Experience the breathtaking avian viewing experience in Uganda, the pearl of Africa, with this 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari that winds through the country’s tropical forests and plains. You will get that special bird experience at Budongo Forest’s Royal Mile, and on this amazing journey, you will also get it at Semuliki, also known as the Birders’ Haven in far-western Uganda. Contact us to book this Uganda safari.
Detailed Itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival – Transfer to Mabira Forest
When you arrive at Entebbe International Airport, you will be received by our company representative who will brief you the 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari and transfer you to your lodge in Mabira Forest, in time for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Rain Forest Lodge Mabira.
Meals: (Dinner).
Day 2: Birding in Mabira Forest
Mabira Forest is the largest forest reserve nearest Kampala. With 74 of the 144 species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome that are found in Uganda, it surpasses the record of 315 bird species. Look for Nahan’s Francolin, an endangered species included on the IUCN Red List. Black-shouldered Nightjar, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, White-spotted Flufftail, Sabine’s Spinetail, and Cassin’s Spinetail African Pied Hornbill, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Green-breasted Pitta, African Shrike-flycatcher, Jameson’s and Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Blue-throated Roller, African Dwarf Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Forest Woodhoopoe, Among them are the Red-tailed Bristlebil, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Speckle-breasted, Yellow-crested, Brown-eared, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-capped Robin-Chat, and Forest Robin.
Accommodation: Rain Forest Lodge Mabira.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 3: Transfer to Budongo Forest
You’ll move to Budongo Forest, home to a thriving birdlife that includes two species of birds unique to East Africa: 93 of the 144 species found in Uganda’s Guinea-Congo Forests habitat and 10 of the 22 species located in the Sudan-Guinea Savannah biome.
Accommodation: Masindi Hotel, New Court View Hotel.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 4: Full Day Birding in Budongo Forest
A few other noteworthy birds to watch out for are the Black-eared Ground-Thrush, Little Crake, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, African Paradise Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, White-headed Saw-wing, White Wagtail, Grey-throated Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher. Grey-backed Camaroptera, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Black-crowned Waxbill, Bronze Mannikin, Black-billed Bluebill, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Spectacled Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Compact Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Among many more are the Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Isabelline Starling, Purple Starling, Purple-headed Starling, Splendid Starling, Northern Puffback, Black-headed Gonolek, Tropical Boubou, and Western Violet-backed Sunbird.
Accommodation: Masindi Hotel, New Court View Hotel.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 5: Birding in Budongo and Kaniyo Pabidi
After breakfast, you will head out to the forest again to search for bird species you may have missed the previous day. Today you will extend to the Kaniyo Pabidi birding hotspot. Return to the lodge for lunch and spend the afternoon relaxing at the lodge. Have dinner and spend the night.
Accommodation: Masindi Hotel, New Court View Hotel.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park
Many of the most remarkable and sought-after birds on the continent, like the Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Black-wattled Hornbill, and Nkulengu Rail, are found only in Semuliki. These species are primarily Central African and are unique to East Africa. There is only one unsubstantiated report of the Lesser Kestrel, which is endangered worldwide.
Accommodation: Semuliki Safari Lodge, Vanilla Hotel.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Days 7 – 8: Birding in Semuliki Forest – Kirumiya Trail
You will spend two days birdwatching the area because it is among the richest in Africa in terms of both vegetation and fauna, especially birds. The African Piculate, Blue Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Spotted Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Lowland Akalat, Red-throated Alethe, Fire-crested Alethe, and White-starred Robin are among the 400 species that we want to record. White-tailed Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Puffback, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Bearded Scrub-Robin of the North, Little Grey Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Grey Ground-Thrush, Afep Pigeon, Sabine’s Spinetail, Gabon Woodpecker, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Black Saw-wing, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Grant’s Bluebill, Afep Pigeon, Sabine’s Spinetail, Gabon Woodpecker, and Yellow-throated Nicator are a few of the species that are mentioned.
Accommodation: Semuliki Safari Lodge, Vanilla Hotel.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 9: Return to Entebbe
Have breakfast and with packed lunch, get on the road and drive back to Entebbe arriving in the afternoon in time for lunch at the hotel. Relax, freshen up, have dinner and stay overnight.
Accommodation: Protea Hotel, Airport Guest House.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner).
Day 10: Birding in Entebbe – Departure
You will wake up early, have breakfast and go birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Centre. Thereafter you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back home.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch).
End of the 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari.
The 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari includes;
- Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary.
- Birding Expeditions.
- Park entry fees.
- Transportation in 4×4 safari car.
- Fulltime English speaking driver guide.
- Government taxes.
- Bottled water in the car.
However, the tour cost excludes; Visa fees, Insurance Personal expenses like tips, optional activities, cigarettes, telephone calls, laundry services and others.