Uganda was enthused about by Winston Churchill
who described it as "the pearl of Africa". Indeed, at one time Uganda's
parks were deemed as amongst the best in Africa. Celebrated for its fine
scenery as well as its abundant wildlife, Uganda was once a prosperous nation
- that was before it was despoiled by the regimes of Amin, Obote and Okello.
Uganda is now making a brave effort to restore its deserved reputation as
a world class eco-tourist destination. With over 1000 bird species, including
most of the 28 rift valley endemics it is fast becoming a popular destination
for African birding.
The Bwindi (Impenetrable) Forest National
Park home to half the world Mountain Gorilla population, said to be around
350 individuals. You will have an opportunity to trek for these rare primates
as well as forest walks for birding. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest has a bird
list of over 380 species including 28 of the Albertine Rift endemics. Specialities
include African Green Broadbill, Grauer's Rush warbler, Ruwenzori Turaco,
Ruwenzori Nightjar Lagden's Bushshrike, Ruwenzori Batis, heaps of sunbirds
and woodpeckers and hosts of other tantalising possibilities.
The Kibale Forest near Fort Portal also has
an impressive bird list and the specialities here include two of Africa's
most sought after birds, the Green-breasted and African Pittas. A nearby
Papyrus swamp holds 4 Papyrus endemics and Great Blue Turaco. Over 300 species
have been recorded here including Woodhouse's Antpecker, African Grey Parrot,
Black-billed and Great Blue Turacos, White-naped Pigeon White-headed Woodhoopoe,
Speckled Tinkerbird, Brown-eared and Elliot''s Woodpeckers,, Equatorial
Akalat, White-headed Saw-wing, Green Crombec, White-breasted negrofinche,
Black-necked and Yellow-mantled Weavers, and Blue-throated Brown and Superb
Sunbirds. Nine species of primates also occur here including Chimpanzee,
Black-and-white Colobus, Red Colobus and Grey-cheeked Mangabey.
The Budongo Forest and the famous Royal Mile
hosts birds of particular interest including Nahan's Francolin, Ituri Batis
and Jameson's Wattle-eye, Uganda Wood-Warbler, Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Afep
Pigeon, Dwarf, Chocolate-backed and Blue-breasted Kingfishers, White-thighed
Hornbill, Black-billed Tauraco, African Shrike-flycatcher and African Forest
Flycatcher, Grey-headed Oliveback, Red-headed Bluebill, and Crested Malimbe.
The habitat of the Murchison Falls National
Park to the north is drier than those areas to the south. It is here that
we have an outstanding chance of seeing the Shoebill Stork on the Albert
Nile. Others to watch out for include Grasshopper Buzzard, Palmnut Vulture,
Denhams Bustard Emin's Shrike, Black-headed Batis, Silverbird, Vinaceous
Dove, Bruce''s Green Pigeon, Ross's Turaco, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill,
Piapiac, Blue-naped Mousebird, Black-billed Barbet, Woodchat Shrike, White-crested
Turaco, Brown Twinspot, Beautiful Sunbird and Spotted Mourning Thrush, Swallow-tailed
Northern Carmine bee eaters, Black-crowned Crane, pel's Fishing Owl, Bruce's
Green Pigeon Vineaceous Dove, Heuglin's Francolin, large flocks of African
Skimmer and Rock Pratincole, Spotted Morning Thrush and Beautiful Sunbird.
This trip is designed for general birders
who are keen to see a possible 400 plus species including some of the Albertine
rift endemics. Guests must be keen, fairly fit, and prepared for some early
starts and long days in the vehicle, and be prepared for walking in steep
areas of fairly high altitude.
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DAY 1: ENTEBBE |
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On arrival at Entebbe you will be met and transferred to the
Lake Victoria Hotel. Day will be spent in and around Entebbe
familiarising with the birds in the area
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We can visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens where we may find
Orange and Golden-backed Weavers, Pied Hornbill, Ross's Turaco,
Snowy-headed Robin-chat, Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-throated
Leaflove, Gymnogene and perhaps and African Goshawk or a Shikra
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Lake Victoria Hotel (B&B) |
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DAY 2: LAKE BUNYONI |
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Drive west into the Uganda Highlands, stopping en route in the
Mburo area for some of the acacia woodland specials
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Overnight in Kabale area at Bushara Island Camp on Lake Bunyoni
or White Horse Inn. FULL BOARD |
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DAY 3: BWINDI
IMPENETRABLE FOREST |
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Early today we head to Buhoma via Ruhija in the upper sector
of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, stopping en route to bird possibly
seeing some of the Albertine rift endemics
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Overnight luxury tented camp at Buhoma |
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DAY 4: BWINDI
IMPENETRABLE FOREST |
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Day in the forest for optional Gorilla tracking and/or a walk
in the Forest for birds or primates
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From the primate viewpoint Mountain Gorilla, L'Hoests Monkey,
Red-tailed Monkey, Black-and-White Colobus, Chimpanzee and the
strangely named Potto are all recorded here
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Overnight as above |
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DAY 5: BWINDI
IMPENETRABLE FOREST |
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Further day as above |
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DAY 6: QUEEN ELIZABETH
NATIONAL PARK |
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Today we head for Jacana Lodge in the Queen Elizabeth National
Park via Ishasha (road and weather conditions allowing) where
the tree climbing lions may be seen, Optional afternoon walk
in the Maramagambo Forest
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Overnight Jacana Safari Lodge |
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DAY 7: QUEEN ELIZABETH
NATIONAL PARK |
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A full day in the QENP including a boat cruise on the Kasinga
channel and exploring the Kikeorongo area, where Shoebill are
seen
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Overnight Jacana Safari Lodge |
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DAY 8: KIBAALE
FOREST |
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Today we travel to our tented camp near Kibaale Forest, with
an afternoon walk looking for primates and birds along the road
and forest trails
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Opportunity for a night walk, where primates, including potto
may be seen |
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DAY 9: MASINDI |
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After some early morning birding, we head north,
a six hour drive to Masindi
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Overnight at Masindi Hotel, a convenient stop over near the
birding areas |
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DAY 10: MURCHISONS
FALLS NATIONAL PARK |
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From here we visit the Budongo Forest and the famed Royal Mile
and Wanseko en route to Nile Safari Camp, Murchison Falls National
Park. Murchison Falls National Park
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This is Uganda''s largest park (some 3840 sq kms) and is home
to Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Oribi, the big cats and apart
from this is well known for its birds including the much sought
after Shoebill Stork |
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DAY 11: MURCHISONS
FALLS NATIONAL PARK |
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A day exploring this magnificent park including a private afternoon
launch trip where we will spend time searching for Shoebill,
African Skimmer, Rock Pratincole, Long-toed Plover and Red-throated
Bee-eaters |
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DAY 12: MURCHISONS
FALLS NATIONAL PARK - END OF TRIP |
» Today we leave Murchison
after breakfast for Entebbe via the Top of the Falls area where
we explore the area and watch the whole of the mighty Nile river
forced through an 8 metre gap and into the pools below the falls
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Transfers to airport for onward flight arrangements |
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