This 9 days Uganda Birding Tour leads you to a plethora of 1081 bird species within some of the country’s unique birding areas. The trip takes you through Uganda’s very best in the shortest time possible, offering you chances to have stunning views and listen to calls of over 1081 bird species in Africa.
The Safari will first unveil to you some of the most stunning bird species at Mabamba bay, before you proceed to other bird havens. Mabamba swamp offers the best chances of seeing the majestic shoebill stock, then transfer to Murchison falls National Park. Murchison is a perfect destination for bird watching and rewards everyone that signs up for a birding experience with over 460 bird species, including the rare shoebill. Within the park, there are three main spots for bird watching and these are: the Nile Delta at Buligi, the virgin woods of Kaniyo Pabidi, and the area around the falls. These places offer provide a combination of endemic, riverine, savannah, forest and water birds. Some of the birds to expect include the Green-winged Phitilia, African Paradise Fly Catcher, Augur Buzzard, Barn owl, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Marsh Tchagra, Grey backed Camaroptera, Glossy Ibis and the Laughing Dove among others.
From Murchison falls National park, you will transfer to Kibale National Park. Although majorly known as the primate capital of the world, the park is also highlighted by a number of over 340 bird species like Superb Sunbird, African Pitta, White-thighed Hornbill, Grey-winged Robin, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat.
From Kibale, proceed to Queen Elizabeth National Park a home to over 600 different species of birds, which is highest of any EastAfrican National Park, given a size of 1,978 km2 For many interested in a birdwatching safari like : Dark Chanting Goshawk, Martial Eagle, Grey-crowned Crane, Gull-billed Turn, Eurasian Roller, White-throated Beeeater, Northern Carmine Beeeater, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Crested Francolin, Red-necked Spur Fowl, Egyptian Goose, Yellow-billed Stock, Sacred Ibis, Hadada Ibis, African Spoon Bill, Great White Egret, Great White Pelican, White-backed Vulture, Ruppel’s Griffon Vulture, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, the Grassland African Pipit, Yellow-throated Long Claw, African Pied Wagtail, Village Black-headed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, and hundreds of others.
This bird watching is usually done as a joint activity during game drives, chimp tracking, crater lake tours, boat cruise on Kazinga channel or a visit to Katwe Salt Lake.
9 days Uganda Birding Tour Highlights
Day 1; Mabamba Swamp excursion.
Day 2; Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
Day3; Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the top of the falls.
Day 4; Transfer to the Nile Delta.
Day 5; Transfer to Kibale.
Day 6; Birding in Kibale and optional chimp trekking.
Day 7; Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 8; Morning birding and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel
Day 9; Departure to Kampala
9 days Uganda Birding Tour Details
Day 1; Mabamba Swamp excursion,
- You will be picked from your hotel and transferred to Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria. Reaching Mabamba, you will do a full day excursion and birding experience. The swamp is a beautiful environment of papyrus plants and water lilies. You will cruise through on boats while looking out for the majestic Shoebill which usually hides within the papyrus and is known for feeding on lung fish. Along the way you will spot several different kind of birds which live and hunt in the swamp. Apart from the Shoebill, some of the other birds include: African Pigmy Goose, Black Crake, Black Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Wagtail, African Firefinch, African Fish Eagle and the African Green Pigeon among others. You will also have a chance to witness a few activities like fishing, which is done by the local people, some of which stay in the nearby village of Kasanje. Statungas, which is an antelope is also common at Mabamba as well as some rare plant species like the sand boxes.
- You will be transferred back to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 2 of 9 days Uganda Birding Tour Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.
After breakfast, set out for Murchison falls National Park. Check into the lodge and do evening birding. Around the camp and the savanna, there are many beautiful birds that can be spotted.
Dinner and overnight.
Day 3; Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise to the top of the falls.
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; Transfer to the Nile Delta.
After breakfast, you will have another boat cruise to the Nile Delta. This boat cruise proceeds downstream to the Victoria Nile and stretches all the way to the shores of Lake Albert. You will witness a number of water birds and the shoebill. Some of such birds include: African skimmer, fish eagle, malachite kingfishers, African jacana and the saddle billed stork among others. After the boat cruise, return back to the lodge for an evening game drive and birding experience.
- Dinner and overnight.
Day 5 of 9 days Uganda Birding Tour Transfer to Kibale.
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 6; Birding in Kibale and optional chimp trekking.
- 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.
- Alternatively, you could opt for half day birding and chimp trekking. In this case, you will either do morning chimp trekking and afternoon birding or afternoon chimp trekking and morning birding.
Day 7; Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. 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 and have experiences around the savannah.
- Dinner and overnight.
Day 8; 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 9 0f 9 days Uganda Birding Tour, Departure to Kampala
- Check out of the lodge and depart to Kampala.
9 days Tour Includes and Excludes
Includes;
- English speaking birding Safari Guide
- Park entrance fees
- Transportation in 4×4 tourists’ vehicle
- All accommodation
- All meals
Excludes
- International flight tickets
- Insurance fees
- Tips