7 Days Uganda Birding Tour

Our 7 Days Uganda Birding Tour takes you through what we to The Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Uganda, depending on your time of arrival on your first-day sample birding can be rewarding at Uganda Wildlife Education Centre (UWEC) before you set yourselves for the next Birding in the heritage trails. This trip enables you to track the shoebill rare bird from the Mamba swamp. Visiting the Mabira forest will give you the opportunity to identify various bird species. You will never miss a boat cruise on the Nile to discover the source of the Nile.  At the climax of this birding tour, you will have to visit Lake Mburo National park strictly for birding including White-winged Warbler, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, and Weyns Weaver.

 Day 1: Arrival Entebbe

After a warm welcome by our safari guide/ representative on arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will transfer to the hotel overnight Depending on the time of arrival you might spend the afternoon at UWEC, home to captive animals and over 170 species of birds. This includes 7 species of weavers, such as the rare Northern Masked Weaver and Orange Weaver.

Meal Plan: Dinner

Accommodation: Protea Hotel/ Boma Hotel

Day 2: Birding Heritage Trail

After an early breakfast, you will transfer to the Heritage Trails, situated about 10 km from Entebbe. While here, you will have a chance to enjoy 4 hours of birding on the best trails around Kampala, with over 170 species of birds! Look out for the Brown Twin Spots, Moustached Warbler, Fain-tailed Widow bird, White-headed Barbets, Blue Monarch, Striped Kingfisher, Black Bishop, Black-headed Gonolek, Klass’, Diederik’s Cuckoo, and many more.

 Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Protea hotel/ Boma Hotel

Day 3: Birding Mabamba Swamp

Early transfer to Mabamba Swamp, 50 km west of Kampala. Look out for many different birds on our way to the swamp, like the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, and Weyns Weaver. Mabamba Swamp is one of the best places to spot the rare Shoebill Stork. But also many other species can be found here, like Allen’s Gallinule, Purple Gallinule (swamp hen), Grey herons, African Water Rail, Squacco, Goliath, Purple, and a variety of egrets and ducks. The best way to enjoy the rich birdlife is by canoe and you might even have the luck to encounter the elusive Sitatunga Antelope, adapted to swampy habitats. Later in the afternoon continue to Kampala to your hotel.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Serena Hotel/ Acacia Lodge

Day 4: Birding Mabira Forest & Source of the Nile

After breakfast, you will transfer towards Jinja, the famous origin of the mighty river Nile. About an hour’s drive from Kampala we will stop at Mabira Forest for a walk through the tropical rainforest. Species such as the Toro Greenbul, Yellow whiskered Greenbul, Leaf love, Forest Robin, Buf spotted Woodpecker, Grey spotted Woodpecker, White spotted Fluff tail, Red headed Blue Bill, Yellow spotted Barbet, Grey throated Barbet, Yellow rumped Tinker bird, Yellow throated Tinker bird, Blue breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy, Shining Blue, Woodland Kingfishers, Red tailed Ant Thrush, Chin spot Batis, Banded Wattle Eye, Chestnut Wattle Eye, Brown capped, Yellow mantled, Black Billed, Weyn’s Weavers, Red headed Malimbe, Purple headed Starling, Violet backed Starling and many more fascinating species that are living in this forest. We continue to Jinja for lunch and a visit to the Source of the Nile. Here we will take a boat trip to the genuine origin of the famous river. Besides the many water birds like the African Fish Eagle, Open billed Stork, Long-tailed Cormorant, Grey Heron, White Egret, and Pied Kingfisher, you might see monitor lizards hiding in the bushes. In the afternoon return to Kampala for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Serena Hotel/ Acacia Lodge

Day 5: Kampala – Lake Mburo National Park

After an approximate 4-5 hour drive, you will reach Lake Mburo National Park, popular with birders and the only park in Uganda where you can find the zebra. You will have a game drive en-route and have a chance to see some wildlife like impalas, Topis, zebras, and buffaloes. Look also for birds such as the Crested Francolin, Emerald spotted Wood Dove, Bare-faced Go-Away bird, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Spot-Flanked Barbet, Lilac-breasted Roller, Northern Black Tit, Trilling Cisticola, Greater Blue Eared Starling, African Grey Hornbill, and Brown Parrot. Afternoon boat ride inside L. Mburo for birding. Species that may be seen are the localized Red-Faced Barbet, Black Collared Barbet, Red Headed lovebird, Lead colored Flycatcher and Green capped Eremomela.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge/ Acadia Lodge.

Day 6: Birding Lake Mburo National Park

Early start of the day goes for a nature walk guided by a park ranger. Lake Mburo is the only National Park where you can experience a safari on foot. You will encounter several species of wetland and savannah birds, impalas, and other wildlife. Return to your lodge after an approximate 2-3 hours walk and have breakfast. After breakfast, you will go for a morning boat ride on the lake and enjoy the rich birdlife and the hippos that are cooling off. Late in the afternoon, a game drive along the Zebra Track may reveal bird species such as Coqui Francolin, Black Bellied Bustard, Temmricks Courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous napped and Flappet Lark, Rufous Chested Swallow, etc. Also, look out for the elusive leopard and other nocturnal species.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge/ Acadia Lodge.

Day 7: Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe

You will have an early morning game drive along the Lakeside Track en-route. This will give you the chance to see some water birds like the lesser and Great Swamp Warbler, White Winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, and at times the elusive Shoebill. Transfer towards Kampala with lunch en route and a stop at the equator for photos and some shopping. Continue to Entebbe where you will be dropped at the airport for your flight home.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch

End of service

The safari package to include:
Transportation by a 4wd fueled vehicle,
Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary,
Birding respectively,
game drive,
2-hour boat trip Mburo,
Park entry fees, Services on an English speaking driver/guide,

To exclude expenses like entry Visa fees, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal travel or health insurance tobacco and of all personal nature.