18 Days Albertine Rift and Central Uganda Birding Tour

The luxury/ mid-range birding trip takes you to Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable, Queen Elizabeth, Rwenzori, Semliki, Kibale Forest national parks, Mabamba swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

Safari Highlights
All birding activities for the trip, Boat cruise, game drives, nature walks

Equipment to bring
Pair of Binoculars, Field Guides, Telescope, Camera, 300+ mm lens, Tripod/Monopod, Water proof protection for your equipment, spare batteries and a charger. Snap Uganda gives one set of complimentary photographic accessories that include a trip/monopod, gimbal, cotton carrier and beanbag for each trip.

Overview
The Albertine Rift or Africa’s Western Rift Valley is one of the most bio diverse regions on the African continent. With more than half of Africa’s birds, 40% of Africa’s mammals and about 20% of its amphibians and plants, it contains more vertebrate species than anywhere else on the continent. It also conserves more threatened and endemic species than any other region of Africa, and as a result is a Biodiversity Hotspot, a Global 200 Eco Region ( one of the eco regions identified by WWF as a priority area for conservation) and an Endemic Bird Area.

This 18 day birding tour explores key birding spots in the Albertine Rift. It starts from Lake Mburo which is Uganda’s smallest savanna parks and famous for the African Finfoot and traverses the Kigezi highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for the Specials in Ruhija and ends at Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

Safari Summary
Day 1 – Arrival and pick up
Day 2- Birding at Mabamba and transfer to Lake Mburo National park
Day 3- Whole day birding in Lake Mburo
Day 4- Lake Mburo and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable national park (Ruhija)
Day 5- Birding in Ruhija
Day 6- Ruhija and transfer to Buhoma
Day 7 – Whole day birding in Buhoma
Day 8- Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
Day 9 –Birding in Queen Elizabeth (Game drive and Boat cruise)
Day 10- Birding in Maramagambo forest (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Day 11- Transfer to Semliki national park
Day 12- Birding in Semliki national park
Day 13- Birding in Semliki (Ntandi and Sempaya)
Day 14- Transfer to Kibale national park
Day 15-Birding in Kibale
Day 16- Birding and community encounter in Bigodi wetland (Kibale forest)
Day 17- Transfer to Kampala
Day 18- Birding at Botanical gardens and departure.

Detailed Programme

Day 1 – Arrival and pick up
You arrive at Entebbe International Airport and a representative from Snap Uganda Tours will meet you and drive you to Sheraton Kampala Hotel (luxury) {1hr} or to Kaazi Beach Resort (mid-range). Please feel free to ask questions about Uganda along the way.

Meal Plan. D, B
Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Kampala Hotel- Luxury
Dinner and overnight at Kaazi Beach Resort – Mid-range

Day 2 – Birding at Mabamba and transfer to Lake Mburo National park
Wake Up in the morning at 6am have a quick cup of tea and pack breakfast and drive to Mabamba swamp. Mabamba Bay is a unique extensive marsh stretching along a narrow bay, fringed with papyrus towards the main body of Lake Victoria. It lies between Busi Island and Buwaya/Zziba village on the mainland. The marshland forms part of Buwaya Bay, south-west of Nakiwogo Bay both of which are located west of Entebbe International Airport.

The swamp is about 50 Km from Kampala on the northern edge of Lake Victoria. The swamp is one of Uganda’s 33 Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance. It hosts key protected bird species. Of the 200 species in the area, the Shoebill is the most popular attraction. Other birds are: the Blue Swallow, Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White- faced whistling Duck, Common Squacco Heron, Blue- breasted Bee-eater, Saddle billed Stork, Grey-headed Gulls and more.

After the session we shall drive to Lake Mburo National Park. Lake Mburo, is Uganda’s smallest savanna National Park. It is conveniently close to the highway that connects Kampala to the parks of western Uganda. The park is underlain by ancient Precambrian metamorphic rocks which date back more than 500 million years. . Mburo is home to over 350 bird species with 90% chances of seeing the African Finfoot.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Mihingo Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Rwakobo Rock- Mid-range

Day 3 – Whole day birding in Lake Mburo
Game drive
We shall wake up 6am have a quick cup of tea, pack breakfast and go for a game drive in search of birds. The network of game tracks in the east of the park passes a variety of landscape features; acacia woodland, wetlands, grassy hillsides, rock outcrops and seasonally flooded valley floors. Lake Mburo has about 350 bird species including White-winged Warbler, Shoebill Stork, Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Red-necked Spur, Common Quails, African grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Coqui Francolin, Long-tailed Cisticola, Southern red Bishop and so much more. The best birding spots in the park include the swampy valleys of Warukiri and Miriti, and the roadsides between Rwonyo camp and the jetty. There are viewing platforms at the salt lick, in Miriti valley, and in Rubanga Forest. From the morning game drive we come back for lunch, have a rest and go for a boat cruise in the evening.

