10-Day Best of Birding Safari in Uganda.

Uganda is one of the most rewarding bird-watching destinations in East Africa, hosting over 1,080 bird species, including migratory bird species, savannah birds, Rift Valley endemic species, water birds, birds of prey, and the country’s endemic species. This 10 Day best of birding safari in Uganda will give bird enthusiasts and ornithologists a chance to explore the country’s unique bird species. It will take you to Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi National Park for Albertine Rift endemics and Mabamba wetland for the historic shoebill stork.

DAY 1: Arrival and Birding at Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

Day 2: Mabamba Wetland and transfer to Masindi

Day 3: Birding Budongo- Royal Mile and transfer to Murchison Falls National Park.

Day 4: Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale National Park.

Day 6: Birding in Kibale and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 7: Birding and Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel.

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Via Ishasha sector.

Day 9: Whole Day Birding.

Day 10: Transfer to Kampala/ Entebbe International Airport.

Detailed 10-Day Best of Birding Safari in Uganda.

DAY 1: Arrival and Birding at Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Upon arrival at Entebbe Airport, you will meet our company driver and depending on your arrival time, we can have an optional bird watching at Entebbe, especially on the lush grounds of the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, where you’ll see both forest and lakeshore birds. Your first bird species could include Slender-billed, Golden-backed, Palm-nut Vulture, African Pied Hornbill, Splendid Glossy Starling, Great Blue Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, and the rare Orange Weaver. After you transfer to your booked hotel, check in and prepare for tomorrow.

Accommodation: 2 friends Hotel ( Mid range).

Day 2: Birding in Mabamba Wetland and Transfer to Masindi.

After an early breakfast, you will head to Mabamba Wetland in search of the elusive Shoebill Stork. Mabamba Swamp is renowned for its shoebill storks, one of the rarest and most captivating bird species. You will embark on a traditional canoe ride through the undisturbed wetland swamp’s narrow water channels, surrounded by dense papyrus and lush flora. Keep your eyes peeled for the magnificent Shoebill Stork, along with other swamp subjects like the Saddle-billed Stork, African Jacana, and Papyrus Yellow Warbler. After you will have lunch and transfer to Masindi. You will have an overnight in Masindi. Dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel ( Mid range).

Day 3: Birding Budongo- Royal Mile and Busingiro
Your day 3 of 10 Day best of birding safari in Uganda will start with an early breakfast and transfer to Budongo Forest for birding along the Royal Mile, it’s an amazing trail with forest canopy towering far overhead. While on this trail, you will look out for birds like Puvel’s IIIadopsis, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Ituri Batis, Yellow-Footed Flycatcher, and African Dwarf Kingfisher, which are endemic to the forest. Other birds include Forest Robin, Yellow Billed, Hairy Breasted, the Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Forest Flycatcher White-thighed Hornbill, graceful Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spinetail, Blue-throated Roller, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Tit Hylia, Uganda Woodland Warbler, and Yellow Spotted Barbet, Great Blue and Black Billed Turaco, White Throated, Little Grey and Little Greeenbul, Red Tailed Bristlebill, Grey Throated and Black-capped, Apalis, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Spotted, Plain, Slender Billed. On lucky days, you can see chimpanzees playing on tree tops, expect to see primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red- tailed moneys. After you will transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Overnight Pakuba Safari Lodge( Mid range)

Day 4: Birding Murchison Falls National Park.
After having a hearty breakfast, you will head for a morning boat cruise to the bottom of the Nile. This is one of the best bird watching sites in the park, which allows bird lovers enjoy the sweet melodic sounds of various birds. One of the notable bird species found at the delta includes the prehistoric Shoebill stork, Red-throated and Northern Carmine Bee-eater look, African Finfoot, Hauglins Falcon, Saddle-billed, Rock Pratincole, Giant, Woodland, Grey-headed, Yellow-billed and African Open-billed Stork, Senegal Thick-knee, Malchite, Pygmy and striped Kingfishers and more. You will also see various mammals like elephants, buffalo, antelopes and more. You will return to the lodge, have lunch, and prepare for the late afternoon game drive. This will allow you to see various bird species like Black Billed Barbet, Northern and Red-faced Barbet, Abyssinian Ground Hornbills, Bishops and more. After you return to the lodge, relax and have dinner. You will conclude your day 4 of 10 Day best of birding safari in Uganda. Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge(Mid-range).

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
You will wake up very early in the morning, have breakfast and drive through the park as you look out for birds that you might have missed on your previous game drive and transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. You will do some en route bird watching on the way, and this will give you a chance to see various bird species. Upon arrival, you will check into the lodge and relax. Dinner and overnight at Kibale Tourists Lodge (Mid range).

Day 6: Birding and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Your day 6 0f 10 Day best of birding safari in Uganda will begin an early breakfast and head to the park for birding. Kibale is blessed with various bird species, including the Rift Valley endemics. You will encounter birds such as scaly-breasted illadopsis, African pitta, red-chested owlet, African pied wagtail, great blue turaco, black-bellied firefinch, African firefinch, black-eared ground thrush, green-breasted pitta, grey parrot, Abyssinian ground thrush, and African emerald cuckoo. Shy flycatcher, brown-backed scrub-robin, African shrike flycatcher, barn swallow, Cameroon sombre greenbul, African gray woodpecker, Narina trogon, square-tailed nightjar, plain nightjar, fan-tailed widowbird, hairy-breasted barbet, swallow-tailed bee-eater, chocolate-backed kingfisher, superb sunbird. You will have lunch. You will later transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Enganzi Lodge (Mid range).

Day 7: Birding and Afternoon Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel.

You will have an early breakfast and head out for a full day of birding in the park. You will see various bird species, including the Wahlberg’s Eagle, Brown Snake, Short Toed Snake, Martial Eagle, Red-necked Spurfowl, Coucal, Black Lored and Arrow Marked Babbler, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Copper, Scarlet Chested and Red-chested, Black-rumped and Common Buttonquails, African Crake, Hollub’s Golden and Lesser Masked Weavers, Black, Broad-tailed and African Moustached Warbler. In the afternoon, you will have a boat ride along the Kazinga Channel, looking out for water birds that roost in between the Edward and George lakes. Close encounters with the biggest schools of Hippos in Africa and some crocs, many migrating species like the Gulls and Terns are here, after this ride we have dinner and overnight at Engazi Lodge (Mid-range).

Day 8: Transfer to Bwindi Via Ishasha sector.

Have breakfast, then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest for birding enroute. You will have a chance to go through the Ishasha sector, which provides chances of viewing the tree-climbing lions and other game. Look out for grassland birds, including African Cuckoo Hawk, White-winged Black Tit, Ovambo Sparrow Hawk, Black Cuckoo, Pipits, Larks, and more. Overnight at Haven Lodge Buhoma.

Day 9: Whole Day Birding.

The Buhoma sector is one of the most incredible places in Bwindi, with various bird species, including Bar-tailed Trogon, Great Blue Turaco, African Green Broadbill, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Black Bee-eater, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Batis, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Mountain Masked Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, Dwarf Honeyguide, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Red-headed Bluebill, Kivu Ground Thrush, Cape Wagtail, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Overnight at Haven Lodge Buhoma.

Day 10: Transfer to Kampala/ Entebbe International Airport.

You will have an early breakfast, check out and transfer to Kampala/ Entebbe. You will enjoy a scenic drive and the breathtaking views of the countryside. You will have birding enroute as you will spot various bird species that call the Pearl of Africa home. This marks the end of your 10 Day best of birding safari in Uganda with Caracal Explorers.

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