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A perfect well-planned 4 days short Uganda birding safari experience

4 days short Uganda birding safari overview

A 4 days short Uganda birding safari package will show case the shoebills tracking in its natural habitat in the Mabamba swamp and more along the shores of lake Victoria like kingfishers, eagles, parrots, pigeons, gray crowned cranes, geese, sun birds, storks, horned bills, turacos etc. Also, you’ll go at the source of the river Nile, its banks & water sports on its rapids such as water rafting, bungee jumping, kayaking, canoeing, zip lining etc. Expect a lot more sightings of European immigrant bird species along the shores of lake Victoria during summer time from June to August.

Arrival & departure: Entebbe

  • Day 1- arrival, rest, & Entebbe botanical tour
  • Day 2- Shoebills at Mabamba swamp & Kampala city tour
  • Day 3- source of the River Nile
  • Day 4- return to Entebbe and departure

Detailed short Uganda birding safari itinerary

Day 1 Botanical gardens

On arriving at Entebbe international airport, you will be welcomed and picked by our guide that you will see holding a pluck card having your name to your booked accommodation along the shores of Lake Victoria. Later in the afternoon or after a brief rest, you will head to the botanical gardens still along the shores of the lake. This walking tour at the cool 40.7 hectare botanical gardens along the shore of Lake Victoria.

Botanical gardens are also common for biking/ cycling safari, monkey feeding, birding safari and 500 plant species including both foreign and indigenous. These plants are categorized into indigenous and non-native fruits, medicinal, beverage, spices, ornamentals, timber, oils and important crop wild relatives, several of these threatened in the wild and agro-ecosystems.

Accommodation: Imperial resort beach hotel (or a similar one)

Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner

Early in the morning, you will set out to the Mabamba swamp which is also Ramsar site to see the endangered shoebill. Mabamba swamp tour is carried out on boats that move from the lake Victoria shoes into the narrow water stretches of the swamp lasting for 3 hours and will also get you to watch many other swamp/ papyrus endemics and water birds. After there, you will have a tour around Kampala city; a tour that gets you to various historical administrative, economic and cultural sites and centers in the city have affected the development of Uganda as a country such as the Kasubi tombs where 3 ancient kings are buried, the Lubaga cathedral, Namirembe cathedral, Gaddafi mosque, Baha’i temple.

Later on in the evening, you will have a nightlife experience in the bars and lounges of Kampala city till resting time as you wait for the next day.

Accommodation: Golden Tulip hotel (or its equivalent)

Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner

Starting section of the river Nile has numerous water falls that have become common water sport points to tourists and adventurers from all corners of the world. Some of the falls include Owen falls, Bujagali falls, Ripon falls, Itanda falls, Busowoko falls among others. Clean and white waters at the source of the river Nile at this point are the most entertaining of the river course throughout Africa offering the best bungee jumping point, water rafting, horse riding at the river banks, kayaking, water surfing, swimming, canoeing, river boarding, quad biking around the river banks among others.

Short Uganda birding safaris of 3- 7 days packages are a gem with the Nile river banks tour/ nature walks which also host numerous bird species that can be experienced on nature walks thus being some of the best birders’ destinations in the region. You will also take a boat to reach the source of the nile where 30% of the water emanates from underground streams and 70% from Lake Victoria. 

Accommodation: Whispers of the Nile eco lodge (or a similar one)

Meals: Break| Lunch| Dinner

Day 4 Entebbe International airport

After this short Uganda birding safari around Entebbe, Kampala and the source of the Nile, you will return to Entebbe to prepare for your departure flight to your next destination.

Accommodation: N/A

Meals: Breakfast| Lunch| Dinner

When is the best time for a 4 days short Uganda birding safari?

3- 7 days short Uganda birding safaris are best done during Uganda’s summer/ dry seasons months of June to September and December to February. These months are easy to get on dry (less slippery) nature walks through forests and game drives in the parks to watch birds extensively. Moreover, river banks and lake shores are also an easy target for majority bird sightings as they draw there to quench their thirst. In addition to the endemic bird species, the summer time especially from June to September see immigrant bird species from Europe come in to settle around water bodies, in the African tropical forests and savannah grasslands.

Inclusions
  • Park entry
  • Government taxes
  • Driver & guide
  • Airport transfers
  • Bottled drinking refreshments
  • Transport 4×4 safari landcruiser
  • All activities on the itinerary
Exclusions
  • Travel insurance
  • International flights
  • Visa fees & processing
  • Extra activities, meals, alcohol/ liquor not on itinerary 
  • Tipping & gratitude
  • Any changes to the itinerary
  • Accommodation after the end of the trip
  • Anything not mentioned
What to pack for short Uganda birding safaris?

Bird watching in Uganda is done both on game drives and on nature walks in the savannah and also in the tropical rain forests. Given the characteristics of this region and birding activities, certain measures on what to wear and pack may be considered by travelers for example;

  • Long sleeved shirts/ T-shirts
  • Over shirts/ jackets/ sweaters
  • Uncle desert shoes/ hiking boots
  • Cameras for photography
  • Pair of binoculars 
  • Caps/ sun hats
  • Insect repellent creams
  • Anti-malaria drugs
  • Pair of shorts
  • Pair of khaki trousers/ Jeans
  • Africa birds list guide book (if you get one)
  • Scarfs etc.
Your safari route map