12 days Uganda and Rwanda birding comfort safari

12 days Uganda and Rwanda birding comfort safari

Overview

12 Days Uganda and Rwanda birding comfort Safari covers all Ugandan major national parks and birding sites and combines Rwanda National parks; Akagera and Nyungwe Forest Reserve. It highlights all the sites with the most sought after birds by all keen birders.

Day 1: Pick and transfer to Mabamba-Soroti

After early morning breakfast, we shall drive to Mabamba wetlands where we will be paddled in a canoe through the swamp looking for the mighty Shoebill and other birds like White-winged Wabler, Carruthers’ Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, Saddle-billed Stork, African pygmy Goose, Lesser Jacana and others. Later we shall transfer to Soroti town for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Soroti Hotel

Meal plan: Lunch and dinner

Day 2: Drive to Lake Bisina & Kidepo valley National park

After early morning breakfast, we shall head to L. Bisina in search of the rare fox weaver and other water birds and later we shall head to Kidepo Valley N. Park. Lake Bisina also known as Lake Salisbury, is a freshwater lake in eastern Uganda. Additionally, it is a satellite lake of Lake Kyoga, which it drains into and the two are to some extent directly connected by papyrus swamps.

Lastly, dinner and overnight stay

Accommodation: Apoka UWA bandas

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 3: Birding and wildlife viewing in Kidepo

After breakfast, you will go for a game drive in search for different bird species. Kidepo Valley N. Park is a habitat to over 475 species of birds a total second only to Queen Elizabeth N. Park. Amongst the host of dry, eastern “specials” not found in any other Ugandan N. Park are some of East Africa’s rarest and most sought-after birds such as Black-breasted barbet and Karamoja Apalis. Other birds include; Ostrich, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel, Stone Partridge and others.

Lastly, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Apoka UWA bandas

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 4: Whole day birding in Kidepo valley N.P

Whole day birding Kidepo Valley N. Park for the missed Species like Singing Bush Lark, Red-winged Lark, Ethiopian Swallow, Pied, Isabelline and Heuglin’s Wheatears, African Grey Flycatcher, Foxy and Red pate Cisticolas, White-bellied Tit, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Northern White-crowned and yellow-billed Shrikes.

Thereafter, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Apoka UWA bandas

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 5: Transfer to Mabira forest Reserve

After early morning breakfast, we shall head to Mabira Forest birding en-route. The Mabira Forest is a rainforest area covering about 300 square kilometers in Uganda, located in Buikwe District, between Lugazi and Jinja. Additionally, it has been protected as Mabira Forest Reserve since 1932. It is also a home for many endangered species like the primate Lophocebus ugandae.

Accommodation: The haven lodge Uganda

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 6: Whole day birding in Mabira F.R

After breakfast, birding at Mabira forest and later visit the water falls. There is also a variety of bird life that we shall see. We shall walk along the trail and look out for birds such as Speckle -breasted woodpecker, Black-throated Apalis, African Blue flycatcher, Dusky Tit, Forest Robin, Little Olive and other superb sunbirds. Also, the trail continues into an open area where large, dead trees provide nesting sites for an abundance of barbets such as Grey-throated, Yellow-spotted, Hairy-breasted and others.

Lastly, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: The haven lodge Uganda

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 7: Transfer to Lake Mburo National park

After early Morning breakfast, we shall head to L. Mburo N. Park birding en-route via Mpanga Forest where we shall search for Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Weyn’s Weaver, White-spotted Flufftail, Red-capped, Blue- shouldered and Snowy-headed Robin Chats, Lemon Dove, Fire-crested Alethe, Grey Parrot, Black-billed Turaco.

Accommodation: Rwonyo Rest camp

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 8: Full day birding

After early morning breakfast, we will head for a boat trip at L. Mburo in search of the water birds like African Finfoot, Brown-chested Plover, Southern Ground Hornbill, Spoty-Flanked, Red-faced and Black-collared Barbets, White-Winged Warbler, Papyrus Yellow Warbler to mention but a few.

Accommodation: Rwonyo Rest camp

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 9: Transfer to Akagera national park

After breakfast, you transfer to Akagera N.P via Mbarara-Kabale route. Upon arrival, you will relax as you wait for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Akagera game lodge

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 10: Whole day birding in Akagera and wildlife viewing

Wake up early, have breakfast and then head out to search for different bird species such as Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Oxpeckers and Northern Brown –throated weaver and many others.

Later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Akagera game lodge

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 11: Transfer to Nyungwe National park

After an early morning breakfast, we go birding around Akagera N. Park. Later return to the lodge for Lunch. After lunch we drive through hills and valleys to the forest where you will start seeing birds to Gisakura Guest house where you will spend the nights as you bird Nyungwe forest

Accommodation: Gisakura guest house

Meal plan: all meals and drinking water

Day 12: Birding and transfer to Kigali airport for the drop off

After breakfast, proceed for birding in Nyungwe forest. Look out for species like Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Turaco, Red-chested Owlet, Rwenzori Nightjar, Western Green Tinkerbird, Dwarf Honeyguide, Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat. Later come back to your lodge for lunch, check out and transfer to Kigali for the drop off and today marks the end of your 12 days Uganda and Rwanda birding comfort safari.

Meal plan: Breakfast and lunch

End of Safari