12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari
The 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari is an exceptional experience for bird enthusiasts. This tour will take you to some of Uganda’s best birding locations, which are ecologically rich and located within the renowned Albertine Rift Valley. This area is not only the richest zone in Uganda but also in Africa for many endemic and globally threatened bird species, as well as other wildlife, including the Mountain Gorillas.
In addition to its remarkable avian life, the Albertine Rift is home to over 7,500 species of endemic plants and animals, representing approximately 35% of Africa’s overall biodiversity. The tour includes visits to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga National Park, and particularly Ruhizha, which is recognized as the number one birding site in Africa. Other notable locations on the itinerary include Rwenzori and Semliki. Each of these birding spots offers unique ecosystems, attracting a diverse range of bird species, making for an unforgettable birding adventure in Uganda.
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport
You will be greeted by our driver guide at Entebbe International Airport or Kigali, based on your arrival time. After a warm welcome, you will be transferred to your reserved hotel for check-in. Take some time to relax and prepare for the start of our 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari the following day. Enjoy dinner and an overnight stay at the 2 Friends Hotel.
Day 2 Transfer to Kisoro-12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari
You will have an early breakfast and transfer to Kisoro which is about 9 hours drive from Entebbe expect to have beautiful views of the countryside. You will have lunch enroute and various stopovers such as the Equator in Kayabwe ,we bird Echuya forest at a later point in the day towards Kisoro. Dinner and overnight stay at Travellers Rest Hotel
Day 3: Birding Mgahinga National Park
On day three of your 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari, your day will begin early after breakfast. After enjoying a picnic lunch, we will drive to Ntebeko Camp, where our birding adventure will commence. We will trek to one of the most scenic areas in Uganda, taking the gorge trail that loops halfway up Mt. Sabinyo. This trail passes through a variety of montane habitats, home to an array of bird species including the Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori Turaco, Cape Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Olive Woodpecker, White-starred Robin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-napped Raven, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Yellow-crowned Canary, and both Streaky and Thick-billed Seedeater. Throughout our birding adventure today, we will pay special attention to the elusive Shelly’s Crimson-wing, among other birds. After a day full of exploration, we will have dinner and spend the night at Travelers Rest Hotel.
Day 4: Birding to Ruhizha
After breakfast, we will begin our birdwatching in the Rift Valley area. Our first stop will be at a nearby swamp, where we hope to spot the Little Rush Warbler and the Grauer’s Rush Warbler, which are among the rare Bradypterus Warblers found in the Albertine Rift zone. We will continue birding towards Ruhizha, making several stops along the way to look for birds such as the Augur Buzzard, Mountain Buzzard, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Dusky Crimsonwing, Dusky Twinspot, and Common Stonechat, among others. As we approach the camp headquarters, we will keep an eye out for the Handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon, Western Green Tinkerbird, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Chestnut-throated Apalis, White-browed Crombec, Stripe-breasted Tit, Dusky Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, and Black-headed Waxbill, as well as many more species. We will be staying at Trekker’s Tavern for two nights on a full board basis (FB).
Day 5: Birding to Mubwindi Swamp
On Day 5 of your 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari, we will start early in the morning. Our primary focus will be on observing a variety of stunning birds, including the beautiful broadbill, the Black-billed Turaco, Olive Woodpecker, Elliot’s Woodpecker, and Fine-banded Woodpecker. We will also look for the African Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Greenbul, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-throated Collared Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, African Green Broadbill, and various species of Greenbul (Mountain, Shelley’s, and Yellow-streaked). Additionally, we’ll search for the Rwenzori Batis and the Regal Sunbird, among other birds. After the day’s birdwatching, we will return to our place of stay.
