Tour Type: Private Tour, flexible and customized
Guide & Driver: Experienced English-speaking driver guide & air-conditioned car
Hotel: Well selected hotels, also be open to your own choice
Itinerary |
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe, airport pick-up
Welcome to join the gorilla trekking tours! Your driver guide will pick you up at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and transfer you to the hotel in Kampala, taking 40-50 minutes (25 miles).
Accommodation: Cassia Lodge Kampala |
Day 2: Birding in Mabamba Swamp & transfer to Masindi afternoon
After breakfast, we will head to the west of Kampala, Mabamba Swamp on Lake Victoria to start your bird watching tour. The magic of this place is that you can see endangered whale head stork (shoebill stork). Canoeing along the narrow waterways of the swamp, you will also have the opportunity to see other birds, such as Lesser Jacana, Black-Shouldered kite, Blue Swallow, etc. After lunch, go to Masindi town by car for about 4 hours (260km) to relax and have dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Kabalega Resort |
Day 3: Birding experience, head for Murchison Falls National Park
After breakfast, we'll head to the adjacent Budongo Forest to begin the bird watching tour. This forest provides opportunities for you to spot different birds such as Sabine's and graceful Cassin's Spinetail, Nahan's Francolin and more than twenty other kinds. You may also find primates, such as black-and-white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, and blue monkeys. Afterwards, you will observe the birds along the Albertine cliffs with beautiful views. Then drive for 1.5 hours to Murchison Falls National Park for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Murchison River Lodge |
Day 4: Private birding tour in Delta area, transfer back to Masindi
Murchison Falls National Park, the biggest park in Uganda, is home to 451 kinds of birds, such as the biggest heron - Goliath Heron, a couple of Crowned Cranes - the national birds of Uganda, the Weaver Birds and Squacco Heron. In the early morning, bird watching tour will start to Delta area by boat to see some rare birds like Shoebill stork. Also experience the great Nile River flowing into Lake Albert during the boat journey. Today, there are a lot of bird watching activities. You may also have a chance to explore some wild animals, such as elephants, buffalos, lions and so on. Next, head to the top of the waterfall for bird watching and sightseeing. After that, we will return to Masindi Town by car for about 1.5 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Packed lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Kabalega Resort |
Day 5: Drive to Kibale National Park (265km, 5hs driving) & Enjoy birding on the way
After breakfast, we will drive to Kibale National Park. On the way, you could sightsee the local villages and small towns. The vegetation is lush in this area, and you can watch birds easily. The biggest highlight is in Sebitoli Forest, which is an extension of Kibale National Park. Here you can see a variety of birds. Continue to pass through the lush Fort Portal green tea estate and then approach the town of Fort Portal under Rwenzori Mountains. At an altitude of 5,109 meters (16,762 feet), Rwenzori Mountains is known as the legendary Moon Mountain, which is also the third highest mountain in the African continent. After that, you will arrive at Kibale, taking a rest and having dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp |
Day 6: Birding and chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park
This morning, you will be guided to explore the birds in Kibale National Park where you may see more than 20 different species of birds, such as Yellow Spotted Nicator, Crowned Eagle, Afep Pigeon.
Kibale National Park, also known as the primate capital of the world, will provide you with an excellent opportunity for chimpanzee trekking. There is a brief explanation meeting for the trekking at 2:00 pm. After that, you will be accompanied by park ranger in the forest to track these magical apes. You will have 1 hour to watch them chewing fruit, hunting, patrolling, or mating. After the trip, we will return to Fort Portal. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel |
Day 7: Drive to Semliki, birding and go back to Fort Portal
After breakfast, we'll leave for Semliki Forest National Park by car, taking 1.5 hours (78km). Semliki forest is the extension part of the western African forest. In Semliki, you could see Bate's Nightjar, Black-throated Coucal, Yellow-throated Cuckoo and Congo Serpent Eagle.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel |
Day 8: Private transfer to Queen Elizabeth and birding in the savannah
Today we'll drive for 1.5 hours (60 km) to Queen Elizabeth National Park and watch birds in Savannah and Kazinga Channel. There are more than 600 kinds of birds such as Lappet Faced Vultures, Martial Eagle, and Temminck's Courser. Meanwhile, other wild animals like elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, antelopes may haunt. Afterwards, we will return to the lodge and you will enjoy a free afternoon on your own.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Bush Lodge |
Day 9: Leave for Bwindi Impenetrable National Park & Birding
After having breakfast, we'll drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is 160 kilometers (99 miles) from Buhoma. When passing by Ishasha in the south of Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may encounter tree-climbing lions which like hanging out in fig trees. The low, curvy branches of the fig trees provide a resting place and good vision for these lions.
On the way, you may also view some kinds of birds in the African savanna, such as African White-backed Vulture, Martial Eagle, and Brown Snake Eagle. Afterwards, arrive in Bwindi. In the evening, we will go bird watching along the edge of the Bwindi forest. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: The Haven Lodge Buhoma |
Day 10: Birding in Buhoma and relax in the afternoon
Today we'll head to the forest and spot birds like Ashy Flycatcher, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and slender-billed starling along the waterfall. After the watching, return to the lodge and the afternoon is free for you to relax or rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: The Haven Lodge Buhoma |
Day 11: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi and drive to Ruhija
In the morning, we will hear rangers explaining the key points of gorilla trekking at Ruhija Park Headquarters and then start the challenging journey through the Bwindi jungle. There are valleys, swamps, steep slopes and rocks in the Bwindi jungle. Along with the gorilla trekking, you will hear the singing of birds and find these endangered apes and observe them foraging and socializing. When you spend an hour with them, you will be surprised to find that they welcome you, interact with you, and finally even say goodbye to you. The whole activity lasts about 2-8 hours. After that, return to Ruhija by car.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp |
Day 12: Birding in Ruhija, Continue to Umubwindi Swamp
The Ruhija in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a paradise for bird lovers. There are many kinds of birds like Streaky Seed-Eater, Western Bronze Naped Pigoen, and Augar Buzzard. The extension area of Umubwindi Swamp provides the best place for bird watching. You can see Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher and Olive.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp |
Day 13: Drive to Lake Mburo, Afternoon birding in the savannah
After breakfast, we'll drive for 235 kilometers (146 miles) to Lake Mburo National Park. You will pass through the scenic hillsides of southwest Uganda. After lunch at the lodge, the afternoon will be contributed to the bird watching on the African savannah.
On this itinerary, you will see Acacia associated birds, including Tabora Cisticola and Mburo's endemic Red-faced Barbet a. There are also other wild animals inhabiting the park, such as the Topis, Rothschild giraffes and zebras. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock |
Day 14: Birding boat ride on Lake Mburo, transfer to Entebbe for flight departure
In the early morning, we are taking a boat to visit Lake Mburo and it is possible to see African fish eagles, Kingfishers, African finfoot. Your gorilla trekking tours come to an end here and you will be escorted to Entebbe International Airport, which takes about 4 hours over the 225 kilometers (140 miles) distance. Wish you a smooth flight home!
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch |
