14 Days Bird Watching Trip in Uganda (Watching the Rift Endemics)

This is really the best 14 Days Bird Watching Trip in Uganda as it will take our client to enjoy the best birding experience while learning about almost all birds of Uganda, mammals, and the beautiful vegetation. In just a   fortnight, our clients shall visit the dream tourist destinations like Murchison – The World’s Most Powerful Falls, Tracking Chimps in Kibale – The World’s Primate Capital.

Tracking the Gorillas in the Impenetrable Bwindi Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park – The Most Biodiversity Park, Semuliki – The True Birders’ Haven, Mgahinga – The Real Forest Birding experience. In just a fortnight, our client will traverse almost the whole country to search for the common and rare species including the endemics!

14 Days Bird Watching Trip in Uganda Highlights

• Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo
• Day 2: Mgahinga National Park, Albertine Species
• Day 3: Birding Mgahinga National Park.
• Day 4: To Ruhiija, Bwindi Forest endemics
• Day 5: Mubwindi swamp, swamp specialties
• Day 6: To Buhoma, Bwindi Forest species
• Day 7: Gorilla trekking
• Day 8: Waterfall trail, Bwindi Forest trail
• Day 9: To Semuliki National Park.
• Day 10: in Semuliki Park, Semuliki forest
• Day 11: In Semuliki Park, Semuliki rarities
• Day 12: To Kibale Forest, Bigodi Swamp Birding Safari
• Day 13: In Kibale Forest, primates walk
• Day 14: End of 14 Days Uganda Trip.

Detailed 14 Days Bird Watching Trip in Uganda

Day 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo

This birding rift valley endemics start in Lake Mburo National Park along Impala track and later in the afternoon you take a boat cruise for water birds. Species of interest here include the white backed night heron, Rufous belied heron, White winged warbler, Papyrus Gonlek, papyrus canary, African fish eagle, Pied King fisher, Bateuler, Brown snake eagle, etc. Dinner and overnight at the tented camp, Safari lodge or camping.

Day 2: Mgahinga National Park, Albertine Species

You will take an early morning birding around Lake Mburo swamps and Echuya forest then you will leave for Mgahinga National Park. Species include Mountain capped apalis, Handsome francolin, Chapin’s flycatcher, Mountain wagtail, Black bee eater, Bar tailed trogon, Regal sunbird, olive pigeon, white tailed ant-thrush, Banded prinia, sooty flycatcher. Dinner and Overnight: safari lodge, tented camp or guest house.

Day 3 of 14 Days Uganda Trip: Birding Mgahinga National Park.

Bird watching Mgahinga National Park gives an opportunity to see endemics plus different vegetation zones that offers spectacular views of the Volcanoes. Endemic species here seen include Rwenzori Turaco, Strage weaver, Archer’s robin chat, Doherty’s bush shrike, White tailed blue flycatcher, Dusky Crimson wing, Red faced woodland warbler among others.

Day 4: To Ruhiija, Bwindi Forest endemics

This morning takes Ruhiija birding through Echuya forest, bamboo zone and Ruhiija surrounding in the afternoon. Two nights stay in a tented camp or cottages. Rift Endemics: Regal sun bird, Red faced woodland warbler, Chubb’s cisticola, Short tailed Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Batis

Day 5: Mubwindi swamp, swamp specialties

After breakfast, go 14 Days Uganda Trip to Mubwindi swamp through the forest trails, searching for forest species and rift endemics like African Green broadbill, archer robin chat, African green broad bill, collared apalis, black faced apalis, Rwenzori night jar, Chapin flycatcher, yellow eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, striped breasted tit, dwarf honey guide.

Day 6: To Buhoma, Bwindi Forest species

Move to Buhoma birding through the Neck and water loop trail in the afternoon Bwindi Endemics: Black bee eater, handsome francolin, Ruwenzori turaco, regal sunbird, red throated alethe, kivu ground thrush, short tailed warbler.

Day 7: Gorilla trekking

You can take Gorilla tracking which is optional at a fee, though tough, but it is rewarding exercise, one need to be physical fit as it may be demanding at some point due to elevation gains. For those with extra energy bird the Buhoma surrounding in the afternoon.

Day 8: Waterfall trail, Bwindi Forest trail

Watching Forest birds starts right at the visitor centre, following the road leads you to different forest trails, take up the waterfall trail birding ending at the three waterfalls searching for forest species like Chapin flycatcher collared apalis, black faced apalis, yellow eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, Short tailed warbler, Kivu ground thrush, Purple breasted sunbird, rufous flycatcher.

