13 Days Birding:Mburo,Mgahinga,Bwindi,Semliki,Kibale
Day 1:
Have breakfast to drive off to Lake Mburo National park. The park is known to harbour diversity of bird species of which it is best known for its acacia associated species. You will reach in the afternoon and then later in the afternoon you will bird along the entrance to the park and Rwonyo camp. Look out for birds like Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted wood dove, Bare-faced go-away bird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Green wood-hoopoe, spot-flanked Barbet, Yellow throated Apalis, Marico sunbird and many more. Dinner and overnight at luxurious Mantana tented Camp/Budget Rwonyo Camp (FB)
Day 2:
Have breakfast very early in the morning to go for more birding in the park along the Kigambira loop, which traverses a variety of productive habitats. Expect birds like African Marsh Harriers, Banded Snake Eagles, Shikra Goshawks, Augur Buzzard, African fish, Twany, Steppe and African Hawk Eagles and many more. Retire for the boat ride on Lake Mburo in the afternoon to check out some of the water bird species such as Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfishers etc and then transfer to Mgahinga National Park. Dinner and overnight at luxurious Mantana tented Camp/Budget Rwonyo Camp (FB)
Day 3:
You will then transfer from Lake Mburo National park to Mgahinga. You will have a lunch stop in Mbarara and then proceed to reach in the afternoon. Rest, have dinner and spend the night at Mount Gahinga Rest Camp/Red chilli hide away.
Day 4:
Have breakfast to bird the whole day in Mgahinga National park. You should look out for birds like African Hills Barbler, White-starred Robin, Brown Woodland warbler strip breasted tit, weavers, sunbirds and many more. The Gorge trail up Mt Sabinyi is the best area to search for the elusive Rwenzori turaco, the park boundaries are places to find species like Banded prinia, Doherty’s Bush-shrike and Chubb’s Cisticola. Dinner and overnight at Mount Gahinga Rest Camp/Red chilli hide away.
Day 5:
Have breakfast to transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable forest to bird enroute in the Ruhija bamboo zone. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla forest camp / Buhoma community homestead.
Day 6:
Go for a full day birding along the long and short trail to Mubwindi swamp. This will reward you with birds like Purple breasted sunbird, narrow tailed starling, Crimsonwings, warblers, Illadopses and many more. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla forest camp / Buhoma community homestead.
Day 7:
Bird along the waterfall trail for the whole day. Dinner and overnight at Gorilla forest camp / Buhoma community homestead.
Day 8;
Have breakfast to transfer to Semliki National Park. You will have a lunch stop enroute to reach in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge.
Day 9 & 10:
Have breakfast to go search for birds the whole day birding. You will also go for night game drive to search for birds and other animals. This provides you with nocturnal birds like African Scops Owl, Pearl spotted Owlet, Pennant winged nightjars and many more. Daylight birds you should expect include Blue naped mouse birds, Grey headed and stripped kingfishers, crowned hornbill and many more. Dinner and overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge.
Day 11;
Have breakfast to transfer to Kibale NP. You will reach in the afternoon to go birding around the Magombe Swamp. Dinner and overnight at luxurious Ndali Lodge/budget Rwenzori View guest house.
Day 12:
Go for a half day forest walk, around the Kanyanchu area. This walk will reward you with birds like the African Goshawk, the majestic crowned eagle, Black-necked weaver, Montane Masked Apalis, Noisy Grey parrots, Green -breasted and African Pittas, Abyssinian Ground Thrush. In the afternoon you will then go birding along the Bigodi wetland sanctuary papyrus Gonolek, White winged Warbler, papyrus Canary, Scaly-throated Honey guide, Bocage’s Bush shrike mosque swallow and many more. Dinner and overnight at luxurious Ndali Lodge/budget Rwenzori View guest house Chimp tracking/birding.
Day 13:
Drive back to Kampala after breakfast to reach in the afternoon. Dinner and overnight at Sheraton Hotel / Serena hotel.
