(Bird watching tours and safaris in Uganda, Ornithological tours and safaris in Uganda).

Uganda is the most preferred country in East Africa and as such Niche Africa holidays have special interest in Birding within Uganda. Uganda is a country whereby over 30% of its land is swampy. Due to this national resource; birds are all over in Uganda. Uganda has the most preferred bird species for bird watchers and researchers in birdlife who flock this country yearly. As mentioned earlier birding in Uganda leads in East Africa for bird watchers. The availability of Mabira forest and the many lakes in Uganda which are harbouring different species of birds, Uganda stands pivotal in bird watching safaris within the East Africa Community.

Some of the preferred birding tours and safaris are as follows:-

• 16 days/15 nights: Uganda Birding Adventure
• 10 days/ 9 nights Uganda Special Birding Tour
• 7 days/ 6 nights: Birding Safari Kampala and Murchison Falls

Day 1: Arrival
On the arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will meet our tour representative who will take you for dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria Windsor Hotel or Botanical Beach Hotel in Entebbe.
Dinner and overnight at Lake Victoria Windsor Hotel or Botanical Beach Hotel

Day 2: Botanical Gardens and Mabamba Swamp
After breakfast, you will spend the day birding around the botanical gardens. Return to Botanical Beach Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Botanical Gardens are hometo numerous species, some of them being the Slender-billed Weaver, Brown-throated Weaver¸ Golden-backed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Grey-headed Gull, Long-tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco Heron, Yellow-billed Duck, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Broad-billed Roller, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Splendid Glossy Starling, Black-headed Gonolek, Orange Weaver, Vereaux Eagle-owl, Red-chested Sunbird, Ross's Turaco, Pied Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Open-billed Stork, Great Reed Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler and many others. After lunch at the hotel proceed for Mabamba Swamp and board the canoe for the best tour of the swamp. You can find the Shoebill stork, Swamp Flycatcher, Purple Swamphen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy-goose, White-faced Whistling-duck, Squacco Heron, Goliath Heron, Black Crake and many more birds.

Day 3 -4: Budongo Forest
After breakfast drive to Budongo Forest one of the main birding sanctuaries in Uganda. After lunch in Masindi Hotel, go for afternoon and evening birding and look out for the White-crested Turaco, Ross's Turaco, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Bat Hawk, Black- shouldered Nightjar, White-crested Turaco, Crowned Eagle and African Wood-owl. Dinner and overnight at Nyabyeya Guest House in Budongo

Budongo Forest is famous for birding at the Royal Mile. You will look for the rare Nahan's Francolin, Banded Snake-eagle, African Pied Hornbill, Brown-backed Scrub-robin, Black Bishop, Brown Twinsport, Black-bellied Firefinch, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, White-thighed Hornbill, Yellow-billed Barbet, Spotted Greenbul, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Slender-billed Greenbul, Black-capped Apalis, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Green Hylia, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Forest Flycatcher, Fire-crested Alethe, Yellow Longbill, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Crowned Eagle, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, African Dwarf Kingfisher.

Day 5-6: Kibale National Park
Early morning departure for the chimpanzee tracking in Budongo Forest, before leaving to Kibale National Park. Have packed lunch; thereafter proceed with the journey to Kibale National Park. Dinner and overnight at Rujuna Hilltop Guest House

This is a rainforest which hosts over 9 species of primates, including chimpanzee, red Colobus, black and white Colobus, grey-cheeked Mangaby and red-tailed monkey. Among other birds you find here Scaly Francolin, Marsh Tchagra, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Green-backed Twinspot, Bicoloured Mannikin, White-naped Pigeon, Afep Pigeon, Narina Trogon, and Joyful Greenbul, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black Bee-eater and many others. A nature walk at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary ecotourism site is rewarding. This is home to Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Black-faced Rufous Warbler

Day 7-8: Semliki National Park
From Fort Portal drive to Semliki National Park, one of the top destinations for birding in Uganda. The forest along river Semliki is home to Spot-breasted Ibis, Northern Bearded Scrub-robin, Capuchin Babbler, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Yellow-throated Green Cuckoo, White-bellied Kingfisher, Maxwell's Black Weaver, Black-winged Oriole, Red-eyed Puffback, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbe, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Zenker's Honeyguide and African Piculet. Dinner and first overnight at Semliki Lodge, second night back to Fort Portal at Rujuna Hilltop Guest House or proceed to Kasese.

