7-Day Classic Uganda Birding Safari
The 7-Day Classic Uganda Birding Safari offers bird watching in Murchison Falls Conservation Area, focusing on special birds and some endemic species from the Guinea Congo biome. You can explore lush savanna grasslands and visit places like Murchison Falls National Park, the Royal Mile, and the Albertine Escarpment. The main highlight is spotting the Shoebill, best seen from January to March. During your birding safari in Uganda, you can expect to see common species like Black-bellied Bustards, Marabou Stork, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretary Birds, and Open-billed Storks on the plains. Near the river, look for Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Malachite Kingfisher, Grey Heron, Francolin Kingfisher, Hornbills, warblers, Cuckoos, Flycatchers, and various ducks and geese among the thickets and woodlands.
7-Day Classic Uganda Birding Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport. Bird through Entebbe Areas
- Day 2: Birding to Murchison Falls National Park. Drive to the top of the Falls.
- Day 3: Bird watching in Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 4: Bird in the northern Sector of Murchison Falls National Park
- Day 5: Bird through the Albertine Escarpment
- Day 6: Bird the Royal Mile
- Day 7: Return to Kampala, birding en route
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport and Birding within Entebbe Environs
Upon arriving at Entebbe International Airport, you will meet our representative for a transfer to your hotel in Entebbe. If you arrive early, you can enjoy birdwatching in the Botanical Gardens, which is great for spotting various birds such as the Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos, Cuckoos, Kingfishers, Sunbirds, Weavers, and many others. After birding, you will have dinner and stay overnight at your booked hotel.
Day 2: Birding to Murchison Falls National Park. Drive to the top of the Falls.
Wake up early, have breakfast, and after drive to Murchison Falls National Park, birding en route for the Great Blue Turaco, White-crested Turaco, among others. You will have lunch in Masindi, then head to the park and drive to the top of the Falls for species like the Rock Pratincoles, Pel’s fishing Owl, Bat Hawk, and a variety of Nightjars, among others. Dinner and overnight stay at your booked hotel and conclude your day 2 of 7-Day Classic Uganda Birding Safari.
Day 3: Bird in Murchison Falls National Park
We wake up very early for birding today. Our main goal is to find the Puvell’s Illadopsis and Grey and Yellow Longbill. We might see other birds like the Fire Crested Alethe, Narina Tragon, Crested Guinea Fowl, Speckled, Yellow-billed Billed and Yellow Spotted Barbet, Yellow Rumped and Yellow Throated Tinkerbird, and various types of sunbirds and woodpeckers. Have dinner and an overnight stay at your booked lodge.
Accommodation: Paraa safari lodge (Luxury), Sambiya River Lodge (Mid-range), Hornbill Lodge (Budget)
Day 4: Birding in the Northern Sector of Murchison Falls National Park
Your day 4 of 7-Day Classic Uganda Birding Safari will begin with a drive to take the ferry for a game drive in the Delta area, searching for the Shoebill stork and other water birds. On the morning drive, we hope to see nocturnal birds like Nightjars and Owls, and sometimes cats. After crossing, we will explore the northern part of the park, where we can see animals such as Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Elephants, and Cape Buffalo. Many bird species will also be spotted, including the African Quill Finch and various Bee-Eaters. In the afternoon, we will take a boat ride on the Victoria Nile to view water birds, hippos, and crocodiles, and spend the night at your lodge.
Accommodation: Paraa safari lodge (Luxury), Sambiya River Lodge (Mid-range), Hornbill Lodge (Budget)
Day 5: Bird through the Albertine Escarpment
Drive to Masindi in the morning while birdwatching to find various birds like the Black Billed Barbet, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Foxy Cisticola, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Green-headed Sunbird, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, and Red-chested Cuckoo. Consider staying overnight at Masindi Hotel or New Court View Hotel for more birding opportunities, including the Shining Blue Kingfisher.
Day 6: Bird the Royal Mile
Bird the Royal Mile for Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Nahan’s Francolin, Chocolate-backed and Dwarf Kingfishers, Fraser’s and Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Western Black-headed Oriole, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, and more. After a picnic lunch, we transfer to the Busingiro sector to look for the Ituri Batis, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Tit Hylia, and Jameson’s Wattle Eye, then go to our hotel for dinner and conclude your day 6 of 7-Day Classic Uganda Birding Safari.
Day 7: Return to Kampala, birding en route
Wake up at leisure, have breakfast, and after transfer to Kampala birding en route. Today, expect to enjoy sightings of several grassland birds. You will have Lunch en route and expect to reach Kampala in the late evening, depending on the time of your return flight back home.
