On these 16-Days we will be birding through a diverse range of habitats that lie within the Albertine Rift Endemic Zone that stretch along the western region of Uganda. These varied bird-rich habitats range from montane and tropical rainforests where we not only target the local species restricted to the Albertine Endemic Zone, but also a cast of local altitude restricted specialists. Special characters unique to Afro-tropical highlands and Congo-Guinea restricted-range species will be sought as we run through various riverine and gallery forests, lowland forests, wetlands, woodlands and savanna grasslands.
We kick off our quest by birding the wetlands of Mabamba near Entebbe where the main character is the prehistoric Shoebill and other quality L. Victoria biome specialists. Birding into the wooded grasslands of L. Mburo, we look out for specifically woodlands specialists on their northern range-limit and the elusive African Finfoot on the quite lake waters. Further onto the southern tip of the country, we collect the Albertine endemics while birding the bamboo slopes on Mgahinga NP. Birding through the high-altitude forests of Echuya, we will briefly stop to investigate the road side marsh where pairs of Grauer’s Swamp Warbler are known to nest and other quality swamp specialists. Coming into the ancient forests of Bwindi, we bird from the excellent high-altitude Ruhija sector before finishing at lower-altitude forests at Buhoma sector. Across these three excellent locations, up to 25 Albertine Endemics are recorded along varied altitudes across these montane and high-altitude rainforests. Heading north we bird through the rich savannas of Queen Elizabeth NP where a boat cruise onto the hippo-fested Kazinga channel brings us variety of waders onto our rich checklist. On the northern foot-hills of Rwenzori we bird the exciting lowland forests of Semuliki for typical Congo-biome specialists extending into Uganda on their eastern range-limit. Along the edges of the escarpment in Kibale Forest, we look out for the elegant forest-floor gem, the Green-breasted Pitta and several forest proper specialists.
Species Highlights
- Birding for the Shoebill
On this Birding Quest, we will begin birding for the prehistoric Shoebill in the marshes of Mabamba wetland an Important Bird Area and a Ramsar site on the northern shores of L. Victoria. Other quality L. Victoria biome species include Lesser Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, White-winged Swamp Warbler and more.
- Birding for Albertine Rift Endemics at Mgahinga and Bwindi NP
In the bird-rich ancient montane and Impenetrable forests of Mgahinga and Bwindi NP, we bird along excellent trails for various Albertine Endemics including the impressive leaf-green African Green Broadbill, Mountain Masked, Rwenzori Turaco, Chestnut-throated and Rwenzori Apalis and Dusky Crimson-wing. Grauer’s Warbler, Strange Weaver, Yellow-eyed Black and Chapin’s Flycatchers occur, Handsome Francolin, Stripe-breasted Tit, Blue-headed and Purple-breasted Sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Neumann’s Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Regal Sunbird, Grauer’s Rush Warbler and Oberlander’s Ground-Thrush.
- Birding the Kazinga Channel in QENP
Our short birding through Queen Elizabeth NP, we encounter quality savanna and woodland specialists plus a healthy checklist of waders while on boat cruise along hippo-fested of the Kazinga Channel. The park is popular for its varied game including the tree-climbing lion prides of Ishasha and numerous elephants.
- Birding for Semuliki Forest specials and Pitta at Kibale Forest
Coming into the lowland forests of Semuliki, we bird quality specialists unique to the Congo-Guinea biome on their easterly range limit. In here, half of the great Congo-Guinea bird population are recorded of which most are only known from here whereas some are rare in selected western forests of interest. At Kibale Forest we bird for the forest floor specialist the Green-breasted Pitta.
