30 Days Birding in Uganda: The Perfect Hardcore Itinerary + Map and Tips!

All-inclusive 30 Days Birding in Uganda: The Perfect Hardcore Itinerary + Map and Tips!.

During the dry months of June, July, August, December, and February, this 30-day Birding trip in Uganda departs from Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.

The focus of this 30 Days hardcore birding safari in Uganda are the Albertine Rift Endemics and the only 1 species endemic to Uganda – Fox’s Weaver, the Shoebill Stork, Papyrus Gonolek, Black-breasted, Black-collared and Red-faced Barbet, White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Albertine Rift Endemics, mostly the African Green Broadbill and Short-tailed Warbler, Green-breasted Pitta, Congo Serpent Eagle, African Piculet, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Nahan’s Francolin, Cassine’s Hawk-Eagle, Lesser Kestrel Orange Weaver, Quail-Plover, Secretary Bird, Sandgrouses among others.

The journey will take us to many Important Bird Areas and hot sites for birding in Uganda, where we hope to see around 600 different bird species with any combination of excellent weather, patience, and keen eyes.

We will be exploring a wide variety of habitats and vegetation types in Uganda, including tropical, bamboo, and Afro-montane rainforests, moorland on mountains, medium-altitude and lowland forests along the Great African Rift Valley, and the Sudan-Somalia extended woodland in the north, which is attached to the Acacia-Commiphora bush lands and semi-desert prairies in the east.

And it’s a convergence of five separate central and eastern African biomes, each of which is home to its own set of rare bird species. The hard-core birding safari to Uganda will begin in the Lake Victoria Basin biome, home to about 10 species, before moving on to the Afro-montane and tropical Highland biome, home to more than 80 species; the Guinea-Congo biome, home to close to 150 species; the Somalia-Sudan biome, characterized by Savannahs, and home to more than 22 Ugandan species; and finally, the Somali-Masai biome, home to 32 species. Trust Kabira Safaris & Tours Africa professional staff to provide your birding dream safari around the world over this all-inclusive 30-day birding trip in Uganda, and you’ll get the best results of your entire birding life.

Detailed Itinerary:  30 Days Birding in Uganda

Day 1: Arrival for our 30 Days birding trip in Uganda

After landing at Entebbe International Airport, make the short drive to the Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel, where you can freshen up before your flight. Depending on when we get there, we’ll go birdwatching in the Entebbe Botanical Gardens to get our first taste of Uganda’s avian inhabitants. The 40.7-hectare garden sits on the northern banks of Lake Victoria, right on the Equator. Eastern Plantain-eaters often find excellent patching conditions in the trees of this parking lot. The Turaco family, which includes the plantain-eating birds, is home to several fascinating species that never fail to thrill first-time visitors to Uganda. Common Bulbuls, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbirds, and Splendid Starlings all have a penchant for hanging together in the same tree. The Scarlet-chested Sunbird, also known as the Shikra, frequently flies over this area, and the surrounding bottle-brush tree is frequently visited by other sunbird species such the Red-chested, Green-throated, Olive-bellied, Mariqua, Purple-banded, Collared, and Shikra. This tree is frequently visited by African Yellow White-eye, African Thrush, and other African birds. Black-headed Gonolek, White-browed Robin-chat, Double-toothed Barbet, Ross’s Turaco, Speckled Mousebird, Yellow-fronted Canary, Black-headed Heron, Yellow-fronted Canary, a few Weavers including Orange, Weyn’s, Golden-backed, Black-headed, Village, Northern Brown-throated, and Vieillot’s, and a few Weavers. The grounds regularly host the attractive Mantled Guereza and the cheeky Vervet Monkey.

Day 2 & 3: Birding to Mabamba Wetland and proceed to Lake Mburo National Park.

