MULT-HABITANT BIRDING – 20 DAYS

Day one
Arrival at Entebbe Airport, birding in Botanical Gardens depending on time of arrival. The beautiful gardens established in 1901 lie on the showers of Lake Victoria which offers superb introduction to Ugandan birds. The common species here include; Verreaux’s Eagle Owls, Orange-tufted and Red-chested Sunbirds, Orange Weaver, Slender-billed, Northern Brown-throated, Yellow-backed, Jackson’s Golden-backed, Black-headed and Vieillot’s Black Weavers, Long-tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco, Black-headed Heron, Hamerkop, African Open-billed Stork, Yellow-billed Duck, Grey-headed Gull, Giant and Pied Kingfishers, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Die Derik Cuckoo, Woodland Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Splendid Starling, African Fish Eagle, Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Hadada Ibis, Palmnut Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Shikra, Lizard Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, Grey Kestrel, Black Crake, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Angola Swallow, Winding Cisticola, Red-faced Cisticola, Grey-capped Warbler, Common Wattle-eye, Green-throated Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird etc.
Day Two
Birding in Mabira Forest and Jinja, overnight in Jinja.
Day Three
Drive to Budongo Forest Reserve. Budongo Forest Reserve lies at the edge of Albertine Rift Valley to the South of Murchison Falls National Park and protects the largest Natural Forest area in East Africa. It boosts an impressive bird list of over 350 species and is the best site in Uganda for a number of sought after birds. The key species in this area are Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Cassin’s Spinetail, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Black-collared Lovebird, Sabine’s  Spinetail, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers, Piping Hornbill, Red-sided Broadbill, Green-breasted Pitta, Puvel’s Illadopsis, spotted Greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe, Black-eared Ground Thrush, Black-capped Apalis, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Grey and Yellow Longbills, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Brown Twinspot, Grey-headed Olive-back etc.

Day Four
Birding in Royal Mile in the morning and Busingiro area in the Afternoon. This is considered to be one of the country’s premier area for birding. The key species in this area include; Banded Snake Eagle, Crowned and African Pied Hornbills, Bat Hawk, Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Marsh Tchagra, Black Bishop, Brown Twinspot, Black-bellied Firefinch, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers, White-thighed and Black and white casqued Hornbills, Yellow spotted, Hairy-breasted and Yellow-bellied Barbets, Western Black-headed Oriole and Purple-headed Starlings, Cameroon Sombre, Slender-billed Honey guide White-throated, Red-tailed and spotted Greenbul, Buft-throated, Black-throated, Black-capped Apalises, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Grey-headed and Green Sunbirds, Yellow-mantled Weaver and White-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Rufous Thrush, Green Hylia, Grey Longbill, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Nahan’s Francolin, Scaly-breasted, Brown and Pale-breasted Illadopses, Red-tailed Bristle bill, Fire-crested Alethe, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Forest Robin and Jameson’s wattle-eye, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Yellow Longbill and Grey-throated Flycatcher, Black Sparrow hawk, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Crowned Eagle,  Black-collared Sunbird,, Semi-collared Flycatcher, Green-breasted Pitta, Ituri Batis etc. overnight in Masindi.
Day Five
Early drive to Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo Forest birding in the morning and afternoon birding. Budongo Forest Reserve lies at the edge of Albertine Rift Valley to the South of Murchison Falls National Park and protects the largest Natural Forest area in East Africa. It boosts an impressive bird list of over 350 species and is the best site in Uganda for a number of sought after birds. The key species in this area are Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Cassin’s Spinetail, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Black-collared Lovebird, Sabine’s  Spinetail, Chocolate-backed, Blue-breasted and African Dwarf Kingfishers, Piping Hornbill, Red-sided Broadbill, Green-breasted Pitta, Puvel’s Illadopsis, spotted Greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe, Black-eared Ground Thrush, Black-capped Apalis, Brown-crowned Eremomela, Grey and Yellow Longbills, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Brown Twinspot, Grey-headed Olive-back etc.
Day Six
Chimpanzee tracking in the morning and drive to Paraa, birding enroute. Overnight in Paraa.

