17-Day Magic of Nature

Day 1: Arrival and Birding The Entebbe Environs

Our arrival is at Entebbe International Airport followed by a transfer to Lake Victoria View Guest House, Depending on the arrival time and how we your feeling, we can have optional bird watching at Entebbe, especially on the lush grounds of the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, where we’ll see both forest and lakeshore birds. Our first bird species could include Palm-nut Vulture, Great Blue Turaco, Eastern Gray Plantain-eater, African Pied Hornbill, Splendid Glossy Starling, the rare Orange weaver, Slender-billed, Golden Backed. Dinner (HB) and overnight at Lake Victoria View Guest House

Overnight: Lake Victoria View Guest House

Day 2: Transfer To Muchison Falls National Park

After breakfast in the morning we transfer to Masindi where we shall have our lunch via the Luwero triangle passing through undulating grasslands and mosaic woodland where we drive, our target bird species here will be the White-crested Turaco, Bronze-tailed Starling, lesser Blue and Great Blue Eared Starlings, Black, Yellow Mantled and Black Winged Bishops, White Headed Barbet, Cardinal and Nubian Woodpecker, Lesser and Greater Honeyguide, Saddle Billed Stork in the swamps after Luwero, we have also had chances of seeing the Rufous Bellied Heron, Banded Snake Eagle, Eastern Chanting Goshawk and many more. Dinner and overnight at Budongo Lodge.Twiga Tales Lodge

Day 3: Game Drive, Birding Murchison Falls

A highlight of the visit to Murchison fall as we enjoy a game drive and search for birds in the park. We shall return for lunch and after Lunch we will undoubtedly be the boat trips to the bottom of the falls and to the delta area, and of course the one bird that will be on everyone’s mind is the Shoebill while at the delta. Superb views can be had of this wonderful bird. There will be mammals such as Rothschild’s Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Elephant, Waterbuck.
Other birds to look out for include the Saddle-billed, Yellow Billed and African Open Billed Stork, African Finfoot, Hauglins Falcon, Senegal Thick-knee, Rock Pratincole, Giant, Woodland, Grey Headed, Malchite, Pygmy and striped Kingfishers. On the game drive we look out for Heuglin’s Francolins Black Billed Barbet, Northern and Red Faced Barbet, Swallow-tailed and Blue-breasted and Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian Rollers, the giant Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Black Winged and Northern Red Bishops.

Overnight: Twiga Tales Lodge

Day 4: Birding To The Northern Sector Of Murchison Falls National Park

Today we start early and drive through Budongo Kaniyo Pabid area in search for the Puvel’s Illadopsis,
Birding; the forest is among the most ideal places in Uganda to have a guided bird watching tour by the Royal Mile that extends from Nyabyeya Forestry College to the research station.
The Chimpanzee Tracking experience: is the number one priority here. Starting in October up to January, the time when the fruits are shorter in supply, the chimps move a lot covering a wider area so the success of seeing them drops to about 50% rate. Fortunately there is a diversity of Accommodation facilities available from where you can base to enjoy the Chimpanzee trekking as well as the exciting forest walks, after this we bird the grassland as we head for our dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Budongo Lodge
Meals & drinks: All meals included

Day 5: Birding Budongo- Royal Mile and Busingiro

Depart early for the nearby Budongo Forest, birding along the Royal Mile, a truly spectacular road with forest canopy towering far overhead.
There is a good system of trails in the forest, today we expect skulking birds like the Nahan’s Francolin, excessively noisy White-thighed Hornbill, graceful Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spinetail, Blue-throated Roller, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Tit Hylia, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Forest Robin, Yellow Billed, Grey Throated, Hairy Breasted and Yellow Spotted Barbet, Great Blue and Black Billed Turaco, Dusy Long Tailed Cuckoo, Spotted, Plain, Slender Billed, White Throated, Little Grey and Little Greeenbul, Red Tailed Bristlebill and Black-capped Apalis among others.
On this day we transfer to Hoima in order to cut short on the next day’s long distance Drive. Dinner and overnight at Kontik Hotel Hoima.

Overnight: Kontik Hotel Masindi
Meals & drinks: All meals included

Day 6: Birding To Kibale Forest National Park

We shall have our breakfast and then start our drive. The drive today is long, we shall only have a few birding stops, we drive via Hoima there are a few papyrus swamps where specialties such as White-winged Warbler and Papyrus Gonolek can be found, while the surrounding scrub may harbor, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-bellied Seed cracker and Gray-headed Olive back. We shall have lunch in Hoima and thereafter we shall proceed with our journey. We shall reach in the evening in time for our dinner and overnight at Nyinabulitwa Country Resort / Equivalent.

Main destination: Masindi
Accommodation: Nyinabulitwa Country Resort

Day 7: Kibale National Park – Chimp Tracking and Birding

After breakfast, we shall report to the UWA headquarters for briefing then we shall head into the park for chimp tracking and birding. Kibale is home to 13 species of primates and there. This is where we have bigger chances of Chimpanzee tracking. Birding in the forest is also very rewarding and you could encounter White-naped Pigeon, African Gray Parrot, Black Bee-eater, Hairy-breasted, Yellow Spotted and Yellow Billed Barbet, Chestnut-winged and Purple-headed, Waller’s and Narrow Tailed Starlings, Blue-throated Brown and Superb Sunbirds, White-collared Olive back among others. We shall have a picnic lunch and then continue with our search. In the evening we shall return to the camp for dinner and overnight at Nyinabulitwa Country Resort.