Birding Uganda – Shoebill in Mabamba Swamp

We leave Entebbe in the morning for Mabamba Wetland, an IBA on the western bank of Lake Victoria. This is the place where the Shoebill stork lives, and one of the best places to see one in Uganda. The Lesser Jacana, Purple Gallinule, and Allen’s Gallinule are also noteworthy, as are the Blue Swallows that only visit during certain times of the year, the Slender-billed and Northern-brown Throated Weaver, the Common and Lesser Moorhen, the Papyrus Gonolek, the White-winged Warbler, the Glossy Ibis, the African Pygmy-Goose, the Spur We travel to Mburo in search of Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Red-necked Spurfawl, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Temmincks Courser, Common Quails, Green Wood hooper, Blue-napped Mouse bird, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, African Grey Hornbill, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cisticola, Lilac-breasted Roller, Coqui Francolin, Black-bellied Bust In the park’s fringe marshes, you can find rare papyrus species such the Papyrus Gonolek. While traveling to Lake Mburo, we may come across some notable birds, such as the Crested Francolin, Common Scimitarbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Trilling Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Northern Black Tit, Chin-spot Batis, Great Blue-eared Starling, and Marico Sunbird. Rwonyo’s nearby forest is home to numerous endemic and common plants and animals.

The open grassland north of Rwonyo Camp, especially along the Zebra Track, is worth exploring for birds like the Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Rufous-chested Swallow, the largest Violet-tipped and Temminck’s courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous-napped and Flappet Lark, and the recently spotted Striped Pipit near Rwakobo Rock Along the Eland Track, you might spot a few of the migratory Brown-chested Plover. In the afternoon, you can take a boat out to look for the African Finfoot, White-backed and Black-crowned Night Herons, Giant Kingfisher, and many other species. Some fascinating nighttime birds, such as the African Scops-Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, and the Freckled, Black Shouldered, and Pennant-winged Nightjars, may be attracted by the spot lighting along the entrance road. Lodge in at Eagles Nest.

Day 4: Birding on Boat and transfer to Kisoro Via Echuya

Morning birding on foot along the park trails with an armed ranger then back to our lodge for breakfast, after this we proceed for a game and birding drive which gives us higher chances of viewing mammals like the Zebras, Impalas, Elands, Topis, Buffaloes, Rothschild’s Giraffe among others, as we bird we focus our attention on the search for the Crested, Black Collared and Red Faced Barbet, Coqui Francolin, Brown Chested Plover, Tabora Cisticola, Red Headed Weaver, Lesser-blue Eared Starling, Buff-bellied Warbler, Black Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Green Capped Eremomela, Bare faced Go-away-bird, Red Billed Wood Hope and more acacia associated birds, we later drive out and head to Kisoro having stopovers in search for the Carruther’s Cisticola, African Stonechat, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Greater and Lesser Swamp Warbler, Highland Rush Warbler and the localized littler known resident of dense papyrus beds – the Papyrus Yellow Warbler among the papyrus rarities, we shall carry on and spend a few hours in the Echuya Forest Reserve which will give us a small introduction to a few Albertine Rift Endemics and high altitude dwellers like the Dusky Crimsonwing, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Apalis and Batis, Strange Weaver, Black Faced Apalis, the Rockefeller’s like looking Regal Sunbird, Handsome Francolin among the endemics then the Doherty’s Bush-shrike, the olive green washed Mountain Yellow Warbler, the Intra African migrating Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Rameron Pigeon, Thick-billed Seedeater, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Brown-capped Weaver and many more, as we descend to our lodge watch out for Cape Robin-chat, Yellow Bishop, Yellow-crowned Canary, East African Swee, White-necked Raven, Mountain Buzzard the list is endless stay at Kisoro Travelers Hotel.

Day 5: Whole day Hardcore birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Get up early and make your way to Ntebeko head trail; birding in Mgahinga is a thrilling experience for ornithologists thanks to the abundance of rare species found there, such as the Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, black-headed waxbill, white-tailed crested flycatcher, dusky and shelley’s crimsonwing, brown wood warbler, kivu ground.

Day 6: Early morning transfer to Ruhija birding via Echuya Forest.

