13 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
13 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari : This 13 Days Bird watching and wildlife Uganda Safaris takes you to 4 of the best bird watching and savannah wildlife destinations in Uganda including;
Queen Elizabeth national park has recorder a number of about 550 species of birds making the park one of the charming destination for travellers on a Uganda safari tour. Kibale forest national park contains 375 bird species and these birds can be spotted in the park while on a chimpanzee trekking experience and in Bigodi swamp, this swamp is actually the best place to spot a variety of bird species and primates
Semiliki national park is a home to over 400 bird species recorded in this park thus making it one of the top birding destination in Africa earning a title of “True birders Haven” Semliki Forest represents the only example of Congo-Basin vegetation in Uganda given that a large number of Guinea-Congo biome species reach their Eastern limits in Semuliki, which makes it one of the richest for forest birds in the country.
Kibale forest national park contains 375 bird species and these birds can be spotted in the park while on a chimpanzee trekking experience and in Bigodi swamp, this swamp is actually the best place to spot a variety of bird species and primates.
Murchison falls National Park is the largest national park with a variety of wildlife life with the most powerful waterfall in Africa along the River Nile. Murchison falls national park are located in the Southern of Uganda and they offer the best experience of the big five game. Relax and explore Uganda’s rich wildlife adventure. Activities to be done include; Chimpanzee trekking, Game viewing, boat cruise and nature walks on the Kazinga channel, nature walks and birding.
Safari highlights
Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop-off
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp visit/Makanaga bay and Entebbe Zoo tour (Optional – cultural tour)
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – evening game drive
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
Day 5: Primate Walk and evening game drive in Kasenyi area
Day 6: Transfer to Toro Semiliki wildlife reserve – Night game drive
Day 7: Visit the Sempaya hot springs and Mungoli waterfall – Game drive
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale national park – Bigodi swamp walk.
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking /Habituation
Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Visit the Murchison falls
Day 11: Game drive and boat cruise on the Nile
Day 12: Game drive and transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary – Night safari
Day 13: Shoebill Stock at Lugogo swamp – Transfer to Entebbe- Departure
Detailed Safari
Day 1: Arrival and hotel drop-off
Following your arrival at Entebbe airport, our company representative together with the guide will be waiting to welcome you and transfer you to Kampala city where you will spend a night. Dinner and overnight stay at Best Western Garden Hotel for mid-range/Via Via Guesthouse for budget/Protea Hotel Entebbe for luxury
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp visit/Makanaga bay and Entebbe Zoo tour (Optional – cultural tour)
Wake up very early and connect to the Mabamba swamp on Lake Victoria. Upon arrival in Mabamba Swamp, you get to the canoe and head to the swamp in the company of a local person worth expertise in paddling through the narrow water channels surrounded by dense swamp vegetation. Birding in Uganda`s Mabamba and Makanaga bay on Lake Victoria swamp features counts of birds including the rare and the Vulnerable Shoebill stork, the Allen’s and Purple Gallinule, Grey herons, Jacanas, Ruffaus Squacco, the globally threatened Pallid Harrier and Bellied Heron. Other species like blue swallow, ducks, and egrets among other birds can be explored. The swamp-dwelling Sitatunga antelope may be explored during the swamp tour.
After your birding experience, meet your driver guide and connect for your lunch at the lodge then go and visit Entebbe Wildlife Education Centre. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 3: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park – evening game drive
After breakfast at your lodge, check out and meet your safari driver who will then transfer to Queen Elizabeth national park. The park is located in the western part of the country, it’s a 6 to 7 hours’ drive with en-routes. Via Masaka road, you will have a stopover at the Equator where you will be able to take photographs and visit the craft shop, proceed with lunch en-route.
On arrival to the park, connect for an evening game drive for chances of finding animals like the lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes to mention a few. Before night fall, connect to your lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at Pumba Safari Cottage for budget/Parkview Safari lodge for mid-range/Elephant Plains lodge for luxury
Day 4: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise along the Kazinga channel
You will wake up early, have breakfast, and transfer for your lion tracking experience, this activity is only done in Queen Elizabeth national park, where visitors are guaranteed of viewing lions. Also enjoy an en-route game drive with the expectation of seeing more animals including antelopes, warthogs, and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few.
In the afternoon after lunch, you will go for a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel where you will get an opportunity to see a number of bird species, elephants and buffaloes, hippos, and crocodiles at the lake shores. Return and relax at lodge as above
Day 5: Primate Walk and evening game drive in Kasenyi area
After breakfast early in the morning, you will drive the Maramagambo forest walk, python, and bat cave. Also, visit Blue Lake. Return to the lodge for lunch at the lodge.
After lunch, spend the early afternoon relaxing before you connect for an evening game drive, while on this game drive, expect to see the big four-game including lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, different species of antelopes, warthogs and white Colobus monkeys just to mention a few. Thereafter drive back to your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay at lodge as above
Day 6: Transfer to Toro Semiliki wildlife reserve – Night game drive
After breakfast, set off from your lodge and connect to Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve, arriving at a good time for lunch at your lodge. This is a 4-5 hours’ drive from Queen Elizabeth national park via Fort portal and the rolling hills and mountain rangers of Mount Rwenzori. The drive is exciting with great views of the countryside including the hills and tea plantations in western Uganda.