Boat cruise
The park is well-to-do with a variety of animal and plant species which can only be seen clearly if you take a boat trip. The Hippopotamuses, crocodiles and birds like Pelicans, Herons, African fish Eagle, Black Crake, African Finfoot and Cormorants. Lake Mburo also has stunning sunsets if it’s not cloudy.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Mihingo Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Rwakobo Rock- Mid-range

Day 4 – Lake Mburo and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Ruhija)
We shall wake up 6am have breakfast and then have a short birding drive through the park as we transfer to Ruhija. Ruhija is a top and must visit site in Uganda with the outstanding birding in the spectacular environments. Here birds are very many and easy to spot. Starting early offers the finest opportunity of finding the remarkable Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-streaked Greenbuls, Handsome Francolin, White-tailed crested Flycatcher, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Rwenzori Batis, Western Green Tinkerbird, Red-faced woodland Warbler, as well as the Chestnut-throated Apalises among many others.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Bakiga Lodge- Mid-range

Day 5 – Birding in Ruhija (Mubwindi Swamp)
Wake up early in the morning at 6am have a quick cup of tea and packed breakfast and drive to Ruhija through the park. Ruhija is the best birding spot in Uganda and Africa. Located in the eastern part of the park the sector harbors species like Rwenzori Batis, Double Collared Sunbird, Black Flycatcher, White-tailed blue flycatcher, Brown-capped warbler, Black Billed weaver, Black Necked weaver, Red Headed Malimbe, Grey-headed Sparrow, Waller’s Starling, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Montane Oriole, Many Coloured Bush Shrike, Bocage’s Bush Shrike, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Pink Footed Puffback, Ludher’s Bush Shrike, Doherty`s Bush-shrike, Mountain Illadopsis, Rwenzori Nightjar.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Bakiga Lodge- Mid-range

Day 6 – Ruhija and transfer to Buhoma
Wake up early in the morning at 6am have a quick cup of tea and packed breakfast and drive to Buhoma as you bird through the park. The varied habitats of Uganda’s oldest forest mean it is the ideal habitat for a variety of birds, with 350 species recorded, including 23 endemics (90% of all Albertine Rift endemics) such as the Short-tailed Warbler and Blue-headed Sunbird as well as seven IUCN red data listed species. Easy to see are the African Emerald Cuckoo, Common Bulbul, African Blue and White-tailed Blue Flycatchers and Red-headed Bluebill. Birding takes place along the main trail, the Buhoma Waterfall Trail and along the bamboo zone.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Clouds Gorilla Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Silverback Lodge- Mid-range

Day 7 – Whole day birding in Buhoma
In the morning wakeup at 6am have breakfast and drive to the starting point of the trails and embark on the search for the forest species in Bwindi. As we bird in Buhoma, we look out for species like the Regal Sunbird, Dusky Tit, Brown-caped Weaver, Yellow-billed and Yellow-spotted Barbets, African Shrike Flycatchers, Black-and-white Shrike Flycatchers, Common Stonechat, Brown-throated and Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Apalises, to mention but a few of the forest species.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Clouds Gorilla Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Silverback Lodge- Mid-range

Day 8 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National park
Wake up early in the morning have a cup of tea and packed breakfast and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the south in Ishasha. The park is 62 kms from Buhoma and famous for it its largest number of birds (600 species) in an area of 1995 km2. Along the way we hope to add Black-headed Gonolek, Slender-billed Weaver, Little Weaver, Black-headed Weaver, Grey-headed Sparrow, Red-headed Lovebird, Spur-winged Lapwing, the Ring-necked, Red-eyed and African Mourning Doves, the Winding, Croaking and Zitting Cisticola among others.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Enganzi Game Lodge- Mid-range

Day 9 – Birding in Queen Elizabeth (Game drive and Boat cruise)
Wake up early in the morning at 6am have a quick cup of tea, pack breakfast and go on birding game drive up to lunch time. With over 600 bird species, the park has the biggest number of birds of any protected area in East Africa.

