Detailed 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Bird watching in Mabamba Wetland & relaxation at the hotel

After breakfast, pick up and transfer to Mabamba wetland, one of the endowed wetlands/swamps with birdlife around Lake Victoria. The main highlight of Mabamba wetland birding tour will be shoebill stork trekking.

Aside from shoebill encounter, plenty of other birds will be spotted and include squacco herons, goliath herons, fan-tailed widowbird, African jacanas, African purple swamp hen, African fish eagle, malachite kingfisher, blue breasted bee-eaters, white-faced whistling duck, long-toed plover, and more. Return to mainland using a boat and your driver guide will drop you off at the hotel for relaxation and overnight stay.

Accommodation

• Budget: Apoka Hotel
• Midrange: Sheraton Hotel/Cassia Lodge/Fairway Hotel
• Luxury: The Pearl of Africa Hotel/Serena Hotel Kampala

Day 2 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Murchison Falls for wildlife encounter

Depart Kampala city for Murchison Falls National Park for a complete big game safari tour. This means that you will drive through the Gulu route to the Northwest, with a stopover visit to be made at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for you to trek rhinos. Leave Ziwa and settle for lunch at the hotel in Masindi, then you will proceed to the park with a short stop visit at the top of the falls.

Accommodation

• Budget: Red Chili Camp/Camping
• Moderate: Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Baker’s Lodge

Day 3 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Wildlife tour –Game drive & boat cruise

Begin exploring Uganda’s biggest park on a morning game drive via the Northern game tracks. Set off by 6:00 am, expecting to spend at least 2-3 hours and possible sightings for the day will include the Rothschild giraffes, leopards, lions, Jackson hartebeest, oribis, buffaloes, elephants, warthogs, and others.

Drive back and enjoy a leisurely lunch meal, relax and you will again leave the lodge for a boat cruise. Start your launch cruise excursion at Paraa Jetty to the base of the falls, 2-3 hours inclusive of unmatched wildlife encounter, especially aquatic dwellers such as hippos, crocodiles and water birds.

Accommodation

• Budget: Red Chili Camp/Camping
• Moderate: Pakuba Safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge
• Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge or Baker’s Lodge

Day 4 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Kibale to see primates in the wild

Have a delicious cup of tea/coffee and after, you will officially check out of the lodge in Murchison Falls NP. Drive out of the park for Kibale, passing via Hoima-Fort Portal city route and lunch will be had en route. As you head to Fort Portal city, get a remarkable treat to breathtaking Albertine escarpment.

Accommodation

• Budget: Isunga Lodge
• Midrange: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Primate Lodge
• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali or Papaya Lodge

Day 5 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Visit chimpanzees in the wild & Bigodi swamp walk

Arise early morning and you will set off to Kanyanchu tourism center after breakfast. Get to know the guidelines to be observed while on chimpanzee trekking tour, and at 8:00 am, begin trekking through the rainforest of Kibale NP. The 2-4 hours’ chimp trek in Kibale guarantees you 1 hour of up close with a chimpanzee community in their natural habitat.

Other than chimpanzees, Kibale also holds other diverse species of primates including the grey-cheeked mangabeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys, pottos, vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. On a chimp trek, you will also spotting some bird species, reptiles, colorful butterflies and more.

Get back to the lodge for lunch, relaxation till afternoon when you will drive to Bigodi Wetland for a guided nature walk. At Bigodi, spend 2 hours that will enrich you with great sighting of primates, birds (especially the great blue turacos) and others.

Accommodation

• Budget: Isunga Lodge
• Midrange: Chimpanzee Guesthouse/Primate Lodge
• Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge/Ndali or Papaya Lodge

Day 6 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Pick up & drive to Queen Elizabeth Park

You will be leaving Kibale Forest NP after breakfast and check out of the lodge. The short drive from Kibale to Queen Elizabeth NP comes with scenic view of crater lakes, tea and banana farms. At Queen Elizabeth N/Park, have lunch and you may opt to have a relaxed afternoon or visit communities around.

Accommodation

• Budget: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel View Resort
• Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Elephant Plains/Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge

Day 7 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Game drive & boat cruise at Queen Elizabeth Park

A full day wildlife experience at Queen Elizabeth Park begins with a game drive via Kasenyi Plains. The Kasenyi plains game drive takes 2-3 hours and plenty of animals wildlife encountered including buffaloes, lions, leopards, antelopes, warthogs and birds. In the afternoon, explore aquatic life (hippos, crocodiles and water birds) while on a memorable launch cruise on Kazinga channel.

Accommodation

• Budget: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel View Resort
• Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge/Elephant Plains/Buffalo Safari Lodge
• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Katara Lodge

Day 8 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Ishasha for tree climbing lion watching & drive to Bwindi

Drive to Ishasha in the Southern Queen Elizabeth Park, a special region for you to see the tree climbing lions and other wildlife. Enjoy a bush lunch and later continue to Bwindi to relax at the gorilla tour lodge.

Accommodation

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Mahogany Springs/Engagi Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/The Retreat

Day 9 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Gorilla trekking through Bwindi Forest

Breakfast will be served early and later, transfer to Bwindi NP offices/trailheads to get briefed about your gorilla trek guidelines. Bwindi is a beautiful rainforest protected area with 20 habituated gorilla families. Today’s gorilla adventure involves visiting one group, with one hour expected for you to enjoy up close and personal with the great apes.

After taking pictures, observing gorillas’ daily behaviors, walk back to relax at the lodge. Later on meet the local guide for a guided community walk in the Batwa pygmies’ community.

Accommodation

• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Midrange: Mahogany Springs/Engagi Lodge
• Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/The Retreat

Day 10 of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Depart Bwindi for Kampala

Wake up and enjoy a leisurely breakfast, then check out of the lodge. Begin driving from Bwindi back to Kampala/Entebbe via Mbarara-Masaka with a stopover to be had at the Equator crossing.

End of 10 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari