12 Days Tailor-made Birding safari

DAY 01; Arrival at the Entebbe International Airport.

Ikiya Primate Safari guide will warmly welcome and transfer you to your hotel for a briefing about your tour.If you arrive early, you will have the opportunity of birding in Botanical Gardens for birding such as the four globally threatened species and other species of regional significance, i.e., the Pallid Harrier, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged, Warbler, and the Blue Swallow, amongst others, can also be seen on this tour. Overnight at the
hotel.

DAY 02;To Mabamba; and Lake Mburo National Park.
After breakfast, drive back to Mabamba for further opportunities to find Shoebill and other
species of interest missed on the first day. There are seasonal migrants such as Gull-billed Terns,
White-winged Black Terns, Whiskered Terns, and residents such as Grey-headed Gulls. Other
interesting species in the marsh include a good number of Goliath Herons, Spur-winged and
Pygmy Geese, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, and several migratory waders.

Later we proceed to Lake Mburo National Park and have a stopover at the Equator. En route, we will
have a stopover at Kaku Swamp to look out for more spectacular species like the Rufous-bellied
Heron and Hottentot Teal, among other species such as Striped Kingfisher, Bateleur eagle,
Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Augur Buzzard, Coqui Francolin, Lilac-breasted Roller, and many more.
Driving time: ± 4 hours
Budget Accommodation: Egle’s Nest

DAY 03 of 12 Days Tailored Birding safari,  Lake Mburo National Park – To Kabale
After an early breakfast, we go birding in L. Mburo National Park, where we hope to spot many
species. E.g., the Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Spot-flanked Barbet, Barefaced Go-away-bird, and Black-headed Gonolek. We may also take a boat to look for the African Finfoot on the lake.

After lunch, we start the drive to Kabale, where we will have a good view of
beautiful scenery blended with tea plantations. Look out for birds such as Lesser Masked Weaver
and Common Scimitar-bill as we travel. Overnight at the hotel.
Driving time: ±4 hours
Budget and Luxury. Bird Nest Bunyonyi.

DAY 04; Kabale to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Ruhija)
After an early breakfast with a picnic lunch, we start birding en route to Ruhija. We may be
lucky to spot Black-fronted and Yellow-backed duikers along the road while birding. Keep eyes
open for the Long-crested Eagle, Mountain Buzzard, Handsome Francolin, Grey Crowned
Crane, and Olive Pigeon, amongst others.
Overnight at Gorilla Forest camp, Lake Kitandara, or Buhoma Homestead.

DAY 05; In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After another early breakfast, we start birding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest looking for species
such as African Crowned Eagle, Bat Hawk, African Harrier-hawk, African Goshawk,
Wahlberg’s eagle, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Red-chested Flufftail, Temminck’s Courser, Great Blue
Turaco, Black-billed Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, a variety of sunbirds and many more. Keep eyes
open, especially for Albertine rift endemics such as the Dusky and Shelley’s crimson wings,
Regal sunbird, and Rwenzori batis, amongst others.

DAY 06; In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Another early rising and breakfast. Start the gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for
those who opted for tracking. Before the tracking, we head to the briefing point for a briefing on
the dos and don’ts while in the jungle with the gentle giants. You are provided with walking
sticks and advised to carry parked lunch & adequate drinking water with you. The treks to find
the Mountain Gorillas can be pretty strenuous depending on the locations of the gorillas from the
starting point. But with scouts, guides, and porters, if we are lucky, we shall be rewarded with
views of one of the most extraordinary creatures in Africa.
Overnight at KFC Buhoma.

DAY 07of 12 Days Tailored Birding safari, To Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, we embark on our journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, we
engage in a game drive to look out for birds like the Goliath Heron, Palm-nut Vulture, Brown
Snake Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Crake, Senegal & Water Thickness, and Kittlitz’s Plover,
amongst others. Overnight and dinner at Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp.

DAY 08; In Queen Elizabeth National Park
We start with an early game drive where we hope to spot the Lion, Spotted Hyena, the rare Giant
Forest Hog, and the various birds in this great park with a list of over 600 bird species. More
birding after breakfast and a return to the lodge for lunch overlooking the Kazinga channel where
many species of animals, including elephants and Buffalo, come to drink. We can also expect to
see Weavers and Robin-chats by the restaurant and sometimes Swamp flycatcher in the
restaurant itself. In the afternoon, we shall have a launch cruise to explore the Kazinga Channel
between Lakes Edward and George; we will see a variety of wildlife and many birds.
Overnight and dinner at Mweya Safari Lodge or Kasenyi Safari Camp

DAY 09; Bird watching Nyamusingiri.
To ensure an early start, we take a packed breakfast and proceed to bird in the Maramagambo
forest area around Lake Nyamusingiri. We search for the Black Bee Eater, Shining Blue
Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Red-collared Widowbird Honeyguide Greenbul, Snowcapped Robin-Chat together with Barbets, Tinkerbirds, Woodpeckers, and Apalises. After lunch,
we go birding to Kibale National Park, where we shall see the Kibale Ground-thrush, found once
and never found again, and it is the best place in Africa to see Chimpanzee. The forest holds 13
primate species, including Red Colobus and L’Hoest’s Monkey.
Overnight at Ndali Lodge or Primate Lodge, or primate lodge.

DAY 10 of 12 Days Tailored Birding safari, In Kibale Forest National Park
Today we embark on birding in the Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. We will be in
search of the Black-billed Turaco, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hair-breasted Barbet, Grey-winged
Robin-Chat, Papyrus Gonolek, White-collared Olive Back, and Superb Sunbird, Grey-headed
Sunbird. Overnight at Crater Safari Lodge or Turaco Treetops

DAY 11; In Kibale Forest National Park
After breakfast, we visit Kibale Forest National Park, which is reputed to have the most
incredible variety and the highest concentration of primates in East Africa. The Chimpanzee, our
closest relative, is the most famous of its 13 species. Kibale is also home to the rare I’Hoest’s
monkey. Other primates include the black and white Colobus, Blue monkey, Grey-cheeked
mangabey, Red tailed monkey, and Olive baboon, to mention but a few. So you will enjoy a
guided nature walk in the tropical rainforest in search of the wild chimpanzees, red-tailed
monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, and many others. After lunch, we explore the Crater
Lake region, which has many crater lakes. Dinner and overnight at either Crater Safari Lodge or Turaco Treetops

DAY 12 of 12 Days Tailored Birding safari, End of trip and departure back to Kampala.