Birding at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens established 1898. The gardens host a variety of open woodland species and offer a superb introduction to Ugandan birds.
Target birds: Vereaux's Eagle, Owls, Red-chested Sunbirds, Orange Weaver, Slender-billed, Brown-throated, Yellow-backed, Jackson's Golden-backed, Black-headed and Vieillot's Black Weavers. Around the shore-Long tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco and Black-headed Herons, Hammerkop, African Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Duck, Grey-headed Gull, various terns and Pied Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Rock Pratincoles, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Great Blue Ross' Turacos, Klas' & Dierderik Cuckoos, Woodland Kingfisher, Black-billed Roller, Black & White Casqued Hornbill, Splendid Starling, African Fish Eagle & Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Angola Swallow, Winding & Red-faced Cisticolas, Grey-capped Warbler, Common Wattle-eye, Green throated & Scarlet-chested Sunbirds.
Overnight Africana Hotel / Serena Kampala Hotel
Day 2: Drive to Jinja and bird Mabira forest [B, L, D]Â
The list for Mabira Forest Reserve contains almost 300 species with two known globally threatened species including Nathan's Francolin (relatively common in Mabira) and the Papyrus Gonolek There are also 75 Guinea-Congo forest -biome species which are not well represented in other areas including the Black shouldered Night jar, Capuchin Babbler, Grey longbill and Blue Crested Fly Catcher. Other species: Uganda spotted woodpecker, Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Blue throated Roller, Forest Wood Hoopoe, Black & White-casqued Hornbill, Allied Hornbill, Harry Breasted Barbet, Yellow spotted Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow throated Tinkerbird, Yellow Billed Barbet, Cassin's Honeyguide, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Brown eared Woodpecker, Yellow- Crested Woodpecker, Green Breasted Pitta, Little Grey Greenbul, Simple Greenbul, Leaflove, Toro Olive Greenbul, White Throated Greenbul, Western Nicator, Sooty Boubou, Fiery- Breasted Bush Shrike, Fire Crested Alethe, Forest Robin, Blue Shouldered Robin, Akalat Rufous Ant Thrush, Dusty Blue Fly Catcher, Chestnut Wattle eye, Green throated Sunbird, Yellow mantled.
Overnight Kingfisher Safari Resort / Jinja Nile Resort
Day 3: Mabira Forest & Budongo Forest Reserve [B, L, D]Â
Mabira forest in the early morning then drive to Busingiro, Budongo Forest Reserve. Night at Ecotourism Project. The vast bird forest lies at the edge of the Albertine Rift Valley boasting an impressive bird list of over 350 species.
Target birds: Nathan's Francolin, Cassin's Spinetail, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher & Banded Snake-eagle
Overnight Busingiro Ecotourist Site
Day 4: Budongo Forest Reserve [B, L, D]
'The Royal Mile' in the morning and Busingiro area in the afternoon. Nights in Budongo Forest Reserve
Target birds: Crowned African Pied Hornbill, Bat Hawk, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Marsh Tchagra, Black Bishop, Brown Twinspot, Black-bellied Firefinch, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Black & White Casqued Hornbill, Yellow-spotted, hairy-breasted & Yellow Barbets, Western black-headed Oriole, Purple Starling, Greenbuls are abundant and include the Cameroon Sombre, Slender-billed, Honeyguide, White-throated, Red-tailed and the striking and conspicuous Spotted Greenbul . Other key species: Cassin's Hawk-Eagle, Nahan's Francolin, Black-collared Lovebird, Cassin's and Sabine's Spinetails, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers, Piping Hornbill, Green-breasted Pitta, Puvel's Illadopses, Spotted Greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe, Black- eared Ground Thrush, Black-capped Apalis, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Wattle Eye, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Brown Twinspot and Grey- headed Olive-back.
Overnight Nyabyeya Forestry Project cottages or at Busingiro Bandas (Chalets).
Day 5: Budongo Forest Reserve and Murchison Falls {B, L, D]Â
Drive early to Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo Forest Reserve en route to Paraa Murchison Falls NP. Spend the morning chimpanzee-tracking and birding in Kaniyo Pabidi forest and the afternoon in Murchison Falls south of the Nile (the area above the falls, woodland around the Sambiya River and dry scrub around Paraa). After check in and lunch arrange a boat trip to the falls.
