4-Day Birding in Murchison Falls National Park
This 4-Day Birding in Murchison Falls National Park takes you to Mabamba Wetland, home to the elusive Shoebill, and Murchison Falls National Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Uganda, offering a unique birding experience with over 450 species recorded in the conservation area. These include Savannah Forest birds, water birds, and migratory birds. Common large birds found in the savannah plains on the northern part of the park include Open-billed Storks, Marabou storks, Ground hornbills, Secretary birds, black-bellied bustards, widow birds, wheatears, bishops, and weavers. Caracal Explorers guides visitors through game drives, Nile trips, and nature walks, providing an opportunity to observe diverse birdlife.
The river area near thickets and forests is home to various bird species such as black bee-eaters, woodpeckers, swallow-tailed bee-eaters, red-throated bee-eaters, woodland kingfishers, warblers, francolins, hornbills, grey herons, plovers, hamerkops, doves, mousebirds, shrikes, crombecs, flycatchers, cuckoos, coucals, ducks, geese, and stilts.
4-Day Birding in Murchison Falls National Park Highlights
- DAY 1: Birding from Kampala to Masindi via Mabamba Bay
- DAY 2: Birding Budongo Mile and transfer to Northern Murchison
- Day 3: Birding Northern Murchison Falls
- Day 4: Birding back to Kampala
Detailed Itinerary
DAY 1: BIRDING from Kampala to Masindi via Mabamba Bay – Shoebill Stork
The tour begins with an early transfer to Mabamba Swamp, 50 km west of Kampala. The swamp is home to numerous bird species, including the Pallid Harrier, Western Banded Snake Eagle, Papyrus Gonolek, White Shouldered Tit, Red Cap, White Winged Warbler, and Weyns Weaver. The Swamp is also a great spot for the Shoebill Stork. Other species include Allen’s and Purple Gallinule, Grey herons, Jacanas, Rufous Bellied Heron, Squaco, Purple and Goliath Heron, Blue Swallow, egrets, and ducks. The tour then returns to Kampala and ends in Masindi, where we spend the night via the Luwero triangle.
Other bird species include the Great Blue Turaco, White Shouldered Tit, Bronze-tailed Starling, Grey Kestrel, Black Headed Batis, Red Throated Bee-eater, lesser Blue and Great Blue Eared Starlings, Black, Yellow Mantled and Black Winged Bishops, White Headed Barbet, Cardinal and Nubian Woodpecker, Lesser and Greater Honeyguide, Grey Capped Warbler, Brown Twin-spot, Eastern and Dark Chanting Goshawk, Banded Snake Eagle, Broad Billed Roller, Lizard Buzzard, Shikra, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Lesser Striped, Angola and Barn Swallow, Village and Black Headed Weaver, Brown Throated Wattle Eye, Sooty Chat, among others and conclude your day 1 of 4-Day Birding in Murchison Falls National Park safari.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Hornbill (Budget)
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
DAY 2: Birding Budongo Mile and transfer to Northern Murchison
Your day 2 of 4-Day Birding in Murchison Falls National Park will begin by waking up early, have breakfast, and after drive to the near by Budongo Forest, begin birdwatching along the Royal Mile, a truly spectacular zone with forest canopy towering far overhead. There is a good networking system of trails in the forest, today expect to see skulking birds such as the Forest Flycatcher, Nahan’s Francolin, excessively noisy White-thighed Hornbill, graceful Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spinetail, Blue-throated Roller, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Tit Hylia, Forest Robin, Yellow Billed, Grey Throated, Red Tailed Bristlebill and Black-capped Apalis, Hairy Breasted and Yellow Spotted Barbet, Little Grey and Little Greeenbul, Great Blue and Black Billed Turaco, Dusy Long Tailed Cuckoo, among others. Search out for the Blue, Red Tailed, and the black and white Colobus monkey. On lucky days, the chimps cross the trail. Dinner and overnight at your booked lodge.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Hornbill (Budget)
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
DAY 3: Birding Northern Murchison Falls
The visit will feature exciting boat trips to the base of the falls and a game drive in the delta. On good days, there will be opportunities to see the Shoebill Stork and various other birds, such as the Red-throated and Northern Carmine Bee-eater. Wildlife includes Rothschild’s Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Elephant, and Waterbuck. Other birds to observe include various species of storks, Kingfishers, and Francolins. During the game drive, expect to see different Barbets, Bee-eaters, Black Winged and Northern Red Bishops, and the Patas Monkey. A night drive is also recommended to spot nocturnal mammals and birds.
Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge (Luxury), Pakuba Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Hornbill (Budget)
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Birding back to Kampala
As we transfer to Kampala, we shall make a visit to the top of the falls.
Wake up early and prepare, have breakfast, and after visit the top of the falls for the outstanding and remarkable falls that are considered to be the most powerful in the world. After your memorable visit to the top of the falls, proceed to Kampala/Entebbe en route, as we look out for species that you might have missed. This concludes your 4-Day Birding in Murchison Falls National Park safari.
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Inclusions:
- All airport transfers, including pick-ups and drop-offs
- Park entrance fees
- All activities mentioned in the itinerary
- A private English-speaking guide
- Fuel for 4 days
- All accommodation for 3 days
- All ground transport for 4 days
Exclusions:
- Visa ticket
- Personal Insurance
- Travel ticket
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- Extra activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
- Personal items and expenses such as laundry, phone charges, gifts, souvenirs, tips, and others
