Itinerary

Day 1 - Fly to Entebbe
Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Night in Kampala.

Day 2 - Mabamba Wetlands
After an early breakfast, we drive to Mabamba village and its adjacent wetland. The entrance road winds through secondary forest and agricultural land attracting Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Madagascar Bee-eater, Red-headed Lovebird, African Pied Hornbill, Black-necked Weaver and up to six species of sunbirds. Lilac-breasted Rollers, Black-shouldered Kite and Long-crested Eagles perch atop telephone poles. The road ends at a papyrus reedbed adjoining Lake Victoria. From hand-paddled boats we explore a maze of channels, lagoons and mud flats for a host of species - Purple and Squacco Herons, African Marsh Harrier, African Pygmy Goose, Black Crake, Purple Swamphen, Allen’s Gallinule, African Jacana, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Malachite Kingfisher, cisticolas, the stunning Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Tabora Cisticola and in particular the majestic Shoebill - one the world’s most bizarre species. We also look especially for Spot-necked Otters. Later in the day we travel by the Kaaku Swamp for Lesser Jacana, Lesser Moorhen, and Rufous bellied Heron. We enter Lake Mburu National Park in time for an evening game drive, perhaps finding Brown-chested Plover. Night in Mantana.

Day 3 - Lake Mburo National Park
In the morning we have a game drive in the national park through an area of wetlands and acacia forests, an exceptional area for birds. Raptors are prominent - White-backed, Lappet-faced and White-headed Vultures, Short-toed and Brown Snake-Eagles and African Hawk-Eagle. Lake Mburo’s woodlands are at the northern-most edge of the range of several species such as the elusive Red-faced Barbet, known only from remote north-eastern Tanzania, Rwanda and here. We have a chance to see several mammals such as Burchell’s Zebra, Impala, Eland, Topi and Water Buffalo, as well as a profusion of birds - francolins, pigeons and doves, cuckoos, mousebirds, woodhoopoes, barbets, woodpeckers, several swallows, cuckoo-shrikes, robins, cisticolas, starlings, weavers - the list seems endless. In the afternoon we take a boat ride on Lake Mburo. Marshes harbour Black Crake, Dwarf Bittern and Yellow-billed Duck. Grassy fields scattered with acacia trees support Violet-tipped Courser, Senegal Lapwing, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, African Moustached Warbler, Northern Crombec and White-winged Tit. Seasonal marshlands have African Openbill, Sacred Ibis, Greater Painted-snipe and Malachite Kingfisher, and we search for African Finfoot, Crocodiles, and Hippos. In the evening we drive to Mbarara. Night at Mbarara.

Days 4 to 6 - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
We next travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park straddling the border with Congo. Our journey takes us over highlands reaching almost 2500 metres. Specialties of this region include Augur Buzzard, Thick-billed Seedeater and Chubb’s Cisticola, a duetting species. We reach Bwindi, a huge montane forest holding 23 of the 24 Albertine Rift Endemics in the evening in time to bird the farm for Bat Hawk. We spend the next three nights at the Buhoma homestead.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is exceptionally rich in forest species restricted to the Albertine Rift covering Uganda, Rwanda and Congo. Walking along forest trails is a wonderful natural experience with hundreds of colourful butterflies and areas of streams and tumbling waterfalls. Bwindi offers some of the best forest birding in Africa. Campgrounds attract Black Sawwing, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Black and White Shrike-Flycatcher, African Blue Flycatcher, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, Luhder’s Bush-shrike, Mountain Greenbul, Black-billed Weaver, Variable Sunbird and Grey-crowned Negrofinch, and we will look for Dusky Twinspot. Bamboo forests support Handsome Francolin, White-starred Robin, Red-throated Alethe, Grauer's Warbler and Dusky Crimson-wing. On the main trail we enter the forest proper as it passes under huge trees and areas of lichen-lined trunks. Species recorded along the main track will be many; they could include guineafowl, bee-eaters, pigeons, woodpeckers, several species of tinkerbirds, barbets, greenbuls, starlings, warblers, akalats, flycatchers, and possibly Red-fronted Antpecker, Rufous chested Fluff tail, Red-chested Owlet, Neumann's Warbler, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, the scarce African Broadbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, and Montane masked Apalis. Another track takes us to the waterfall trail, a reliable area for Red-throated Alethe, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher and Kivu Ground Thrush. The Muzabajiro Loop Trail supports Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, Handsome Francolin, White-headed Wood-hoopoe and many other specialties. We also have a chance of locating primates such as L’Hoest’s, Blue and Red-tailed Monkeys and troops of Chimpanzees.