Birding in the forest edges is always highly productive, and after an early morning breakfast we will do just that as we make our way to Ruhija through Echuya forest in search of Archer’s Robin-Chat, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Black-faced Apalis, White-napped Raven, and Black-crowned Waxbill. Compared to the rest of Bwindi, this area sits rather high above. Bwindi is the best place to go bird watching in Uganda, and possibly all of Africa. The African Birding Club ranks it as the top birding destination in Africa since it is home to more than 23 species that are found only in the Albertine Rift. The Black-billed Turaco, Fine-banded Woodpecker, African Green-Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Mountain Greenbul, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Grauer’s Rush, and many more bird species are the main targets of our attention here. Common Yellowthroat, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, The following birds are found in Africa: the Buff-throated, Chestnut-throated, Black-faced, and Rwenzori Apalis; the Rwenzori Batis; the Mountain Black Boubou; the Regal Sunbird; the Purple-breasted and Blue-headed Sunbird; the Red-throated Alethe; the African Shrike; the Ashy, Dusky-blue, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher; the White-bellied Crested- Beautiful Francolin, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Wood-Owl, Rare Swift, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Elliott’s Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Archer’s Robinchat, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, Olive Thrush, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, and many more. We’ll be at Bakiga Lodge or a similar establishment.

Day 7 & 8: Birding safari to Mubwindi Swamp and Gorilla tracking

Gorilla Trekking in Uganda | What It’s REALLY Like

We’ll be spending the day birding at Mubwindi Swamp, so we’ll leave right after breakfast. This is the best birding spot for the Albertine rift endemics including African Green Broadbill, the beautiful Regal Sunbird, Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Batis, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbird, Black Headed Waxbill, and African Hill Babbler, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Northern Double Collared, Eastern Olive and Collared Sunbird, and many more bird species mentioned on day 6.

An optional but life-changing excursion to Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to witness the critically endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat takes up one of the two days. Depending on the location of the gorillas, the gorilla trekking expedition could last anywhere from two to six hours in the jungles. After an early breakfast, we’ll travel out of the lodge and make our way to the park’s Registration Center, where we’ll meet our guides and get a rundown on what to do once we locate the gorillas. Because the walk may be too tough for some people if they are not physically fit and psychologically prepared, we are leaving the opportunity to see the Mountain gorillas as a choice. Those who don’t want to hike might go on a birding trip in Ruhija and the surrounding area. We will be staying at Bakiga Lodge or a similar establishment for dinner and the night.

Day 9: Birding to Buhoma via The Neck

Spend the day birdwatching along the “Neck” on the way to Buhoma. Key bird species include: Fine-banded Woodpecker, at the bridge be keen on finding the Cassine’s Flycatcher, African Black Duck and Mountain Wagtail, Chin-spot Batis, Black-billed Turacco, Dwarf Honeyguide, Shelley’s, Ansorge’s, Little, Red-tailed, Cabanis’s, Slender Billed and Toro Olive, Little Grey Greenbul, expect Bee-eaters including Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon, Many-coloured Bush-shrike, the clouds are a good habitat for Cassin’s and Ayres’s Hawk-eagle, Black Saw-wing, Rock Martin, Narina Trogon, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-throated Alethe, African Shrike-flycatcher and Red-headed Malimbe; and in areas of dry fern vegetation, we expect to find the bright red rumped Dusky Twinspot, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Chubb’s Cisticola, African Stonechat, Streaky Seed-eater and as we get back into the forested area, look out for Grey Apalis, Augur Buzzard, Petit’s Cuckoo Shrike, Pink-footed and Northern Puffback, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Northern Yellow White-eye, Yellow-billed Kite, Yellow-rumped, Speckled and Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Stripe-breasted Tit, Black Faced Apalis, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Rwenzori Hill Babbler, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, Yellow-throated Leaf Love, Black-necked Weaver, Crested Guinea Fowl, Crowned Hornbill, Lead-colored Flycatcher, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Yellow-spotted Barbet, African Harrier Hawk. Three nights of dinner and lodging at the Buhoma Community Homestay. FB

Day 10 & 11: Birding Buhoma and the environs

We begin our day of birding on the lower side of Bwindi after a hearty breakfast, where we hope to spot the elusive Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, and Black Bee-Eater. Chapin’s Flycatcher, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Fine-banded, Elliot’s, and Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Blue Headed, Blue Throated, Little Green and Blue Throated Brown Sunbird, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, the very special Short-tailed Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Many-coloured, Bocage’s and Luhder’s Bush-shrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s and Narrow Tailed Starlings, Black-billed, Brown-capped and Black Necked weaver, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, the unusual Woodhouse’s Antpecker among other birds.

