Compare 14-Day Uganda Birding and Primate Safari by Nature Travel Namibia vs Uganda in 8 days - Land of the Primates - CHARM by Exoticca

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

Meals : Breakfast & dinner

Accommodation:The Boma Nairobi

Main Destination: Entebbe

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport you will be met by a company representative and transferred you to your Hotel. But depending on your time of arrival we may go for optional birding in either the botanical gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education centre which will give us a great overview of the more common and widespread species found in Uganda.

Drinks not included

Day 2:Mabamba Swamp

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kabalega Resort

Main Destination: Mabamba Swamp

After breakfast, we will embark on the birding journey to Mabamba swamp, a large wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria in the west of Kampala. The magical offering of this destination is the endangered Shoebill, Uganda’s most famous avian resident. The canoe paddle along the narrow channels of the swamp will give you chances of sighting other bird species like: Lesser Jacana, Black-winged Kite, Blue Swallow, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Carruther’s Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers as well as several species of herons, egrets and waterfowl. We will stop for lunch and then transfer to Masindi town where we will relax, have dinner and stay overnight at our lodge.

Drinks not included

Day 3: Budongo Forest

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Murchison's Falls River Lodge

Main Destination: Budongo Forest

Best Time to Visit: Dec to March and June to July (Easy chimp trekking)

Early morning we will transfer to the adjacent Budongo forest. Budongo Forest is the largest natural forest area in East Africa. The forest offers opportunities of spotting birds like Nahan’s Francolin, White-thighed Hornbill, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetails, Blue-throated Roller, Forest Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Ituri Batis, Tit Hylia, Forest Robin, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Grey-throated, Yellow-billed, Yellow -spotted and Hairy-breasted Barbets, Black-billed and Great Blue Turaco, Plain, Spotted, Slender-billed, Little Grey, White-throated and Little Greenbul, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-capped Apalis and Red-tailed Bristlebill among other species. Primate species that may also be spotted are Black-and-white colobus monkeys, Red tailed and blue monkeys. After our walk, we will drive towards the top of the falls. Here you have chances of viewing birds like the Pel’s Fishing-Owl and the Red-winged Grey Warbler.

Drinks not included

Day 4:Murchison Falls National Park and transfer to Masindi

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kabalega Resort

Main Destination: Murchison Falls National Park

Best Time to Visit: December to February (Easier to spot animals)

The mixed habitats of Uganda’s largest park, Murchison Falls National Park, are the perfect environment for a variety of birds, with 451 species recorded within the Park. Some of the species that can be seen during the boat ride on the Nile include: Shoebill, Swamp Flycatcher, Blue-headed Coucal, Squacco Heron, Sandpipers, African Jacana, Denham’s Bustard, Black-billed Barbet, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Black-headed Gonolek, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Weaver Birds, Pied, Piapiac, Silver bird, Giant and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eater, African Quail-Finch and Speckle-fronted Weaver. The boat ride will be followed by a birding drive with chances of spotting a range of game like Elephant, Rothschild giraffe, Buffalo, the Jackson’s Hartebeest, the Oribi, Uganda Kob, Lion, and Leopard amongst others. We will then cross with the ferry and transfer to Masindi. A stop will be made in Kaniyo Pabidi forest en route to look out for the Puvel’s Illadopsis.

Drinks not included

Day 5:Kibale National Park and Forest Birding

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp (Safari Tent)

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

Best Time to Visit: December to February and June to July

After breakfast, we transfer to Kibale National Park. We will be birding en route across low lying water logged environments in Kagadi and Kagorro forest reserve near Kyenjonjo. Upon arriving in Fort Portal Area, we will stop for lunch and proceed to Kibale Forest National Park for afternoon birding. Kibale National Park offers great flora concentration with 351 Species of trees some of which are 200 years old and over 55m tall. The park also supports 70 species of mammals and 13 species of Primates among which include the common chimpanzee, Black-and-white colobus and Red-tailed monkey. The 375 Species of birds thriving in the park include the impressive Western Green Tinker bird, two species of pittas (African and green-breasted), Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Grey Parrot and the endemic ground thrush (Turdus kibalensis). Another great birding day comes to an end and we transfer to the lodge for relaxation, dinner and our overnight stay.

Drinks not included

Day 6: Kibale National Park and optional Chimpanzee trekking

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Main Destination: Kibale Forest National Park

This day is designed to enable you to explore the birds of Kibale Forest National Park. We have a chance of spotting the Green-breasted Pitta along with other species like Afep Pigeon, Crowned Eagle, Red-chested Owlet, White-naped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Western Nicator, Little Greenbul, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Brown-chested Alethe, African Grey Parrot, Brown Illadopsis, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Black-capped Apalis, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Blue-headed Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Little Greenbul, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush and Black-eared Ground-Thrush.

