16 Days of Uganda Forest Sweeping

Twitcher Tours Uganda | Birding in Paradise | Uganda Birding | Butterfly Tours | Uganda Butterflies Safaris | Butterfly Tour

Detailed Itenary

DAY 1 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Arrival for Forest Birding Safari Uganda

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, transfer to the Hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, we bird Entebbe botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

DAY 2 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Uganda Birding Tour of Mabira Forest (Nahan’s Francolin)

This is the most significant forest reserve closest to the city centre. It boasts of a 315 bird species record with 74 of the 144 species of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome that occurs in Uganda

Search for Nahan’s Francolin which is an IUCN Red list’ endangered species, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, White-spotted Flufftail, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spinetail, Cassin’s Spinetail, Blue-throated Roller, African Dwarf Kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Forest Woodhoopoe, African Pied Hornbill, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Green-breasted Pitta, African Shrike-flycatcher, Jameson’sand Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Forest Robin, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-capped Robin-Chat, the Speckle-breasted, Yellow-crested, Brown-eared, and the Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Red-tailed Bristlebill among others.

DAY 3 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birding Uganda Budongo Forest

Today, we bird to Budongo Forest which has a prolific birdlife with two species of birds not found elsewhere in East Africa: 10 of the 22 species of Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome and 93 of the 144 species Guinea-Congo Forests biome that occurs in Uganda.

DAY 4 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birding Trip in Budongo Forest Uganda (Puvel’s Illadopsis)

We bird the marvellous Royal mile and several other trails for great species, the whole day. We look for the Puvel’s Illadopsis and Nahan’s Francolin other unique birds include; the Yellow-billed Barbet, Grey-throated Barbet, Honeyguide Greenbul, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher,White-headed Saw-wing, White Wagtail, Black-eared Ground-Thrush, Little Crake, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, African Paradise Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Lemon-bellied Crombec, African Moustached Warbler, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-whiskered Greenbul, African Citril, African Golden-breasted Bunting, Black-crowned Waxbill, Bronze Mannikin, Black-billed Bluebill, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Fan-tailedWidowbird, Spectacled Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Compact Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Holub’s Golden Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Purple Starling, Purple-headed Starling, Splendid Starling, Northern Puffback, Black-headed Gonolek, Tropical Boubou, Isabelline Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Lesser Grey Shrike, Western Violet-backed Sunbird and many more.

DAY 5 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Uganda Birding Safari From Busingiro-Kibale Forest National Park

For the early hours of the day, we bird Busingiro and later transfer to Kibale Forest National Park which is the most accessible of Uganda’s primary rainforests.

DAY 6 & 7 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Green-breasted Pitta Search and Optional Chimpanzee Tracking

In Kibale we will bird areas of the forest, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary and Sebitoli for Unique forest species, papyrus endemics and some shorebirds

So far, over 339 species of birds have been recorded, but more species are likely to be added. The park has the Green-breasted Pitta as the most sought-after species along with others;Chubb’s Cisticola, Black-capped Waxbill,Africa Shrike-flycatcher, African Black-headed Oriole,African Emerald Cuckoo, African Green-pigeon, Black-crowned Tchagra, African WoodOwl,African/Rwenzori/Abyssinian Hill-Babbler, Alpine Swift, Ashy Flycatcher, Barn Swallow, Black Bee-eater, Black Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, Black-and-white Mannikin, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Black-billed Weaver, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, African Dusky Flycatcher, Black-headed Weaver, Black-necked Weaver, African/Western Citril,Black-throated Apalis, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird,Blue-throated Roller, African Blue Flycatcher, Bocage’ Bush-shrike,Bronze Mannikin, Zebra Waxbill,Bronze Sunbird, Brown Illadopsis, Brown-capped Weaver,Brown-chested Alethe,Brown-eared Woodpecker,Brown-headed Tchagra,African-pied Wagtail, CameroonSombre Greenbul,Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Yellow-billed Barbet,Afep Pigeon, endless list.

DAY 8 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birdwatching Semliki National Park in Uganda

Semliki harbours a large number of predominantly Central African species which can not be found anywhere else in East Africa, and these include some of the continent’s most spectacular and sought-after birds such as; Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Black-wattled Hornbill, the Nkulengu Rail, to mention but a few. There is a single, unconfirmed report of the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel.

