9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda

9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda will take you to Uganda’s best birding spot to see over 23 Albertine rift endemics and other bird species. You will also have a chance to meet the gentle mountain gorillas in their natural habitants on this tour.

The following are the bird species you may see on your 9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi in Uganda; Handsome francolin, Rwenzori turaco, Regal sunbird, Grauer’s warbler, Rwenzori nightjar, Kivu ground thrush, Red-throated alethe, Archer’s robin-chat, Collared apalis, Mountain masked apalis, Neumann’s warbler, African green broadbill,Grauer’s scrub warbler, Shelley’s crimsonwing, Strange weaver, Red-faced woodland warbler, Chapin’s flycatcher, Yellow-eyed black flycatcher, Rwenzori batis, Stripe-breasted tit, Blue-headed sunbird, Purple-breasted sunbird, Dusky crimsonwing, Dwarf honeyguide, Nectarinia regia, Caprimulgus Rwenzori, Indicator pumilio, Francolinus nobilis, Pseudocalyptomena graueri, Zoothera tanganjicae, Melaeomis ardesiascus, Alethe poliophrys, Cossypha archeri, Phylloscopus laetus, Tauraco johnstoni, Musicapa lendu Apalis Rwenzori, Apalis personata, Nectarinia alinae, Bradypterus grouri, Graueria vittate, Hemetisia neumanni, , Batis diops, Parus fasciiventer, Cryptospiza jacksoni, Cryptospiza sheileyi, Ploceus alienus, Nectarinia purpureiventris among others.

This trip will start from Kigali international airport and end at Entebbe airport in Uganda.

9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda Highlights

• Day 1: Arrival in Kigali international airport and travel to Kisoro
• Day 2: Birding in Mgahinga
• Day 3: Birding in Echuya forest and in Ruhija
• Day 4: Birding in Mubwindi swamp
• Day 5: Birding on the way to Buhoma Bwindi
• Day 6: Birding in Bwindi
• Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi
• Day 8: Birding in Kaku swamp in Lyantonde- Entebbe
• Day 9: Mabamba Bird watching- Departure

Safari experiences

• Explore Kigali city
• Gorilla trekking tour
• Bird watching in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
• Bird watching in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Equator experience

Day 1: Arrival in Kigali international airport and travel to Kisoro

On this day, meet and greet our company representative and your birding guide for briefing; if time allow, you will have a short tour to Kigali city to explore both historical and cultural landmarks of the country. Have lunch and drive to Uganda through Cyanika border point. Dinner and overnight stay at Lake Mutanda safari resort.

Day 2: Birding in Mgahinga

Have breakfast and head to Ntebeko Camp in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park to start our bird watching experience in the most beautiful and protected area in the pearl of Africa. We will explore the gorge trail that loops half way up Mount Sabinyo; passing through a series of montane vegetation in search for birds. Today, expect to see the following birds in Mgahinga gorilla national park; Ruwenzori batis, White-necked raven, Black kite, Ruwenzori nightjar, Dusky crimson wing, Pin-tailed whydah, Blue-headed coucal, Double-collared sunbird, Archer’s robin-chat, Speckled mouse bird, Olive pigeon, Paradise flycatcher, Ibis, Olive woodpecker, Whydah, Speckled Mouse birds, Fire Finch Stonechat, Grey Capped Warbler, Waxbills, Yellow-Vented Bulbul, Alpine chat, Kivu ground-thrush, Alpine, Ruwenzori turaco among others.

In addition to Mgahinga bird watching tour, you may encounter other forest wildlife species along the way like elephant, bushbucks, buffalo, golden monkeys on a lucky day!

Accommodation: Lake Mutanda Safari Resort

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Birding in Echuya forest and in Ruhija

After breakfast, continue with your 9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda to Ruhija sector with a stopover at Echuya forest reserve including the Muchuya swamp for bird viewing opportunities. Expect to see birds like Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Papyrus Canary, Carruther’s Cisticola, Little Rush Warbler, rare species as Batis diops, Francolinus nobilis, Ploceus alienus and Cryptospiza jacksoni. Later drive to Ruhija looking for other birds including: Olive Pigeon, Handsome Francolin, Western Green Tinkerbird among others. You will spend the night at your booked lodge.

Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Birding in Mubwindi swamp

After breakfast, drive to Mubwindi Swamp in search for bird species like; Fine-banded Woodpecker, African Green-Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Black-billed Turaco, Grauer’s Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler among others. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Birding on the way to Buhoma Bwindi

After breakfast, drive while birding to Buhoma in southern sector of Bwindi impenetrable national park in search for birds like; Tambourine Dove, White-starred Robin, Black Bee-eater, Mountain Wagtail, Cassin’s-grey Flycatcher, Red-throated Wryneck, Chubb’s Cisticola, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Olive Thrush, Banded Prinia and many more. Dinner and overnight stay at your booked lodge.

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Birding in Bwindi

Have breakfast and start birding tour to the main trail in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest to look for birds like; African Goshawk, Red-throated Alethe, African Broadbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black Bee-Eater, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Tinkerbirds and Barbets, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Woodpeckers, assorted Greenbuls, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Black-faced Rufous Warbler among others. Return to your booked lodge for relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Gorilla tracking in Bwindi

Today is a highlight of your 9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda! You will have an early morning breakfast and later head to the park headquarters for mountain gorilla trekking experiences. During your primate tour in Bwindi, you will encounter several birds like Red-chested Owlet, African Broadbill, Black Bee-Eater, White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher and if the lucky Fraser’s Eagle Owl. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Buhoma Haven Lodge

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Birding in Kaku swamp in Lyantonde- Entebbe

Have early morning breakfast and drive to Lyantode to bird Kaku swamp to spot birds like the Black kite, the White-faced and Fulvous, Dusky Blue, Arrow-marked, African Dusky, Grey wood Pecker, whistling ducks, African Paradise, Lesser Moorhen, Common and Purple Swamphen, Brown-throated Wattle-Eye, Spur-winged and Egyptian Geese, Red-bellied Paradise, Hottentot Teals, Grey-crowned Cranes and Saddle-billed Storks, Black-lored and Brown Babblers, Lesser and Scaly-throated Honeyguide among others. Later continue with the drive to Entebbe for dinner and overnight stay.

Accommodation: Papyrus Guesthouse Entebbe

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9: Mabamba Bird watching- Departure

Have breakfast and drive to Mabamba wetland in search for shoe bill stork. You will see other bird species Mabamba swamp like Lesser Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Orange weaver, Black Egret, Black Crake, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Goliath heron among others. After drive to Entebbe international airport to end your 9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda!

This 9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda includes;

• Ground Transportation in a fully customized safari vehicle
• Birding fees
• All fuel for the trip.
• Driver / guide.
• Guide ranger fees.
• Accommodation on full board
• All activities are described in the itinerary.
• Park fee is according to the program.

9 Days forest Birding Safari in Mgahinga and Bwindi Uganda excludes;

Personal Expenses like; tobacco, porter fee, telephone, drinks, personal insurance, laundry, Visa and tips to guides.