Detailed itinerary

Day 1

Destination: Kampala

On arrival, you will be picked up by our tour guide from the airport to your booked accommodation in Kampala or Entebbe along the shores of Lake Victoria, you will have rest and relax to have relief from the flight as you prepare for the long awaited birding safari in around and in Uganda’s national game parks and reserves.

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Day 2

Destination: mabamba swamp

On this day you will set out to the mabamba swamp which is also Ramsar site to see the endangered shoebill. This tour is carried out on boats that move from the Lake Victoria shoes into the narrow water stretches of the swamp; a tour lasting for 3 hours. After this exciting tour you continue with your journey to lake Mburo national park.

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Day 3-4

Destination: lake Mburo NP

Commonly known for its high zebra population, Lake Mburo national park offers a wide range of touring options from board rides, horseback riding safaris, walking safaris, game drives, biking/cycling safaris and community walks. You will have a night wild safari which lasts 2-3 hours to exhaust both the days’ and nocturnal species of the park. The park has 70 mammals and 332 recorded bird species and is richly gifted with various acacia and papyrus endemics such as the papyrus gonelek, pied kingfisher, red faced barbet, malachite kingfisher, saddle-billed stork, blue headed coucal, yellow-breasted apalis, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, bare-faced go-away-bird, greater painted-snipe, brown-chested lapwing, speckled moosebird, African wattled lapwing, black bellied bustard, long-tailed Cisticola, blue-breasted kingfisher, papyrus yellow warbler, white-winged warbler and shoebill; as the acacia species are wide spread elsewhere in the park. Mammals include burchell’s zebras, Nubian giraffes, hippos, leopards, buffaloes, topi, elands, antelopes, warthogs, bushbucks, stripped jackals, reedbucks, olive baboons, sitatungas, bush pigs, hyenas, impalas, crocodiles, reptiles among others. Later you will continue birding enroute to lake Bunyonyi crater lake.

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Day 5

Destination: lake Bunyonyi

On this day at lake Bunyonyi; one of the most beautiful lakes in Africa. Some of the most amazing attributes of the lake are being the deepest crater lake in Africa, the 29 islands located in its waters which toured by use of a boat/canoe and safe waters with no crocodiles and hippos. The lake harbors over 200 bird species with the gray crowned crane being one of the most remarkable birds, Pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Cinnamon-chested Bee eater, Bronzy sun bird, Pied wagtail, Grey shrike, Grey crowned crested crane, Hadada ibis, Swamp fly catcher, Black heron, Great cormorant, Fan-tailed widow bird, Streaky seed eater, Speckled mouse bird along with breathtaking sceneries of the volcano mountains ad slopes of Muhavura will leave you stunned at this beautiful lake and its surrounding.

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Day 6

Destination: Mgahinga NP

Early in the morning after breakfast and a briefing, you will hike the volcanic mountains of the Mgahinga to a height of 2,500 meters above sea level in the bamboo forests of the montane region where these unique primates reside. The forest trails offer the best chance of seeing high land endemics such as; cape robin chat, pin tailed whydah, moorland chat, dusky crimsonwing, speckled mousebird, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batis, kivu ground thrush, black colored apalis, blue headed sunbird, red throated alethe, purple chested sunbird, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, red faced woodland warbler, African olive pigeon, Rwenzori nightjar, African paradise flycatcher among others. The orange-yellow like hair color of the golden monkeys give them that distinguished golden look. When you reach their residence, you will be allowed to stay around them for one hour. These live in families of hundreds and have a very playful character, they will keep you so entertained. Looking at them critically, you will notice their facial appearance that the golden monkeys have a nose so different from that of many other primate species. along the hike, you will also observe other primates like the red tailed monkeys, white and black colobus monkeys, reptiles, Albertine rift endemics and many more bird species. later you will head to lake Bunyonyi; Africa’s deepest crater lake and one of the most gorgeous lakes on the continent.

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Day 7

Destination: Bwindi impenetrable NP

On arrival you will have a briefing on the gorilla behaviors, livelihoods and how to handle their reactions to the human presence. The trek into the tropical montane forests will last between 30 to 1 hour before meeting the gorilla family you are assigned to and you will be allowed to follow and spend an hour with that gorilla family. Getting to find the mountain gorillas on a trek in Uganda is a 99% chance backed up by the gorilla population in this region. After the trek, you will have an experience with the Batwa people who have for all their life time co-existed with the forest and its species. During this nature walk in the forest trails you will experience numerous bird species with particularly 23 albertine endemics that are habitats to only the albertine region some of which include; black bee-eater, regal sunbird, handsome spurfowl, giant kingfisher, bar-tailed trogon, mountain masked apalis, strange weaver, white tailed blue fly catcher, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, red-headed bluebill, yellow-chinned sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird, Chapin’s flycatcher, Rwenzori nightjar, blue-headed sunbird, pink-footed puff back, crowned hornbill, Shelley’s crimsonwing, bushshrike, black-billed turaco, Doherty’s bushshrike, mountain oriole, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, brown-capped weaver, Waller’s starling, red-faced woodland warbler, African emerald cuckoo, dusky crimsonwing, dwarf honeyguide

