10 DAYS BIRDING IN THE PEARL OF AFRICA

Trip Highlights:

• Main destination is Mabamba Swamp, Semliki, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
• Birding
• Game drives
• Boat cruises
• Chimpanzee tracking
• Optional actives in each National Park
• Gorilla tracking
• You will stay in either luxury lodges or mid range lodges with meals included.
• Scheduled flights where necessary
• You will be travelling in a 4×4 safari vehicle.

Day by day tour program:

Day 1 –

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by Thousand Hills Expeditions’ representative who will assist you with customs and immigration clearance, thereafter you will be transferred to the hotel.

Optional activities depending on your arrival time: 

• Visit the Botanical Gardens.
• A sunset Boat cruise on Lake Victoria.
• Visit the Craft village.
• Explore the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.
• Guided walking tours.
• Bird-watching around Lake Victoria Shores.
• Fishing trip.
• Ngamba Island
• Visit the Fishing Village.

Lunch and dinner under own arrangements.

Overnight at your hotel. ( BB)

Day 2-

After breakfast at 7:00am, drive to Entebbe pier where you will find your private boat waiting for you and ride to Mabamba swamp. This charismatic species, the only representative in its family, is certainly amongst the most sought-after birds in Africa and we'll make special efforts today to find it by paddling through the channels by boat. Other birds you may expect to see include Pink-backed Pelican, Long-tailed Cormorant, Goliath Heron, African Fish-Eagle, African Marsh-Harrier, Yellow-billed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher along with slightly more local species such as Long-toed Plover, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, Swamp Flycatcher, White-winged Tern, African Jacana & Papyrus Yellow Warblers.

The Mabamba Swamps west of Entebbe is one of the best and most convenient places to see the elusive Shoebill. After a few minutes in a small canoe the papyrus reeds open up into a flat grassy wetland where a number of Shoebill can regularly be seen.

The bird is easiest seen in the morning when they stalk their main prey, the mudfish or frogs, but may be spotted all day. They may stand absolutely still for long periods awaiting the movements of their prey and then suddenly strike with a marvelous speed. 

Although one can reach Mabamba by road we highly recommend the boat tour across Lake Victoria. Reaching Mabamba by boat, rather than by car, gives you an opportunity to see many of the birds that you may otherwise miss. Sometimes even the shoebill may elude you in the canoes only to be seen as you approach, or leave, by the bigger boat. 

Return to Entebbe pier at Mid-day where you will find your driver waiting for you and drive to the hotel.

After lunch visit the Entebbe Botanical gardens.

The Entebbe Botanical Gardens is a beautiful escape in the heart of Uganda. Established in 1898, this historic garden is home to many exotic plants and vibrant flowers. It stretches over 40 hectares along the shores of Lake Victoria, offering picturesque views. As you wander through the pathways, you’ll discover diverse flora, from tropical trees to lush shrubs. The gardens also house various bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. Rare orchids and bamboo groves create stunning backdrops for photos, perfect for nature enthusiasts.

Lunch and dinner under own arrangements.

Overnight at your hotel. ( BB)

Day 3 –

After an early breakfast, you will be transferred to Semliki National Park, you will go birding all the way up to the lodge (Approx... 7 hour’s drive). On arrival, check in at Semliki Safari Lodge.

Semliki National Park, an extension of the Congo's vast Ituri rainforest, is situated on the Uganda/Congo border, approx. 240 kms/6 hrs from Kampala between Lake Albert and the Rwenzori’s. Totally off the beaten track with breathtaking scenery and fuming 130ºC hot-springs, this rich mosaic of grassland savannah, tropical lowland forest, bamboo forest and wetland habitats is endowed with a correspondingly diverse fauna. While the Uganda kob is the most common large mammal, there are also forest elephants, giraffe, chimpanzees, buffalo, leopard, sitatunga, pigmy hippos, crocodile, chimps, even the more localized De Brazza's monkey, and antelopes.

