8 day Uganda birding safari leads you to Uganda’s best birding destinations in the shortest time possible. The safari takes you through the country’s diverse habitants, exposing you to a plethora of nature and wildlife. You will see some endemic and birds, water birds, forest birds and savannah birds in some of the country’s important Bird Areas. The profusion of color, variety of form and kindness of the Ugandans, are part of the compliments you will receive on this 8 day Uganda Birding Safari.

The safari starts from Ziwa Rhino sanctuary on your way to Murchison falls National Park.  Located 176km north of Kampala on the Gulu highway, the sanctuary is home to over 300 bird species. These include: the shoebill, Abdim’s Stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, African Black Crake, African Black-headed Oriole, Knob-bellied Duck, Large Brown Snake Eagle, Laughing Dove, Lemon Dove, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Lesser Honey Guide, Lesser Kestrel, Lesser Masked Weaver, Lesser Striped Swallow, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Long-crested Eagle, Long-tailed Cormorant and the Long-toed Lapwing among others. You will also have chances to see some of the other game while doing your bird walk.

From Ziwa, you will proceed to Murchison falls National park along Kaniyo Padidi entering through the South.  Pabidi is a good place to see the endemic bird species shortly before you proceed to Murchison falls National Park. Covering 3,480 square kilometers of various habitats, Murchison has over 460 bird species, including the rare shoebill.  Examples of Bird species found at the Park include; African Fin Foot, Green-winged Phitilia, African Paradise Fly Catcher, Augur Buzzard, Barn owl, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Marsh Tchagra, Grey backed Camaroptera, The African Crake Crex, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, African Jacana, Lesser Moorhen, Glossy Ibis, Laughing Dove, The African Crake Crex, and many others. You will see some of these on your 8 day Uganda birding safari. 

From Murchison falls National Park, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park for another birding moment during your tour. Kibale is punctuated by over by over 340 bird species. Some of the common bird species include: Superb Sunbird, African Pitta, White-thighed Hornbill, Grey-winged Robin, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat. You will also have a visit to the Bigodi wetland sanctuary. Bigodi is punctuated by biodiversity and beautiful scenery, and is a birder’s paradise with about 138 species.

Finally, the 8 day Uganda birding safari will also lead you to Queen Elizabeth National 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.

 

Activities

  1. Murchison Falls National Park
  2. Kibale National Park
  3. Ziwa Rhino sanctuary
  4. Queen Elizabeth National Park

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and evening birding. (Optional Rhino Trekking)

  • Pick up and transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary 176km north of Kampala on the Gulu highway towards Murchison falls National Park. While here, you will have a bird watching experience and optional chimp trekking. You will also have chances to spot a number of other wildlife that includes the rhinos. You will also witness a variety of nature and pleasure. 
  • Dinner and overnight. 

Day 2

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park along Kaniyo Padidi. 

  • After breakfast, transfer to Murchison along Kaniyo Padidi. You will slowly move and witness some endemics and a number of birds.
  • Enter murchison through the South and check into your lodge.Around the camp and the savnnahs, there are many beautiful birds that can be spotted.
  • Dinner and overnight.
     

Day 3

Activity of the Day

Morning birding at Murchison and afternoon boat cruise.

  • After an early morning breakfast, set out for an early morning birding experience. This birdlife is vey impressive, and keeps you constantly entertained, with a profusion of colours and species. You will also see some elusive animals and predators such as Lions, Hyenas, Leopard and Jackal, as they are still out actively hunting in the morning hours and haven’t returned to their hideouts. After lunch, set out for the afternoon boat cruise. The cruise sets off at Paraa, going upstream to the bottom of the Murchison Falls and usually lasts for two hours. Since the Nile is a bird magnet, you will see a variety of birds. Such include: Black-headed Plover, Rock Pratincole, Red-throated Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Speckle fronted Weaver, and the White-browed Sparrow Weaver among others. You will also witness for yourself some animals that come the Nile; Big game such buffaloes, elephants and antelopes can also be sighted drinking and cooling off the heat by the river banks. Crocodiles, hippos and lizards are common in this area.

Day 4

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Kibale National Park with enroute birding.

  • After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park. Along the way, you will witness a variety of wildlife and nature, including a number of bird species.
  • Check into the lodge for dinner and overnight.
     

Day 5

Activity of the Day

Full day birding in kibale National Park.

  • After breakfast, move to the park headquaters at Kayanchu for briefing. You will then enter the forest along designated trails for bird watching. You will witness a number of birds. In the afternoon, transfer to the Bigodi wetland sanctuary for another birding experience. The wetland is home to over 138 bird species and 8 primate species. You will also move through the community to observe birds like the green breasted pitta and the African pitta.

Day 6

Activity of the Day

Optional Chimp trekking and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

  • After breakfast, you will have an alternative chimp trekking experience before your transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Have early breakfast and transfer to the park offices by 7.30am. Register with office and meet the ranger guides and thereafter head into the forest to search for the Chimpanzees. You will spend a maximum of one hour with the Chimpanzees. In this case, you will either do morning chimp trekking and enroute birding. Along the way, you will witness a number of birds and nature as well as the activities of the local people. Reaching Queen, you will be welcomed by a number of birds and wildlife. While here, you will do evening birding around the lodge.
  • Dinner and overnight.

Day 7

Activity of the Day

Morning birding and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel.

  • After breakfast, you will have an early morning drive through the Kasenyi plains. You will have sights of birds and other game. After this, you will transfer to the Mweya peninsula for a boat cruise. You will see a number of birds in the area before the boat cruise on Kazinga channel. The  44km long Kazinga channel connects Lake Edward and Lake Georgea and is home to a variety of bird species. Over 100 species of birds flock the channel such as Harmerkops, Ibis, Fish Eagles, Skimmers, Egrets, Pelicans, and Herons among others.
  • You will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 8

Activity of the Day

Transfer to Kampala with optional visit to Mabamba bay.

  • Check out of the lodge and depart to Kampala. You will have options of reaching Mabamba bay before your departure.
General Tips:
  • Please note the age limit of 15 years and above for chimpanzee tracking.
  • Book your permits well in advance as permits are limited.
  • You should be free from infectious diseases such as Flue which can be passed to the chimps since humans share 98.8% DNA with Chimpanzees. If you are found to carry an infectious disease you will not be allowed to track.
  • Every participant has the chance to hire a trekking assistance (porter) who will help carrying the bags and support whenever it is needed. For the trekking assistant an additional fee of US$ 15 is charged.

What to bring:

  • Insect repellant is advisable.
  • Cap/ Hat
  • Drinking water
  • Good camera
  • Binoculars
  • Walking boots, long trousers and rain gears as you will be hiking through Kibale Forest.
  • Sun screen is recommended.
  • Mosquito repellant is advisable.
  • At least 1-2 liters of drinking water per person during the trekking.
  • Rain jacket
  • Water proof hiking shoes.
Bird watching Safari Taken by Ellington Safaris
Grey-headed king fisher Taken by Ellington Safaris
Mabamba Swamp Taken by Ellington Safaris