15 day Uganda birding safari leads you to a biodiversity hotspot in Uganda. Uganda - the pearl of Africa is a tourist destination of unmatchable splendour. The country is gifted with a plethora of wildlife which is dispersed within an array of scenic landscapes: the country has 13 landscape categories and 22 main vegetation types (with 96 subtypes) which makes it a compact gem with over 18,783 species of flora and fauna! These landscapes, although majorly known to be rich in biodiversity, are actually part of a wider scale of ecosystems and habitats. These ecosystems are distributed across different regions in the country to form an enduring grandeur that is teeming with a remarkable diversity. The ecosystems range from the snow-capped peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, the high altitude montane forests, the open waters of different lakes, the spectacle of islands, the unique blend of semi-arid woodlands, the savannah and forest communities, the wealth of montane vegetation to the forest-fringed crater lakes that stud the rift valley floor and escarpments. The country has an extraordinary amount of diversity in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats and it varies across ethnicity, gender, flora and fauna.
The different ecosystems are punctuated by the profusion of different flora and fauna and are known to support a great number of bird species. The country boosts an estimated 1061 bird species, making it the leading African birding safari destination with over 50% of Africa’s bird richness and 11% of the world’s bird population. Of the country’s bird species, 15 are endangered and 11 are vulnerable; several species are classified as threatened at the global (e.g. Shoebill B. rex, Grey-crowned Crane B. regulorum) and regional (e.g. White-backed Night Heron G. leuconotos, Rufous-bellied Heron A. rufiventris) levels.
The 15-day Uganda and African birding safari starts from Mabamba bay on the shores of Lake Victoria. Mabamba was labelled an Important Bird Area by Birding International and it is highlighted by over 260 bird species. The place has both migratory and resident birds, some of which are globally threatened. Examples include the Blue swallow and the Papyrus Gonolek among others. From here, you will be transferred to Lake Mburo National Park for another birding escapade. The park is small but with varied habitats for its size. These range from acacia woodland, dry hillsides, rocky outcrops, bushy thickets, open and wooded savannah, seasonal and permanent swamps. It small size should not make you think there is nothing to keep you occupied. There are 14 lakes surrounding the park, 5 of which are found within the boundaries of Lake Mburo National Park. These lakes are part of a wetland system that is linked by a swamp that is some 50 km long, fed by the Ruizi River on the western side. The park’s varied habitants host over 315 species of birds like the African fish eagle and the African kingfisher. From here, you will be transferred Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, the land of the mountain gorillas. Bwindi. Although majorly known for the mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a bird watchers’ haven! The park is known to host an estimate of 347 species of birds. Within the misty forests, one can find 10 of the 26 globally threatened species in Uganda, five of which are vulnerable. The forest is gifted with 23 (90%) Albertine Rift endemics with examples like African Green Broadbill and the Chapin’s Flycatcher among others. You will also have options of doing gorilla trekking in the forest. Proceeding to Queen Elizabeth National park, you will have experiences within both sectors of the park. Queen Elizabeth National is gifted with over 600 species of birds. Some of them include: African spoonbill, African crake, three-banded plover, marsh sandpiper and others. While here, you will also have a boat cruise on the Kazinga channel and several game drives that will expose you to a plethora of wildlife.
From here, you will be transferred to Semliki National Park, a birder’s haven. The jungles of Semliki is home to over 435 species of birds. The park’s ecosystem is underlined by aquatic habitats of swamps and oxbow lakes which are complimented by forests and woodland structures. Right within the park’s landscape lies the spectacle of River Semliki. While here, you will see a number of birds, forest elephants, crocodiles, leopards, forest buffalos and crocodiles among others. From Semliki, you will visit Kibale National Park. The park’s beautiful habitants are felt by over 340 bird species that call this partly forest park their home. 77% of Kibale is covered by forests and the rest is summed up into swamps and grasslands. This makes Kibale spectacular. Some of the common bird species include: Superb Sunbird, African Pitta, White-thighed Hornbill, Grey-winged Robin, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat. While here, you will witness other species like primates and forest habitants in Bigodi wetlands. Bigodi is punctuated by biodiversity and beautiful scenery, and is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species. It also hosts eight species of primates including the black-and-white colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey and red-tailed monkeys among other.