Included in this Tour
- A customized 4-WD Tour vehicle with Bird Guide/driver
- Plenty of bottled drinking water in the car
- All park entrance fees and activity fees
- Accommodations and meal plan as mentioned
Excluded
- Optional Activities Indicated (Gorilla, Chimpanzee and Golden monkey permits)
- Tips, laundry and gratuities
- Items of personal care
- Accommodation and dinner on the last day
- Other meals and drinks other than indicated
- Frights to and from Uganda
- Travel insurance
Detailed Itinerary
Arrival: Meet and Greet
Upon your arrival at Entebbe airport, our company representative will receive and transfer you to your accommodation. Depending on the time of arrival you will meet up your safari bird guide who then will brief you on your upcoming birding safari. Accommodation: Booma Hotel, HB
Day One: Birding for Shoebill at Mabamba and transfer to L. Mburo NP
Our birding quest this morning with begins with an early drive westward from Entebbe to Mabamba Wetland on the northern shores of L. Victoria. This community ran wetland is an internationally recognized Important Bird Area and a ramsar site for the diverse biodiversity it protects. Notably these wetlands are the breeding grounds and provide the best chances to see the iconic Shoebill up close where it’s found stalking these less-oxygenated waters for mud and catfish that are abundant here.
Led by an experienced community guide, the 2-3hour birding activity is carried out from a motorized local canoe to explore a maze of water channels of this vast wetland. Often encountered are individual Shoebills and sometimes pairs while threesome is exceptional. The marsh also hosts other L. Victoria biome species including Lesser Jacana, Northern Brown-throated Weavers, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Carruthers’s and Winding Cisticola, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-throated Bee-eaters, Marsh Tchagra, Swamp Flycatcher, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers among others. The skies are patrolled by African Harrier Hawk, African Fish Eagle and seasonal Osprey and Eurasian Marsh Harrier. Seasonal palearctic congregations include; Black-winged Black Terns, Slender-billed Gulls, Yellow Wagtails, Great Snipe and several Sandpipers.
After the swamp birding, we drive on for a hot lunch and coffee rest at Equator crossing, there after continue birding into L. Mburo NP. Here highlights include several woodland and savanna species on their northern-range limits including; Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Tabora Cisticola, Crested, Red-faced and Black Corralled Barbets among others. Residents include; African-wattled Lapwing, Great Blue-eared and Ruppell’s Starling, Spot-flanked Barbet, Streaked and Woodland Kingfisher, Red-faced Crombec, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Common Scimitarbill and Green Woodhoopoe, Bare-faced Go-away Bird and Africa Grey Hornbill among others.
Incredible wildlife here includes Plain Zebra, Impala, Common Eland, Topi, Rothschild Giraffe and Cape Buffalo.
Accommodation: Rwakobo Lodge, FB Mid-range
Drive Time: 5hrs
Day Two: Morning Boat Cruise on L. Mburo and Transfer to Mgahinga NP
After an early breakfast, we will hurriedly go for an early morning cruise on L. Mburo specifically for the elusive shy African Finfoot which is often found feeding in calm water edges. A host of species on this stretch include Straited, Grey, Purple, Rufous-bellied Heron, Wood Sandpiper, Lesser-masked, Holub’s Golden, Speckled and Little Weavers, Slender-billed Weaver and Pied Kingfishers, Water Thickknee, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Shikra and Lizard Buzzard, Palm-nut and White-headed Vultures among others. The acacia woodlands host Bateleur, Black-chested and Brown Snake Eagles, Long-crested and Tawny Eagles.
Catching a hot lunch on the road, we bird onto Bwindi where White-naped Raven, Agur Buzzar, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Common Stone Chat, African Golden-breasted Bunting, Mountain Buzzard and Africa Hawk-Eagle occur throughout diverse habitats including cultivation areas, farmlands, patches of wetlands and swamps on our route. Entering the Bwindi Forest, the bamboo zone is a good place to look out for Handsome Francolin, White-headed Wood-Hoopoe, Stulhamm’s and Narrow-tailed Starling also Western Green Tinkerbird, Ludher’s Bush-shrike, Stripe-breasted Tit, Blue-headed Sunbird, Many-coloured Bush-shrike, Mountain Black Boubou, Grey and Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Buzzard, Bar-tailed Trogon, Collared Sunbird among others. Accommodation. Travelers Rest Camp Kisoro, Mid-range, FB
Day Three: Birding Mgahinga NP
At Mgahinga, we hike up the secondary growth vegetation to tick off Archer’s Robin, Red-faced and Dusky Crimsonwing, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Mountain Illadopsis, Rwenzori Hill babbler, Abyssinian Thrush, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Cinnamon-Bracken Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Ladgen’s Bush-shrike.