Day 13: Whole day Birding in the park: recorded 612 bird species

The morning is spent on a wildlife drive and birdwatching in the expansive grassland area. In the late afternoon, you’ll set sail in the Kazinga Channel for an adventurous boat ride. There are several hippopotamuses and other water birds to photograph in this narrow waterway between Lakes George and Edward. Birding on the boat avails us opportunities of seeing the African Skimmer, African Spoonbill, Striated Heron, Water Thick-knee, Marsh, Green, Three-banded Plover, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Lesser Black Backed and Gray-headed Gull, White-winged Black and Whiskered Tern, Plain Martin, Wire-tailed Swallow, Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Terek Sandpiper most of which are winter visitors.

Day 14: Transfer to Semliki National Park birding on the way.

We will depart for Semliki in the morning after breakfast (perhaps with a brief game drive). After checking into the lodge in the late afternoon, you can spend the rest of the evening birding in the Sempaya area and along the main road. You might see a Red-billed Dwarf, Piping and Black Wattled Casqued Hornbill pairs, a Blue-breasted Kingfisher, a Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, a Long-tailed Hawk, a Rameron, a rare White-napped Pigeon, a UWA Bandas is hosting dinner and an overnight.

Day 15: Whole day Hardcore birding Semliki Valley National Park and the environs.

The Kirumia, with its branching paths, is the best way to see the endemic birds of the Guinea-Congo biome, including the striking rather large but very shy Hartlaub’s duck, the white-vented Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, the Congo Serpent Eagle, the Yellow-throated Green Cuckoo, the extraordinarily large Long-tailed Hawk, the Nkurengu Rail, the Black-billed Dwarf, the very sensitive and shy White-cre Kingfishers, including the African Dwarf, Chocolate-backed, and White-bellied Near the oxbow lakes, you can see the Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Spotted Honeyguide, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Zenker’s Honeyguide, African Piculet, Gabon Woodpecker, Rufous-sided Broadbill, and White-throated Blue Swallow. Birds like the Green-tailed Bristlebill, the Xavier’s The Orange-tufted Sunbird, the Lemon-bellied Crombec, the Rufous-crowned Eremomela, the Eastern Bearded Greenbul, the Yellow-throated Nicator, the Capuchin Babbler, the Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, the Forest and Grey ground Thrush, and the Rufous-crowned Eremomela. Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red-billed Helmet-Shrike, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Black-winged Oriole, Chestnut-winged Starling, Maxwell’s Black Weaver, Blue-billed, Crested and Red-bellied Malimbes, Pale-Fronted and Chestnut-breasted Negrofinch, Grant’s blue bill, Black-bellied Seedcracker and many more. UWA Bandas is hosting dinner and an overnight.

Day 16: Transfer to Kibale birding on the way.

Kibale Forest National Park is a full day’s journey away. The old road is a great place to spot small noisy flocks of birds such as the Leaf-love, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Ross’s and White crested Turaco, Cabanis’s Bunting, Orange-winged and Red-winged Pytilia, African Reed Warbler, Brown Babbler, Whistling Cisticola, Long-crested and Brown Snake-Eagle. Once we reach Kibale forest, The Kibale Forest Lodge provides both dinner and lodging. FB

Day 17 & 18: Whole day hardcore birding and Chimp tracking Kibale Forest National Park.

Chimp Tracking in the Kibale National Park

Kibale Forest National Park is a fantastic place to go birdwatching. We will try to spot the Green-breasted Pitta, the Joyful Greenbul, the Masked Apalis, the Splendid Glossy, the Purple-headed Glossy, the Chestnut-winged and Stuhlmann’s Starlings, the Red-winged Francolin, the White-spotted Flufftail, the White-napped Pigeon, the Grey-throated Flycatcher, the White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, the Grey- Numerous species of tiny, superb, bronze, little green, green-headed, olive-bellied, green, green-throated, eastern olive, white-collared oliveback, and olive-backed sunbirds exist. The Village Weavers and Vieillot’s Black Weavers are constantly making nests, so after lunch at the hotel you may go birding in the area or head to the Bigodi wetland. Expect This path provides the best opportunities to see Great-blue Turacos, Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Black-headed Paradise Flycatchers, African-shrikes, and the Black-and-white-shrike Flycatchers, as well as other species such as the White-headed Saw-wing, Black-headed Weaver, Red-faced Cisticola, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Black-and-white Mannikin, White-chinned Prinia, Little If it hasn’t been raining too heavily, you can count on seeing a lot of white-spotted flufftails around here. Sunbirds with black necks, green throats, scarlet breasts, and green heads, and hylas with green heads and necks. Expect white people at the boardwalk area, which goes through a marsh. The Red Colobus Monkey, Red-tailed Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Varvet, and L’hoest’s Monkey are just some of the primates to keep an eye out for, along with the White-winged Warbler and the Papyrus Gonolek. Later, we’ll head back to the Lodge for supper and bed.