Day 9: To Semuliki National Park.

Morning transfer to Fort Portal town through Ishasha sector, and if you are lucky, you may see the tree climbing lions. Check in at a booked hotel late afternoon.

Day 10: in Semuliki Park, Semuliki forest

14 Days Uganda Trip in Semuliki forest, driving down the valley’s early morning, watching birds along the main road and Ssepaya hot springs trails will give an introductory birding of Semuliki forest. Return to hotel late afternoon.

Day 11: In Semuliki Park, Semuliki rarities

On this day of 14 Days Uganda Trip you will return early morning for a full day’s trip using Kirumia trail, the birding offers you opportunities to see rarities and other species of the Ituri forest. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight. Bird species: Spot breasted ibis, long tailed hawk, Nkulengu rail, piping horn bill, red billed dwarf horn bill, black dwarf hornbill, African piculet, lyte-tailed honey guide, red rumped tinker bird, yellow throated nicator, Sassi’s olive greenbul, fiery breasted bush shrike, forest scrub robin.

Day 12: To Kibaale Forest, Bigodi Swamp Birding Safari

14 Days Uganda Trip in Bigodi swamp not only for swamp specialties but also have opportunities to watch 8 species of primates namely the blue monkey, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed colobus, white and black colobus, L’hoests monkey, vervet monkey and Olive baboons.

Magombe swamp species: Red tailed bristle bill, white collared olive back, yellow billed barbet, white napped pigeon, grey winged warbler, black billed turaco, papyrus canary, white winged warbler, blue shouldered robin chat, white spotted flufftail and red winged francolin.

Day 13: In Kibaale Forest, primates walk

Kibale forest gives you an excellent birding opportunity and for Chimpanzee tracking experience (optional). Kibaale forest has the highest numbers of primates therefore offers primate walk activities.

Watching birds in Kibaale forest is along Ngogo road, the main road ending at Dura Bridge and in the forest trails Key species: Bar tailed trogon, fine banded wood pecker, red faced crimson wing, Nahan’s Francolin, Africa Pitta and many more.

Day 14: End of 14 Days Bird Watching Trip in Uganda .

Transfer to Entebbe or Kampala.

End of 14 Days Uganda Trip

14 Days Uganda Trip Inclusions and Exclusions

Price includes:

• All accommodation and meals as indicated in the itinerary on FB & BB basis
• Gorilla permit fees/permit purchased NET from UWA each $700.0 per person per visit
• Full time exclusive use of a 4 x 4 Safari Jeep/Toyota Land cruiser
• Full time services of experienced English-speaking 14 Days Uganda Trip drive/guide
• All services in national parks i.e., park entrance fees, guided nature walks, hikes & game drives
• Boat trips in Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Bottled drinking mineral water, coffees, teas or soft drinks while on Uganda Safaris, game drives, walks, hikes or transfers
• All Nature/Safari & Community walks as indicated in the itinerary-safari program
• All airport pickups and drop off from Entebbe & back to Entebbe airport
• All activities indicated & mentioned in the 14 Days Uganda Trip
• A $5.0 per pax off as donation to orphanage homes whose parents’ death are/were as a result of animal conflicts within conservation areas
• All government related taxes

Price Excludes:

• Laundry service in different hotels we stay
• Bar bills, phone calls
• Personal insurance and medical bills
• Air fares
• All other services of a personal nature
• All services marked as Optional in the itinerary
• Driver/guides/hotel staff or any other person’s gratuity

Booking Terms and Conditions

Reservations

• We require a deposit of 50% of the total 14 Days Uganda Trip cost for the clients to safeguard the reservations and gorilla and Chimpanzee tracking permits in case they are involved.
• The balance should be paid 1 month prior to the arrival.
• For bookings coming one month before departure, we shall require the full payment of the 14 Days Uganda Trip costs.
• The payment is made by international money transfer to the company bank account in Uganda.

Important Information

• Tour tariffs are based on all known costs and rates of exchange at the time of the transfer, any significant changes beyond will be immediately communicated to our clients.
• We also retain the right to alter any arrangements due to local conditions. We also retain the right to refuse any person from participating or continuing any tour if that person causes or is deemed to cause hazard or inconvenience to other clients and to our environment and ecosystems.
• Please note that in Uganda US dollar banknotes series before year 2006 are accepted only with a low exchange rate, therefore clients are advised to travel to Uganda with more recent banknotes series.  The same applies to banknotes below 50 USD.