Kibale National Park is also known as the Primate capital of the world and presents an amazing opportunity for guests to engage in optional Chimpanzee trekking in the afternoon. Briefing starts at 2pm after which you head to the forest in search of these amazing apes.

After the Chimpanzee trekking we will drive to Fort Portal for our overnight stay at the hotel.

Drinks not included

Day 7: Birding Semliki National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel

Main Destination: Semuliki National Park

After an early breakfast embark on the transfer to Semliki Forest National Park. The forest tract of Semliki is an extension of West African jungle that stretches from Equatorial Guinea through Congo forming a habitat for Guinea Congo biome species that do not exist in other areas of East Africa. The encounter in Semliki offers you chances of spotting specialties like Congo Serpent Eagle, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Bate's Nightjar, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Rufous-sided, Black-winged Broadbill, Black-throated Coucal, Icterine Greenbul, Nkulengu Rail, Spot-breasted Ibis, Long-tailed Hawk, Capuchin Babbler, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Red-chested Owlet, Black-collared Lovebird, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, White-bellied Kingfisher, Zenker's and Lyre-tailed Honey guides, White-throated Blue Swallow, Blue-billed Malimbe, Chestnut Bellied and Pale-fronted Negrofinch, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Piping, Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, White Crested, African Piculet among other bird species.

Drinks not included

Day 8: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Bush Lodge - Bandas

Main Destination: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best Time to Visit:January to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

Early morning we will depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park, where we will bird in the savannah and Kazinga Channel exploring some of its 600 bird species including Temminck's Courser, Rupell's Griffon, Martial Eagle, White Headed, Lappet Faced Vultures, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, African Skimmer, Black Headed Gonolek, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Amur Falcon, Lowland Akalat, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Greater and Lesser Flamingo among others. The sights of wildlife like Elephants, Buffaloes, Lions, Leopard and Antelopes among others may not be missed. We will embark on a private boat ride at Kazinga Channel late afternoon.

Drinks not included

Day 9: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation:  Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February

After breakfast we will make our way to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park but first we will explore the Ishasha section in the often climb the fig trees of Ishasha with the low lying branches of the fig trees offering the lions a great vantage point. From a birding point of view we hope to see birds like Palm-nut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Brown Snake Eagle, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Bateleur, Long-created Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Crowned Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Helmeted Guineafowl, African Crake, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Senegal Plover, African Green Pigeon, Ross’s Turaco, Striped Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Double-toothed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Greater Honey guide, Grey Woodpecker, White-browed Robin-Chat, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Green Crombec, Cisticolas, Grey-backed Fiscal and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.

Drinks not included

Day 10: Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Buhoma Community Haven Lodge

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After your early morning breakfast, we will gather at the Park Headquarters for a briefing from the park rangers about the conduct of gorilla trekking. After the short briefing, we will embark on the challenging trek through the impenetrable jungle of Bwindi with its rugged landscape involving valleys, swamps, steep slopes and rocky areas amidst amazing jungle sounds and bird song. Once we came across these incredible creatures we will spend about an hour with them observing them going on with their daily routine. The activity ranges between 2 – 8 hours and if time allows we will bird in the afternoon around the lodge. We will spend the evening relaxing at the lodge chatting about this incredible experience.

Drinks not included

Day 11: Birding Ruhija via Neck

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning after breakfast we will go birding in the Ruhija area and look out for birds like the Grey-throated Barbet, Red-tailed and Shelley’s Greenbul, Common Buzzard, Red-throated Alethe, African Shrike-flycatcher Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater to mention but a few. Transfer to our lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Drinks not included

Day 12: Ruhija and extension to Umubwindi Swamp

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Main Destination: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

The Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a true birders’ paradise. The forested hillslopes of Ruhija offers birds like Macknon’s Fiscal, Augar Buzzard, Tropical Boubou, Ayre’s Hawk-eagle, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, Mountain Buzzard and Wagtail, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Barred and Dusky Long Tailed Cuckoo, Black-faced Rufous-warbler, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Ducky Tit, Ludhur’s and Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Grey Cuckoo-Shrike, Grey-Green Bush-Shrike, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Streaky Seed-eater, White Starred Robin and Stripe-breasted Tit. Umubwindi swamp offers us the chance to see Olive, Elliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpecker, Black-billed Turaco, African Hill Babbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Illadopsis, Mountain Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Chestnut-throated, Collard and Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Stripe-breasted Tit, Mountain, African Green-Broadbill, Regal Sunbird and Rwenzori Batis.