On Day 6 we have an optional early morning trek into the forest with a packed lunch, led by an experienced tracker, to a family of Mountain Gorillas. There are possibly as few as 600 remaining of these marvellous massive apes. Once we find the family, we will be quite close - a rare privilege to spend time amongst them.

Days 7 - 8- Queen Elizabeth National Park
We transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, birding en route. Our journey takes us through the southern sector of the park, a wild area of savanna and forest. We eventually reach the Kazinga Channel, linking Lakes George and Edward, and our base at Mweya Safari Lodge, an idyllic location set in its own grounds, where we stay for two nights. Straddling the Equator this vast park contains impressive crater lake scenery, expansive grasslands and forests; huge herds of Elephant and Buffalo, tree-climbing Lions, Leopards, Spotted Hyenas, Giant Forest Hog and a diverse array of birds. The famous boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel is among the most productive birding excursions on earth!

The hotel gardens have Grey-headed Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed Gonolek, Grey-capped Warbler, Slender-billed Weaver and Brimstone Canary. We take an early morning game drive towards the famous Kasenyi Track, winding through grassland dotted with trees and nearby crater lakes. Our main aim is to locate Lions and other mammals including Hartebeest, Water Buffalo, Ugandan Kob, Oribi, Waterbuck, Bushbuck and family groups of African Elephants, and there is a chance for Secretarybird. Along the road we should find Scaly Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, several lapwings, Harlequin Quail and Common Button-quail. Larks are numerous and include Rufous-naped, Flappet and the local White-tailed. Raptors include Martial Eagle, Banded Snake Eagles and Bateleur. We may be lucky enough to spot a rare species or two, such as Black-rumped Buttonquail or Red-billed Quailfinch. In the afternoon we embark on a boat trip down the Kazinga Channel. This incredible area for waterbirds should afford stunning views of Pink-backed Pelican, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Water Thick-knee, African Skimmer and over-summering Palearctic shorebirds. After dinner we have a night drive along the airstrip searching for Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars, owls and Temminck’s Coursers. Overnights at Mweya Safari Lodge.

Days 9 - 10 - Semliki National Park
Leaving Mweya, we travel to Semliki National Park for a two day stay. We will bird around the hot springs for several species of hornbills - Red-billed Dwarf, White-crested, Piping, White-thighed and others. We have a chance to see Spotted Ibis, Nkulengu Rail and Olive Pigeon. Along the Kirumia Trail, we could find African Piculet, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Bronze-naped Pigeon, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Least and Zenker's Honeyguides, Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, Blue-headed Crested-Flycatcher, Congo Serpent Eagle, Blue Swallow and Rufous-sided Broadbill. Nights at Semliki Safari Lodge.

Days 11 - 12 - Fort Portal, Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetlands
After breakfast we drive to Fort Portal, birding enroute, and make our way to Ndali Lodge for a two night stay. In our first afternoon, we bird wetlands near Fort Portal or the Crater areas for Giant Kingfisher and many other water birds including African Black Duck. On Day 12, we spend the morning tracking our closest living relative, the Chimpanzee, and birding in the splendid Kibale Forest. Once again, we will have an impressive array of species: Narina Trogon, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Yellow-spotted Barbet and Black-capped Apalis in the forest, African Goshawk and Crowned Eagle plus noisy flocks of Grey Parrots in clearings, and perhaps if we are lucky Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Grey-throated Flycatcher, Thick-billed and Cassin’s Honeyguides, Nahan’s Francolin, and Green-breasted and African Pittas, and maybe the minute Demidoff’s Galago, a tiny primate. The western part of Kibale Forest holds Luhder's and Many-coloured Bush-Shrikes, Cassin's Grey Flycatcher, White-naped and Afep Pigeons, White-headed Cuckoo and Joyful Greenbul. In the afternoon we visit Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary run by local people for the benefit of the nearby village. Bigodi comprises agricultural land, papyrus and swamp forest. We have good possibilities of locating Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Barbet, Grey-capped and White-winged Warblers, Great Blue Turaco, Blue-headed Coucal and Papyrus Canary.

Kibale National Park is reported to have the greatest variety and highest concentrations of primates in the world. Alongside Chimpanzees, we could find Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Vervet, L'Hoest’s and Red-tailed Monkeys, Olive Baboon, and Red and Black-and-white Colobus. Nights at Ndali Lodge.