After lunch, spend your afternoon at leisure as you wait for dinner and drive for a night game drive in search for the nocturnal animals like the bush babies and other animals like the lions, leopards and hyenas. Return to sleep at the lodge with great memories of the found nocturnal animals. Overnight stay at Semuliki Safari Lodge
Day 7: Visit the Sempaya hot springs and Mungoli waterfall – Game drive
After breakfast, connect to Semiliki national park to visit the Sempaya Hot springs. These hot springs are the largest in Uganda, divided into female and male however they both have a geyser that shoots up from 8 meters holes with a high temperature of up to 100 degrees Celsius. The strength and hotness of the springs are amazing as one can boil eggs and in few minutes, it is ready to eat. The community around the park also visit the springs to perform rituals basin on their beliefs.
Also, visit the Mungilo waterfalls. Return to the lodge for lunch and spend your afternoon on a game drive in the wildlife reserve. Dinner and overnight stay at Semuliki Safari Lodge as above
Day 8: Transfer to Kibale national park – Bigodi swamp walk.
After breakfast, en-route game drive for any missed animals before you connect to Kibale national park. It’s a 2-3 hours’ drive with en-route crater lakes visits and upon arrival, check-in at your booked lodge. Enjoy your lunch then drive to the park for the bigodi swamp walk. Bigodi swamp is one of the recognized swamps in Uganda hosting about 138 bird species and one can be able to see over 50 birds a day. Several primates can also be spotted in the wetland including the black and white Colobus monkeys, Blue Grey Cheeked, Vervet monkeys, Red Colobus monkeys to mention a few. Thereafter, return to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight at Crater Safari Lodge for luxury/ Chimpanzee Guesthouse for mid-range/ Isunga Lodge/Rweteera Guesthouse for budget option
Day 9: Chimpanzee trekking /Habituation
Option 1: Chimpanzee trekking – After your breakfast, connect to the park headquarters with your trekking gears and water. Meet with other trekkers and gather for a briefing from the park officials where you will be guided on the expectations of Chimpanzee trekking. Thereafter, in only a group of 12 people and ranger guides/researchers, set off for Chimpanzee trekking. The search may take 2-5 hours depending on their location. The chimpanzees in Kibale are quite easier to find and you will be allowed to spend 1 hour with them on finding them. Return to the lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight stay at lodge as above
Option 2: Chimpanzee habituation – Have breakfast very early and later transfer to the park head office for a briefing about the endangered chimpanzees and later enter the forest with the guidance of a park ranger along with your tracking gears, packed water and snacks. This trekking is a whole day experience. On finding the primates, you will spend 4 hour viewing them while studying their behaviour and taking pictures. After tracking, return to the lodge for relaxation. Dinner and overnight at lodge as above
Day 10: Transfer to Murchison falls national park – Visit the Murchison falls
Very early after breakfast, depart your lodge and connect to Murchison falls National Park. This is a 6-7 hours’ drive with en-route lunch. Enter the park through Kichwabanyobo gate and connect to visit the Murchison falls before you continue to your lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay Pakuba safari lodge for mid-range/Heritage Safari lodge for budget/Bakers Safari lodge for luxury
Day 11: Game drive and boat cruise on the Nile
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive on the Northern Bank of River Nile. The activity takes about 3-5 hours and be able to view variety of wildlife including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda kobs, Oribis and waterbucks. After the drive, you will return to the lodge for lunch.
In the afternoon go for a launch cruise on the along the Nile which will give you an exciting panoramic view at the bottom of the mighty Murchison falls. Along the cruise, you will encounter crocodiles, hippos, and birds on the river banks like kingfisher, cormorants and bee-eater. After viewing the falls at the bottom, meet your driver who will transfer you back to your lodge. Dinner and overnight stay at as above.
Day 12: Game drive and transfer to Ziwa rhino sanctuary – Night safari
After an early breakfast at the lodge, you will go for a morning game drive. The activity takes about 2-3 hours depending on animals available, and you will find animals including elephants, Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, lions, Hartebeest, Uganda Kobs, Oribis and waterbucks.
After the game drive, embark on your journey to Ziwa rhino sanctuary. Arrive at good time for lunch and there after connect for rhino tracking. Meet your ranger guides for briefing then drive to the starting point where you will start your trekking in search of the rhinos. You will be able to spot different rhinos, coming up close to them. Spend time in their presence then return to your lodge. Later in the night connect for a night safari in the sanctuary. Dinner and overnight stay at Amuka Safari lodge for luxury-Mid-range/Ziwa Guesthouse for budget option
Day 13: Shoebill Stock at Lugogo swamp – Transfer to Entebbe- Departure
Wake up early and connect to Lugogo swamp for the search of the shoebill stock in Ziwa sanctuary which starts as early at 6 am, the experience is provided through the canoe ride. Some of the other bird species can be spotted include the African King eagle and the Giant kingfisher and many others. Return to the lodge for late breakfast and check-out.
Embark on the 4 hours’ drive back to Kampala where you will have en-route lunch then connect o Entebbe where you will be dropped off at your advised Hotel or be dropped off at Entebbe airport for your onwards flight back home. End 13 Days Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari