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast you depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Park records over 550 bird species. The one-day record in this Park is 296, which is one of the highest in the world. After lunch go for the boat cruise along Kazinga Channel, where the concentration of water birds and photographs is extraordinary. Dinner and overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 10: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After early cup of coffee, you start birding early morning in the open savannah for birds like the Temminck's Courser, Martial Eagle, Rupell's Griffon Vulture, and then return to the lodge for breakfast and lunch. In the afternoon proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park through Imaramagambo Forest and Ishasha sector. Dinner and overnight in Buhoma Homestead

Day 11: Bwindi Forest
In the early morning you can hear the songs of the Snowy-capped Robin-chat, Luehder's Bush-shrike and the Grey-capped Warbler while having breakfast. You will spend the whole day birding in Bwindi Forest.

Bwindi Forest is one of the most interesting ecosystems in Africa for the concentration of biodiversity. Over 350 bird species are recorded. These include Red-throated Alethe, Equatorial Akalat, Grey-throated Barbet, Black Bee-eater, Forest Robin, Montane Oriole, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Pettit's Cuckooshrike, Black-faced Rufous Warbler and many more. Dinner and overnight in Buhoma Homestead

Day 12-14: Southern Bwindi - Ruhija
Early morning gorilla tracking in the forest sanctuary starting from Buhoma. Depart to reach Ruhija in the south of the forest and spending two nights at the camping site.
In the second day after breakfast you go for birding in this prolific area. Birding to the Mubwindi Swamp is very productive. One has to be prepared to walk on steep mountain tracks. You drop from about 2400m to 2050m above sea level. Birding in the bamboo zone is good for the Handsome Francolin, Archer's Robin-chat, Stripe-breasted Tit, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Mountain Greenbul, Waller's Chestnut-winged Starling, Dusky Crimsonwing, Mountain Illadopsis and Mountain Yellow Warbler.
The third day, proceed for dinner and overnight in Mburo National Park, Mantana Tented Camp.

Day 15: Lake Mburo National Park
After breakfast, enjoying birding in the swampy area and Lake Mburo. You will hear the songs of Morning Dove, Diderick Cuckoo, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-headed Weaver and Ring-necked Dove. Among other you will go searching for Brown-chested Lapwing, Lilac-breasted Roller, Black-bellied Bustard, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Coqui Francolin, Rufous-napped Lark plus many raptors. In the evening transfer to Kampala for dinner and overnight.

Day 16: Entebbe Airport.
After breakfast you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport for your next destination.

Tour Cost: US $ 8000 per person

Tour Cost Includes:
• Airport transfer
• Accommodation in hotels or lodge/bandas, in double room, full board treatment, included soft drinks for the meals
• All the transfer in private means 4x4 ordinary Land Cruiser or minibus
• English speaking Birding Driver/Guide
• Entrance fees and taxes
Tour Cost Excludes:
• Air ticket
• Tourist insurance
• "gorilla permit"
• Entrance visas: 30 USD directly from Entebbe Int. Airport
• Extra drinks and tips
• Everything not directly mentioned in the programmed itinerary

Day One: Arrival- Uganda
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport then transfer to you’re Hotel, depending on time you can bird around Entebbe area overnight at Kampala Serena Hotel

Day Two: Mabamba Swamp- Kaaku Swamp
Morning drive to Mabamba swamp for the Shoebill Stork and other water birds after which drive to Lake Mburo Lunch and birding enroute e.g. at Kaaku swamp for the Rufous-bellied Heron, Lesser Jacana, Lesser Moorhen and a variety of water birds overnight Kampala Serena Hotel