Along the Sabyinyo gorge trail, we will look out for the Rwenzori Turaco, Albertine Boubou, Mountain Buzzard, Ayres Hawk eagle and many more. Accommodation: Travelers Rest Camp Kisoro, Mid-range, FB
Day Four: Birding Echuya Forest onto Ruhija sector of Bwindi NP
On transfer to Ruhija, we stop to bird the Echuya Forest where at the high-altitude swamp we tick off the Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler and Highland Rush Warbler. Rwenzori Batis, White-starred Robin, Cape Robin-Chat, Sharpe’s Starling, Dusky Twinspot, Black-faced and Kandt’s Waxbill, Ludher’s and Many-coloured Bushshrikes, Mountain Buzzard and Doherty’s Bushshrike also occur. Accommodation: Broadbill Camp, Mid-range, FB
Drive time: 6-hours
Day Five/Six: Birding Ruhija in Bwindi NP
This morning at Ruhija, birding the Mubwindi swamp trail we look out for the leaf-green African Green Broadbill, Dusky Crimsonwing, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Banded Prinia, Purple-breasted Sunbird, White-browed Crombec and Archer’s Robin Chat. Down at the swamp, Highland Rush Warbler and Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Yellow-bellied and Fawn-breasted Waxbills occur. On the ascent we look out for Doherty’s Bushshrike, Sharpe’s Starling, Dusky Twinspot, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Greenbul, Montane Oriole, Brown-capped, Strange Weaver and Black-billed Weavers, Mountain Buzzard, Red-headed Bluebill, Black-headed Waxbill, Mountain-masked Apalis, Red-headed Malimbe and many more.
Further on the forest trails, we bird out for Eliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpecker, Black-billed Turaco, Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill Babbler, African Crowned Eagle, Grey-winged Robin, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Bar-tailed Trogon, African Black Swift, Black-Saw-wing, Slender-billed, Yellow-streaked Greenbuls and more forest edge birds. Accommodation: Broadbill Camp, Mid-Range, FB
Day Seven/Nine: Birding the Neck, Buhoma and Gorilla Tracking at Bwindi
On transfer to Buhoma, we bird a stretch of a river line forest known as the Neck, looking out for the colorful Black Bee-eater, Joyful, Eastern Mountain and Cabani’s Greenbuls, Mountain Wagtail and Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher that stalk the river edges, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Grey-throated Barbet and Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher. In the luxuriant vegetation along the stream, Banded and White-chinned Prinia, Chubb’s Cisticola, Kandt’s and Black-crowned Waxbill are often seen skulking. Barred Long-tailed and Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Olive Woodpecker, Green-headed and Blue-throated Brown Sunbirds, Dusky Tit, Brown Illadopsis, African Hill Babbler, White-tailed, White-bellied and Dusky Crested-flycatchers. The nearby pond is frequented by African Black Duck and African Finfoot.
On birding Buhoma main trail, we focus on several endemics and other species favoring the lower elevations including, Red-throated Alethe, Oberlander’s and Kivu Ground Thrush, Short-tailed Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Dwarf and Wilcock’s Honeyguide, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, Jameson’s Ant-pecker, African Broadbill, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Pink-footed Puffback, White-bellied Robin, Equatorial Akalat, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Kakamega and Arsongie’s Greenbuls, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Bar-tailed and Narina Trogons, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Mottled Spinetail, African Wood Owl, Great Blue Turaco, African Green Pigeon, Green-throated and Bronze Sunbirds, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Streaky Seedeater, Baglafetch Weaver, Ayres’s and Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle among others. Accommodation: Haven Lodge Buhoma, FB
Day Ten/Eleven Birding onto QENP and Kazinga Channel
Coming into Queen Elizabeth national park, we traverse variety of habitats from woodlands/grasslands, wooded forests crater lakes and wetlands giving us a varied checklist. On a birding cruise along the Kazinga Channel we look out for the African Spoonbill, Grey Heron, African Skimmer and African Darter with large herds Hippo, savanna Elephant, Nile Crocodile and Nile Monitor. The papyrus edges attract Papyrus Gonolek, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Little, Slender-billed and Northern Brown-throated Weavers among several wetland specialists. The grasslands attract African Wattled Lapwing, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Wing-snapping and Stout Cisticola, Collared Pranticole, Banded Snake Eagle and more. Accommodation: Bush-Lodge Mid-Range FB
Day Twelve/Thirteen: Birding the Semuliki Forests
Birding the small but bird-rich lowland Semuliki Forests will give us excellent checklist of the Congo-Guinea biome specialists on their eastern range limit. These lowland forests are the extension of the Congo forests hosting very rare specialists only known here whereas some have limited distribution elsewhere in Ugandan forests and East Africa.
Working the forest interior and edge will afford us excellent sightings of; African Piculet, Spotted and Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Red-tailed Leaflove, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbe, Chestnut-breasted Nigrita, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Black and Red-billed Dwarf Hornbills, White-crested, Black-casqued Wattled and Piping Hornbills, Lowland Akalat, Lowland Sooty Boubou, Grant’s Bluebill, Yellow-throated Nicator, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, White-bellied and African Dwarf Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, White-naped Pigeon, Dark-backed (Forest) Weaver, Icterine Greenbul, Red-tailed Rufous Ant-Thrush, Rufous-bellied Helmet-shrike, Swamp Bulbul, Black-winged Oriole, Yellow and Grey Longbill, Ituri Batis and many others. But Pale-fronted Nigrita, Black-collared Lovebird, Black-eared Ground Thrush, Capuchin’s Babbler, Hartlaub’s Duck, White-spotted Ibis and White-throated Blue Swallow are a hard luck. Accommodation: UWA Bandas, FB
Day Fourteen: Birding on transfer to Kibale Forest
This morning we bird along the scenic winding road towards the primate’s capital of Kibale Forest. After a hot lunch in the beautiful town of Fort portal, we bird our way to our accommodation late afternoon set at the edges of Kibale Forest. Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, FB
Day Fifteen: Birding for Pitta, Chimpanzee and more primates…
We set off early to hunt out the Green-breasted Pitta, an elusive colorful forest floor specialist known for splendid displays performed by males. Other specialists will include Dusky Tit, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Fraser’s Rufous Thrush, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Forest Robin, Spotted Greenbul, Red-headed Malimbe, Olive Sunbird, Afep Pigeon, Green Hylia, Lowland Masked Apalis, Green Crombec, Western Nicator, Toro-olive Greenbul, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Lowland Akalat, Fire-crested Alethe, Uganda Spotted and Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Plain Greenbul, Sooty Boubou, Black-bellied Seed-cracker, Weyns’s and Yellow-mantled Weavers, Speckled Tinkerbird, Hairy-breasted and Double-toothed Barbets, Green-backed Twinspot and more. Here at Kibale the primates’ capital, we have an optional close-up trekking experience along the habituated community of Chimpanzee.
At Bigodi Community swamp we look out for several species including Magpie Mannikin, White-spotted Flufftail, Shinning Blue Kingfisher, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Red-capped and Snow-headed Robin Chats, Yellow-billed Barbet, the colorful Great-blue and Ross’s Turaco, Red-eyed and Tambourine Doves, African Emerald Cuckoo, Grey-green Bush-shrike, Western Black-headed Oriole, African Shrike-Flycatcher plus several encounters with Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Red-tailed, Uganda Red-Colobus, Guereza, Vervet and L’Hoest’s Monkeys while Olive Baboon troops patrols the forest edges. Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge, FB
Day Sixteen: Birding on transfer to Kampala
On our transfer we will have several birding stops on various interesting spots including swamps arriving Entebbe in late afternoon and later transfer to the airport.