Drinks not included

Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation : Rwakobo Rock

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park

Best Time to Visit: June to August and December to February

After breakfast, we will drive to Lake Mburo National Park (235km). We will pass through the scenic hill sides of south western Uganda, lunch at the lodge and afternoon birding in the savannah. The afternoon birding offers you a chance of spotting a range of acacia associated birds including the Mburo’s endemic Red-faced Barbet and the unique Tabora Cisticola amongst others. The park is also home to Burchell’s Zebra, Rothschild giraffe, the Topis, Eland, Waterbuck, Buffalo, Impala and Warthog amongst other species.

Drinks not included

Day 14:Lake Mburo and transfer to Entebbe

Meals : Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Main Destination: Lake Mburo National Park

Our early morning private boat ride on Lake Mburo will increase our chances of viewing African Finfoot, a range of Kingfishers and the African Fish Eagle. We will slowly bird through the park as we drive to Entebbe for the flight departure back home. For those with late night flights, a day room in Entebbe can be arranged.

Drinks not included

Day 1: US - Night on board

Arrive at your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight * to Entebbe. Night on board. * If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Entebbe

Arrive in Entebbe, meet your guide and transfer to the hotel. A charming town, Entebbe is situated on the shore of Lake Victoria, Africa's largest lake. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, relaxing or exploring the town for a chance to experience the local culture. Overnight stay in Entebbe.

Day 3: Entebbe - Kibale Forest

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off to Kibale Forest National Park, enjoying the changing landscapes as you leave the town behind. Arrive in the afternoon and check in at your lodge. Kibale is a huge protected rainforest, known for being the home of a large number of primates such as chimpanzees red-tailed monkeys and grey-cheeked mangabey. Overnight stay in Kibale.

Day 4: Kibale Forest - Queen Elizabeth National Park

Breakfast at the lodge. In the morning register at the Park Offices and begin an exciting Chimpanzee Tracking Excursion. Go in search of man's most genetically similar animal, and begin with a trek through the rainforest until you make the first sightings of the Chimpanzees. Watch as the group go about their daily activities such as feeding, climbing, raising their young and noisily interacting with each other, while enjoying informative insights from your expert guide. Return to the lodge and in the afternoon head to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Set off early for a sunrise game drive in Uganda's most popular national park for the best chance of spotting the abundant wildlife of the region including lions, buffalo, elephants and nocturnal animals such as hyenas and leopards, with the beautiful soundtrack of morning bird song to accompany you. Return to the lodge for a late breakfast and relax at your leisure. Later, set off for an afternoon Launch Cruise on the Kanziga Channel, famous for its hippos, Nile crocodiles and buffalo. Overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Breakfast at the lodge. Drive south through the Ishasha area, famed for its tree-climbing lions, towards Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Spend the journey admiring the spectacular natural landscape. Continue to the southern sector of Bwindi, the iconic national park home to the elusive and endangered mountain gorillas. Arrive at the lodge and spend the rest of the day relaxing at your leisure. Overnight stay in Bwindi.

Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early breakfast at the lodge and set off to the Park Offices to register for your exciting Gorilla Tracking Excursion. Be assigned a particular family of Gorillas and head into the magical rainforest, abundant with colourful birds, butterfly and animals species, until you finally reach the group of Gorillas. Watch in awe as these majestic animals go about their daily lives, grooming, feeding and interacting with each other. It is an unforgettable experience to see Gorillas in the wild. Trek back to base and return to the lodge. Overnight stay in Bwindi.

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park - Lake Mburo National Park

Breakfast at the lodge. Leave Bwindi and drive towards Lake Mburo National Park, situated on the border of Tanzania and home to various species of savannah animals including lions, hyenas, zebras and giraffes, as well as water-loving animals such as hippos and crocodiles who can be found by the lake. Enjoy fantastic game-viewing as you make your way towards the lodge. Arrive and overnight stay in Lake Mburo.

Day 9: Lake Mburo – Entebbe - Night on board

Breakfast at the lodge. This morning enjoy either a game drive or a fascinating guided forest walk to get up close to the local wildlife. Afterwards, head back to Entebbe, stopping at the Equator, where you can stand in both hemispheres at once, and visit the Royal Drum Makers of Mpambire, masters of making hand-made drums. Arrive in Entebbe and transfer to the airport for your flight back to the US. Night on board.

Day 10: US

Arrive in the US and end your trip.