Day Three: Bird Watching
Morning birding and mammal watching, bird the grassland for the Brown-chested Plover (this is there between June and December), Red-faced Barbet, here we shall have the chance to see the Zebra, Eland, Topis, Impalas and some other game, afternoon go for a boat ride in search for the African Finfoot overnight in Mbarara in Mbarara

Day Four: Kisoro Birding
Drive to Kisoro birding stop at Lake Kyahasi near Kisoro for the Southern Orchard, Red Knobbed Coot, Lesser Jacana, Common Moorhen and the Dark-capped Yellow Warbler e.t.c overnight Hotel

Day Five: Mt Sabinyo
Bird at Gorge trail and bamboo Zone on Mt. Sabinyo and look for Ruwenzori Turaco, Shelly’s Crimson wing and Kivu ground Thrush overnight Hotel.

Day Six: Bwindi National Park
Travel to Ruhizha, Bwindi national park birding the Bamboo for the Handsome Francolin White-starred Robin, Red-throated Alethe, Grauer’s Warbler, Dusky Crimson wing and many other birds overnight at Institute Guest House.

Day Seven: Mubwindi Swamp
Trek to Mubwindi swamp for the Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Purple-breasted, Blue headed and Regal Sunbirds evening drive to Buhoma overnight Hotel

Day Eight: Buhoma
Bird Buhoma for Handsome Francolin, Rufous-chested Fluff tail, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Red-chested Owlet, Neumann’s Warbler and many other birds overnight Hotel.

Day Nine: Queen Elizabeth National Park
This day in case one is interested in Gorilla tracking we can track the Gorillas in case not interested we can drive to Queen Elizabeth National park birding enroute, arriving for an afternoon boat ride on Kazinga channel for a variety of water birds, Schools of Hippos, Crocodiles overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge

Day Ten: Departure
Morning game drive for Savanna birds and animals like the Lions, Leopard, Elephants, Spotted Hyenas, Uganda Kobs after which drive back to the Hotel for breakfast and check out to return to the Airport for your flight (this game drive depends on your flight time), end of safari.

Tour Cost: US $ 5000 per person

Tour Cost Includes:
• Accommodation on full board basis,
• Park entrance fees, boat cruises,
• Vehicle hire with fuel and driver guide,
• Ranger guides fees
• Guided nature walks.

Tour Cost Excludes:
• Drinks
• Items of personal nature, e.g. laundry

Day 1: Entebbe
Start by birding at the Uganda Wildlife Education center (UWEC) a zoologist's center for captive wild animals that has lured over 170 species of wild birds 10 species of Weavers such as the rare Northern Masked Weaver, Golden Backed, Black Necked, Northern Brown Throated, Grosbeak, Baglafect and many others. 5 species of flycatchers Crested shrike flycatcher, Lead colored, Swamp flycatcher, African paradise Red bellied etc, raptors such as the Gabar Goshawk, small banded snake Eagle, Shikra, African Goshawk, African Fish Eagle, African Hobby etc and many more species including captive animals. Proceed to Botanical gardens for another birding experience. Have lunch relax in the evening visit the sewage lagoons. Return for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 2: Heritage trail
Wake up for breakfast and connect to the Heritage trail a 10 minutes drive from the Airport Expect the following species; Brown Crowned Tchargra, Black Cuckoo Shrike, Brown Twin spot, Mustached Warbler, Violet backed Starlings, Yellow bill, Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Great sparrow hawk, Short Toed Snake Eagle, Red Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, and many more. Continue to Lutembe Beach for lunch. Then take on a boat in search for the papyrus Canary, the thousands of Grey Headed Gulls, White Winged black Terns, Papyrus Gonolek, and continue birding to sunset.