Day 19: Bird watching to Masindi Uganda

The next day, after an early breakfast, we embark on a rigorous Uganda birding safari that will take us to Masindi. Here, we’ll stop at the secret spots of your knowledgeable Uganda safari guide in search of rare birds like the Buff-throated and Masked Apalis, the Yellow Mantled and Forest Weaver, the Olive and Ducky Long-tailed Cuckoo, the Joyful Greenbul, the Afep Pigeon, and the African Black Duck while also keeping an eye out The Whistling and Singing Cisticola, Brown Twinspot, Grey-headed Oliveback, Western-violet Backed Sunbird, White-thighed Hornbill, and Yellow-mantled Widowbird are just some of the birds you should keep an eye out for as we make our way to Masindi. When we finally arrive, we’ll be staying at the Masindi Hotel for the next two nights.

Day 20: Bird to Budongo Forest – Royal Mile and Busingiro.

Early in the morning is when we start our birding adventure. The Blue-breasted, African Dwarf, and Chocolate-backed Kingfishers, the Brown-eared and Yellow-crested Woodpecker, the Dusky long-tailed Cuckoo, the Crowned Eagle, the Forest and Chestnut Capped Flycatcher, the Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush, the Yellow-browed Camaroptera, the Narina Trogon, the Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, the Chestnut-crowned Eremomera, Having supper and staying the night in Masindi.

Day 21: Birding to northern Murchison falls

You take Busingiro to the cliffside or Kaniyo Pabid to find Puvel’s Illadopsis, and you do it at first light. When it comes to Uganda birding, this section is among the best. We stay at Pakuba Game Lodge or somewhere similar and look out for birds such the Foxy Cisticola, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Grey-headed Oliveback, Red Winged Pytilia, Black-bellied Firefinch, and Lesser-masked Weaver. After dark, we set out to find nightjars and other nocturnal mammals.

Day 22: Birding in Murchison Falls National Park

There are many different types of birds in Africa, including the Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Marabou Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silver Bird, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver and White-rumped Seedeater.

Day 23: Birding to Kidepo Valley National Park

Set out in the morning for the finest and most picturesque National Park in Uganda. Though the journey is mostly on unpaved roads and is a little rough, it is very rewarding once you arrive at this rich unrivaled national park. Naturalists have a good chance of seeing almost all of the park’s attractions on a single visit to any natural enclave, and in this case Kidepo Valley National Park. We’ll stop for lunch on the way and then proceed to the huge plains, where we’ll look for the Hemprich’s Hornbill before heading to the park and checking into Savannah Lodge (3 nights) for supper and an overnight stay. Kidepo is very interesting and has a variety of species not found in other Ugandan Savannah parks, including the Brown-rumped bunting, Red-billed and Jackson’s Hornbill, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Quail plover, Karamoja Apalis, Black-faced Firefinch, Cut-throat Finch, Brown-backed woodpecker, Emin’s shrike, Heuglin’s wheatear, Familiar Chat, the We try a late drive at nightfall to look for Abyssinian nightjar, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars, and other nocturnal equivalents. FB

Day 24 & 25- Kidepo Exclusive Birding And Wildlife Adventure

After a very early morning meal, we can spend the entire day exploring one of Uganda’s most beautiful and certainly most remote national parks, which is also one of the least visited. We can also drive to Kanangorok hot springs and combine our exploration of the Narus River Valley. Kidepo Valley National Park is home to 86 mammal species and is Uganda’s third most diverse area in terms of wildlife richness. It protects more large and small herbivores than any other protected area in Uganda, with 28 species found nowhere else in Uganda. The bird checklist includes 463 verified and 26 unconfirmed bird species to be on the lookout for. After lunch, we can choose between another game drive or a visit to Kalenga and Kadepo for a cultural performance given by the native Karamojongs, who are well known for their unique nomadic lifestyle and rich traditions of storytelling and dancing not only fixed to them but almost all tribes in Uganda, each has something unique that you can share and learn simply by utilizing your time in Uganda with our enthusiastic interpreters, dinner and overnight stay at Savannah Lodge. FB