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Day 8-10

Destination: Queen Elizabeth NP

This day will find you at queen Elizabeth national park; Africa’s second best birding destination with over 660 recorded resident bird species and migrant species between June and September. The park has the highest concentration of birds per square kilometer thus giving a non-stop bird spotting experience. Uganda an outstanding birding haven of all forest, swamp, highland, grassland and Albertine endemic such as these include Albertine Rift Endemics such as the dwarf honey guide and purple-breasted sunbirds; 35 Congo-Guinea biome species found nowhere else in East Africa, including black dwarf hornbill, Nkulengu rail, Congo serpent eagle, Gabon woodpecker among others, the African big 5; elephant herds, lion families, leopards, hippo herds, hyenas, wild dogs, Uganda kobs, water bucks, antelopes, baboons, monkeys, crocodiles, crater lakes, reptiles, raptors, sun birds and many more awaiting your memorable tour in this game park. You will head out to the Kazinga channel (a river connecting lakes Edward and George) for a morning boat cruise through queen Elizabeth national park. At this experience you will have a glance at the world’s largest concentration of hippos which are numbered above 5,000 at the Kazinga channel, Nile crocodiles, buffaloes, water birds and other land birds coming in to quench their thirst, elephants, lions and other land wild game like water bucks, giraffes, kobs, kudus among others also coming in onto the banks of the Kazinga channel to quench their thirst. After the boat cruise, you will embark on a game drive around this channel and beyond into the vast savannah grassland to enjoy more game viewing at more lion and elephant families, ostriches, cheetahs, leopards, raptors and vultures, reptiles, monkeys, wild dogs among other creatures, scenery views of the ice capped mountain Rwenzori and its slopes as you head to the Ishasha sector of the park that is famously known for tree climbing lions; a character of lions known for on 2 places in Africa particularly this park being one of them.

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Day 12-13

Destination: Kibale NP

On this day, you will have a forest walk will come across chimpanzees and other primate species along with numerous sceneries of more than 370 bird species of grassland, forest, swamp and Albertine rift region endemics, 350 tree species which include; black bee-eater, Abyssinian ground thrush, crowned eagle, black-eared ground thrush, blue-breasted kingfisher, white-winged swamp warbler, pin-tailed whydah, red-fronted tinkerbird, purple-breasted sunbird, little Greenbuls, blue-headed sunbird, dusky crimsonwing, African pitta, great blue turaco, green-breasted pitta, black-capped apalis, yellow-rumped tinckerbird, black-throated apalis, brown-chested alethe, masked apalis, red-faced barbet among others. Kibale national park is known for chimpanzee tracking and for having the highest population & concentration of chimpanzees in world numbering above 1,500 individuals in the park. The tracking session start at 08:00, 11:00 & 14:00 and takes 2-5 hours with a more than 90% chance of meeting the chimpanzees; other primates in the park include the L’hoest monkeys, colobus monkeys, blue monkey, olive baboon, red tailed monkey, vervet monkeys. Mammal species include leopards, lions, elephants, water bucks, warthogs, giant forest hog, sitatungas, hippos, buffaloes, hyenas, jackals, and other nocturnal species. the bigodi wetland sanctuary will guarantee you the best sights of swamp endemic species on a spectacular swamp walk. 

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Day 13-14

Destination: Semuliki NP

This day will find you at one of the most gorgeous places in Africa for its remarkable features and as a landmark position between East and Central Africa thus having vegetation and forests of characteristics of both regions. Semuliki national park has hot springs that were a result of geological actions dating thousands of years back; these produce water of over 100°C producing white mist and smoke in the forests. It’s a common for visitors to buy raw eggs and boil them at the hot water point. Locals in the area also believe that the hot springs are a blessing and of supernatural healing as this hot water comes up from the ground among different rock layers filled with various minerals such as sulphate, zinc among that heal fungal and many other skin diseases. The park is also an intersection of the east African grasslands and the central African tropical forests thus harboring numerous tree species of the west and central African forests and bird species. the park has 435 bird species, 11 primate species and 53 mammal species. some of these include Albertine Rift Endemics such as the dwarf honey guide and purple-breasted sunbirds; 35 Congo-Guinea biome species found nowhere else in East Africa, including black dwarf hornbill, Nkulengu rail, Congo serpent eagle, Gabon, woodpecker; and other species with very limited ranges such as white-tailed hornbill, capuchin babbler, blue-headed crested flycatcher and the orange weaver. Mammal and primate species include; chimpanzee, blue monkey, black and white colobus, red colobus, olive baboons, vervet monkey, de brazza’s monkey, Mangabeys, stripped jackal, leopards, elephants, hippos, cape buffaloes, Uganda kobs, sitatungas, warthogs, nile crocodiles. In the afternoon, you will continue with the birding experience enroute Kampala.

