3-Day Lake Mburo Birdwatching Trip

This 3-Day Lake Mburo Birdwatching Trip takes you to Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s savannah parks, famous for short birding tours in Uganda. This small savannah park has a diverse ecosystem and is home to a wide range of bird species, including water, savannah, rolling hills, forest, and acacia tree-related dwelling birds. This is the nearest national park taking 3-4 hours drive from Kampala City, and a true haven for birders who do not prefer travelling long distances.

The park is a fabulous destination for birdlife activities, providing a perfect haven for a wide range of bird species. The park has a diverse range of birds totalling over 350 bird species, among which include the elusive Shoebill, the endemic Red-faced Barbet, Yellow-breasted Apalis, White-winged Tit, White Winged Warbler, White-headed Barbet, Coqui Francolin, Brown-chested Lapwing, Bateleur, Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-Away Bird, Black-billed Barbet, Crested Francolin, Nubian Woodpecker, Tabora Cisiticola, Red-Shouldered Cuckoo, Ross’s Turaco, among others.

3-Day Lake Mburo Birdwatching Trip Highlights

DAY 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
DAY 2: Full day birding Lake Mburo National Park
DAY 3: Transfer back to Entebbe

A Detailed Itinerary

DAY 1: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

The days encounter begins early in the morning with breakfast, after you head south west of Uganda about 240 km, taking between 3-4 hours drive from Kampala. On your way, expect to have higher chances of spotting several bird species in their hardly missed localities. These species include the Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-bellied Heron, Wolly-necked Stork, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Black-crowned Waxbill, and many others.

You will have a stop at the Equator landmark to witness the marginal line that separates the earth into two hemispheres (Southern and Northern hemispheres), as you also take your impressive photos, before proceeding to Lake Mburo National Park. Continue with your journey to the park, arriving early for lunch. Relax for a while and in the evening, embark on your birding excursion within the Rwonyo surroundings before returning for dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo Lodge (mid-range), and Eagles Nest (Budget/ Basic)

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Holub’s Golden Weaver

DAY 2: Full day birding Lake Mburo National Park

Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast, and after embark on a full-day birding excursion following the designated trails in the company of an armed ranger for safety purposes. Explore the key birding areas of Rubanga Forest, Miriti, and Warukiri swamps and the salt lick. You will have a chance to see unique birds like the Black-billed Bastard, Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Coqui Francolin, Brown-chested Lapwing, White-winged Tit, Nubian Woodpecker, Ross’s Turaco, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Red-faced Barbet, Common Scimitarbill, Long-tailed Cisiticola, Buff Bellied Warbler, Red-headed Weaver, Sulpher-breasted Bush-shrike, Red Billed Wood Hope, Green-capped Eremomela, Black Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, and many others.

In the afternoon, you will have a boat ride excursion on Lake Mburo, which will introduce you to several water birds such as the African Jacana, Yellow-billed Stork, African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Cormorants, Handsome Francolin, among others. Dinner and overnight at your lodge.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Luxury), Rwakobo Lodge (mid-range), and Eagles Nest (Budget/ Basic)

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Village Weaver

DAY 3: Transfer back to Entebbe

Wake up early and prepare, have breakfast, and take a bird walk in search of some bird species that you might have previously missed, such as the Papyrus Gonolek, Bare-faced Go Away Bird, Tabora Cisticola, and many others. After, depending on the flight time, check out of the lodge and transfer back to Entebbe International Airport to meet your return flight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

Inclusions:

All ground transport in an air-conditioned 4X4 vehicle with a pop-up roof for 3 days
A private English-speaking guide
Lunch and bottled drinking water throughout the tour
All park entrance fees
Fuel for 3 days
All airport transfers, including pickups and drop-offs
All activities mentioned in the itinerary
All Airport transfers, including pickup and drop-offs
All accommodation for 2 nights
All Government taxes

Excludes