Day 6: Birding to Buhoma via the Neck- 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari
After breakfast, we will begin our drive to Buhoma, located in the southern part of Bwindi, with birdwatching opportunities along the way. During our journey and at our stopovers, we can expect to see a variety of bird species, including the Black Bee-eater, the Red-throated Wryneck (which would be a great addition to our sightings), the Mountain Wagtail, and the Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher. Additionally, we may spot the White-starred Robin, Olive Thrush, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, MacKinnon’s Fiscal, and the Collared, Mountain Masked Chestnut-throated, and Grey Apalis. Keep an eye out for the Stripe-breasted Tit, Sharpe’s Starling, as well as the elusive Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbirds, Strange Weaver, and Dusky Twinspot. Dinner and overnight accommodations will be at The Gorilla Resort or Buhoma Community Bandas for two nights. Full board is provided.
Day 7: Birding Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today we explore the Bwindi Buhoma area looking out for birds like the Pink-footed Puffbuck, Yellow Billed Barbet, Bocage’s Bush-Shrike, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black Bee-Eater, Cassin’s and Scaly throated Honey Guide, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Western Green Tinkerbird, Short Tailed Warbler, African Broadbill, Black Billed Turaco, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, Blue Throated Brown, Blue-headed, Northern Double Collard and Green Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Illadopsis, Red Faced Woodland Warbler, Equatorial Akalat, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Black Faced Rufous Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Dusky Tit, Many among others. FB
Day 8: Birding to Kasese- 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari
After breakfast, with packed lunch, leave for Rwenzori National Park. While there we look out for special birds like the purple breasted sunbird, Abyssinian, Red faced, Shelly’s and Dusky Crimson-wing, Red-bellied seed cracker, Woodhouse Antipecker, Stripe-breasted Tit, Forest Flycatcher, Grey Apalis, Ayres and Cassin’s Hawk-eagle and many others. We stay at the basement of Mount Rwenzori.
Day 9 Birding the Rwenzori then transfer to Fort Portal
We have another day of birding in the morning before we transfer to Fort Portal where a number of rare and highly localized birds may be found. African Long-eared Owl, sometimes considered nonspecific with the Holarctic Long-eared Owl. This is one of only two sites in East Africa [the other being Mt. Kenya] where this bird has been recorded. Similarly the Greater Double-collared Sunbird [sometimes considered a separate species, Stuhlmann’s Double-collared Sunbird] is endemic to the Rwenzori Mountains and is reportedly fairly common in areas of bamboo and heath. Rwenzori Turaco another common and easily seen here than elsewhere. There are recent sight records of the rare Grauer’s Cuckoo-shrike we keep fingers crossed for these amazing species. Dinner and Overnight at the Mountains of the Moon Hotel and conclude your day 9 of 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari
Day 10: Birding to Semliki
After an early breakfast, we will travel to Semuliki National Park, arriving in time to explore the trails around the hot springs. This will provide us with an excellent introduction to the Semuliki bird species, including Hornbills, Chestnut-Breasted Negro Finches, Black-Bellied Seed Cracker, and others. Afterward, we will transfer to Bundibugyo. We will spend the night at either the Rainbow Hotel or Vanilla Hotel, with full board included.
Day 11: Whole day birding Kirumia Trail
On day 11 of your 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari, you will start with a hearty breakfast before embarking on a full day of birding along the Kirumia Trail. Weather permitting, this area offers some of the best birdwatching in East Africa, with many species originating from West Africa. Look out for the following birds: Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Leaf Love, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, White-thighed Hornbill, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Blue-billed Malimbe, Crested Malimbe, and the Swamp Palm Bulbul. You may also spot the rarely seen Capuchin Babbler and African Piculet, a small bird related to woodpeckers, as well as the Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, among other species. After a day full of birding, you will return for dinner and an overnight stay as before. Full Board (FB)
Day 12: Birding to Entebbe
After enjoying a delightful breakfast, make your way to Entebbe. This marks the conclusion of your unforgettable 12-day Uganda Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari with Caracal Expolers, where you have experienced the stunning diversity of birds and the natural beauty of the region. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey!