Day 26: Birding to Moroto via Matheniko Bokora

Start birding as you bird out of the park, depending on what was missed on the previous game drive. I just did this stretch a few years ago and it is so ‘birdy’ look out for Bruce’s Green Pigeon, White-headed and White Billed Buffalo-Weaver, not to mention the White Browed Sparrow which keeps crossing and feeding on the road, Fox and Lesser Kestrel, Yellow Bellied Eremomela, White Bellied Canary are common spp of the drive, not to mention the Dark and Eastern Chanting Goshawk, Fantailed Raven, Kara Tunga Safari Camp has a resident Barn Owl and serves dinner and overnight stays.

Day 27: Birding to Pian Upe and stay at UWA Bandas.

Day 28: Birding Pian Upe and Transfer to Mount Elgon

After breakfast, go birding in Eastern Uganda’s least visited hideaway. Virgin grassland and forested environments have produced an extraordinarily inviting habitat for dry country birds and rare mammals that are eagerly sought, not to mention the Roan Antelope and Cheetah. On the hunt for Secretary Bird, Four Banded Sandgrouse, Quil-plover, Fawny Lark, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, the Fox’s Weaver has plenty of nests on the main road trails, almost a must see as they are breeding around Feb/March, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Jackson’s Hornbill, Karamoja Apalis, Beautiful Sunbird among others,

Day 29: Birding Mt Elgon National Park

A full day of birding, looking for Hunter’s Cisticola and Jackson Francolin, Moorland Francolin, Moustached Green Tinkerbird, Alpine Chat, White-starred Robin, Cape Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Little Rock-Thrush, Northern Anteater Chat, Nightingale, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Mountain Yellow Warbler, African Reed Warbler, Little Rush Warbler, Upcher’s Warbler, Blackcap, Chances of seeing the Banded Prinia, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Ludher’s Bush-shrike, Cape Rook, Fan-tailed and White-napped Raven, Chestnut Sparrow, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, and many more. Stay the night at Lacalm Lodge (FB).

Day 30 Birding to Entebbe onwards

End of the 30 Days Hardcore birding in Uganda

Transport

This tour will be conducted in Toyota Land Cruisers. Each vehicle has enough window seats for the entire party to have one, but we would ask that you rotate around the vehicle to allow everyone a chance to sit at the front. We will spend a significant amount of time away from the vehicles on bird walks.

There is plenty of luggage room in the trucks, but it is ideal if you can carry soft-sided luggage, which is easier to load and keeps your packing to a sensible, practical minimum.

Weather/Climate:

A generally equatorial climate assures that the weather will be unpredictable, and you will almost certainly encounter rain while on tour. Showers should not last long and should not interfere with birdwatching. Days will be warm or hot and sunny in general; but, gloomy circumstances are common, especially in the forest and mountain areas. Nights will be mild to warm, with higher altitudes being cooler.

Group Size:

An international tour leader, a local field ornithologist, and a birding safari guide can accompany this excursion. The smallest group size is one person, while the maximum group size is fourteen people. The number of field guides giving a trip is determined by the size of the group. For example, if the group size is 14, we will send two field guides and two vehicles. We use a tiny coaster if a large group wants to travel in one car. Both modes of transportation are ideal for your tour.

Food & accommodation included in the package

All accommodations and meals are included in the price of this vacation trip, and drinking water will be provided in the tour cars during the day. Please bring your own water bottle to refill from the larger ones.

On this journey, we stay in a mix of comfortable lodges, tented campgrounds, and guesthouses. While standards are improving in Uganda, some accommodations might be extremely basic. All rooms are clean, have private bathrooms, and should be appropriate for the group’s needs. If you have a problem with your room, please notify your local guide, and they will always try to resolve the issue with the lodge. A handful of lodges utilize generators for electricity, which only function during the day, so keeping a torch by your bedside is helpful if you need to get up in the middle of the night.