13 Day Bird Watching and Exploring the Pearl of Africa
Overview
13 Day Bird Watching and Exploring the Pearl of Africa offers you an opportunity to discover Uganda, the best birding destination. Additionally Considered to be one of the most exciting countries in Africa, you can expect to see more than 450 species of birds, about 50 species of mammals, and also spend time with Chimpanzees-an experience of a lifetime. Visit Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Semliki, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and also Murchison Falls National Park, including also Mabamba wetland. The photographic opportunities on this tour are amazing
Day 1. Welcome to Uganda
13 Day Bird Watching and Exploring the Pearl of Africa begins at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to the hotel in Kampala or Entebbe overnight. This drive-through Kampala is very rewarding, with many attractions along the way such as Lake Victoria, and also historical buildings around Entebbe such as the State House in Uganda.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Via Via Entebbe
Day 2. Birding at Mabamba wetland and Transfer to Lake Mburo
After early morning breakfast, drive to Mabamba swamp for the much sought-after bird, the bizarre Shoebill, along with other wetland and also swamp birds. In a wooden canoe in the elusive and marshy environment, it’s a great experience when you bump into the unsuspecting rare and incredible Shoebill. Other birds in this swamp include African Jacana, Purple Heron, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, and also Egyptian Goose.
After the Canoe ride, drive to Lake Mburo National Park using the Masaka – Mbarara Road before reaching the equator crossing line for a lunch break.
Additionally, after lunch, drive to Lake Mburo National Park with breaks on the way as you bird en-route. This drive is a rewarding one, with scenic views of the dry rolling hills of Ankole, patched with long-horned Ankole Cattle. We reach the lodge to check-in late in the evening
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock
Day 3. Birding and game drive
After early morning breakfast, head out for the best birding and game viewing opportunities. The morning gifts you with unspoiled nature and a mosaic of habitats, including rock outcrops, savanna, acacia woodlands, bush, forest, swamp, and also lakes supporting rich bird species.
You will also be able to see some animals such as Zebras, Giraffes, Impalas, Elands, Topis, Bushbucks, Warthogs, and Baboons. Return to the lodge for lunch, with a chance of seeing the Hoopoe.
After lunch, drive to Rwonyo for an afternoon boat cruise. Here you will be rewarded by some Lake Mburo specials, such as Shoebill, African Finfoot, Pelicans, Herons, Hamerkop, African Fish Eagle, African Darter, Long-tailed Cormorants, and the Pied Kingfisher on this two-hour boat cruise. The boat cruise also offers you a chance to see Hippos, Crocodiles, and Monitor Lizards.
After the boat cruise, drive back to the lodge.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock
Day 4. Transfer to Bwindi with en-route birding activity
After early morning breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and start your day with birding en-route. Birding en-route can be very exciting, with Grey Crowned Cranes, Broad-billed Rollers, Lilac Rollers, Specked Dove, Blue-Headed Heron, Saddle Billed Stork, Gabar Goshawk, Long Crested Eagle, Red-Eyed Dove, Lemon Dove, Brown Parrot, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Grey Headed Kingfisher, Rupell’s long-tailed Starling African Grey Hornbill, Dark-capped Bulbul, Green Headed Sunbird, Grey beaked Fiscal, Pied Crow, Marabou stork, Fork-tailed Drongo, Greater blue eared Sterling, Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-headed Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Cattle Egret, Little Weaver, and also Red-billed Fire Finch. Have a stopover for lunch in Kabale Town. After lunch, we finally, proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a night.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Gorillas Mist camp
Day 5. Birding in Ruhija and transfer to Ishasha
After early morning breakfast drive to Ruhiija for the specials of this eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park bird in Bwindi swamp and the neck, birds expected to be seen include; African Emerald, Cuckoo, yellowbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, African pygmy kingfisher, Blue Bee Eater, Forest hood hoopoe, white-headed hood hoopoe, Black and a white casqued hornbill, yellow-rumped tinker bird, speckled tinker bird, western green tinker-bird, grey-throated barbet, yellow spotted barbet, Nubian woodpecker, olive woodpecker, African broadbill, African green broadbill, green breasted pitta, red-tailed green bill, white-browed robin chat, African thrush, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, African Paradise flycatcher. Then drive to Ishasha to check-in at the hotel for overnight
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Day 6. Morning game drive and Birding
First and foremost, the 13 Day Bird Watching and Exploring the Pear of Africa starts with the drive to Katookye Gate for the best birding opportunity in Ishasha. The remote southern region enjoys interesting birding attractions ranging from mammals to birds. Talk about the famous tree-climbing Lions, as well as teeming herds of Buffaloes and also Elephants.
