14 Days Bird Watching Uganda, Watching Rift Endemics

Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo

This birding rift valley endemics start in Lake Mburo National Park along Impala track and later in the afternoon you take a boat cruise for water birds. Species of interest here include the white backed night heron, Rufous belied heron, White winged warbler, Papyrus Gonlek, papyrus canary, African fish eagle, Pied King fisher, Bateuler, Brown snake eagle, etc. Dinner and overnight at the tented camp, Safari lodge or camping.

Day 2: Mgahinga National Park, Albertine Species

You will take an early morning birding around Lake Mburo swamps and Echuya forest then you will leave for Mgahinga National park. Species include Mountain capped apalis, Handsome francolin ,Chapin’s flycatcher, Mountain wagtail, Black bee eater, Bar tailed trogon, Regal sunbird, olive pigeon, white tailed ant-thrush, Banded prinia, sooty flycatcher. Dinner and Overnight: safari lodge, tented camp or guest house.

Day 3: Birding Mgahinga National Park.

Bird watching Mgahinga National Park gives an opportunity to see endemics plus different vegetation zones that offers spectacular views of the Volcanoes. Endemic species here seen include Rwenzori Turaco, Strage weaver, Archer’s robin chat, Doherty’s bush shrike, White tailed blue flycatcher, Dusky Crimson wing, Red faced woodland warbler among others.

Day 4: To Ruhiija, Bwindi forest endemics

This morning take Ruhiija birding through Echuya forest, bamboo zone and Ruhiija surrounding in the afternoon. Two nights stay in a tented camp or cottages. Rift Endemics: Regal sun bird, Red faced woodland warbler, Chubb’s cisticola, Short tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Batis

Day 5: Mubwinde swamp, swamp specialties

After breakfast, go bird watching to Mubwindi swamp through the forest trails, searching for forest species and rift endemics like African Green broadbill, archer robin chat, African green broad bill, collared apalis, black faced apalis, Rwenzori night jar, Chapin flycatcher, yellow eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, striped breasted tit, dwarf honey guide.

Day 6: To Buhoma, Bwindi forest species

Move to Buhoma birding through the Neck and water loop trail in the afternoon Bwindi Endemics: Black bee eater, handsome francolin, Ruwenzori turaco, regal sunbird, red throated alethe, kivu ground thrush, short tailed warbler.

Day 7: Gorilla trekking

You can take Gorilla tracking which is optional at a fee, though tough, but it is rewarding exercise, one need to be physical fit as it may be demanding at some point due to elevation gains. For those with extra energy bird the Buhoma surrounding in the afternoon.

Day 8: Waterfall trail, Bwindi forest trail

Watching Forest birds starts right at the visitor centre, following the road leads you to different forest trails, take up the waterfall trail birding ending at the three waterfalls searching for forest species like Chapin flycatcher collared apalis, black faced apalis, yellow eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, Short tailed warbler, Kivu ground thrush, Purple breasted sunbird, rufous flycatcher.

Day 9: To Semuliki National Park.

Morning transfer to Fort Portal town through Ishasha sector, and if you are lucky you may see the tree climbing lions. Check in at a booked hotel late afternoon.

Day 10: in Semuliki Park, Semuliki forest

Bird watching in Semuliki forest, driving down the valleys early morning, watching birds along the main road and Ssepaya hot springs trails will give an introductory birding of Semuliki forest. Return to hotel late afternoon.

Day 11: In Semuliki Park, Semuliki rarities

On this day you will return early morning for a full day’s trip using Kirumia trail, the birding offers you opportunities to see rarities and other species of the Ituri forest. Return to hotel for dinner and over night. Bird species: Spot breasted ibis, long tailed hawk, Nkulengu rail, piping horn bill, red billed dwarf horn bill, black dwarf hornbill, African piculet, lyte-tailed honey guide, red rumped tinker bird, yellow throated nicator, Sassi’s olive greenbul, fiery breasted bush shrike, forest scrub robin.

Day 12: To Kibaale Forest, Bigodi Swamp Birding Safari

Bird watching in Bigodi swamp not only for swamp specialties but also have opportunities to watch 8 species of primates namely the blue monkey, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed colobus, white and black colobus, L’hoests monkey, vervet monkey and Olive baboons. Magombe swamp species: Red tailed bristle bill, white collared olive back, yellow billed barbet, white napped pigeon, grey winged warbler, black billed turaco, papyrus canary, white winged warbler, blue shouldered robin chat, white spotted flufftail and red winged francolin.

Day 13: In Kibaale Forest, primates walk

Kibale forest gives you an excellent birding opportunity and for Chimpanzee tracking experience. Kibaale forest has the highest numbers of primates therefore offers primate walk activities. Watching birds in Kibaale forest is along Ngogo road, the main road ending at Dura Bridge and in the forest trails Key species: Bar tailed tragon, fine banded wood pecker, red faced crimson wing, Nahan's Francolin, Africa Pitta and many more.

Day 14: End of Safari.

Transfer to Entebbe or Kampala.