Day 13 - Transfer to Murchison National Park
Our next destination is Murchison Falls National Park. En route, we bird the escarpment for Foxy Cisticola, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Red-winged Grey Warbler, and Green-winged and Red-winged Pytilias, then we proceed to the top of the Falls for Bat Hawk and Rock Pratincole, and possibly Pel’s Fishing owl, while mixed flocks of White-headed Sawwing, Horus Swift and Rufous-breasted Swallows wheel overhead. A nearby outlook is reliable for Palmnut Vultures and African Harrier Hawks. Nocturnal birds around the camp could include Spotted and Verreaux’s Eagle Owls, and Plain, Long-tailed and Pennant-winged Nightjars. Night at Nile Safari camp.

Day 14 - Murchison National Park
This promises to be a very birdy day! Ross’s Turacos, White-headed Barbet, Abyssinian and Lilac-breasted Rollers, Cabanis’s Bunting and a host more! Common birds around the camp include Ruppell’s Glossy and the attractive Violet-backed Starlings, African Grey Hornbill and White-bellied Go-away-birds. In the morning we cross to the Northern Bank for a game drive in search of mammals such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Giraffes, Uganda Kob, Hartebeests, Waterbucks and many savanna birds such as Secretarybird, Denham’s and Black-bellied Bustards, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Ring-necked Francolin. Travelling along dirt tracks provides close views of Crested and Heuglin’s Francolins, Little Bee-eater, Piapiac, and Flappet Lark, whilst tall trees attract Striped Kingfisher, Black Scimitarbill, Black-billed Barbet, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Bronze-tailed Starling and Chestnut-crowned and Speckle-fronted Weavers. Low bushes host Silverbirds and grassy areas near the river host Grey-crowned Crane, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-headed Lapwing, Spotted Ground Thrush, Red-billed and Bar-breasted Firefinches. We also make an effort to find Puvel’s Illadopsis. We have an opportunity for finding a variety of water birds, including Dwarf Bittern, Saddle-billed Stork, Long-toed Lapwing, Water Thick-knee and reed-loving Red-faced and Singing Cisticolas, and another opportunity to see Shoebill. The Nile itself has healthy populations of Nile Crocodile and Hippopotamus.In the afternoon we transfer to Masindi via Kaniyo Pabidi Night at Masindi.

Day 15 - Transfer to Jinja
Today we bird the “royal mile”, one of Africa's premier forest birding spots, looking for Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Nahan’s Francolin, Chocolate-backed and Dwarf Kingfishers, Narina Trogon, Cassin's and Sabine's Spinetails, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin amongst a host of other species. Overnight Jinja Nile Resort.

Day 16 - Mabira Forest
Today we bird the Mabira Forest, looking for Shining Blue Kingfisher, various greenbuls and sunbirds, Green Hylia, Tit-Hylia, Black-bellied Seedcracker, and Forest Woodhoopoe. Overnight Mount Elgon.

Day 17 - Return to Entebbe
After an early breakfast, we begin our drive back to Kampala, looking for Fox’s Weaver and another chance for seeing Shoebill in case we missed it earlier. Night in Entebbe.

Day 18 - Return home
Depending on your flight, there may be time to bird the Entebbe area once again, perhaps the botanical gardens for species we missed the first day. Then we transfer to the Airport for your flight home.

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What to Expect

Be prepared for warm to hot, dry and sunny weather on most days. Overcast conditions will occur, and it will rain on occasion. It will be warm to cool at higher elevations. It is recommended to take a light rain-jacket or poncho, although we will try to avoid birding in any rain worse than a light drizzle, and good, sturdy, waterproof footwear. Walking conditions will be relatively easy but trails anywhere may be muddy depending on how recently it has rained. Gorilla tracking involves part or all of one day in the Impenetrable Forest. Sometimes the gorillas can be located within an hour or so, but at other times it sometimes takes an entire day of quite hard trekking to find them and return, so you need to be physically fit if you wish to maximize your chances. Very occasionally, in spite of all efforts, the gorillas prove elusive. Throughout the tour, we will travel in an open top Land Cruiser to maximize wildlife viewing opportunities.

Bring insect repellent and/or mosquito-proof clothing because bugs can be a problem, again depending on the rain. It will be necessary to bring a hat and sunblock. In the evenings we usually eat at the hotel or lodge where we are staying, and review the list of birds and other wildlife that we have encountered, as well as discuss the following day’s activities.