Overnight Paraa Rest Camp / Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 6: Murchison Falls Park [B, L, D]Â
Spend the whole day on the game-viewing tracks north of the River allowing extensive game viewing on the scenic savanna habitat.
Target birds: Dry woodland along the stretch leading to Paraa lodge is a good place to look for Grey-headed Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater & Bar-breasted Firefinch. The road emerges into rolling plains that support Secretary Bird, Black-chested Snake, Tawny & Martial Eagles, Red-necked Falcon, Harlequin Quail, Swallow-tailed & Carmine Bee-eaters, Sooty Chat, Siffling & black-headed Cisticolas, Bronze-tailed Starling & Quail Finch. Also Stately Abyssinian Ground Hornbills are a common sight in the Borases Palm Savannah and the best spot for the Abyssinian Roller. Other species: Shoebill, Secretary Bird, Bat Hawk, Red-necked Francolin, Heuglin's Francolin, Denham's Bustard, Senegal Thickknee, African Skimmer, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Bruce's Green Pigeon, Vivacious Dove, Beautiful Sunbird, Northern Red Bishop
Overnight Paraa Rest Camp / Paraa Safari Lodge
Day 7: Murchison Falls and Lake Albert [B, L, D]
Check out early and head for the top of the falls for breath-taking views. Picnic Lunch at the falls. Afternoon drive to Masindi, birding Lake Albert and the escarpment of the Albertine Rift valley en route. Other game: Hippopotamus, Crocodile, Waterbuck, African Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Giraffes, Hartebeests, Oribis, Uganda Kob, Chimpanzee.
Overnight Masindi Hotel
Day 8: Kibale Forest National Park [B, L, D]Â
Drive from Masindi to Kibale Forest National Park Kibale Forest National Park birding the entrance road to the forest in the late afternoon. Check the scrubby fringes of the overgrown bushes for birds.
Target birds: Scary Francolin, Marsh Tchagra, Grey-headed Olive-back and a host of Seed eaters including Black-bellied Seed Cracker, Fawn-breasted and Black-crowned Waxbills, Green-backed Twinspot and Black & White Manikin & Conspicuous Greenbul.
Overnight Kibale Forest Bandas / Ndali Lodge
Day 9: Kibale Forest National Park [B, L, D]Â
Bird the Kanyanchu area (chimpanzee-tracking in the forest or the main road). Arrange a guide for the Magombe Swamp walk.
Target birds: Red-winged Francolin, Red-chested Flufftail, White-naped Pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta, African Pitta, Joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Masked and black-capped Apalises, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Chestnut-winged Starling, Orange-tuffed and Tiny Sunbirds, Grey-headed Olive Back.
Overnight Kibale Forest Bandas / Ndali
Day 10: Mweya Peninsular [B, L, D]Â
View Magombe swamp in the early morning then drive to Mweya Peninsular Queen Elizabeth National Park. We will arrange a boat ride in the Kazinga Channel for early morning the following day. Watch out for resident birds. A recently constructed hide at the tip of the Peninsular provides the opportunity to see water birds and a selection of Warblers and Weavers. Afternoon birding in crater area and around Mweya peninsula.
Target birds: African Morning Dove, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Lesser Eurasian Honey Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Amur Falcon [or Lesser Kestrel during March-April].
Overnight Queen Elizabeth Hostel / Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 11: Lake Kikorongo [B, L, D]Â
Lake Kikorongo for the Shoebill in the papyrus swamp adjacent to the lake and Kasenyi track which supports a large flock of Adbim Storks in season, Woolly-necked & Shoe-billed Stork, Raptors, African Harrier Hawk, Martial Eagle & Grey Kestrel. Lion kills attract up to six species of Vulture including Egyptian, Ruppels', Griffon & Lappet-faced.
Target birds: Shoebill, Adbim Storks, Woolly-necked & Shoe-billed Stork, Raptors, African Harrier Hawk, Martial Eagle & Grey Kestrel. Vultures including Egyptian, Ruppels', Griffon & Lappet-faced.