But the main attraction in Semliki remains birding over her well-established birding trails that loop around the hot springs at Sempaya. The over 400 species of birds recorded include many West African forest types like White Crested, Red Dwarf, Black Dwarf and Wattled Casque Hornbills as well as the shoebill stork, Red Rumped Tinker Bird and the Palm Greenbul (a localized endemic). The park remains of special interest to ornithologists for some 40 essentially Congolese species found nowhere else in Uganda.

In the evening, go birding around the lodge.

In the evening go birding.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge. ( FB)

Day 4 –

Have your breakfast, and go for a boat cruise on lake Albert, this area is known for having very many shoebills, you have a very high chance of seeing one plus many other birds, Semliki is known for birding.

In the evening go for a game drive.

Several species of wildlife are viewed well in Toro Semliki Wildlife Reserve. Big mammal species such as lions, leopards, hyena, antelopes, elephants, warthogs, crocodiles, and pygmy hippopotamus, various species of primates such as chimpanzee, white and black among others can be seen. Game drive can be arranged in the morning, evening and at night, as it is regarded as the only park in Uganda where game drives can be arranged at night and you may come across curious night species such as the white-tailed mongoose, standard night pennant winged night jars.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT SEMLIKI SAFARI LODGE (FB)

Day 5

Early in the morning take breakfast, and with packed lunch go for full day birding on the Kirumira trail or forest. This early morning birding rewards you with species like African scops Owl, Pearl spotted Owlet and Night jars. The Forest being a home to some of the Congo biome species this birding will also reward you with birds like, African piculet, Zenkel, Red billed, Nkurengu rail, honey guide, Black chested cuckoo, red rumped tinkerbird, Rufous sided broadbill, Green tailed bristle bill, White bellied, dwarf and Pygmy kingfishers, piping, white thighed, black and white casqued, and African pied hornbills, fire crested Aletha, red bellied and blue billed malimbe, black wattled, black bill and white crested hornbill, swamp palm bulbul, forest scrub robin, Leaf love, red breasted sparrow hawk, and others.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT AT SEMLIKI SAFARI LODGE (FB)

Day 6

Have your morning breakfast served at 7:30am before transferring to and transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (approx. 4 hours’ drive). Check in at your lodge.

Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), located in western Uganda, approx. 438 kms/6 hrs southwest of Kampala is Uganda’s most popular savannah park. Her 1,978 sq. km of open savannah, rainforest, dense papyrus swamps and brooding crater lakes extends from Lake George in the northeast to Lake Edward in the southwest and includes Maramagambo Forest and Kazinga Channel connects the 2 lakes.

QENP is home to an incredible array of wildlife including almost 100 species of mammals, from hippos, elephants, leopards, lions, the elusive giant forest hog, the handsome Uganda kob to Chimpanzees in her Kyambura Gorge; all these in addition to over 600 bird species.

Much of the best game viewing is in the northern, Mweya Peninsula area which boasts a marvellous waterfront setting in the shadow of the Rwenzoris. The southern area of Ishasha exiting towards Bwindi is famous for its tree-climbing lions, whose males sport black manes, a feature unique to lions in this area.

It is also famous for its volcanic features; volcanic cones and deep craters, many with crater lakes such as Lake Katwe, from which salt is extracted. Unique activities include regular game drives, Launch cruises on Kazinga channel, Chimps tracking in Kyambura gorge and Guided walks in Maragambo forest.

In the afternoon grace yourself for a unique scheduled boat cruise on the Kazinga channel that joins Lake Edward to Lake George and also famous for the highest concentration of hippos in Africa. You may also encounter crocodiles, countless of birds on the shore and overhead and in the water of the channel. This is a pleasant boat ride where you can get some great pictures of elephants and buffaloes on shore. Hopefully an open-mouthed hippo shot.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT at your lodge (FB)

