12 Days Forest Bird Watching Safari

Overview of the 12 Days Forest Bird Watching Safari

This 12 days forest bird watching safari is an adventurous Uganda safari consisting of 12 Days Uganda bird watching safari, visiting almost all birding sanctuaries in Uganda. This tour is a great opportunity for avid birders to spot the different forest bird species in Uganda since its tailored to ensure birders visited the best places. Starting from Entebbe, this safari includes a visit to the Entebbe botanical gardens, Mabira forest, Kibale forest national park, Bwindi impenetrable national park, budongo forest, birding at semuliki national park and lake Bunyonyi.

birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Highlights of the 12 Days Forest Bird Watching Safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Entebbe Botanical Garden for an afternoon bird watching excursion
Day 2: Bird watching in Mabira Forest
Day 3: Transfer to Budongo forest for birding
Day 4: Bird watching in Budongo forest
Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest for bird watching
Day 6: Bird watching in Kibale Forest and Bigodi swamp
Day 7: Transfer to Semliki National Park for bird watching
Day 8: Transfer to Buhoma sector of Bwindi for birding
Day 9: Whole day bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Day 10: Birding through Ruhija sector and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi
Day 11: Transfer to Kampala

Itinerary for the 12 Days Uganda Bird Watching Safari

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Entebbe Botanical Garden for an afternoon bird watching excursion

Depending on your time of arrival into Uganda, we shall organize an afternoon birding excursion at the Entebbe botanical gardens and shores of Lake Victoria. Some of the bird species to look out for include the Great blue Turaco, White & Black casqued Hornbills, Grey-crowned crane, compact weaver, Hadada Ibis, African open bill stork, Woodland Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, Grey heron and Pied Kingfisher.

Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Cassia Lodge, Budget – Red Chili Camp – Kampala

Day 2: Bird watching in Mabira Forest

Early morning, your driver guide will pick you up from your hotel or lodge for a transfer to Mabira forest. You get early enough at the forest centre, where you register and later enjoy a full day forest birding experience in mabira. Some of the Mabira forest bird species to look out for include the Purple throated cuckoo shrike, Nahan’s francolins, Forest wood hoopoe, Green-tailed bristle bill, Joyful Greenbul, Tit Hylia, Grey long bill, Great blue turaco, Weyns weaver, African harrier-hawk, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Brown-eared woodpecker, White-headed Saw-wing. Dinner and overnight in the lodge in Mabira Forest

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – The Rain Forest Lodge

Day 3: Transfer to Budongo forest for birding

This day, from mabira, you transfer to Budongo forest going past Kampala. You go birding along the way to Budongo forest, to Busingiro sector for an afternoon forest birding, depending on the time of arrival; continue birding along the main road and areas around the lodge.

Birds of interest include: African Dwarf Kingfisher, chestnut capped flycatcher, western black headed oriole, Sabine’s Spinetail, white-breasted Negro finch, Yellow-crested woodpecker, Yellow-footed flycatcher, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Piping Hornbill, and Sabine’s Spinetail. Dinner & overnight in Masindi town

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel time: 5 – 6 hours
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Masindi Hotel

Day 4: Bird watching in Budongo forest

With an early rise you have breakfast and carry packed lunch, heading for the royal mile and enjoy a full day bird watching experience along the forest road ending at the Forest Bridge. This day, be prepared for more forest birds which may include: Forest species here include the Ituri Batis, Nahan’s francolin, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Brown twin spot, White-spotted Flufftail, Jameson’s wattle eye, white-breasted negro finch, Grey-headed sunbird, Red-headed bluebill, Green Sunbird, Little green sunbird and more. In the late evening, you return to the hotel for dinner and overnight at the night before.

Day 5: Transfer to Kibale Forest for bird watching

From Budongo Forest, this morning, you transfer to Kibale Forest National Park for more forest species birding. You go bird watching along the way and have picnic lunch. Later on, you arrive in Fort Portal town in the evening while enjoying the rest of the afternoon birding around the lodge and along the forest main trail.

