Birding Tour, Birdwatching in Uganda

CODE: AMS BIRD 07
7 DAYS BIRDING TOUR

DAY 1
Arrival at Entebbe international Airport. Depending on your time of arrival, bird watching at Entebbe Botanical gardens.

The Entebbe Botanical Gardens, established in 1901 offer a superb introduction to Uganda birds and are situated conveniently to the capital city and Entebbe International Airport. The key birds of the gardens are Orange tufted and Red Chested sun birds, orange weaver, slender build weaver. On the lake and around the shore we shall look for black headed Herons, Hamerkop, African open buld stock, King fishers, Swamp fly catcher. Two highly vocal and conspicuous species you should find in the gardens are African fish eagle and eastern grey plaintain eater. The latter constantly uttering the strange chimp-like calls. Other species to watch for include Hadada Ibis, Palmnut, Shikra. Black Crake and the tiny Malachite king fisher among many other birds.
Thereafter transfer to Kampala hotel for overnight.

DAY 2: Transfer to Mabamba Swamp & Lake Mburo National Park. Early breakfast and transfer to Mabamba swamp in search for the rare shoebill stock

The large and accessible wetland, near the village of Mabamba on the shores of lake Victoria is only a short 2hours drive from Kampala. The immense Papyrus swamp is interspersed with a maze of channels, lagoons and floating Lilly pads. Certain papyrus specialists include white winged Warbler, Carruthers’ Cisticola, Saddle-pigged stock, African Pygmy. Other distinct possibilities include African fish, Yellow-billed Eaglet, Hottentot Teal, Black Carke and the Grey-headed Gull among a variety of other species.
We shall have lunch and thereafter proceed to Lake Mburo National Park, birding en route. We shall search for Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous-naped and Flappet Larks as well as the Yellow-throated Long Claw among other species.
Dinner and overnight at Mantana tented camp/Mihingo lodge (high end) or Rwonyo camp (Budget)

DAY 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, birding en route. The Queen Elizabeth Bird observatory was established in 1997 with the aim of studying the resident and migratory bird population in the National Park. We shall arrive in time for the Afternoon launch cruise on the Kazinga channel. The Kazinga Channel is a natural magnet for water birds, and in the vicinity of Mweya, acts as a migrant track for birds moving along the Albertine rift. A wide variety of water related species include Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, Common Squacco Heron, African Open-billed Stock, African Fish Eagle, Black Crake, African Jacana, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers.
Numbers of migrants peak in February and March. These include, among others, White Winged Terns, Millions of Common Sand Martins and Yellow-wag Tail.
The Munyanyange Lake, north of Katwe, is home to spectacular concentrations of water birds such as Greater and Lesser Flamingos.
Return for dinner and overnight.
Dinner and over night at Mweya Safari Lodge/Jacana Safari Lodge (High end) Or Mweya hostel (budget).

birdwatching in Uganda

DAY 4: In Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, morning game drive, birding en route heading for the Kasenyi track which is one of the best game viewing areas but also has much to offer a birder. The Northern part of this 30km circuit supports large flocks of White and Abdims Storks, Saddle-billed Stocks and Raptors such as Brown-snake Eagle, Martial Eagle and Grey Kestrel. Lion kills attract up to six species of vultures including Egyptian, Ruppels Griffon and the immense Lappet-faced. Senegal Crowned and African Wattled Clobbers are numerous in short grassland.
The south western rim of Kyambura gorge is an excellent place to see the spectacular black-bee Eater hawking insects from exposed patches in the canopy. Blue-breasted Kingfishers are also very common here among others.
We shall also head for the scenic crater area north of the Katwe road in search for species such as common Button-quail, Croaking Cisticola, and Broad-tailed Warbler among many other spectacular migrant birds.
The look out at Baboon cliffs is a good spot for rafters such as the White-shouldered Cliff Chat.
Return for dinner and overnight.

birding tours

DAY 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park

After breakfast we shall depart southwards to Kibale National Park with evening birding at Sebitoli section of the forest. Expect to see Uganda-spotted Wood Pecker, Papyrus Canary, Brown Illadopsis among others.
Dinner and overnight at Luxurious Ndali Lodge/Mid range rwenzori View guest House/Basic kanyankyu Tourist Centre.

DAY 6: In Kibale National Park

Early Morning breakfast and transfer to Kibale National Park. In Kibale National Park there is a large block of rain forest that offers some excellent forest birding. The best forest birding is along the main road from the Kanyanchu visitor centre. Before we enter the forest we shall watch out for species such as Scaly Francolin, Marsh Tchagra, the scarce Grey-headed Olive-back and a host of seed eaters such as Fawn Breasted and Black Crowned Wax-bills, Green-backed Twin Spot among others.
While in the forest we shall watch out for flocks of the rare and localized White-naped Pigeon in flight over head or sunning themselves on the tree tops in the early morning. Fruiting trees attract birds such as Narina Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Yellow-spotted, Hairy-breasted and Yellow-billed Barbets.
Kibale is also a good sight for Joyful Greenbul reasonably common and conspicuous here but inexplicably scarce else where in Uganda.
The secondary forest and thicket around Kanyanchu is also a productive birding area for the African Goshawk, the Majestic Ground eagle and Masked Apalis. Large, noisy flocks of Grey Parrots fly over the campsite to their roost in the evening.
There is an observation tower which overlooks a small forest in the park giving you the opportunity to see the Red-chested Fluff tailed and a host of forest elephants.
The Bigodi wetland sanctuary in Kibale National Park is also an excellent place to see some of the special birds endemic to this habitat such as Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler and Papyrus Canary among others.
We shall return to lodge in the late evening.
Dinner and Overnight at Ndali Lodge(high end),Fort Motel(medium end) or Rwenzori View Guest House(budget)

DAY 7: Transfer to Kampala

Early morning transfer to Kampala or Entebbe International Airport depending on your departure time

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Birding Tour, Birdwatching in Uganda