11 Days Birding Safari Vacation in Uganda.

An overview for Day by day itinerary for our 11 days Birding safari.

Day 1: Arrival  and Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
11 days uganda bird watching safari, you will meet your safari guide who is going to takes you through your adventure , Uganda is the home to over 1072 bird species including the migratory birds, the guide will transfer you to the hotel  around ziwa rhino sanctuary to relax and be ready to set off for the 11 days Birding Uganda safari,  Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary situated approximately 3 hour drive from the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is popular for the wild Rhinos in Uganda. The sanctuary is quite rich in birdlife, hosting over 250 species including a number of rare African species. ziwa rhino sanctuary as you trek the rhinos in their habitat, it will depend the arrival time, you may decide to direct to ziwa for trekking and birding or relax around Entebbe then go in the morning to ziwa for birding

Overnight: Amuka safari lodge or ziwa rhino comp

DAY 2: Transfer to Budongo Forest for  full day Bird Watching in Budongo Forest.

After breakfast you will go for birding in the morning before you start the journey for birding in Budongo Forest. Birding along the famous “Royal Mile” is a highlight for any birding tour in Uganda; this and other trails in Budongo forest offer an attractive checklist of forest species. Scan for Black colored lovebird, chocolate backed kingfisher, piping hornbill, red sided broadbill, forest flycatcher chestnut capped flycatcher and also Sabine’s spine tails. Budongo Forest is a home to lots of primates including about 700 chimpanzees some of which have been habituated. Monkeys and baboons are in abundance. You will carry packed lunch. Dinner and overnight is in Budongo.

Overnight Budongo Eco Lodge

Day  3: Transfer to Murchison falls National Park  

Have a relaxed breakfast and start early morning bird watching in Budongo forest after you will proceed to Murchison falls national in north part of the country and its the oldest and the biggest park in Uganda.
Look out for birds including white crested turaco, white headed barbet, white crested helmet shrike, shoebill, saddle billed stork, and African fish Eagle. You stand a good chance of sighting a number of Rhinos and a range of other wildlife. This is a short birding and wildlife  adventure lasting about 3 hours. After you will go and check in for your accommodation in Murchison falls national park.

Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge Ikorom safari lodge, Twiga safari lodge

Day 4: Full Day Bird Watching and Game Viewing in Murchison Falls National Park.

Early breakfast, we set off for a full day of the game viewing tracks of Murchison Falls National Park on the northern side of the Nile and along the Nile to Lake Albert Delta. The northern side of the Nile offers the best wildlife experience given the bigger volume of game and more diverse wildlife compared to the southern. Birds include Denham’s Bustard, Senegal Skinner, Egyptian Plover, White Crested Turaco and Shoebill at the Delta. The savanna scenery is amazing with lots of game including Elephants, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Waterbucks, Bushbucks, Uganda kob and lions.

Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Ikorom safari lodge, Twiga safari lodge

Day 5: Early Morning Shoebill Tracking at the Delta, Afternoon Boat Cruise and Hike to the Top of the Falls

Early morning birding around Para before getting on a boat ride at about 9:00am downriver to the Nile delta. This is commonly known to birders as the “Shoebill Boat Ride” as it intends to catch the exclusive and swamp species are common along the Nile and at the Delta, such as African Skimmers, Goliath Heron, common Spuacco Heron and more, return for lunch. Later set out for the afternoon lunch Cruise upriver to the base of the spectacular Murchison Falls. This arguably is the biggest highlight of any Murchison falls tour, offering an array of water birds and game along the river banks. African skimmers, red throated bee eaters, African Fish Eagle and also shoebill could be sighted in floating hyacinth along the Nile. Hippos and Nile crocodiles are sighted throughout the ride, elephants, lions, Antelopes, warthogs and several other animals come to drink, cool off and eat fresh grass along the banks. When you get to the base of the Murchison Falls, You shall leave the launch and hike around the falls to the top. The 45 minutes hike offers the best and memorable views of the Nile crushing through the Gorge, the sight is simply amazing. When you get to the top your driver guide shall be there waiting for you.

Overnight: Pakuba Safari Lodge, Ikorom safari lodge, Twiga safari lodge

Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park Via Rift Valley

After breakfast you will be transfer to Semuliki National Park. Lunch with En-route around fort portal city, Dinner and overnight is in Semuliki as we are still covering our 11 days Birding Uganda Safari.

Overnight: Semuliki Safari Lodge.

Day 7: Full  Day Bird Watching in Semuliki National Park on the Kirumia River Trail.

Early morning breakfast and transfer to the Kirumia River Trail for a full day of birding. The Kirumia River Trail is among the Uganda’s most Bird spots. The trail offers an incredible checklist of good birds. Look out for yellow Throated Cuckoo, Yellow Throated Nicator, Red Billed Drawl, White crested Hornbill, Black casqued Wattle, Hornbill, Red headed Bluebill, Bee Eater, Black Headed Bates, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill and African scopes Owl. You will travel with packed lunch and later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Semuliki Safari Lodge.

Day 8: Half Day Birding in  Semuliki, Sempaya Hot Springs and Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

after morning breakfast, you will bird in Semuliki for another half day after which you check out and transfer to Kibale National Park, it is situated approximately 1 hours of drive from Semuliki, Then Kibale National Park is also popular for its incredible concentration and diversity of primates including up to 13 species. Thereafter transfer to  Sempaya Trail including visits to the two Sempaya Hot springs. This trek offers a number of birds and monkeys after you will proceed to Kibale forest national park.

Overnight: Kibale forest comp, Kibale forest lodge, Chimpanzee forest comp

Day 9: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bird Watching in Bigodi Swamp

The Kibale National Park is also popular for its incredible concentration and diversity of primates including up to 13 species. Among them include the biggest population of Chimpanzees in Uganda and East Africa’s largest population of the red colobus and other species include the grey checked manga bey, Olive baboon, Bush baby, black and white colobus, red tailed and blue monkeys. The birdlife of Kibale is impressive to, including more than 375 species many of which are uncommon elsewhere, a good example being the much sought after green breasted pitta, there are lots of wildlife mammals including mongoose, forest elephants, leopards and bush pigs.

In afternoon you will be  transfer to Bigodi wetland / swamp for birding. Explore the trails radiating from the park’s entrance and look out for birds including blue throated Roller, Joyful Greenbul, red chested Owlet, African Green pigeon, Red wood dove, Grey headed sunbird and so many others. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Kibale forest comp, Kibale forest lodge, Chimpanzee forest comp

Day 10: Early Morning Bird Watching in Bigodi and Afternoon Transfer to Mabamba.

Early morning transfer to Kibale forest for birding. Explore the trails radiating from swamp and look out for birds including blue throated Roller, Joyful Greenbul, red chested Owlet, African Green pigeon, Red wood dove, Grey headed sunbird and so many others. Return for the lunch and later on transfer   to Mabamba swamp next to Lake Victoria.  . Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight : Nkima forest lodge, Mabamba swamp lodge.

Day11: Shoebill Trekking in Mabamba Swamp and Transfer to the Entebbe Airport

After early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to the swamp  for shoebill trekking on boat ride and  more bird sightings like papyrus gonolek, purple Heron grate crake, ibis Hadada, , have lunch transfer to Entebbe Airport for your evening flight as we end our 11 days of birding Uganda safari.