Possible sightings include the Black-billed turaco, Yellow-billed Barbet, Great blue turaco, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Vanga flycatcher, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Western Nicator, Yellow bill and Red-bellied paradise flycatcher. In the evening, you have dinner and overnight at a booked hotel/lodge.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel time: 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Primate Lodge, Budget – Chimpanzee Guest House

Day 6: Bird watching in Kibale Forest and Bigodi swamp

After breakfast at your hotel/lodge, you embark on a whole day bird watching safari in Kibale Forest National Park as well as Bigodi swamp. Forest bird species to look out for include the White collared Olive back, Red Tailed Bristlebill, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-bellied crested flycatcher, Joyful Greenbul, Black-billed Turaco, Blue-shouldered robin chat, Green-breasted Pitta, white spotted Flufftail. Dinner and overnight at the night before

Day 7: Transfer to Semliki National Park for bird watching

You have breakfast at your lodge then after carry packed lunch as you head for the drive to Semuliki National Park for bird watching. You reach the forest and go for bird watching in the forest and visit Sempaya hot springs. You also continue birding to Kirumia trail the rest of the day.

Semuliki bird species to look out for include the Spot-breasted ibis, Grey-throated rail, Capuchin babbler, Congo serpent eagle, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed dwarf hornbill, White-crested hornbill, African Piculet, Red-bellied Malimbe, Zenker’s honeyguide. Return late afternoon to Fort portal town and check into your lodge or hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Transfer to Buhoma sector of Bwindi for birding

Early morning you have breakfast and then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park while birding along the way to Buhoma sector and its surroundings. Possible sightings in this area include species like the Banded Prinia, Narina dragon, Magie Manikin, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Black-billed Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Stuhlmann’s starling, Pink-footed puff back, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Ludher’s bush shrike Narina dragon, Banded Prinia, blue-headed sunbird, Ross’s Turaco, Black-billed Turaco.

Dinner and overnight in Buhoma

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel time: 6 – 7 hours
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Silverback lodge, Budget – Buhoma Community Bandas

Day 9: Whole day bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

On this day, you will spend the whole day bird watching along the waterfall loop searching for ratites and rift valley endemics which may include the Red-throated Alethe, Black Bee-eater, Short-tailed Warbler, Purple-breasted Sunbird, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Red-faced woodland warbler, Blue-headed Sunbird, Brown-capped Weaver, Strange weaver. Dinner and overnight at the night before

Alternatively, on this day you can opt to go for a gorilla trekking experience in Bwindi which should be booked prior with a permit cost of US$ 600 for each person.

Day 10: Birding through Ruhija sector and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi

On this day after breakfast, you transfer from the Buhoma sector and continue bird watching through to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi. You have a bird watching experience here with possible sightings of bird species like the Mountain Wagtail, Black Bee-eater, Bar-tailed Trogon, Regal Sunbird, olive pigeon, white-tailed ant-thrush, Banded Prinia, Mountain capped Apalis, Handsome Francolin, Chapin’s flycatcher, sooty flycatcher.

In the evening, you continue with the drive to Lake Bunyonyi where you have dinner and spend the night at a preferred accommodation facility.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch and dinner
Travel time: 3 – 4 hours
Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Birdnest Resort, Budget – Bunyonyi Overland Resort

Day 11: Transfer to Kampala

From an accommodation facility in Lake Bunyonyi, you have breakfast then after embark on a transfer to Kampala. Bird watching along the way during your drive and have lunch en route. You arrive in the evening and check in at a booked accommodation facility in Kampala.

Accommodation Options: Mid-range – Cassia Lodge, Budget – Red Chili Camp – Kampala
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Departure through Entebbe International Airport.

This day is reserved for departures through Entebbe International Airport.

End of 12 days forest birding safari in Uganda.