We take you on this 7 Days Uganda Bird Watching Expedition through the Important Bird Areas (IBA) of Uganda. Before moving on to the next birding in the historic trails, you may find that sample birding at the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) is beneficial, depending on when you arrive on your first day. On this tour, you can follow the rare shoebill bird from Mamba Swamp. By visiting Mabira Forest, you could be able to identify many bird species. Discovering the roots of the Nile by boat is an experience you won’t soon forget. To observe the Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Weyn’s Weaver, and White-winged Warbler, you must travel to Lake Mburo National Park specifically for birdwatching.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe
Our safari guide or agent will meet you at the Entebbe International Airport and help you get to your overnight lodging. You may spend the day visiting UWEC, which is home to more than 170 different bird species and captive animals, depending on when you get there.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel or Boma Hotel.
Meal Plan: (Dinner).
Day 2: Birding at the Heritage Trail
After a leisurely breakfast, you will travel approximately 10 kilometres from Entebbe to the Heritage Trails. You will have the chance to spend four hours birdwatching on the best trails in the Kampala area, which are home to more than 170 different species! Brown Twin Spots, Moustached Warbler, Faint-tailed Widowbird, White-headed Barbets, Striped Kingfisher, Black Bishop, Black-headed Gonolek, Klass’ and Diederik’s Cuckoo, and many more species are worth keeping an eye out for.
Accommodation: Protea hotel or Boma Hotel.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 3: Birding in Mabamba Swamp
Make an early transfer to the Mabamba Swamp, which is 50 kilometres west of Kampala. Look for a number of species on our way to the swamp, such as the Northern Brown-throated Weaver, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, and Weyns Weaver. Mabamba Swamp is one of the best places to witness the rare Shoebill Stork. Many more species may be found here, including the Allen’s Gallinule, Purple Gallinule (swamp hen), Grey Herons, African Water Rail, Squacco, Goliath, Purple, and various ducks and egrets. If you’re lucky, you might even see the elusive Sitatunga Antelope, which is used to marshy environments, and boating is the greatest way to enjoy the many birds. Later in the day, proceed to your Kampala lodging.
Accommodation: Kampala Serena Hotel or Acacia Lodge
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 4: Birding Mabira Forest – Source of the Nile Tour
After breakfast, you will travel to Jinja, the famous source of the great Nile. After an hour-long drive from Kampala, we will pause in Mabira Forest for a stroll in the tropical jungle. species such as the Toro Greenbul, Leaf Love, Forest Robin, and Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Yellow-spotted Barbet, Grey-spotted Barbet, Yellow-throated Tinker bird, Chin spot Batis, Banded Wattle Eye, Chestnut Wattle Eye, Buf-spotted Woodpecker, Grey-spotted Woodpecker, White-spotted Fluff-tail, African Pygmy, Shining Blue, Woodland Kingfishers, and Red-headed Blue Bill.
This forest is home to a variety of interesting species, including Brown-capped, Yellow-mantled, Black-billed, Weyn’s Weavers, Red-headed Malimbe, Purple-headed Starling, Violet-backed Starling, and many others. After lunch, we head to Jinja to visit the Nile’s source. We’ll take a boat ride from here to the famous river’s source. Along with the numerous waterbirds, such as the African Fish Eagle, Open-billed Stork, Long-tailed Cormorant, Grey Heron, White Egret, and Pied Kingfisher, you might also see monitor lizards skulking in the undergrowth. Return to Kampala in the late afternoon for supper and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Kampala Serena Hotel or Acacia Lodge.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 5: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After around five hours of travel, you will arrive at Lake Mburo National Park, a popular birding destination and the only place in Uganda where you may observe zebras. On the route, a wildlife drive will allow you to see impalas, topis, zebras, and buffaloes. Keep an eye out for the Crested Francolin, African Grey Hornbill, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Spot-Flanked Barbet, Lilac Breasted Roller, Northern Black Tit, Trilling Cisticola, Greater Blue-Eared Starling, and Brown Parrot. In the afternoon, we went bird-watching on Lake Mburo by boat. The Red Faced Barbet, Black Collared Barbet, Red Headed Lovebird, Lead-colored Flycatcher, and Green-capped Eremomela are among the species that can be seen.
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge or Acadia Lodge.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 6: Bird Watching in Lake Mburo National Park
Take a nature walk with a park ranger early in the day. Lake Mburo is the only national park that allows for foot safaris. A variety of savannah and marsh birds, impalas, and other creatures will be present. After a two to three-hour stroll, return to your lodging and eat breakfast. After breakfast, you will take a morning boat tour on the lake to see the many birds and hippos that are cooling down. Birds such as the Coqui Francolin, Black Bellied Bustard, Temmricks Courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous napped and Flappet Lark, and Rufous Chested Swallow can be observed late in the day during a game drive along the Zebra Track.
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge or Acadia Lodge.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 7: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe
You will take a game drive along the Lakeside Track in the morning. You will have the opportunity to see a variety of waterfowl, including the elusive Shoebill, lesser and great swamp warblers, White Winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, and Papyrus Yellow Warbler. Travel to Kampala, stopping for lunch and shopping at the Equator along the way. In Entebbe, you will be dropped off at the airport so you can catch your flight home.
Meal Plan: (Breakfast, Lunch).
End of the 7 Days Uganda Bird Watching Expedition.
The 7 Days Uganda Bird Watching Expedition cost includes:
- Transportation by a 4wd fueled vehicle.
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Birding activities.
- Game drive.
- Boat trip on Lake Mburo.
- Park entry fees.
- Services on an English speaking driver/guide.
The tour cost excludes expenses like: entry Visa fees, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal travel or health insurance tobacco and of all personal nature.