Overnight Queen Elizabeth Hostel / Mweya Safari Lodge
Day 12: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park [B, L, D]Â
Drive to Buhoma the headquarters of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The park boasts no fewer than 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the spectacular, and globally threatened, African Broadbill and Shelly's Crimsonwing. Bwindi is richest in terms of birds, butterflies and trees. We will bird the camp area in the afternoon. Arrange a guide for the following day.
Target birds: 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift endemics
Overnight Buhoma Bandas / Gorilla Resort
Day 13: Bwindi: Waterfall Trail [B, L, D]
From Buhoma head very early into the forest and onto the waterfall trail, one of Bwindis star avian attractions; the diminutive Pitta-like Short-tailed Warbler may be heard calling in the undergrowth and easily spotted. Also the Red-tailed Bristlebill and the handsome Black-faced Rufous Warbler. Work slowly back along the main track. Afternoon on the main track.
Target birds: Short-tailed Warbler, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Black-faced Rufous Warbler etc.
Overnight Buhoma Bandas / Gorilla Resort
Day 14: Bwindi: Gorilla Tracking [B, L, D]Â
Gorilla tracking and birding on the main track. Afternoon take the village walk to experience cultural performance, banana brewing, traditional medicine and tea plantations.
Target species: Gorilla
Overnight Buhoma Bandas / Gorilla Resort
Day 15: Bwindi: Ruhija [B, L, D]Â
Early departure for Ruhija birding the 'Neck' for a few hours en route. Birds are both plentiful and easy to see associating in mixed feeding flocks. Afternoon along the winding road towards Kabale.
Target birds: An early start offers the best chance of finding the striking Handsome Francolin, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters, Green Tinkerbird, Mountain and Yellow-Streaked Greenbuls, Mountain, Masked and Chestnut-throated Apalises, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, White browed Crombec, Rwenzori Batis, White tailed Fly catcher, Collared Apalis Banded Prinia, Montane Sooty Boubou, Grauer's Warbler, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Shelly's Crimsonwing, Mountain Illaopsis, Red-throated Alethe, Archer's Robin-Chat, White-starred Robin, Northern Olive Thrush, Cinnamon Bracken, Mountain Yellow Warblers, Abyssinian Crimsonwing, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black headed Waxbill.
Overnight Ruhizha Guest House
Day 16: Mubwindi Swamp [B, L, D]Â
Walk along the trail to Mubwindi Swamp. This is the most accessible site on Earth for the rare & localized African Green Broadbill, one of Africa's most sought-after birds. Afternoon around Ruhizha.
Target birds: African Green Broadbill, Red-throated Alethe, Archer's Robin Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Rwenzori Batis. Also Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Frazer's Eagle Owl, Montane (Rwenzori Nightjar, Black Bee-eater, Grey-chested and Mountain Illadopses, Red-fronted Antpecker, & Oriole Finch.
Overnight Ruhizha Guest House
Day 17: Mubwindi Swamp & Ruhizha [B, L, D]
Walk the short trail to Mubwindi Swamp, afternoon around Ruhizha.
Target birds: As above
Overnight Ruhizha Guest House
Day 18: Lake Mburo National Park [B, L, D]Â
Bird slowly along the road towards Kabale, and then depart for Lake Mburo National Park. Late afternoon birding along entrance road to Rwonyo. This is the best and sometimes the only place to see typically southern species such as the Red-faced Barbet. The lake area is also the best place to find the African Finfoot and most of the Papyrus endemics.
Target birds: Red-faced Barbet, African Finfoot, Brown-chested Finfoot, Southern Ground Hornbill, Spot-flanked, Red-faced and Black-collared barbets, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Carruthers' Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Oxpecker and Northern Brown-throated Weaver.
Overnight Rwonyo Bandas / Mihingo Safari Lodge
Day 19: Lake Mburo Park: Kigambira [B, L, D]
Early morning along the idyllic lakeside track and Kigambira loop which traverses a variety of productive habitats. It is home to the most sought-after bird, the localized Red-faced Barbet. Drive to Entebbe in the afternoon. Night in Entebbe.
Target birds: Red-faced Barbet
Overnight Boma Guesthouse / Imperial Botanical Hotel
Day 20: Entebbe [B,L]Â
Bird Entebbe area if time allows - Departure