Overnight: Nyinabulitwa Country Resort

Day 8: Drive To Semuliki and Birding

Semliki Forest marks the eastern extension of the West African Forest. This makes it the best birding place in East Africa as we encounter some of the Guinea Congo Biome endemics not easily seen in other East African destinations. Specialties include Congo Serpent Eagle, Bate’s Nightjar, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Black-winged, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Icterine Greenbul, Black-throated Coucal, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Spot-breasted Ibis, Capuchin Babbler, Yellow-throated and Western Nicator, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Red-chested Owlet, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, White-throated Blue Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Crested Malimbe, Blue-billed Malimbe We spend out night at Ntoroko game lodge

Overnight: Ntoroko Game Lodge

Day 9: Birding To Semlinki National Birding To Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have breakfast very early in the morning and proceed for birding along the Sempaya trail. We try out what was missed the previous day, Palm Swamp Bulbul and the Leaf Love, Rufous Bellied Negrofinch, Black Bellied Seed Craker, are easily seen in this area. After this we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is Uganda’s second largest protected area on the shores of Lake Edward. We shall have our lunch in fort portal and then drive to the park. During the drive, we look out for the Black Shouldered, Swamp, Square Tailed and Pennant-winged Nightjars. We reach in evening and settle in our accommodation for dinner and overnight stay. Irungu Forest Safari Lodge.

Main destination: Hoima
Accommodation: Ntoroko Game Lodge
Meals & drinks: All meals included

Day 10: Whole Day Birding Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today after our breakfast, we immensely explore Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birds on this drive are numerous and may include among others the Wahlberg’s, Brown Snake, Short Toed Snake and Martial Eagle, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-rumped and Common Buttonquails, African Crake, Hollub’s Golden and Lesser Masked Weavers, Black Coucal, Black Lored and Arrow Marked Babbler, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Copper, Scarlet Chested and Red-chested, Broad Tailed and African Moustached Warbler. We shall return to the lodge for lunch, and after lunch in the afternoon we do a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel looking out for water birds that roost in between the Edward and George lakes. Close encounters with the biggest schools of Hippos in Africa and some crocs many migrating species like the Gulls and Terns are here, after this ride we go back to the lodge for dinner and overnight as above.

Overnight: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 11: Queen Elizabeth To Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Ishasha climbing lions African cuckoo Hawk.
Have breakfast then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest birding enroute. Today we have a chance to go through the Ishasha sector which provides chances of viewing the tree climbing lions and other game, lookout for grassland birds including; Pipits, Larks, African Cuckoo Hawk, Black Cuckoo, White Winged Black Tit, Ovambo Sparrow Hawk e.t.c. We shall have lunch in Rukungiri then after we continue to Ruhija where we have Africa’s no.1 birding spot according to the African Birding Club. Overnight. Gorilla Mist Camp.

Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 12: Gorilla Tracking and Birding

If tracking we shall have early breakfast, with our packed lunch then assemble at the park headquarters for briefing about this breath taking activity. Time spent tracking depends on where the gorillas spent the night and their feeding range or encounter with other groups which might be wild forcing them to move long distances so be prepared for a whole day activity. Once found you spend an hour with them, seeing these gentle giants interact is awesome and the marvelous wildlife encounter on the African continent and an unforgettable. Birding Ruhija the start after breakfast and go out birding looking out for the Black-billed and Rwenzori Turaco, Western Green Tinkerbird,

Overnight: Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Day 13: Gorilla Tracking and Birding Gorilla family

Overnight: Bunyonyi Eco Resort

Day 14: Birding From Bwindi To Lake Mburo National Park

Today after breakfast, birding will be done enroute, depending on the route we use either the Ishasha or the Rukungiri each has birds of interests and we shall stop at different interesting spots. While in the lake we shall look out for mammals like the Zebra, Eland, Topi, Impala, Cape Buffalo, Warthog etc, today we target the boat ride along lake Mburo where we hardly miss the African Finfoot, White Backed and Black Crowned Night Heron, Giant Kingfisher. A night drive always produces good views of the Black Shouldered, northern Tanzania Fiery Necked Nightjar, nocturnal mammals and Bush Babies. Overnight: Rwakobo Rock.

Main destination: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock

Day 15: Birding Lake Mburo To Kampala

Ndere troupe
After breakfast we start early in search for special savannah birds like the Yellow Bellied Apalis, Green Capped Eremomela, Buff Bellied Warbler, White Winged Tit, Red Billed Wood Hopoe, the special birds for today’s drive will be the Tabora Cisticola, Red Faced Barbet and Coqui Francolin. Brubru, Sulpher Breasted Bush Shrike, Red Headed Weaver, Green Backed and Uganda Spotted Woodpecker, African Black Headed Oriole. We shall have lunch at the lodge and then drive out of the lodge back to Kampala. We shall reach late and settle in to our accommodation for Overnight: Maries Royale Hotel.

Main destination: Kampala
Overnight: Marie's Royale Hotel

Day 16: Birding Kampala- Mabamba Islands

Shoebill Red Headed Weaver
After an early breakfast we do birding to Mabamba swamp in search for the Shoebill then later connect to our accommodation where we have our lunch, dinner, he bird is easiest seen in the morning when they stalk their main prey, the mudfish or frogs, but may be spotted all day.
They may stand absolutely still for long periods awating the movements of their prey and then suddenly strike with a marvelous speed. Overnight: Lake Victoria Guest House.