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Day 15-16

Destination: Zziwa rhino sanctuary

On this day early in the morning, you will start off with a walking safaris watching out for birds, rhinos and towards the swamp areas. The park has over 300 bird species of forest, woodland and swamp residence including the shoebill thus you will be granted another chance to see this spectacular bird, grey crowned crane, African fish eagle, African jacana, pied kingfisher, African grey hornbill, African pygmy kingfisher, marabou stork, white egrets, red-billed ox-peckers among others. Zziwa rhino sanctuary has more than 40 white southern rhinos, rothschild’s giraffes, kobs, leopards, swamps with papyrus endemics like the shoebill, African wild cats, warthogs, reptiles among other species. the sanctuary not having big predators, allows you to easily make nature walks to come to nearby engagement with the park’s wild game. In the late afternoon you will continue with your trip to Murchison falls national park.

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Day 17-19

Destination: Murchison falls NP

Today you will head out to sections of the Murchison falls national park to continue exploring this vast grassland, palms, acacia trees, swamps, savannah and its remarkable wild game. The park has more than 450 recorded resident bird species such as; the Abyssinian ground hornbill, Denham’s bustard, long-tailed nightjar, black-headed lapwing, long-toed lapwing, black-billed barbet, Senegal thick-knee, yellow-fronted tinker bird, rock pratincole, speckle-fronted weaver, white-browed sparrow, eastern plantain-eater, African grey woodpecker, red throated bee-eater, grey-headed kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, standard-winged nightjar, giant kingfisher, silverbird, blue-headed Coucal, black-headed gonelek among other hundreds of species making it one of the best birding destinations in Africa. You will have more glance at the park’s forest species while doing chimpanzee tracking in the forested section of the park. You will be amazed with many elephant families and their playful young ones, lion families, rothschild’s giraffes, waterbucks, buffaloes, baboons, reptiles, numerous bird species among others. Later on you will have a trek up to view the magnificent Murchison falls from above and watch the strongest falls on the planet, gashing 3,000 cubic litres of water per second through an eight-meter corridor cascading down a 43-meter height into the “the devil’s caldron” forming a white mist and a signature rainbow producing a loud sound from the powerful force of the water of the river Nile. The park has the strongest water falls in the world and the highest number of rothschild’s giraffes in the world, more than three- quarter of the total world population and numerous elephant and lion families, waterbucks, impalas, kobs, warthogs, hippos, buffaloes, crocodiles, leopards, hyenas, jackals among other mammals. After lunch you will then head to the banks of the river Nile for a boat cruise towards the face of the Murchison falls. While on the boat cruise, you will have more sceneries of various water birds like the shoebills, raptors, geese among others, hippos and a great number of huge nile crocodiles and many more mammals that approach the river banks to quench their thirst like buffaloes, elephants and the scenes are endless. You will also have a boat cruise to the Nile delta as it flows back to the albertine peninsular, an experience that obviously unmatchable as you watch the waters of the river Nile anchor the wild and its species.

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Day 20-21

Destination: Kidepo valley NP

The national park is one of the most typical of an African wilderness so vast and untampered with having savannah grasslands that tend to dry when it’s hot and all green when rains set in. the park has the second highest number of bird species in Uganda recorded at 475 species in the park such ostriches, secretary bird, raptors, red throated bee-eaters, Abyssinian ground hornbill, kori bustard, dark chanting goshawk, red and yellow barbet, purple heron, clappertons francolin, Karamojong apalis, red billed ox-pecker, pygmy falcon, Ethiopian swallow, Jackson’s hornbills, golden pipit, chestnut weaver, rose ringed parakeet and egyptian vultures, among others along with 83 mammal species such as elephants, zebras, buffaloes, rothschild’s giraffes, kobs, hartebeests, blue monkey, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, lions, wild dogs, jackals among others. Expect to enjoy views of big buffalo and elephant herds. You will have a nature walk and hike on higher altitudes of the park to have a vast scene of the park and its wild game. You will wind up the day while driving out of the park head to Murchison falls national park.

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Day 22

Destination: transfer to Sipi falls

On this day you will embark on a road trip drive connecting from Kidepo valley national park to Sipi falls in eastern Uganda. This journey will undeniably guarantee you more scenic moments from lakes, rivers, woodlands, volcanic features and rocks, rich African culture and numerous bird species that live in these areas and those migrating from and to different areas for food and settlement.