In the afternoon, go for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel.
Kazinga Channel is a haven for water birds that are easily seen during a boat cruise. Some of them are: Great and Long-tailed Cormorants, Common Squaco Heron, White-faced Whistling and Knob-billed Ducks, African Fish Eagle, Great-white and Pink-backed Pelicans, African open-billed Stork, Water Thick-knee, Malachite and Pied kingfishers, Swamp flycatchers and Yellow backed Weavers, Black Crake, African Jacana, Spur-winged and African Wattled Plovers.

Hundreds of African Skimmers may be seen roosting on sandbars near the entry to Lake Edward but are migrants from southern tropics and typically present only from December to May. Other birds to watch out for in the park are: Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Mourning Dove, Red-chested sunbird, Swamp Fly-catcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Slender-billed, Yellow-backed and Lesser Masked Weavers, Pin-tailed Whydah, Brimstone Canary, Gabon and Slender-tailed Nightjars.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Enganzi Game Lodge- Mid-range

Day 10 – Birding in Maramagambo forest (Queen Elizabeth National Park)
Wake up early in the morning at 6am have a quick cup of tea pack breakfast and go on birding expedition to Maramagambo Forest and have lunch at Jacana Safari Lodge. After lunch you continue the birding exercise and go back to the hotel in the evening. Maramagambo forest covers a part of queen Elizabeth National Park from the escarpment of Kichwamba and all through to Lake Edward At Maramagambo forest you will have a chance to watch a variety of forest birds. The list includes a number of uncommon bird species like; the Rwenzori Turaco, the White napped Pigeons, Pygmy Kingfisher, African skimmer, Martial Eagle, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Chapin’s Flycatcher, African Broadbill, Black – Bee eater, Papyrus Gonolek, White- tailed Lark, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Corncrake and African Finfoot among others.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Mweya Safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Enganzi Game Lodge- Mid-range

Day 11 – Transfer to Semliki national park
Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Semliki safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Ntoroko Game lodge- Mid-range

Day 12 – Birding in Semliki national park
In the morning we pack our breakfast and lunch and take on the Kirumia trail for our whole day birding experience. Semuliki National Park is known for its endemic bird species, unmatched butterfly life and hot springs. It has 441 recorded bird species, representing 40% of Uganda’s total bird species and 66% (216) of the country’s forest bird species. Birders who make it to Semuliki are always rewarded with some of Africa’s best forest birding experience. Sempaya and Ntandi areas provide excellent viewing of the birds. The area around Kirumia River is another top birding spot. The shoebill stork is regularly seen at close quarters on Lake Albert and forest walks are good for tracking water birds.

The bird checklist includes: Spot-breasted Ibis, Hartlaubs’s Duck, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Red-thighed Sparrow hawk, Long-tailed Hawk, Forest Francolin, Nkulengu Rail, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-chested Owlet, Bates’ Nightjar, Chocolate-backed, White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-crested, Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, Piping and Black-wattled Hornbills, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted, Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Red-sided Broadbill, White-throated Blue Swallow, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Sassi’s Olive, Xavier’s, Swamp, Simple and Eastern Bearded Greenbuls, Yellow-throated Nicator, Capuchin Babbler, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Forest and Grey Ground Thrushes, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet -Shrike, Red-eyed Puff-back, Black-winged Starling, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes, Pale-fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negro finches, Grant’s Bluebill.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Semliki safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Ntoroko Game lodge- Mid-range

Day 13 – Birding in Semliki
In the morning we pack our breakfast and lunch and take on the trail for our other whole day birding experience in Semliki. We do birding at Sempaya and Ntandi as we look out for species that we might have missed the previous day. This day will end with a drive back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Semliki safari Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Ntoroko Game lodge- Mid-range

Day 14 – Transfer to Kibale national park
Wake up early in the morning have breakfast and check out of the lodge as we embark on the journey to “the primate capital of the world”. Kibale National Park has one of the most stunning and varied tracts of tropical forest in Uganda interspersed with patches of grassland and swamp that dominates the northern and central parts of the park.

