15 Days Uganda Exclusive Birding Expedition

The 15 days Uganda Exclusive birding expedition is massively full of birding destinations. Those that are going to expose you the some of the beautiful species only endangered to those regions. Some of the places you will visit in the 15 days are Mabamba swamp, Murchison falls national park, Kibale forest national park, Semliki national park, Queen Elizabeth National park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, Mgahinga national park and Lake Mburo national park among others.

Itinerary overview

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport

You will meet and greet with your guide at Entebbe International airport who will then transfer you to the lodge where you are to spend the night. You will just check in and have some rest from the long journey as you prepare to start the fan 14 days of birding in Uganda.

Day 2: Full Day Birding at Mabamba Swamp

Have breakfast and head out for shoe bill watching at Mabamba swamp. Shoe bill is a well sought after water bird that is easily found in Mabamba wetland. The guide will drive you to Mabamba and bring you back in the evening. Birding in Mabamba is done on the local canoes and you get to spot several other bird species as you search for the shoebill.

Day 3: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Today you have an early breakfast and start the journey to Murchison falls national park. This is Uganda’s largest national park with over 70 mammal species including the lions. On the journey you will have a stopover at Ziwa Rhino sanctuary to trek the Rhinos and have a very close encounter with these huge land mammals. From here proceed to the park, arriving in the late afternoon for check in, dinner and overnight.

Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

After breakfast, you will head out for an early morning drive that is to expose you to numerous wildlife species. From lions, buffaloes, elephants, oribis, Uganda kobs, waterbucks, warthogs to duikers and many more, nothing you will fail to see. On the drive you will also be spotting several bird species since Murchison Falls is a home of a number of them.

The afternoon is for a boat cruise on the Victoria Nile, here you will see schools of hippos, crocodiles and some wild animals that come along for drinking water in the afternoon. The Nile also has several bird species for you to spot. In the evening, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

Today is a transfer day, have breakfast in the morning and start the journey to Kibale forest national park. This is the world’s primate capital because of the so many primates that reside here. It’s one of the important birding spots you can’t miss on any birding safari in Uganda. Lunch will be in Hoima city and proceed to the lodge in Kibale. Arrival is in the evening for check in, dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Morning Birding Session and Afternoon Chimpanzee Tracking

Have breakfast then go for an early morning birding session in the forest in search for the Pitta. On this search you will still spot several other bird species since Kibale is a home to more than 200 bird species. You will later come back to the lodge for lunch and then transfer to Kanyanchu starting point to go through briefing for the afternoon chimpanzee tracking process, the dos and don’ts while tracking the chimps. You will have a chance to see the chimpanzees carrying on their daily lives like feeding, copulating, hunting, breastfeeding, resting, patrolling and displaying.

Day 7^: Transfer to Semliki and Full Day Birding

This day is for a full day birding experience at Semliki National park. In the morning after breakfast, the drive guide drives you to Semliki. You will do birding along the Kurumia trail in the park and other trails. This s one spot that even homes species endangered to the Albertine region. You will visit the Sempaya Hot springs and then drive back to Kibale at the lodge to dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Bigodi Swamp Walk and Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have breakfast in the morning and then go for the Bigodi Swamp walk where you will be able to see a lot of bird life around the Bigodi swamp. You will have lunch and later transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. You will check-in to the hotel and relax to the beautiful views of Lake Munyanyange filled with Flamingos.

Day 9: Morning Game Drive and Afternoon Boat Cruise

After an early breakfast, head out for a morning game drive for sights of different wildlife species like buffaloes, oribis, waterbucks, warthogs, topi, hyenas, uganda kobs, elephants and so many others. Queen Elizabeth national park is a home to some bird species that you will spot along the drive.

Having had a palatable lunch, then go for a boat cruise on Kazinga channel that joins Lake Edward and Lake George. Over 40 bird species reside here and you will be able to spot some as you enjoy the beautiful scenery. In the evening you return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 10: Transfer to Ruhija Via Ishasha

You will have breakfast and then transfer to Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The journey goes through the Ishasha sector famously known for the tree climbing lions, as you drive through, you will spot some lions lying in the tree branches. You will have several stop overs at your convenience, for photos of bird species and other things you find interesting along the way. Arriving at the lodge is in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Day 11: Gorilla Tracking Community Walk

You will have an early morning breakfast, head to the park headquarters with your packed lunch for briefing, orientation and meeting the guides about the dos and don’ts while tracking the gorillas, you will then be partitioned into groups depending on which gorilla family given. Bwindi forest harbors the biggest number of mountain gorillas in the world. It’s almost everyone’s dream to see the great apes in their natural home. After finding the great apes and spending an hour with them, you will get back to the park headquarters for your certificates and continue back to the lodge for lunch and afternoon nature walk in the community.

Day 12: Transfer to Mgahinga National Park

Today is a transfer day, in the morning after breakfast, start the journey to Mgahinga national park. This is Uganda’s smallest national park but homing several bird species. Arrival is in the afternoon for lunch and some relaxation.

Day 13: Birding in Mgahinga National Park

You will have breakfast and then do birding the whole day in Mgahinga national park. You will spot several forest birds like the African Paradise Flycatcher, black kite, cape robin chat, pin tailed whydah, speckled mousebird and so many others.

Day 14: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo national park. It is the smallest savannah park with a lot of wildlife to behold. You will check in at the lodge, have lunch, rest and then go for an evening game drive that will furnish opportunities for sights of zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, waterbucks and several others.

Day 15: Morning Boat Cruise and Transfer to Entebbe for your Flight Back Home

You will have breakfast, do a morning boat cruise and then proceed to Entebbe with a stopover for lunch at the Equator for the water experience and some photos as well as some souvenir buying if you wish to.