DAY 9 & 10 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birding tour Semliki forest and the Kirumiya trail (Blue Swallow)

Being one of the wealthiest areas for both flora and fauna in Africa most especially birds, we bird the place for two days. We aim at a record of 400 species which will include the African Piculet, Blue Swallow, White-throated Blue Swallow, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Spotted Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Lowland Akalat, Red-throated Alethe, Fire-crested Alethe, Snowy-headed Robin-Chat, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Red-eyed Puffback, White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat, Abyssinian Ground-Thrush, Oberlaender’s Ground-Thrush, Grey Ground-Thrush, Little Grey Greenbul, Toro Olive Greenbul, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-throated Nicator, Western Nicator, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Black Saw-wing, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-thighed Sparrowhawk, Chestnut-flanked Goshawk, Grant’s Bluebill, Afep Pigeon, Blue-headed Coucal, Bates’s Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar, Cassin’ Spinetail, Sabine’s Spinetail, White-bellied Kingfisher, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Gabon Woodpecker, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Double-toothed Barbet, Black-billed Barbet, White-headed Barbet, just to mention but a few.

DAY 11 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Uganda Birding Safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This is the best place for forest birding in Uganda and also Africa’ number one birding spot. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park has 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics. These include, the globally threatened species such as the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, plus others such as Oberlander’s/Forest Ground Thrush, Sassi’s Olive Greenbul, Dusky Crimson-wing, Strange Weaver, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Short-tailed/Neumann’s Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Collared Apalis, Montane Masked Apalis, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Turaco, and Handsome Francolin.

DAY 12 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Albertine Rift Endemics Tour and Optional Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

There are less than 800 mountain gorillas in the whole world. Uganda is home to more than a half of these beautiful, majestic, gentle giants and yet endangered apes. Therefore, Gorilla tracking in Uganda is a must experience not to be missed. Bwindi impenetrable forest habituates families of mountain gorillas along with other species of primates, for example, Chimpanzees, Colobus, Olive baboons, name it.

At Buhoma, we look out for species like, the Black Bee-Eater, Dusky Tit, Brown-caped Weaver, the Yellow-billed and yellow-spotted Barbets, the African and Black-and-white Shrike Flycatchers, Common Stonechat, Brown-throated and Chestnut Wattle-eyes, Apalises, Equatorial Akalat, Slaty Flycatcher, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Grey Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, the Olive-green and Grey-backed Camaroptera, White-chinned Prinia, Green Hylia, Short-tailed Warbler, White-tailed Anti-thrush, Cape Wagtail, Grey-capped Warbler, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, White-browed Crombec, the list is long.

DAY 13 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birding Tour to Ruhija (Grauer’s Broadbill)

Today we bird Ruhija in search for the darling Grauer’s Broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimson-wings, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, White-browed Crombec, White-naped Raven, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Sharp’s Starling, Mountain masked and Rwenzori Apalises and many more.

DAY 14 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birding Mubwindi

Whole day birding Mubwindi Swamp where we will look out for the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, White-tailed blue flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Black Billed weaver, Black Necked weaver, Red Headed Malimbe, Grey-headed Sparrow, Waller’s Starling, Stuhlmann’s Starling, Montane Oriole, Many Coloured Bush Shrike, Bocage’s Bush Shrike, Brown Crowned Tchagra, Pink Footed Puffback, Ludher’s Bush Shrike, Doherty`s Bush-shrike, Mountain Illadopsis and Rwenzori Nightjar.

DAY 15 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Birding to Kampala/Entebbe

DAY 16 Twitcher Tours Uganda: Departure – End of Uganda Forest Bird Watching Tour

Tour Highlights

Departs: Entebbe International Airport Tour Length: 16 Days Focus: Birding |Primates Watch Key Species: Orange Weaver, Shelley’s Crimson-wing, African Green Broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Kivu Ground Thrush, Albertine Rift Endemics, Green-breasted Pitta, African Piculet, White-throated Blue Swallow, Puvel’s Illadopsis, Nahan’s Francolin Expected # of birds: 350 Species Birding Pace: Moderate Physical Difficulty: Moderate Group Limit: Maximum 8 Bird Photography: Can be tricky in the forest but fair in open forest trails