The Park is famous for Chimpanzee tracking. With 13 primates species, Kibale National Park in western Uganda, measuring 795sq km is known is the Primates Capital of the world. The park hosts about 1500 chimpanzees out of the 5000 recorded in the country and has 375 and 250 bird and butterfly species respectively in addition to 70 mammal species. And expect birds like the Native Kibale Thrush, Green Breasted Pitta among others.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Primate lodge- Mid-range

Day 15 – Birding in Kibale (optional chimpanzee tracking)
Wake up early, have breakfast and drive for one hour from Kyaninga to Kibale Forest National Park visitors’ center at Kanyanchu. If you stay at Primates Lodge, it’s just a stone throw away. The start your first day of the thrilling two day birding experience in Kibale Forest and Bigodi wetland. Bigodi is a wetland next to the park run by the community. It is rich in birds.

The birds in the forest include: Green-breasted Pitta and more forest species like the Brown Illadopsis, Brown Illadopsis, Brown-capped Weaver, Brown-chested Alethe, Black-headed Oriole, African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green-Pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African Wood Owl, African/Rwenzori/Abyssinian Hill-Babbler, Alpine Swift, Ashy Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Black Bee-eater, Black Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Black-and-white Manikin, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Black-billed Weaver, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, African Dusky Flycatcher, Black-headed Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, African Citril (Western Citril),Black-throated Apalis, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Blue-throated Roller, African Blue Flycatcher, Bocage’ Bush-shrike, Bronze Manikin among others.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Primate lodge- Mid-range

Day 16 – Birding and community encounter in Bigodi wetland (Kibale forest)
Wake up early, have breakfast and drive from the lodge to Bigodi wetland. Located just 6 kilometers from the Kanyanchu information center, Bigodi wetland sanctuary is a fascinating area sheltering over 200 bird species and various primates and mammals all which make a visit there surely interesting. The wetland is a community-based project managed by the Kibale Association for Rural and Environmental Development (KAFRED). The great Blue Turaco also known as a loyal lover is one of the unique birds with an intriguing story. The bird is believed to remain single for life after the loss of a loved one.

The other birds residing in the wetland include Purple breasted Sunbird, African Pitta, Abyssinian ground Thrush, Collared Apalis, Black capped Apalis, Crowned eagle, Green breasted Pitta, Kingfishers, Weavers, Cuckoos, Hornbills, Papyrus Gonolek, Flycatchers, Black Bee eater, Little Greenbul, Brown chested Alethe, Blue breasted Kingfisher, Yellow rumpled tinker bird, Dusky crimson wing, Black bishop, Western Nicator, Spotted barbet, Brown throated Wattle eye, White-spotted fluff tail, Weaver birds and Purple breasted Sunbird.

Meal Plan (B, L, D)
Dinner and Overnight stay at Kyaninga Lodge-Luxury
Dinner and Overnight stay at Primate lodge- Mid-range

Day 17 – Transfer to Kampala
Wake up in the morning, have breakfast and embark on the road from Kibale through the tea plantations as you bird on the way for about 6 hour to Kampala. On reaching Kampala, have a relaxed evening and tick your checklists.
Meal Plan. D, B
Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Kampala Hotel- Luxury
Dinner and overnight at Kaazi Beach Resort – Mid-range

Day 18 – Birding at Botanical gardens and departure.
Wake up early in the morning, have breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive to Entebbe Botanical gardens for birding. This is the only National Botanical Garden in Uganda. It was established in 1901 and is strategically located on the shores of Africa’s greatest Lake – Victoria. The place is just 34 km’s from Kampala.

The gardens host a variety of water, open country and woodland bird species among which include: the Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Yellow-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, African Open-bill, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black Crake, Long-tailed Cormorant, Crowned Hornbill, Vieillot’ Black Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, the Africa and Red-billed Firefinch, Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill, Senegal Coucal, Little Stint, Little Weaver, Striated Heron, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Klaas’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Green Crombec, Tambourine Dove, Little and Tooro Olive Greenbuls, Water Thick-knee, Madagascar Bee-eater, Egyptian Goose, Black-headed Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Long-tailed Sterling, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Spur-winged Lapwing, Orange weaver and a variety of primates.

Depending on your flight time, this will mark the end of the 18 days birding tour in Uganda. From the Botanical Gardens we drive you to the airport to catch your flight.
Meal Plan (B, L)

Tour Prices
This is a private Safari and can be booked by an individual or a group.

Cost Includes