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Day 23

Destination: Sipi falls

On this day you will continue with the 3 different water falls (Sipi, Simba, Ngasire) that pour from cliffs as high as 95 meters and are separated by steep hillsides. The falls are found outside mountain Elgon national park. During the hike you get across numerous other unnamed water falls across the steep slopes, a number of bird species as you hike along, can engage in fly fishing, biking among others. Later on you will visit the surrounding community for an agro-tour more so of the special indigenous Arabica coffee and coffee tasting sessions. Numerous bird species such as the blue turaco, Abyssinian horn bill, Jackson’s hornbills, golden pipit, chestnut weaver, rose ringed parakeet and egyptian vultures among others are still seen in this place.

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Day 24-25

Destination: mount Elgon NP & Mbale city tour

On this day you will start your journey from Sipi falls to mount Elgon national park while enjoying sights of the Elgon peaks, numerous water falls flowing from the mountain caldera, montane vegetation that cascades on the slopes of the mountain, volcanic plugs, basalt cliffs and many others volcanic features and rocks. You will then go through the park and its forests enjoying its wild game such as blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, de brazza’s monkey, leopards, elephant and cape buffaloes. Different from other parts of Uganda growing colonal and robusta coffee, Mbale specifically grows Arabica coffee from the ancient times and is one of the few places in the world that grow this type of coffee more so because of the fertile volcanic soils on the slopes of the Mountain Elgon which the masaba people occupy. Mbale was once the world’s determinant of the price of Arabica coffee on the world which it is partly is today given the high yields and quantity of coffee produced; thumbs up for the Mbale farmers’ cooperative Union that has stood firm with the farmers to uphold this area to the pride of this cash crop. The union has a great contribution to the organisations and development of Mbale town and people’s welfare. On this day you will also reach out to some traditional sites and be entertained by the masaba people with their famous Embalu dance and learn more about the essence of this tradition. The area also has eco resorts, art and crafts centres that sell various artifacts from different Ugandan traditions. The welcoming people of Mbale will make you feel at home and get you enjoying their local dishes such as matooke (bananas), cassava, millet, maleewa (a famous delicacy and soup prepared from soft bamboo shoots), ground nuts, mchomo (barbeques) among others. Later in the evening hours you will set off for Jinja town a journey that will continually grant you more volcanic geographical features such as rocks, volcanic plugs among others.

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Day 26-27

Destination: source of the Nile

This 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. The clean and white waters 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, water surfing, swimming, canoeing, river boarding, quad biking around the river banks among others. The river banks 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. The green sparsely forested areas will provide a chilling breeze for nature walks and relaxations that will grant you a memorable time at the source of the river Nile.

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Day 28

Destination: kampala city tour

On this day you will head to Kampala and then embark on a city tour around the hills of Kampala and its streets. This tour will get you to various historical administrative, economic and cultural sites and centres in the city have affected the development of Uganda as a country such as the Kasubi tombs where 3 ancient kings are buried, the Rubaga cathedral; headquarters of the Catholics’ faith, namirembe cathedral; headquarters of the protestant faith, Kaddafi mosque; headquarters of the Muslim faith, Baha’i temple of the Baha’i faith, fort Laggard the first administrator of Kampala city, the parliament building of Uganda among others. Food and commodity markets around Kampala are so interesting and have a great reflection of how the county’s population survives; these will get you have some taste on fresh fruits, vegetables grown in the country and street food delicacies like the rolex (an egg omelet rolled in chapatti). 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.

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Day 29

Destination: botanical gardens & Lake Victoria shores

Today, 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. The gardens are also common for biking/ cycling safari, monkey feeding, birding safari and 500 plant species including both exotic and indigenous. The park has more than 400 recorded bird species that inhabit these gardens such as; blue headed Coucal, white egrets, red-chested cuckoo, black cuckoo, African cuckoo, laughing dove, rock pigeon, egyptian goose, yellow-billed buck, red-billed duck, spur winged goose, white faced whistling duck, blue turaco among others.  These plants are categorized into indigenous and exotic fruits, medicinal, beverage, spices, ornamentals, timber, oils and important crop wild relatives, several of these threatened in the wild and agro-ecosystems. The shores of Lake Victoria; Africa’s largest lake for a rest as you chill in the cool lake breeze, scenic endless water horizons and numerous green islands and swampy shores that can also be visited by boat cruises, speed boats or canoes. These harbor numerous bird species with kingfisher being common and almost visible all over, egyptian geese, water ducks, eagles, kites, marabou storks, white egrets and these shores become more interesting in the period between June and September when hundreds of migrant bird species from Europe fly in to settle at the shores of this lake.

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Day 30

Destination: departure

This last day of the trip will find you at the shores of Lake Victoria relaxing from the long action packed safari around Uganda. Following these relaxing sessions will your departure flight and saying goodbye to Uganda.

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