Some of the birds expected to be seen here include Sooty Chat, White-browed Coucal, Saddle-billed Stork, Brown Eagle, Western banded snake Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Tawny Eagle, Bateleur, Helmeted Guinea Fowl, Crested Francolin, Red-Necked spurfowl, Black Cracke, Grey Crowned Crane, Common Fiscal, Grey Heron, and also the Southern Red Bishop. Return to the lodge for lunch before proceeding to the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Ishasha Jungle Lodge
Day 7. Morning game drive and birding in Mweya peninsula
An early morning drive gives an opportunity to enjoy a morning for the best classic African safari experience. Through the Kansenyi Plains, enjoy the sights of Buffaloes, Waterbucks, Warthogs, and also Uganda Kobs. Here you will also enjoy some birding.
Classified as an important birding area by Birdlife International, Queen Elizabeth’s variety of habitat means is home to over 600 species of birds. Expected birds on the list include Egyptian Geese, Black Shouldered Kite, Palm Nut Vulture, Black Chested Snake Eagle, and also Helmeted Guinea Fowl. Furthermore, there is also Scaly Francolin, Black Bellied Bustard, Temminekys courser, common ringed plover, Grey Headed Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Long Claw, and also Long Crested Eagle.
After lunch drive to Mweya for a memorable boat cruise along Kazinga Channel.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Irungu forest safari lodge
Day 8. Transfer to Kibale National Park with an evening bird watching
Fast and foremost, after early morning breakfast, transfer to Kibale National Park and do birding within Kibale forest. We will be in search of Kibale’s specials, such as green-breasted Pitta, Black bee-eater, Narina Trogon, Black-capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Little greenbul, Brown-chested Allethe, Blue-breasted kingfisher, and also the Crown Eagle. Afterward, drive to the lodge for Lunch
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Rweteera safari park
Day 9. Chimpanzee tracking
Following an early breakfast, drive to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for the briefing to get set into the tropical rain forest to meet chimpanzees, the closest relatives to humans. This is one of the few remaining areas of rainforest in Africa. Additionally, the tracking starts at 8:00 am in the morning and 2:00 pm in the afternoon and lasts for 2 – 5 hours, accompanied by a ranger guide. After chimpanzee tracking, you will drive back to the lodge overnight in Fort Portal Town.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Rweteera safari park
Day 10. Transfer to Semuliki with en-route birding
At this time, after early morning breakfast, drive to Semliki National Park for the Albertine Rift Valley endemic birds. Semuliki National Park sprawls across the floor of the Semliki Valley on the remote western side of the Rwenzori Mountains. The park is also part of the Guinea-Congo biome, the only lowland semi-deciduous forest in Uganda, with spectacular scenic beauty. It is characterized by several endemic and endangered species and dominated by one of Africa’s most ancient and also bio-diverse forests, being the host of over 437 bird species. Here you will also expect to see Dwarf honeyguide, Purple-breasted Sunbird, White-tailed hornbill, Capuchin Babbler, Blue-headed crested flycatcher, Orange Weaver, Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Great blue Turaco, and Ross’s Turaco.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Semuliki Safari lodge
Day11. Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, transfer to Murchison Falls National Park as you bird en-route with also a stopover for Lunch at the selected restaurant in Hoima city. The expected birds for today include Hadada Ibis, Sacred Ibis, Northern Red bishop, Silver bird, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Grey-headed kingfisher, Stripped Kingfisher, African grey Hornbill, Flappet Lark, Plain Martin, Isabelline Wheatear, Pied Wheatear, Common Red Chat, White-scrub robin, and also the Garden warbler. Cross with the ferry in and arrive at your accommodation late in the evening.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Pakula safari lodge
Day 12. Morning game drive and afternoon Boat cruise
After early morning breakfast, start driving within the northern part of the park for the best wildlife safari experience in this Savanna park, combined with rich birding opportunities. The Murchison specials include the Abyssinian ground hornbill, Bateleur, Northern carmine bee-eater, Northern red Bishop, Shoebill, Grey-headed Gull, and also Gross-beak weaver.
After lunch, proceed with the afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison falls, where you can also expect to see Hippos, Crocodiles, Elephants, Buffalos, and also Waterbucks. While on this boat safari, get set for the best watchpoint around Nyamsika cliff, which is the nesting point for the Red-throated bee-eater, Pied Kingfisher, and you should keep an eye out for the Pel’s Fishing owl hence the climax of the 13 Day Bird Watching and Exploring the Pear of Africa safari.
Meal plan: All meals and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: Pakuba safari lodge
Day 13. Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Tracking
At this time, transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and bird en-route, as you will be able to spot also some of Budongo Forest’s specials. Today you’ll be in search of the African Black-headed Oriole, Narina Trogon, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Red-headed Malimbe, and white-crested Turaco. Enjoy rhino tracking and varieties of birds ranging from woodland, savanna, and wetland birds, before driving to the hotel/restaurant for lunch, and afterward, we’ll finally transfer you back to the airport and this marks the end of 13 Day Bird Watching and Exploring the Pear of Africa.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and mineral drinking water
Accommodation: None
INCLUDED;
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- Chimpanzee permits (One per person, non-resident)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- Also all transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Round-trip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinking water (On all days)
- Canoe Ride
EXCLUDED
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp. per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- The government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Laundry
