12-DAYS BIRDING SAFARI UGANDA
Mabamba Swamp, Mabira Forest, Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale Forest, Murchison Falls National Parks. Tour Code: INS016

Day One: Airport pickup
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel by one of our personnel. Rest/overnight at budget-Banda Inns BB, midrange-Hotel Africana BB, upgrade-Mamba Point BB.

Day 2: Mabamba Swamps-Kampala
After an early breakfast with your packed lunch drive to Mabamba Swamps on the shores of Lake Victoria. Most of the birding is done by canoe. Look out for the rare shoebill, Blue Breasted Bee-eater, Papyrus gonolek, Great Blue Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, white faced whistling duck, African water rail, Goliath herons, spur winged and Pygmy Geese. Dinner and overnight at budget-Banda Inns BB, midrange-Hotel Africana BB, upgrade-Mamba Point BB.

Day 3: Mabira Forest-Kampala
Head to Mabira Forest after an early breakfast birding en-route. Mabira forest reserve is the largest block of moist semi deciduous forest remaining in the central region of Uganda. Look out for the Cassin Hawk Eagle, Nahans Francolin, Blue Headed Crested flycatcher, Grey Spotted Wood Pecker, Black shouldered Nightjar, purple throated  roller, white spotted fluftail, red headed Malimbe. Dinner & overnight at budget-Banda Inns BB, midrange-Hotel Africana BB, upgrade-Mamba Point BB.

Day 4: Transfer to Lake Mburo
After an early breakfast set off for Lake Mburo National Park a home of about 313 bird species with a brief stop at the Equator lunch en-route. Birding to the park begins as you turn off to Nshara gate. You will have an evening game drive and a taste of game viewing as you look out for the Handsome Francolin, lilac-breasted roller, red faced barbet, Rufuos bellied heron, green capped Eremomela, long tailed Cisticola. Other birds to look out for include the rare shoebill stork, Greater and Lesser Swamp Warbler; White winged Warbler, white backed night heron. Dinner & overnight at upgrade-Mihingo Lodge FB, budget-Rwonya Camp bed only.

Day 5: Lake Mburo
After an early breakfast embark on a foot safari (Nature Walk). While on the walk look out for the Red faced Barbet, Bare faced go away bird, Varreaux’s Eagle Owl, Yellow billed ox pecker and lead coloured flycatcher. Lunch break. Transfer to the lakeside for a boat ride. The boat ride may yield sight seeings of  the African Finfoot before it disappears into the papyrus floating on the lake. Proceed with an optional late afternoon game drive along the Zebra track. The African Wattled Plover, Black bellied bustard, and Temmricks Courser may be sighted. Also look out for other animal species such as Burchell’s Zebra and the Comical Warthogs. Dinner & overnight at upgrade-Mihingo Lodge, budget- Rwonyo Camp bed only.

Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
After breakfast drive to Queen Elizabeth. The drive takes you through the grasslands of Ankole; look out for the famous long horned cattle. Over 600 bird species have been recorded so far thus making the park a birders paradise. It is one of the richest parks in Africa and supports an astounding density of flora and fauna. Lunch en-route; birds to lookout for include the Great Snipe, the African Fish Eagles, Pallid Harrier, Gull billed Tern, Lesser Kestrel and Shoebill stork. Dinner and overnight at budget-Albertine Rift Safari Lodge FB, midrange-Kingfisher Kichwamba FB, upgrade-Mweya Safari Lodge FB.

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth
After an early breakfast drive to Maramagambo for a nature walk through the forest. The highlight of this nature walk is the visit to the bat cave on a good day the black and white colobus monkeys may also be seen. Transfer to the dock on the channel for an afternoon launch cruise on Kazinga channel which joins Lakes Edward and George: This waterway is a birders paradise and those who experience it, consider it the highlight of their entire African safari. Birds to look out for include the Great Snipe, the African Fish Eagles, Pallid Harrier, Gull billed Tern, Lesser Kestrel and Shoebill stork, fawn breasted Waxbill, Sulphur breasted bush shrike, dark capped yellow warbler, red headed blue bill, African Fin foot and the Eurasian golden oriole.  Dinner and overnight at budget-Albertine Rift Safari Lodge FB, midrange-Kingfisher Kichwamba FB, upgrade-Mweya Safari Lodge FB

Day 8: Transfer to Fort Portal-Kibale National Park
After breakfast transfer to Kibale Forest National Park. This park is home to the largest number of the endangered Chimpanzee as well as the rare I’hoesti and Colobus monkeys. Over 325 bird species have been recorded in this park among which take time to look out for the African broadbill, white winged warbler and the blue headed Coucal, Narina tragon, red tailed bristle bill, spot flanked barbet. Dinner and over night at budget-Rwenzori View guest House BB, midrange-Mountains of the moon hotel BB, upgrade-Kibale Primate Lodge FB.

Day 9: Kibale National Park
After an early breakfast, go out to the forest in search of the Will cocks honey guide, Joyful Greenbul, superb Black Bee eater, black bellied seed cracker, Bi colored Mannikin, Yellow rumped tinker bird and yellow nicator. Butterflies, Olive Baboons, Mangabey, bush pig and the giant forest hog may also be spotted. After lunch you will visit the Bigodi wetland sanctuary. Dinner and overnight at budget-Rwenzori View guest House BB, midrange-Mountains of the moon hotel BB, upgrade-Kibale Primate Lodge FB.

Day 10: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park
Depart early in the morning for Murchison Falls National Park. This park has a variety of tourist facilities and is becoming well known internationally as one of the best sites in Africa for seeing the endangered shoebill stork. Have a stopover for Lunch en-route. Visit the “Top of the Falls” in the evening to see the bat hawk and night jar as well as enjoy the spectacular scenic view of water that drops 45 metres and forces its way through a 7 meter gorge. Look out for Rock Pratincole and the African Skimmer, white faced fronted whistling duck, Red shouldered Cuckoo Slice. Dinner and overnight at budget-Red Chili Camp bed only, midrange-Sambiya River Lodge BB, Paraa Safari Lodge FB.

Day 11: Murchison Falls National Park
Rise early morning and embark on a game drive. Look out for bird species such as the spotted morning thrush, Denhan’s Bustard, Pallid Harrier, Lesser kestrel, swallow tailed Bee eater and other animals such as Giraffes, Elephants and cobs. Lunch break. Embark on an afternoon launch cruise on to the bottom of the falls. As you cruise up the historic Nile, you will most likely be able to see dazzling red throated bee eaters, Goliath heron, malachite king fisher, Wattled plover, common Drongo, hippos, water buck and the Nile crocodile many of which grow to enormous size. Dinner and over night at at budget-Red Chili Camp bed only, midrange-Sambiya River Lodge BB, Paraa Safari Lodge FB.

Day 12: Transfer to Kampala
After breakfast transfer to Kampala lunch en-route

Cost of the tour

Included in the package:

• All accommodation meal plan as stated
• Airport transfers
• Transport (4WD) and Fuel for the whole trip plus a full time safari guide
• Forest/nature walks, game drives, launch cruises, bird watching in destinations mentioned
• Park entrance charges
• Accommodation for the first night prior to the morning of the trip
• Gorilla and chimp permits
• Water through out the trip

Excluded from the package:

• Phone calls, bar bills, laundry bills and any other personal expense not included on the itinerary.
• The last night after the trip
• Tips
• Any birding in destinations not mentioned or off the route to be traveled
• Fees for extra activities not included in the itinerary as well as optional activities

Upgrade Accommodation in respective destinations