Day 7-

After an early breakfast you will go birding for the whole day. Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park is an incredible treat as this is Uganda’s most popular and most scenic National Park that contains a variety of habitats that range from savanna to wetlands to lowland forests. This diversity is reflected in the list of over 600 bird species, the biggest of any protected area in Uganda. A majority of the birds found in this area are regarded as famous birds of East Africa and are a must see for birdwatchers in Africa!  You will go birding in Katwe area, In this area, there are several crater lakes and swamps. Here, Lake Munyanyange is favored by various water birds, especially a concentration of Lesser Flamingos and a few Greater Flamingos.  The species that can be seen here include: Lesser Flamingos, Greater Flamingos, Eurasian Mash Harrier, Montagu’s Harrier, Pallid Harrier, Avocet, Common Greenshank, Little Stint, Curlew Sandpiper, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gull-billed Tern, Red-capped Lark, Broad-tailed Warbler, African Moustached Warbler, Croaking Cisticola, and Southern Red Bishop

Dinner and overnight at your lodge. ( FB)

Day 8-

After breakfast at 7:30am, check out and transfer to Bwindi National Park (approx.6hrs drive) with a lunch stopover at Savannah hotel. Arriving in the afternoon and check in at your lodge.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park’s 331 sq. kms of montane and lowland forest jungle lies in southwestern Uganda, 540 kms from Kampala. A UNESCO World Heritage Site and accessible only on foot, it is one of the richest ecosystems in Africa providing habitat for over 90 mammals (including 11 primates), 346 species of birds (including 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics), 202 species of butterflies, 163 tree species, over 100 species of ferns, 27 species of frogs, chameleons, geckos and other endangered species.

Bwindi is however most notable for her 340 Mountain Gorillas, about half the world's population of this critically endangered primate. Gazetted in 1991, the park rose to her peak after Gorilla tracking became a tourist activity in April of 1993, converting it into one of the most popular tourist destinations on earth. The 7 habituated families include Mubare, Habinyanja, Rushegura near Buhoma and the Nkuringo group.

Activities include: Gorilla tracking, Forest walks, Cultural visits with the Batwa people and unbelievable bird watching - this is Africa’s richest country birds-wise with over 1,000 species recorded including almost half the continent’s known species and over 10% of those recorded around the world.

In the afternoon, you will go birding in the forest.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge. ( FB)

Day 9

Wake up and prepare for the unforgettable experience! After an early breakfast transfer to the park HQs for pre-Gorilla tracking briefing and about the gorilla family you will track then 08:00 AM: set off into the forest in the footsteps of the Mountain Gorillas. You will be led by experienced gorilla trackers on the slopes of the volcanoes. You will start from the site where the gorillas were encountered the day before and from here the gorilla tracking begins. It is a humbling experience to stand just meters from man’s distant cousins as they eat rest, play and bond with their young. Follow the mountain gorillas as they range freely in the impenetrable forest, and discover their gorgeous natural habitual and the many species they share it with. You are allowed an hour with the gorillas.

The trekking can take from 1 to 5 hours but sometimes it might take long hours. The terrain is rough and at times muddy. Although the hike is physically demanding the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the trekking worthwhile. Once the gorillas are located all fatigue is forgotten, as the experience is often described as being the most profound natural history experience in the world. Cameras and plenty of fast speed film is recommended. It can rain at a few minutes’ notice; hence waterproof clothing is a good essential including zip lock bags for cameras and film. It is important to take plenty of water.

Afterwards trek back to the lodge for lunch and a refreshing shower.

After lunch, go for a birding in the forest.

Dinner and overnight at your lodge. ( FB)

Day 10

After an early breakfast, check out and transfer to Kihihi airstrip (approx. 2 hrs drive) to take your scheduled flight which departs at 0945hrs to Entebbe arriving at 1125hrs. Upon arrival you will check in for your international flight.

WHAT IS INCLUDED:

• Airport transfers
• Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle
• Services of an English-speaking driver guide
• Fuel for the whole trip
• Accommodation and meal plan as per the itinerary
• Drinking water while in the vehicle
• Park entry fees
• Boat Cruises
• Birding fees
• Emergency evacuation cover

WHAT IS EXCLUDED:

• International airfares
• Uganda Visa-USD50 or Eat African tourist visa – USD 100 which has to be applied online
• All tracking permits
• Optional activities
• Scheduled flight were applied
• Personal items for example drinks and laundry
• Tips and Gratuity