15 Days Best Of Uganda Birding Safari And Other Experiences
This is half a month best of Uganda birding safari and other experience is filled with adventure and it shall start off going through Mabira forest, continue to the slopes of Mount Elgon and travel to the extreme North in Kidepo national park. From there, the journey will continue to the South to meet the Africa’s longest river (River Nile) in Murchison falls national park, visit the hot springs of Sampaya in Semiliki national park, proceed to see the Chimpanzees in Kibale national park and then end with visiting Queen Elizabeth national park. By the end of this long tour, you will definitely come to terms that Uganda is indeed a pearl of Africa.
DAY 1; ARRIVAL ENTEBBE AIPORT
On your arrival at Entebbe airport, you will meet with our professional guide from Alps trendy safaris who will transfer you to Protea hotel Entebbe and help you check in for your dinner and overnight stay. This guide will brief you about how your Best of Uganda birding safari tour will run and what time you need to be ready the next day for the next transfer.
Meal plan
- Dinner
- Breakfast
DAY 2; TRANSFER ENTEBBE – MABAMBA SWAMP
After your morning breakfast, you will be picked by our guide and will start on your journey to Mabamba swamp which is located about 50km from Kampala. At the swamp, most of the birding is done from a canoe, headed by one local site guide. The main target here is to see the Shoe-bill which can be sighted in both the sky and down in the marsh. Other bird species to expect from this swamp include African purple swamp hen, African water rail, African jacana, Goliath heron, Black crate, and others. After this beautiful experience, you will leave the swamp, have an en route lunch and travel back to Kampala, check in at Hotel African for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
- En route lunch
- Dinner and breakfast
DAY 3; TRANSFER KAMPALA – JINJA
You will start your day with breakfast and then start on your journey to Jinja with a stopover at Mabira forest from where you will spend almost the whole day watching different bird species. This forest reserve is located in the central region and it provides an opportunity for sighting a number of forest bird species such as the shinning Blue kingfisher, Lowland Sooty Boubou, Nahans Francolin and many others. After getting satisfied with bird watching at Mabira forest, you will continue to Jinja town with a stopover at the Nile Bridge to watch more birds at the water shores and then continue to Heaven lodge in Jinja for your dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
- En route lunch
- Dinner and breakfast
DAY 4; TRANSFER JINJA – MOUNT ELGON
After your breakfast, you will be picked by our guide to start on your journey to the slopes of mount Elgon, driving through communities and local towns, sugar cane plantations and valleys as the journey proceeds to mount Elgon which is one of the few volcanic mountains Uganda is blessed with. The mountain provides vibrant growth of forest which inhabits a number of species such as the Abyssinian ground thrush. You will then proceed to Mbale town and check in at Mbale resort hotel for your lunch and rest of the day resting.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 5; FULL DAY SIPI FALLS
You will start your day with breakfast, you will hike the mountain passing through the forest trying to conquer sightings of bird species such as White bellied oat and Abyssinian ground thrush. You will also be able to view the Sipi falls. You will then check in at Sipi river lodge fro your dinner and overnight stay
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 6; TRANSFER ELGON – KIDEPO
After having your morning breakfast, you will prepare and be ready to leave and head to Kidepo national park. You will drive through Mathembo wildlife reserve which provides fascinating scenery and there are chances of viewing bird species which you might have missed at Elgon. Kidepo national park is blessed with attractions such as wildlife game of Buffaloes, Giraffes, Lions, Cheetahs and then Ostrich. The park also has other attractions such as River Kidepo, and then Iky and Karamajong people. On your arrival at Kidepo national park, you will check in at Adeere safari lodge for lunch and afternoon relaxation.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
Day 7; FULL DAY KIDEPO NATIONAL PARK
After your morning breakfast, you will be picked to go for a game viewing to see animals such as lions, giraffes and buffaloes, not forgetting bird watching at Kidepo valley from where you will view bird species such as stony partridge. After tis experience, you will return to your lodge for your lunch and afternoon relaxation. In the late afternoon, you will be picked to go for the karamajong cultural experience to see how these local people live their lives. From here, you will return to your lodge for your dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 8; TRANSFER KIDEPO – MURCHISONS
You will begin your day with breakfast and then get ready for a drive to Murchison falls national park which is ranked Uganda’s largest national park. The park protects a huge chunk of untamed savannah grassland. The park is bisected by River Nile into two sections i.e. the Northern section and the Southern section. It’s in this park where the world’s longest river explodes violently through a narrow cliff creating the strongest waterfalls in the world. The park inhabits animals such as leopards, elephants, lions, hippos, giraffes, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and others. The park also has other attractions such as the Ziwa rhino sanctuary, Budongo forest and many bird species such as the shoe-bill. On your arrival at Murchison falls national park, you will check in at Fort Murchison hotel for your lunch and afternoon relaxation. You will be picked in the evening for a night game drive with in the park for an opportunity to view animals such as lions, elephants, leopards, giraffes and others. After this game drive which lasts about 2hrs, you will return to your hotel for your dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 9; FULL DAY MURCHISON
