Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

   • Arrive at Entebbe International Airport and meet up with the team. Depending on time and body fitness level, the guide will transfer you to your hotel, and you can rest or visit the nearby Entebbe Botanical Gardens, an excellent birding spot to get started on arrival.

2. Day 2: Birding Mabamba Wetland - Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

   • Have an early breakfast, and go to nearby Mabamba Wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is one of the few remaining swamps in the country protected by the local communities – an extensive papyrus swamp with its labyrinth of channels and lagoons, classified as an Important Bird Area, and home to several pairs of Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident.
   • In the afternoon, head westwards to our first of many national parks, Mburo Lake. This park has varied habitats from open Acacia woodlands to a number of papyrus-lined lakes and swamps here. Will take the afternoon and the following day to cover several different habitats and is located in the Mabamba Swamp in the Busiro central region and it takes about 7 hours.

3. Day 3: Morning Birding including a Boat Cruise - Transfer to Bwindi Forest

   • Lake Mburo National Park contains multiple habitats, and our time will be divided between birding an extensive area of wetland and the lake, some forested areas, and open country with numerous mammals. No fewer than 300 different bird species have been recorded in the park, an indication of the high diversity present here. The more open acacia grassland, particularly along the Zebra Track, is worth exploring for species such as Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, and African Wattled Lapwing.
   • Later we head southwards, to Bwindi Impenetrable forest. Birding on the road at Bwindi Forest is usually productive. Look for Sharpes Starling, Cinnamon Chested Bee-eater, Mountain Buzzard, Mountain Oriole, Olive Woodpecker, Handsome Francolin, Mountain Masked Apalis, Chestnut Throated Apalis, Olive Pigeon, and Black Saw-wing. Located in Lake Mburo National Park, Nyabushozi Western Region in Uganda, the travel time will be about 6 hours.

4. Day 4: Birding in Mubwindi Swamp

   • Today we spend a whole day either walking down to the Mubwindi Swamp through the Mubwindi Trail or the Bamboo area and the community trail. The 4km trail to Mubwindi Swamp is the best place for some of the most difficult to find of all the Albertine Rift endemics, including Grauer's (African Green) Broadbill, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, and Archer's Robin-Chat. Mubwindi Swamp is also home to Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, and Ruwenzori Apalis, Located in Mubwindi Swamp viewpoint, the western region of Uganda.

5. Day 5: Gorilla Tracking

   • On this day, we set off early, with a packed lunch, to the park headquarters for a briefing prior to Gorilla Tracking. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The gorillas are gentle animals and it is an unforgettable experience to photograph them as they interact. It is a wonderful experience to stare into the eyes of these gentle giants and watch them in awe as they play and go about their daily activities. It is indeed a “once in a lifetime” experience that you must never miss located in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

6. Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park with evening Boat Cruise

   • Today, We shall start early after breakfast and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Our route to the park will be determined by road conditions, either passing through the Ishasha sector, well known for its climbing lions or alternatively driving through the beautiful sceneries of the Rukungiri district. The park, which is named after Queen Elizabeth, who visited it in 1954, is the second largest national park in Uganda and ranks highest with respect to overall diversity, with over 600 bird species listed. Travel time is about 4 hours, and located in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

7. Day 7: Morining Game Drive - Transfer to Kibale National Park

   • Today you will have a morning game drive and then in the afternoon. We transfer you to Kibale National Park with evening bird watching some of the species found in the Kibale Bigodi Swamp walk. Dinner and overnight at chimpanzee guest house Kibale contain one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of all tropical forests in Uganda. It hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee. It has 1450 chimpanzees, and these represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate.

8. Day 8: Kibale National Park

   • After breakfast, we will drive to Kibale forest, arriving in Fort Portal in the late afternoon. Kibale Forest National Park is the best safari destination for chimpanzee tracking in East Africa. It contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of all tropical forests in Uganda. It hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee. It has 1450 chimpanzees, and these represent Uganda’s largest population of this endangered primate. It is also home to the rare L’hoest monkey and East Africa’s largest population of the threatened red colobus monkey. Other primates that you may see include the black and white colobus, blue monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, red-tailed monkey, olive baboon, bush baby and pottos.

9. Day 9: Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk

   • After an early breakfast, we drive to the Kibale National Park visitor’s center for briefing and chimp tracking. The activity may last from a few hours to several hours. Kibale forest is home to 13 primates of Uganda. Birding in the afternoon along the main road may be productive. Depending on the weather predictions, birding in Bigodi Wetland is also productive with riverine forest birds. Kibale National Park is a good site for a number of birds that are hard to find elsewhere, including the Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Cabanis's Greenbul and Joyful Greenbul.

10. Day 10: Transfer to Semuliki National Park

    • Activities include Animal tracking, hiking, bird watching
    • On this day, we travel to Semuliki National Park. Go for chimpanzee tracking in the rainforest. This is done in the morning or in the evening due to the fact that these playful primates disappear in the middle of the day. Semuliki is a habitat of over 250 bird species that are melodious in the forest.
    • Later go for a game drive to view the parks' game and birds. Located in Semuliki National Park in Bundibugyo.

11. Day 11: Activities at Semuliki National Park

    • Activities include hiking, scenic drive, and photo safari.

12. Day 12: Explore the Park

    • After your delicious breakfast, set out and visit the Sempaya hot springs, which are the most attention-grabbing attractions in Semuliki. These springs have a geyser that shoots up from the 8-meter hole, and the water is at a high temperature. The most interesting part about the springs is that one can boil matooke and eggs in the springs and they can get ready for eating in a few minutes. In fact, this is the largest hot spring in Uganda.
    • Still, along the trail where the hot springs are located, you will be in line to see a number of birds, such as the Blue-breasted Kingfisher and various primates, such as the red-tailed monkeys and the grey-cheeked mangabey. Later, proceed to Mungilo waterfall, where you will have an opportunity to see a number of beautiful birds, and it will be a great time for a birder. There is also an opportunity to see/trek chimpanzees, but in this park, they can be trekked either in the morning or evening because, during the day, they tend to hide.

13. Day 13: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

    • Activities include hiking, scenic drive, photo safari
    • Today, depart early for Murchison Falls after park entry and watch the falls force their way through the narrow gorge to form a rainbow. It is located in Murchison Falls National Park, Amuru, the northern region of Uganda and its about 7 hours drive.

14. Day 14: Morning Game Drive and Boat Cruise along Victoria Nile

    • Activities include bird photography, boat cruise, scenic drive, and bird watching.
    • Enjoy a 3-hour boat ride to the foot of Murchison Falls. Enjoy the sightings of Hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and Hartebeests. Notable birds seen along the Nile include Love birds, African Fish Eagles, Pied Kingfishers, and the elusive Shoebill.
    • Continue later for another boat ride. It takes about 4 hours. It is also a rewarding trip with a variety of animals and birds to the Delta, where Victoria Nile meets Lake Albert. Located in Murchison Falls.

15. Day 15: Transfer to Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary

    • Activities include Animal tracking scenic
    • Travel to Kampala en-route the Rhino Sanctuary. Rhino tracking will be enjoyed in the afternoon. The resident rangers will guide you to the tracking activity. Get close to them, at a very safe distance. It is such a memorable experience to see them at close range. Tracking lasts between 1-2 hours. After tracking, proceed to Kampala city. Here, Zziwa Rhino is located in Buruli, central Uganda, and it will take about 7hrs drive.

16. Day 16: Transfer back to Kampala Entebbe

    • Activities include a scenic drive
    • End of tour and enjoy your transfer to Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your flight time, you can take a tour of Kampala attractions. And it will be a 2 hours drive to the airport.