10 days uganda birding and big primate safari

The 10 days Uganda Birding and big primate Safari, we shall be able to cover some of the important Uganda's birding habitats and have opportunity for wildlife experience, gorilla and chimpanzee tracking adventures. As per the birding safari, we shall move with one of our specialized birding guide to discover the amazing birds Uganda has to offer. 
While on this trip, we shall visit the Mabamba Bay, Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kibale Forest.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and transfer to your hotel

On your arrival at Entebbe Airport, meeting with our tour guide and transfer to the hotel for an overnight (If your flight schedule is day time, we could go birding in Entebbe botanical garden for the Orange weaver, golden backed weaver and other master builders of the Ploceidae family, superb sunbird, green hylia, bat hawk, and several garden birds exploiting this transitional habitat.
Distance: 10km 
Medium range accommodation: The Boma Hotel Entebbe /Karibu Guesthouse (BB)
High accommodation: No.5 Boutique Hotel / Marriott Entebbe (BB)

Day 2: Mabamba Bay - Lake Mburo National Park

After our early breakfast depart to Lake Mburo via Mabamba swamp wetland. The highlight at Mabamba Swamp is a search for the prehistoric looking Great shoebill stork. Within the above swamp we also find some aquatic birds and marsh Harriers, if time allow search for the beautiful painted Pygmy goose. Afterward then proceed to have a stopover and at the Equator for Photo and experiment. Later, continue the drive to Lake Mburo of the park with the vast savannah dotted with acacia and shrubs, with aim of wildlife game viewing like Zebras, Topis, Warthogs, cape buffaloes and impalas among others. In the evening have a boat-cruise on the lake where can have chance of seeing the African finfoot and some of the native birds along the banks, and also some of aquatic animal like  Crocodiles, Hippos yawning and more birds. 
Distance:  290 km 
Medium range accommodation: Rwackobo Rock /Arcadia cottage (FB)
High accommodation: Mihingo lodge / Mantana Tented camp / (FB)

Day 3: Mburo National Park- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today, we have an option for  early morning game  walk or  game drive, get up early focusing on the Rwizi track it’s a dense population of some rare birds here, Tabora cisticola, Crested barbet, Red headed weavers, cuckoo shrikes among other and also with chance , if lucky, to see Leopards, zebras, waterbucks, birds, buffaloes in there day break jungle life! Afterward with enroute game viewing to exit the park with lunch stop within Mbarara - we drive through the magical cultivated hills with the wonderful view of the Bwindi impenetrable forest, with the elevation of above 2100 meters with the Mist where the Gorillas live in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. As we check out some soaring buzzards, flocks of stuhlmanns starlings. We could assemble to head for the Mubwindi swamp for the highest concentration of the Albertin endemics aiming to grip on the African green broadbill, Fraser’s eagle owl, black billed turaco and Rwenzori batis.  In the evening we could track the calls of the Rwenzori night jar. This Impenetrable Forest is full of birds, butterfly and plant species plus forest hog; forest Elephants, Statungas and Dikers. 
Distance:  260 km 
Medium accommodation: Ride4woman / Haven Lodge (FB)
High accommodation: / Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge (FB)

Day 4: Gorilla tracking or birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Today’s activity shall be optional: Gorilla tracking or birding in Bwindi impenetrable forest (inform us of your choice when booking). We could do the Gorillas or drive descending through the impenetrable forest for the dusky crimson wings, African swees, the rare mountain wagtail and black billed weaver as we head to Buhoma for an evening walk to the waterfalls and enjoy a relaxed yet profitable birding in Bwindi on our favorite trail.
Medium accommodation: Ride4woman / Haven Lodge (FB) 
High accommodation: / Mahogany spring / Buhoma lodge (FB)

Day 5: Bwindi National park - Queen Elizabeth (birding within Ishasha sector)

Drive to Queen Elizabeth - Ishasha sector for the savannah birds, the top vulture of the region Lappet faced vulture, Africa`s most spirited eagle the Marshal eagle, larks, a try to check on the rare Dusky blue flycatcher on River ishasha and bonus to get the Lions high in the Fig tree branches. In the evening, have a drive in search for the resident Greyish eagle owl and Verreaux eagle owls. Afterward, drive to the northern sector of the park 
Distance:  150 km 
Medium range accommodation: Bush lodge/ Kaseyi game lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Mweya safari lodge / Elephant Plains lodge (FB)