After having your morning breakfast, you will be picked to go for a boat safari on the Nile delta from where you will be able to see aquatic animals such as hippos and crocodiles plus bird watching on the water shores. This boat safari will take you to the delta from where the river drains into Lake Albert from where you will see a variety of birds and animals such as lions. This is a 3-4 hrs. Return journey but it’s definitely worth it. After this amazing experience, you will return to your lode for lunch and afternoon relaxation. You will be picked in the evening for yet another splendid night game drive so that you have an opportunity to see the animals which you might have missed on your previous drive. You will then return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
Meal pla
- Full board meals
DAY 10; TRANSFER MURCHISON – KIBALE
You will begin your day with morning breakfast and then be picked for a balloon safari within the park. This safari is the best at giving visitors an opportunity to view animals from the sky or above at a closer range. This is a very luxurious experience but its definitely worth it. After a balloon safari, you will return to your hotel for an early lunch and get ready to be transferred to Kibale national park. On your arrival at Kibale, you will check in t Kyaninga lodge for your dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 11; FULL DAY KIBALE
Kibale national park is located in the Western part of the country, particularly Fort portal area. This park has attractions such as chimpanzees which is the main highlight of the park. It also has bird species plus primates such as black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys and the grey cheeked mangabey. The park also has the Bigodi wetland sanctuary which is a community development enterprise from where guided tour are conducted along apaththrough the wetland. This wetland inhabits primates such as the black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, mangabey, l hoest and velvet.
Day itinerary
After your breakfast, you will be picked from your lodge to go to the park headquarters for chimpanzee trekking briefing. You will then be led by the park ranger into the forest to track the chimpanzees from a closer range while they are still in their habitats and this experience will last about 2-3hrs. You tracking the chimpanzees, you will also be able to spot other primates such as the black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, the mangabey and the grey cheeked monkey. After this experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch and rest of the day relaxation.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 12; TRANSFER KIBALE – QUEEN ELIZABETH
You start your day with morning breakfast and then be picked to go for the Bigodi walk. The Bigodi wetland sanctuary is a home to many primates such as the black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys, the grey cheeked mangabey, hoest and velvet. The swamp also inhabits many bird species. After this tiring but fulfilling walk, you will return to your lodge for lunch and refreshments and then get ready for your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 13; FULL DAY QUEEN ELIZABETH
Queen Elizabeth national park is known as Uganda’s second largest national park after Murchison falls. Its located in the Western part of Uganda- Kasese area and its divided into two sections which are the Northern section and the Southern Ishasha section. The park is blessed with attractions such as Chimpanzees at Kyambura gorge, Maramagambo forest, Lake George and Edward, Kazinga channel, Blue lake and then Crater lakes.
Day itinerary
After having your breakfast, you will be picked for a morning boat cruise along Kazinga channel from where you will be able to view aquatic animals such as hippos and crocodiles plus birds on the water shores. After this beautiful experience, you will return to your lodge for lunch and afternoon relaxation. You will be picked in the evening for a night game drive within the park for an opportunity to view animals such as elephants, antelopes, lions and buffaloes. You will then return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay and you are almost to the end of best of uganda birding safari.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 14; FULL DAY QUEEN ELIZABETH
You will start your day with breakfast as usual and then be ready to go for chimpanzee trekking at Kyambura gorge. The chimpanzees here are in low numbers thus its by luck that you are able to spot them. While tracking the chimpanzees, visitors also have a chance to spot the tree climbing lions. This experience may last up to 2hrs. You will then return to your lodge for lunch and afternoon relaxation. You will be picked in the evening for a second night game drive for an opportunity of seeing the animals which you might missed out on your previous drive. You will then return to your lodge for your dinner and overnight stay.
Meal plan
- Full board meals
DAY 15; TRANSFER QUEEN – KAMPALA
After your morning breakfast, you will get ready and embark on your journey back to Kampala. You will have an en route lunch in Masaka town and then proceed with your journey to Entebbe airport for your flight and this will make the end of your remarkable experience of best of Uganda birding safari.
Meal plan
- Breakfast
- En route lunch
INCLUSIONS
- Ground transfers
- Exclusive use of a safari vehicle
- Park fees
- Accommodation and meals mentioned in the itinerary
- All the activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Our assistance
- Bottled drinking water
EXCLUSIONS
- International flight tickets
- Entry visa
- Personal expense such as telephone bills, travel insurance and others
- Tips and gratitude’s
- Activities and accommodation excluded in the itinerary.
