INTRODUCTION
Uganda is debatably Africa 's most thrilling destination for birders and naturalists, it is a country blessed with an astonishing diversity of birdlife. Despite its relatively modest size (roughly like Great Britain ), no other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats ranging from arid semi-deserts, rich savannahs, lowlands and mountain rainforests to vast wetlands, volcanoes and an afro-alpine zone, and covering an altitude from 650 to 5000 meters. Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. This richness is reflected in the number of birds per square kilometre the highest than any other country in Africa ! Given the small size of the country, which is approximately 235,000 square kilometres, Uganda boasts a national bird list of over 1008 species. Ongoing political stability and good infrastructure and tourist services make the country one of the best destinations in Africa offering an extraordinary natural history experience.
Itinerary
DAY ONE 4th July - Meet at UK airport for a nightime flight to Uganda
DAY TWO 5th July : Arrive at Entebbe International Airport early in the morning then transfer to your hotel, we shall bird around Entebbe area, we shall bird the botanical gardens and Entebbe surbubs overnight Imperial Resort Beach hotel or Windsor L. Victoria hotel.
DAY THREE 6th July : Leave Entebbe early in the morning for Mabamba swamp birding enroute, we have a chance to see a variety of weavers on the way, Black headed Oriole, Black Bishop, and many others. In Mabamba swamp, we shall take a hand paddled canoe in search for the majestic Shoebill; here we have a chance to see a variety of water birds like the Purple swampen, Black Crake, Purple and Squacco Herons, Malachite King fisher, to mention but a few. After the swamp we transfer to Lake Mburo lunch and birding enroute, arrive for an evening game drive as you enter the park where we have a chance to see a variety of birds overnight Mantana tented camp.
DAY FOUR 7 th July : Morning birding and mammal watching, here we may have a chance to see the Red-faced Barbet, Tabora Cisticola, Red-headed Lovebird, Cocqui Francolin, Rufous Bellied Heron, Bare-faced Go-away bird to mention but a few, here we shall also have the chance to see the Zebra, Eland, Topis, Impalas and some other game, we shall go for a 10:00 am boat ride in search for the African Finfoot here we have a chance to see the Giant Kingfisher, Rufous bellied Heron and a variety of other water birds. Then transfer to Kisoro Overnight Traveler's rest Kisoro.
DAY FIVE 8th July : Bird Gorge trail and bamboo Zone on Mt. Sabinyo in search for Rwenzori Turaco, Shelly's Crimson wing and Kivu ground Thrush overnight Traveler's rest Kisoro.
DAY SIX 9th July : Travel to Ruhizha, Bwindi national park birding Ecuya forest enroute where we may have a chance to see a variety of Albertine rift endemics after we shall continue to Ruhizha birding the Bamboo in search for the Handsome Francolin White-starred Robin, Red-throated Alethe, Grauer's Warbler, Dusky Crimson wing and many other birds overnight Trekker's Tavern
DAY SEVEN 10th July : Morning trek to Mubwindi Swamp where we may have a chance to see the African Green-broadbill, Grauer's Rush Warbler, Caruthers's Cisticola, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds. In the late afternoon we bird around the camp for Dusky Twinspot, Luhder's Bushshrike, Rwenzori Batis to mention but a few. Overnight Trekker's Tavern.
DAY EIGHT 11th July : An early morning trek into Bwindi Impenetrable forest National Park with packed lunch led by experienced guides will lead us to a family of mountain gorillas. Tracking the gorillas through the dense mountain forest is a magical experience. You can spend one hour with the gorillas and be back to base! Some gorilla families however, are more elusive and tracking can take a full day, especially when it is wet and muddy . (This is optional) After transfer to Buhoma overnight Buhoma lodge or Gorilla resort.
For the people not tracking birding depend on where we get the gorilla permits; if they are tracking in Buhoma they will go with our guide and birds they are likely to see include the White-chinned and Bandee Prinias, Blue-shourldered and Red-capped Robinchats, Boucages and Luhder's Bushshrikes, Tit, Dusky, White-eyed Slate and Paradise Flycatchers, Black Bee-eater, Northern Double-Coulored and Bronze Sunbirds, Red-headed Bluebill, Black-headed Waxbill and many others.
If the permit is in Ruhija (Bitukura group) they can either bird the trail to the mines or primary school road, here they have a chance to see the Black-billed Turaco, Grey and Petit's Cuckoo Shrikes, Macknnon's Fiscal Shrike, Doherty's Bushshrike, Rwenzori Batis, Nothern Doubble-coluored Sunbird, White-tailed Blue, White-eyed Slate, Dusky and Dusk-blue Flycatchers, Chestnut-throated, Black-throated, Mountain Masked, Collared and Buff-throated Apalises, Dusky Twinspot and Dusky Crimsonwing, Strange and Baglafetched Weavers, Black-headed and Yellow-bellied Waxbills and many others.
DAY NINE 12th th July: Bird Buhoma main trail in search for Handsome Francolin, Rufous-chested Fluff tail, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Red-chested Owlet, Neumann's Warbler and many other birds overnight Buhoma lodge or Gorilla resort.
DAY TEN 13th July : Morning transfer back to Entebbe birding on route. Overnight Imperial resort or Windsor L. Victoria Hotel Entebbe
DAY ELEVEN 14th July : Early morning transfer to the airport for your flight back home.