Day Seven
Early morning birding in the vicinity of Paraa, then take afternoon boat trip to the falls.Murchison Falls National Park offers a variety of unique habitants and lots of superb birds which gives a great birding experience to a birder. The key species in here include; Shoebill Stork, Secretary bird, Bat Hawk, Red-necked Falcon, Heuglin’s Francolin, Denham’s Bustard, Senegal Thick-knee, Egyptian-plover, Rock Pratincole, Black-headed Plover, African Skimmer, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Vinaceous Dove, White-crested Turaco, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Long-tailed Pennant-winged and Standard-winged Nightjars, Red-throated, Swallow-tailed, and Carmine Bee-eaters, Abyssinian Roller, Black scimitar bill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black-bellied Barbet, Brown-backed woodpecker, Spotted Morning Thrush, White-fronted Black Chat, Silverbird, Singing, Foxy and Black-backed Cisticolas, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-billed and Emin’s Shrikes, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Lesser Blue-eared and Bronze-tailed Starling, Beautiful Sunbird, Chestnut-crowned sparrow-weaver, Northern Red Bishop, Grey-headed, Olive-back, Red-winged Pytilia, Brown-twinspot, Bar-breasted and Black-billed fire finches, Black-rumped Waxbill, Paradise Whydah, White-rumped seedeater and Brown-rumped and Cabanis’s Bunting etc.

Day Eight
Drive to Kibale Forest National Park, birding enroute.
Day Nine
Chimpanzee tracking and birding In the afternoon. Kibale National Park offers excellent forest birding in addition to the greatest concentration of primates in East Africa. Among the key species in this forest includes; Red-winged Francolin, Red-chested Flufftail, White-napped Pigeon, Green-breasted Pitta, African Pitta, Joyful Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Grey-throated Flycatcher, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Masked and Black-capped Apalises, Chestnut-winged Starling, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Tiny Sunbird, Grey-headed Olive-back etc.

Day Ten
Bigodi Swamp walk in the morning birding with chances of seeing Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Canary, White-spotted Flufftail, Blue-headed Coucal, Great Blue Turaco, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, Scaly-throated Honey guide, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat,  Snowy-headed Robin Chart, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler, Brown-backed Scrub Robin, Mosque Swallow, White-chinned Prinia, Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Brown-headed Tchagra, Village Indigo bird etc.Then drive to Mweya birding in the peninsula later in the evening. Overnight at Mweya.
Day Eleven
Early morning birding and afternoon boat on Kazinga Channel.
Day Twelve
Drive to Bwindi Buhoma area birding enroute. Bwindi National Park in Buhoma and Ruhija.  Bwindi National Park gives you the finest montane forest birding in Africa giving numerous possibilities of the twenty four (24) Albertine Rift Valley endemics such as; African Green Broadbill, Shelley’s Crimson wing, Yellow eyed Black Flycatcher, Blue-headed Sunbird, Purple Breasted Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Bronze-napped Pigeon, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black Bee-eater, Willcock’s Honey guide, Black faced Rufous Warbler, Red throated Alethe,  Archer’s Robin Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Montane Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Graver’s Warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Nightjars, Woodpeckers,  Forest Ground Thrush Chapin’s Flycatcher, Brown-capped Weaver, White-collared Oliveback, Red-fronted Antpecker,  Oriole-finch etc. birding in the afternoon.
Day Thirteen
Gorilla tracking and afternoon forest walk.
Day Fourteen
Whole day birding.

Day Fifteen
Early departure to Ruhija, birding the neck for few hours, proceed to Ruhija and afternoon birding within Ruhija vicinity.
Day Sixteen
Walk the long trail to Mubwindi Swamp, afternoon birding around Ruhija area.
Day Seventeen
Walk the short trail to Mubwindi, afternoon birding around Ruhija area.
Day Eighteen
Birding on the way to Kabale, then proceed to Lake Mburo birding in the around Rwonyo Camp and around the Lake. With a bird list of over 315 species, you will come across some of the key species like the Red-faced Barbet, African Fin foot,  Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away bird,  Blue-napped Mouse bird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Green wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitabill, African Grey Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Trilling Cistcola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Northern Black Tit, Chin-spot Batis, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Marico Sunbird, Coqui Francolin, Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Plover, Flappet Lark, Rufous-chested Swallow, Yellow-throated Long claw, Southern Red Bishop, African Scops Owl, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Fiery-necked, white-tailed and Pennant winged Nightjars, Lesser and Greater  Swamp Warblers, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Blue-headed Coucal,  African Darter, Yellow-throated Leaf love, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, Red-headed Lovebird, Narina Trogon, African White-backed Vulture, Rupell’s Griffon, Lappet-faced Vulture, African Marsh Harrier, Shikra, Gabar and Dark Chanting Goshawks, Lizard and Auger Buzzards, African Fish Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Steppe, Martial Eagles, Long Crested Eagle etc.
Day Nineteen
Birding in the morning along the lakeside and Kigambira loop then drive to Entebbe in the afternoon. Overnight in Entebbe.
Day Twenty
Depending on the time of departure, bird in Entebbe area if there is spare time before you fly out.