16-Day Uganda Birding and Primate Safari with Gorilla Trekking

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Day 01

Arrival in Uganda and Entebbe Birding

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

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Day 02

Birding Mabamba Wetland and Transfer to Lake Mburo

• Have an early breakfast, then head to the nearby Mabamba Wetlands on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is one of the few remaining swamps in the country protected by local communities - an extensive papyrus swamp with a 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, Lake Mburo. This park has varied habitats, from open Acacia woodlands to a number of papyrus-lined lakes and swamps. We will take the afternoon and the following day to cover several different habitats. It is located in the Busiro central region, and the journey takes about 7 hours.

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Day 03

Lake Mburo Birding and Boat Cruise 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 to 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 from Lake Mburo National Park in the Nyabushozi Western Region of Uganda, the travel time will be about 6 hours.

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Day 04

Full-Day Birding in Mubwindi Swamp

• Today, we spend a whole day either walking down to Mubwindi Swamp through the Mubwindi Trail or exploring the Bamboo area and the community trail. The 4 km trail to Mubwindi Swamp is the best place for some of the most difficult-to-find 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. It is located at Mubwindi Swamp Viewpoint in the western region of Uganda.

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Day 05

Gorilla Tracking in Bwindi

• 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 unforgettable 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.

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Day 06

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

• 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 scenery 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 it is located in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

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Day 07

Morning Game Drive and 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 and some of the species found on the Kibale Bigodi Swamp walk. Dinner and overnight will be at Chimpanzee Guest House. Kibale contains one of the loveliest and most varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda. It hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee. It has 1,450 chimpanzees, representing Uganda's largest population of this endangered primate.

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Day 08

Explore 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 tropical forest in Uganda. It hosts 13 species of primates, including the chimpanzee. It has 1,450 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.

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Day 09

Chimpanzee Tracking and Bigodi Swamp Walk

• After an early breakfast, we drive to the Kibale National Park visitor's center for a 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.

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Day 10

Transfer to Semuliki National Park

• Activities include animal tracking, hiking, and 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 park's game and birds. Located in Semuliki National Park in Bundibugyo.

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Day 11

Activities in Semuliki National Park

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

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Day 12

Sempaya Hot Springs and Mungilo Waterfall

• After your delicious breakfast, set out to visit the Sempaya Hot Springs, which are the most attention-grabbing attractions in Semuliki. These springs have a geyser that shoots up from an 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 them, and they can be 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 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, making it a great time for a birder. There is also an opportunity to see or trek chimpanzees, but in this park they can be trekked either in the morning or evening because during the day they tend to hide.

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Day 13

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

• Activities include hiking, a scenic drive, and a 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, in the northern region of Uganda, and it is about a 7-hour drive.

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Day 14

Game Drive and Boat Cruise on the Victoria Nile

• Activities include bird photography, a boat cruise, a scenic drive, and bird watching.
• Enjoy a 3-hour boat ride to the foot of Murchison Falls. Enjoy 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 the Victoria Nile meets Lake Albert. Located in Murchison Falls.

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Day 15

Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

• Activities include animal tracking and scenic travel.
• Travel to Kampala en route to the Rhino Sanctuary. Rhino tracking will be enjoyed in the afternoon. The resident rangers will guide you during 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 and 2 hours. After tracking, proceed to Kampala city. Ziwa Rhino is located in Buruli, central Uganda, and it will take about 7 hours' drive.

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Day 16

Transfer to Entebbe and Departure

• 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. It will be a 2-hour drive to the airport.