12 Days Uganda Birding theGreen Breasted Pitta, sought after shoebill, Chimps, Gorilla, Boat cruise
Green Breasted Pitta: The trip schedule is fixed running from last week of July to first week of August. This is the time when the Pittas are actively Nest building and displaying therefore birders have higher chances of finding them.
Day 1 Arrival at Entebbe: Birders fly into Entebbe early morning where they are met by the company guides, Greet and transfer to the hotel for check in and refreshments and later an introductory birding in the botanical gardens and along the shores of Lake Victoria O/N Imperial hotel/Airport View/ African Roots B/B.
Day 2 Mabamba bay (Shoebill) To Kibale forest : Early breakfast and with a parked lunch drive to Mabamba Swamp Wetland, located on the fringes of Lake Victoria and nearest site for the Shoebill, take up a paddled canoe to bird around the swamp in search for the elegant shoebill stork and other species like Lesser Jacana, Blue Swallow, Black-Shouldered kite, Blue Breasted Bee-Eater, Papyrus Gonolek, White Winged warbler, Carruther’s Cisticola ,Papyrus Gonolek, Spotting Swamp Flycatcher, ducks, plovers, gulls, egrets, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers. Paddle out the swamp and have your picnic lunch and there after drive west to Kibale forest. O/N Primate Lodge/ Chimpanzee guest house F/B
Day 3 Kibale forest –Green breasted Pitta: We have two full days birding Kibale forest which is the hot spot for the Green Breasted pitta and a home to 325 plus bird species. We will make an early start to Kanyachu tourist center where you meet your site bird guide who will lead you to nesting areas in the forest where you search for the Pitta O/N Primate lodge /Chimpanzee Guest house F/B.
Day 4 Green breasted Pitta – Kibale Forest Park: After breakfast drive to Kibale forest for a second chance to look for the Green breasted pitta and if time and energy permits visit Bigodi sanctuary in the afternoon O/N Primate lodge/Chimpanzee guest house F/B.
Day 5 Chimpanzee tracking – to Queen Elizabeth Park: After two days of forest birding, you will have chance to see other diversities of the rain forest. Today morning you will track the chimpanzees which are the most tourist attraction the forest is a home 13 primate species with the highest concentration of Red colubus monkeys in Africa. Return for lunch and transfer to Queen Elizabath Park reaching in time for an evening boat cruise on Kazinga channel where you will see varieties of birds and wildlife. O/N Mweya lodge/Simba Camp F/B
Day 6 Queen Elizabeth –Ishasha sector: After breakfast with your picnic lunch leave hotel and proceed to Ishasha sector birding en route.The sector is famous for a number of raptors, beautiful topis & tree climbing lion. O/N Savanna Resort F/B
Day 7 Bird to Bwindi Impenetrable park : Today we drive to Bwindi- Ruhija area birding, the Neck en route looking for Black bee-eaters, wood peckers Greenbuls, Cassin’ grey flycatcher arriving Ruhija in the afternoon to bird the surroundings O/N Gorilla resort/Bakiga resort F/B
Day 8 Mubwindi Trail – Africa Green broadbill: At least one day will be spent exploring the highland forest at Ruhiza,some 800 m higher than Buhoma, on a clear day one can see all the way to the Virungas. It has a dramatically different nature and avifauna; it is also the site with most of the Albertine endemics.
The star attractions here are Collared Apalis, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Shelly’s Crimsonwing, Dusky Crimsonwing, and Archer’s Robin-chat, Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Dwarf Honeyguide and many others. The trail to Mubwindi Swamp promises to reveal some of the most difficult of all rift-endemics including the mythical African Green Broadbill. Mubwindi Swamp holds Graur’s Rush Warbler and Carruther’s Cisticola. Please note this trail is strenuous and requires one to be fit but taken slowly its quite manageable. O/N Gorilla Resort/Bakiga Lodge.
Day 9 Birding Ruhija –Africa Green broadbill: Today we take another trail to search for more Albertine endemics O/N Gorilla resort/Bakiga Lodge
Day 10 Gorilla Trekking Optional: Gorilla trekking is optional otherwise bird the bamboo zone on your way out to Lake Mburo Park O/N Mihingo lodge/Eagle Nest F/B
Day 11 Nature walk &Boat Cruise on Lake Mburo : This morning we start with birding around Lake Mburo swamps and camp surroundings looking for papyrus gonelek, Rofous bellied heron ,Long tailed cisticola ,Red faced barbet, Yellow breasted apalis. Later take up a boat cruise to search for African fin foot, White backed heron and other birds. Transfer to Kampala and check in at Humura/Cassia lodge F/B
Day 12 End of safari
Transfer to Entebbe airport for your home flight.
Cost Includes :– Accommodation and meals,- Vehicle and fuel costs (Full Time 4×4 Tourist vehicle with pop-up for birding in the Savanna).- Professional English-speaking Bird Guide,- 1 Mountain Gorilla Tracking Permit ,Chimpanzee Tracking Permit ,Nature walk, Game Rangers,- Nature Walk Fees,- Park entrance fees, all birding spots Entrance Fees,- Boat trips,- Launch Cruises,- Canoes,- Game drive,- Site Guides Fees,- water throughout
Cost Excludes: – Laundry fees, – Drinks in Bars, Tips, – Entry visas,- Airport taxes,- Telephone calls
– Airfares to and from Uganda.