Day 3: Mabamba swamps
Have an early breakfast and proceed to Mabamba swamps another Important Bird Area (IBA) with a population of about 5 Shoebills. Most of the birding here is done canoeing and other species to be seen may include; Goliath, Purple, long Toed Plover, African water Rail, Grey and Black Headed Herons, Squacco Heron, Pygmy Goose, Yellow Billed Duck, Black Crake, White Faced Whistling Duck, Swamp Moorhen, Allen's Gallinule, African Jacana etc Sitatunga Antelope (swamp Antelope) and many more. Connect to Kampala stop by another swamp which may reveal Yellow Crowned Bishop, Papyrus Gonolek, Weyns Weaver, White winged Warbler, and many more take your packed lunch and continue birding to the evening as you proceed for dinner in Kampala.

Day 4: Mabira forest
Arise for breakfast then connect to Mabira forest for an hours drive for forest birding in search or species such as, Yellow whiskered Greenbul, White spotted Fluff tail, Toro Greenbul, Forest Robin, Buff spotted Woodpecker, Grey spotted Woodpecker, Leaf love, Red headed Blue Bill, Yellow spotted Barbet, Grey throated Barbet, Yellow Rumped Tinker bird, Red headed Malimbe, Yellow Throated Tinker bird, Blue Breasted Kingfisher, African Pygmy, Shining blue, Woodland Kingfishers, Red tailed Ant Thrush Chestnut Wattle Eye,, Chin spot Batis, Banded Wattle Eye, Yellow mantled, Brown capped, Black Billed, Weyn's Weavers, Purple headed Starling, Violet backed Starling and many more charming species. Have a picnic lunch and continue birding to evening. Return to Kampala for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 5: Murchison National Park
Take breakfast then head for a three hour drive through the Luwero triangle to Murchison falls national park as you expect over 450 species. Take a stop over for a 'leg stretch' which may reveal Olive bellied Bronze and Copper Sun birds, Compact Weaver, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Saddle billed Stork and any others. Head for a stop over in Masindi for lunch. Continue through the park as we bird to the Top of the mighty falls were they drop 45 meters and forces its way through a 7 meter fissure. Rock Pranticoles, a mixed flock of swifts, Africa Pied Wagtail, reptiles such as Red headed Agama continue birding to your accommodation as you wait for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 6: Murchison National Park
Take breakfast and embark on a game drive in search for species such as Chestnut capped Weaver, Silver bird, , Common Drongo, Spotted morning Thrush Bruce's Green Pigeon, Namaqua Dove, White Fronted Black Chat, Black billed Dove, Vinaceous Dove, Carmine Bee-Eater, Red Throated, Swallow Tailed Bee-Eater, Isabelline and Northern Wheatears, Shoebills, Saddle bill, Grey crowned Cranes at the Delta and other game like Roth child's Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, , Elephant, Silver Backed Jackals, Jackson's Hartebeest, Lions, Orbit, Kobs, and many more. Return for lunch and relax as you move on for a boat cruise to the bottom of the falls encountering huge Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and game drinking water birds such as Lesser Jacana, White necked stork, Fulvous whistling Ducks, a variety of Herons, Egyptian Plover, Spur Winged Plover, Rock Pranticoles, Water Thick-Knee among others.

Day 7: Kanio Pabidi forest
Take an early morning breakfast and en route to Kampala take a brief stop over to bird along the turn to Sambiya River Lodge species such as Tawny Eagle, Martial Eagle, Grey Hornbill, Grey Kestrel, Grey Headed Kingfisher, Helmeted and Crested Guinea fowl, Senegal Coucal may be seen. Embark on a primate walk in the Kanio Pabidi forest a sector of the Budongo forest. Chimps, Black and White Colobus, Red tailed and blue monkeys and lots of Olive Baboons may be seen. Birds like White thighed Hornbills, Great blue and Ross's Turaccos, Black billed Turacco, African Green Pigeons, Afep Pigeons, Nahan's Francolin and Narina's Trogon, may also be seen. Proceed for lunch in Masindi and continue to Kampala for Dinner and Overnight.

Tour Cost: US $ 3500 per person

Tour Cost Includes:
• Accommodation on full board basis,
• Park entrance fees, boat cruises,
• Vehicle hire with fuel and driver guide,
• Ranger guides fees
• Guided nature walks.

Tour Cost Excludes:
• Drinks
• Items of personal nature, e.g. laundry