Day 6: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Early morning game drives experience in  the national park, with aim of seeing animal like  elephants, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, waterbucks, Ugandan kobs, and if lucky  lion and leopard . In the afternoon, take the most exciting 2 hours boat cruise on Kazinga channel, one of the most popular sites in Uganda for its concentration of wildlife and bird.  
Medium range accommodation: Bush lodge/ Kaseyi game lodge (FB)
High accommodation: Mweya safari lodge / Elephant Plains lodge (FB)

Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park 

Today, we start  with a morning drive through Queen Elizabeth looking out for what we might have missed the previous days of birding before we transfer to Kibale which has the highest concentration of primates in Uganda with 13 species. Depending on where we stay birding as we enter the forest is delightful looking out for the Black Bee-eater, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, Mountain Wagtail, Shining Blue Flycatcher, Red Chested Owlet, White-napped Pigeon, Dusky Blue Flycatcher, Green Crombec, Purple Banded Sunbird, Uganda Woodland Warbler, White Tailed Anti-thrush, African Emerald Cuckoo, Red Chested Cuckoo, Red Capped and Blue Shouldered Robinchat and many more bird species. 

Distance:  157 km 
Medium accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Kibale Forest camp (FB)
High accommodation: Primate Lodge / Papaya lodge (FB)

Day 8: Kibale National Park: chimpanzee tracking and birding

Kibale is home to 13 species of primates and there. This is where we have bigger chances of Chimpanzee tracking. Birding in the forest is also very rewarding and you could encounter White-naped Pigeon, African Gray Parrot, Black Bee-eater, Hairy-breasted, Yellow Spotted and Yellow Billed Barbet, Chestnut-winged and Purple-headed, Waller’s and Narrow Tailed Starlings, Blue-throated Brown and Superb Sunbirds, White-collared Olive back among others.

Medium accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Kibale Forest camp (FB)
High accommodation: Primate Lodge / Papaya lodge (FB)

Day 9: Birding within Kibale Forest and Bigodi

Our birding safari will be around and within Kibale Forest. Key species include Green-breasted Pitta, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Red-chested Owlet, Crowned Eagle, White-naped, Afep and Olive Pigeon, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Crested Guineafowl, Western Nicator, Blue-throated Sunbird, Olive Sunbird, Green Sunbird, and Purple-banded Sunbird. After lunch we’ll head to the Bigodi Wetland, a papyrus and swamp forest. We hope to find such papyrus endemics as White-winged Warbler, White-collared Oliveback and Papyrus Gonolek. Amongst other species we may encounter along the 4 km trail are African Marsh Harrier, African Harrier-Hawk, Willcock’s Honeyguide, Grey Parrot, Black-billed Turacco, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-breasted Negrofinch, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Grey Greenbul, Red-faced Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, Snowy-crowned Robin Chat, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher and Red-headed Malimbe

Medium accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge / Kibale Forest camp (FB)
High accommodation: Primate Lodge / Papaya lodge (FB)

Day 10: Kibale Forest - Kampala/Entebbe

Breakfast, transfer to Kampala/Entebbe. Plan for a late evening flight or add an extra night to fly the next day as we have finished our safari of Uganda's birding paradise.
Distance:  350 km (about 5hours)
Note: Accommodations shall be based on client selection (high, Medium or low budget.

TOUR COST per person sharing

Medium range accommodation

USD         per person for group of 6 persons 
USD         per person for group of 4 persons

High range accommodation

USD         per person for group of 6 persons 
USD         per person for group of 4 persons

The tariff includes:

Airport transfers
Full board accommodation with meals mentioned    
Ground transportation in modified safari car 
English speaking Driver with specialized birding guide
Entrance fees to the national park and other sites on the itinerary
Local government taxes 

The tariff does not include:

Air ticket.
Tourist insurance health insurance
Entrance visas: Uganda 50 USD directly from Entebbe International Airport
Optional activities, $ 700Gorilla or $200 chimpanzee permits per person per tracking
Personal natures and tips