenbul, Tit hylia, Grey long bill, Great blue turaco, Weyns weaver, African harrier-hawk, Hairy breasted barbet, Brown eared woodpecker, White-headed saw-wing.

Day 3: Budongo Forest, Birding in the Busingiro sector

Budongo forest, transfer from Kampala to Busingiro section of Budongo forest for an afternoon forest birding, depending on time of arrival, start birding from visitor centre areas and continue along the main road. Dinner & overnight in Masindi town Forest birds: African Dwarf Kingfisher, chestnut capped flycatcher, western black headed oriole, Sabine’s spine tail, white breasted Negro finch, Yellow crested woodpecker, Yellow footed flycatcher, Lemon bellied crombec, Piping hornbill, Sabine's spine tail.

Day 4: Budongo Forest.

This morning after breakfast you will leave for Budongo forest together with a parked lunch and head for the royal mile. Here you will enjoy a full day bird watching along the forest road ending at the Forest Bridge. On this safari you will be able to see the Ituri Batis, Nahan's francolin, Chocolate backed king fisher, Brown twin spot, White spotted fluff tail, Jameson’s wattle eye, white breasted negro finch, Grey headed sunbird, Red headed bluebill, Green sunbird and Little green sunbird. Return to the hotel for dinner and breakfast.

Day 5:To Kibaale – Forest Species

In the morning you will transfer from Budongo to Kibaale forest and check in at the hotel. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon birding around the hotel gardens. Kibaale forest birds include the Black billed turaco, Yellow billed barbet, Great blue turaco, Haily breasted barbet, Vanga flycatcher, Brown throated wattle eye, Western Nicator, Yellow bill, Red bellied paradise fly catcher. Dinner and overnight at Primates lodge.

Day 6: Bigodi Swamp Walk, Kibaale Forest

Early morning walk in Bigodi swamp, Chimpanzee tracking and forest birding in Kibaale National park in the afternoon. Forest species; White colored Olive back, Red Tailed Bristle bill, Yellow billed barbet, White bellied crested fly catcher, Joyful greenbul, Black billed Turaco, Blue shouldered robin chat, Green breasted Pitta, white spotted Fluff tail.

Day 7: Semuliki National park, Semuliki Rarities

Birding in Semuliki forest starts early morning driving down the Semuliki valleys for forest experience, visit Ssepaya hot spring and bird Kirumia trails the rest of the day. Birds here include the Spot breasted ibis, Grey throated rail, Capuchin babbler, Congo serpent eagle, Piping Hornbill, Red billed dwarf hornbill, White crested hornbill, African Piculet, and Red bellied Malimbe, Zenker’s honey guide. Return late afternoon to Fort portal town at the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: To Bwindi National Park - Biding safari

This day you will move Bwindi Park at the Buhoma surroundings. You will reach in the afternoon and species such as Banded prinia ,Narina tragon, Magie Manikin, Grey headed Negrofinch, Black billed weaver, Black necked weaver, Stuhlmann's starling, Pink footed puff back, Bocage's bush-shrike, Ludher's bush shrike Narina tragon, banded prinia, blue headed sunbird, Ross's Turaco, Black billed Turaco can be spotted here. Dinner and overnight at Buhoma rest camp.

Day 9: In Bwindi Park - Albertine Rift Endemics

Trekking Mountain Gorillas at a fee is optional, otherwise you will take a full day bird watching along the water fall loop searching for rarities and Rift valley endemics: Red throated alethe, Black bee eater, Short tailed warbler, Purple breasted sunbird, yellow eyed black fly catcher, Red faced woodland warbler, Blue headed sunbird, Brown capped weaver, strange weaver.

Day 10: Transfer to Bunyonyi

This morning you will start with birding in Bwindi forest, starting with the neck, Ruhiija surroundings and Bamboo zone before transferring to Bunyonyi. Albertine rift species include Mountain wagtail, Black bee eater, bar tailed trogon, regal sunbird, olive pigeon, white tailed ant-thrush, Banded prinia, Mountain capped apalis, handsome francolin, Chapin's flycatcher, sooty flycatcher. Dinner and overnight at Bunyonyi overland camp.

Day 11: Return to Kampala

Depart Lake Bunyonyi early morning birding at interesting point's enroute to Kampala and check in at a booked hotel for a night stay as you prepare for your flight back home