12 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari Experience

12 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari Experience :  Take on this 12 days Uganda safari with a birding safari and wildlife exploration experience.

Day 1: Arrival, hotel, optional botanical gardens birding experience

Upon arrival at the Entebbe airport, you will be welcomed by our company representative/safari guide who will drive you to your lodge for check-in. Depending on your arrival time, later in the evening spend it at the botanical gardens and spot some of the birds available. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight stay at Papyrus Guesthouse.

Day 2: Birding excursion at Mabamba wetland and transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary

After breakfast, meet your safari driver to connect to Mabamba wetlands at 8 am. Mabamba Swamp, located around the shores of Lake Victoria, is one of the best birding sites in Uganda, offering visitors an excellent birding experience and an encounter with various bird species. This site is also one of the few places in Uganda where there are higher chances to encounter the rare shoebill stork. Your safari guide will meet you and thereafter set off for birding at Mabamba wetlands. You will take a canoe ride at Mabamba, where you will get closer to different bird species that reside here. You may also see the rare shoebill stork. You will spend half a day birdwatching.

Thereafter, embark on your journey to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is about 3 hours’ drive with en route lunch. Upon arrival at the lodge, check-in for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Amuka Safari Lodge

Day 3: Rhino tracking—transfer to Kibale National Park for evening birding at the forest edge

After breakfast, prepare for the rhino trekking experience. Meet with the ranger guides for a briefing, then drive to the starting point where you will begin your trekking in search of the rhinos. You will be able to spot different rhinos coming up close to them. Spend time in their presence.

Thereafter, embark on your 5-hour’ drive to Kibale Forest National Park en route lunch. Arrive in the park late evening with en route birding. Check-in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Isunga Lodge for a budget.

Day 4: Morning Green Breasted Pitta search and Bigodi swamp walk in the evening

Wake you up early, have breakfast, and connect to the park for a birding experience in the Kibale forest. The park boasts more than 375 species of birds. Kibale specials include the African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, Afep Pigeon, White-naped Pigeon, Crowned Eagle, Red-chested Owlet, Black Bee-eater, Western Nicator, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Little Greenbul, Brown-chested Alethe, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Grey Parrot, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Brown Illadopsis, Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow Spotted Nicator, Little Green Bul, Black-eared Ground Thrush, and the Abyssinian Ground-thrush. Also, take the Bigodi swamp trail for more sights of different birds. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, you will go for chimpanzee trekking with your tracking gear. After meeting your guide at the head office, you will enter the rainforest to begin your search for the chimpanzees, which could take anywhere from 2 to 5 hours. On seeing them, you will spend 1 hour with the chimpanzees while taking pictures.

After tracking, return to the lodge, refresh, have lunch, and check-out to connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This is a 3-hour’ drive from Fort Portal with en route at the Equator.  Dinner and overnight at The Bush Lodge for budget

Day 6: Lion tracking/game drive and boat cruise           

You will wake up early and embark on a lion tracking experience, followed by an en-route game drive to catch up with the early risers. Explore the Kasenyi sector—a known mating ground for kobs and a hunting ground for lions. While on the game drive, expect to see some of the big four, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and also different species of antelopes, warthogs, and white Colobus monkeys, just to mention a few.

You will then return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, you will embark on a launch cruise along the Kazinga Channel, providing an opportunity to witness a variety of bird species, including elephants, buffalos, hippos, and crocodiles along the lakeshores. Return and relax at the lodge as above.

Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha; afternoon/evening birding at the waterfall trail

After breakfast, start your day very early with a transfer to Bwindi impenetrable national park. The journey takes approximately 6-7 hours, including a lunch break en route through the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Once you arrive in Bwindi Forest, head to the waterfalls trail for an evening birding experience, where you may have the opportunity to spot the Bar-tailed Trogon, purple-breasted sunbird, and numerous other species. Later evening, proceed to your booked lodge for dinner and overnight stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for budget

Day 8: Gorilla trekking experience—Transfer to Kisoro with en-route birding

Enjoy early morning breakfast and transfer to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for a briefing by the ranger guides and later head into the forest for your trek. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi takes 2 to 8 hours, depending on the movement of the gorillas. These primates roam the park freely, and there is no way to tell where they will be on a particular day. Once you locate them, you will have an hour to observe and capture photographs of these gentle primates, savor your lunch, meet your driver/guide, and then return to your lodge.

After trekking, meet your guide to proceed to Kisoro town, which is the closed town to Mgahinga National Park. It’s about 3 hours’ drive; however, your journey will be longer because of en-route birding. Upon arrival in Kisoro in the evening, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Travellers’ Rest Lodge for budget

Day 9: Full day birding in Mgahinga National Park

After early breakfast, connect to Mgahinga National Park for your full-day birding experience. Discover species such as the Regal sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird, and numerous other endemic and Albertine birds while enjoying your packed lunch. Later in the evening, return to the lodge while birdwatching. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above

Day 10: Golden Monkey Trekking—Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, return to the park for your golden monkeys’ track. Before you begin your hike up the mountain in search of the golden monkeys, you will receive a briefing about the activity. Once you find them, you will have an hour to spend with them, taking pictures and videos.

Return for the trek; meet your driver to transfer to Lake Mburo National Park en route to birding. The drive takes approximately 4-5 hours, but it will take longer if you are birding. Upon arrival in the evening, connect to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay at Eagles Nest Lodge for budget

Day 11: Morning game drive and birding; afternoon birding on the boat trip

After breakfast at the lodge, start your day on a morning game drive and birding experience at the same time. Lake Mburo is one of the best places for birding in Uganda. Encounter different bird species and animals in the park, like buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, and other residents. After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch.

Taking an afternoon boat cruise on Lake Mburo is one of the rewarding birding experiences. You will encounter more water birds and other birds. Also, find animals like the hippos. Later evening, connect for yet another birding drive to find more birds. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge above

Day 12: Transfer back to Entebbe; optional visit to the botanical garden; departure

After having breakfast, you will drive out of the park to connect with your journey back to Entebbe. En route, you will enjoy lunch, visit the Equator, and explore some interesting birding areas.

Proceed to Entebbe and connect to the Entebbe botanical gardens for a birding experience, depending on your departure flight. You will either be dropped off at your own booked hotel or proceed to the airport for your onwards flight back home.

End of 12 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari Experience

12 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari Experience Includes;

• Pick up and drop off Kampala/Entebbe
• Gorilla trekking and chimpanzee permits
• Golden monkey fees
• Birding fees
• Park entry fees and boat cruise fees
• Accommodations as per itinerary
• 4X4 safari Van & Fuel
• Full-time English-speaking driver/guide
• All meals during transfers and at the lodge
• Bottled mineral water while on safari

12 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari Experience Excludes;    

• Tipping for guide/hotel staff/rangers
• Uganda visa fees and international air tickets
• Optional activities of your choice
• Personal expenses like laundry, phone calls, beer, insurance cover, extra meals and drinks, e.t.c.