Detailed 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari

Day 1: Depart for Kibale National Park with bird watching in Bigodi

Meet and greet our company representative after having a delicious breakfast in a classic hotel in Kampala. Set off from Kampala through Mityana-Mubende to Fort Portal, driving for about 5 to 6 hours. At the comfort of your 4×4 tourist vehicle, keep an eye on the scenic surrounding areas in the western part of Uganda including tropical forest, vast tea farms, and banana plantations and at Fort Portal, have a warm welcome of spectacular Rwenzori Mountain range at the background and the cool weather.

From Fort Portal, drive along the Kamwenge road to Kibale Forest NP about 26km and you will have ample time at the lodge, enjoy lunch and some refreshments. In the afternoon, depart the lodge for a memorable birding and primate watching tour in Bigodi Wetland.

Bigodi Wetland has diversity of birds to be spotted during your afternoon nature walk. They include the Great blue turacos, black-crowned waxbill, black bishop, papyrus gonoleks, brown throated wattle eye, white breasted Negro finch, superb sunbird, and plenty of primates such as l’hoest monkeys, red colobus monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys, etc.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Ndali/Papaya Lake Lodge
• Midrange: Primate Lodge/Chimpundu Lodge
• Budget: Isunga Lodge/Kitojo Guest Cottages

Day 2 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Chimpanzee tracking & depart for Queen Elizabeth N/Park

Leave your accommodation for a briefing at Kanyanchu Visitor Center in Kibale Forest National Park. You will engage in the morning chimpanzee trek starting at 8:00 am and it will go for 2-4 hours inclusive of one hour of observing how chimpanzees behave and taking pictures.

More than 1500 chimpanzees live in Kibale and they share the same habitat with other special primates including l’hoest monkeys, baboons, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, mangabeys, and pottos. The park also holds over 375 bird species including the green breasted pittas, yellow-crested woodpeckers, brown illadopsis, red-tailed bristle bill, etc. After a close encounter with chimpanzees, trek back to the lodge where you will have lunch and later connect to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Enganzi Game Lodge
• Midrange: Elephant Hub Lodge/Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp
• Budget: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel View Resort

Day 3 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Full day wildlife expedition at Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a hot cup of tea/coffee, depart for the morning game drive through Kasenyi Plains -2 to 3 hours. Expected animal sightings along the park’s Northern sector include buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, antelope families, birds and more. Return from guided game drive and you will have refreshments, lunch meal break at the lodge.

You will exit the lodge to enjoy a launch cruise along Kazinga channel 2 hour. Your sightings on Kazinga channel will comprise largely of aquatic species including hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge/Enganzi Game Lodge
• Midrange: Elephant Hub Lodge/Bush Lodge/Kasenyi Safari Camp
• Budget: Simba Camp/Kazinga Channel View Resort

Day 4 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Tree Climbing lion watching at Ishasha & drive to Bwindi

After breakfast, depart for the Ishasha, a renowned location to see tree climbing lions and some interesting birds. The common birds at Ishasha include white-headed barbets, black coucal, Senegal plovers, grey woodpeckers and more. From Ishasha, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest located in Kabale District, Southwestern Uganda.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge
• Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Buhoma Community Haven Lodge
• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 5 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Full day birding tour Bwindi

Leave the lodge for a long day birding tour along Buhoma sector’s nature walking trails in Bwindi. The park holds diversity of birds including Doherty’s bush-shrike, grey crowned cranes, double-toothed barbets, broadbill, African flycatcher-chat, elliot’s woodpeckers, pink-footed puff back, African citril, archer’s robin-chat, blue turacos, black bee-eaters, and more.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge
• Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Buhoma Community Haven Lodge
• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 6 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Gorilla trekking tour in Bwindi Forest

Enjoy early morning breakfast and after, you will have a briefing about gorilla trekking guidelines at Buhoma region. This is the Northern gorilla trekking sector where 4 habituated gorilla families exist including Habinyanja, Katwe, Rushegura and Mubare. Today’s gorilla trekking tour involves you visiting one family in a group of 8 visitors with an experienced park guide leading you through.

Buhoma gorilla trek takes between 2 and 6 hours inclusive of one hour of up close and personal with endangered mountain gorillas. Observe how these endangered primates behave and take enough pictures then walk back to relax at the lodge. With an experienced guide, you will be visiting the Batwa pygmies’ community for a cultural experience, learn more about the Batwa who lived in the forest for centuries as hunters and gatherers.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Sanctuary Gorilla Forest Camp/Buhoma Lodge
• Midrange: Engagi Lodge/Buhoma Community Haven Lodge
• Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp

Day 7 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi for chilling & canoe ride

After a hot a cup of tea/coffee, meet your driver guide and he or she will transfer you to Lake Bunyonyi. This is Uganda’s deepest lake and it is spectacular featuring 29 islands, some of which will be visited on a canoe ride. A canoe ride to the Punishment Island or any island and you will have a chance to sight some amazing birds. In the evening/afternoon, have adequate time to relax at the lodge or go swimming –the lake is free of crocodiles, hippos and bilharzia.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Birdnest @Bunyonyi Resort
• Midrange: Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort/Bunyonyi Overland Resort
• Budget: Byoona Amagara Island Retreat/Bushara Island Camp

Day 8 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Lake Bunyonyi –Lake Mburo NP, late boat cruise

Early morning, you will drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo. Arrive at Lake Mburo NP early, settle for lunch and in the afternoon, you will embark on a boat cruise. Diverse aquatic species to be encountered include crocodiles, hippos, and bird species like kingfishers, fish eagles, and more.

Where to Stay?

• Luxury: Mihingo Lodge/Kigambira Lodge
• Midrange: Mburo Safari Lodge/Rwakobo Rock
• Budget: Hyena Hill Lodge/Rwonyo Rest Camp

Day 9 of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari: Game drive & depart for Kampala

Delicious breakfast served to you early in the morning, after, set off for a game drive 2-3 hours. Expect to encounter wildlife such as zebras, giraffes, lions, leopards, buffaloes, elands, Kobs, impalas, topis and birds. Drive back, check out and transfer back to Kampala with a stopover to be made at the Equator crossing.

End of 9 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari