Kazinga Tours - Our Tours

Day 1

Entebbe

Meet our professional team at the airport and transfer to the Hotel in Entebbe.

Anderita Beach Hotel

Day 2

Kampala - Mabamba - Kampala

Early breakfast and head straight to Mabamba, a large and accessible wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria a short distance from Kampala - this is the nearest site for the Shoebill.

We'll also look for Lesser Jacana, Blue Swallow, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Afep Pigeon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Tit Hylia and likely come across African Pygmy-Goose, Spur-winged Geese, Long-toed Lapwing, Blue-breasted and Madagascar Bee-eaters, Gray-rumped Swallow, Greater Swamp-Warbler, Slender-billed Weaver, Lizard Buzzard, African Pygmy-Kingfisher and Plain-backed Pipit. Spot-necked Otter can sometimes be seen.

Namirembe Guest House

Day 3

Kampala - Mabira Forest - Jinja - Kampala

We have an early breakfast and leave for Mabira Forest 65km east of Kampala. We spend the rest of the day birding the Mabira forest, pausing for lunch at Jinja and visiting the source of the Nile.

Specialities here include Pied Hornbill, Forest Wood-Hoopoe, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Blue-breasted, White-bellied, Dwarf and Shining-blue Kingfishers, Yellow-throated and Speckled Tinkerbirds, Toro Olive Greenbul, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Forest Robin, Blue-shouldered and Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Nahan's Francolin, Yellow billed Barbet, Jameson's Wattle-eye, Tit Hylia, White-spotted Flufftail, Superb Sunbird, White-shouldered Tit, Magpie Manikin, Green Crombec, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Black-throated Apalis, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Sabine's Spinetail, Dusky Long-tailed uckoos, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Blue-throated Roller and Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrikes.

Mammals include Red-tailed and Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys, Bush Duiker and Western Tree Hyrax.

International Landmark

Day 4

Kampala - Murchison Falls

We start early for Murchison Falls National Park. This is Uganda's largest national park that protects a chunk of untamed African savannah and bisected by the mighty River Nile. It is named for the dramatic Murchison Falls, where the world's longest river explodes violently through a narrow cleft in the Rift Valley escarpment to plunge into a frothing pool 43m below. In the lush borassus grassland to the north of the Nile, African Elephant, Buffalo, Giraffe and a variety of antelope are regularly encountered on game drives, while Lions are seen with increasing frequency.

In the southeast, Rabongo Forest is home to chimps and other rainforest creatures. The Nile itself hosts one of Africa's densest hippo and crocodile populations, and a dazzling variety of waterbirds including the world's most accessible wild population of the rare Shoebill. We have lunch at Masindi Hotel and proceed to Kaniyo Pabidi (Budongo Forest) for a short afternoon birding break.

Special Birds include Puvell's Iladopsis, Rufous sided broadbill, Yellow and Grey longbills, Red tailed ant thrush, White crested Turaco and Afep Pigeon.

We proceed to the northern bank of the Mighty Nile river.

Sambya River Lodge

Day 5

Murchison Falls

We start birding after an early breakfast. We make a gamedrive on the savannahs of Murchision Falls.

We expect to see Elephants, Giraffes, Hartebeast, Warthogs, Buffaloes and maybe Lions. The birds include Pied Kingfishers, Red-throated Bee-eaters lining the banks, Goliath Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Sacred Ibis, Red-necked Falcon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Vinaceous Dove and Grosbeak Weaver. We have lunch at the lodge. This area is home to Buff-bellied Warbler, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Marabou Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silver bird, Beautiful Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Golden-backed Weaver and White-rumped Seedeater.

This afternoon we cross for birding to the Top of the Falls. We lookout for White-fronted black chat, Rock Prantincoles, White-crested Turaco, Gray Woodpecker, Darter and Giant Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-Shrike, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Black-headed Gonolek, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Brown Twinspot, Bar-breasted Firefinch, Red-winged Pytilia and Red-winged Grey Warbler, Bruce's Pigeon and Osprey.

Sambya River Lodge

Day 6

Murchison Falls

Today Birding begins after an early breakfast. We take a private boat down to the delta on the northern bank of the Victoria Nile.

The grasslands, swampy and riverine thickets supported many species amongst them White-headed Vulture, Common Buttonquail, Denham's Bustard, Temminck's Courser, Blue-naped Mousebird, Northern Carmine-Bee-eater, Flappet Lark, Croaking Cisticola, Buff-bellied Warbler, Spotted Morning-Thrush, White-browed Sparrow-Weavers, Piapiac, Black-winged and Northern Red Bishops.

Besides birding the area is also wonderful for Africa big game viewing with large concentrations of Elephants, Buffalos, Rothschilds Giraffes, Waterbucks, Warthogs, Lions and the ever alert Oribis and Kobs. After lunch at the Para Safari Lodge, birding continues with the afternoon boat to the bottom of the falls. This section of the Nile is home to a variety of water birds, schools of hippos and crocs.

There are chances of close-up views of Rock Pratincoles. Other birds include Red-throated Bee-eaters and Giant Kingfishers. If we are lucky we may have a glimpse of Pel's fishing owl and swallow tailed kite.

Sambya River Lodge

Day 7

Murchison Falls - Masindi

We start early birding to Budongo forest through the escarpment looking for Fox's Cisticola, White-headed Barbet, Northern Crombec, Singing Cisticola, Grey-headed Bush Shrike, Black-billed Barbet, Grey-headed Oliveback, Black-bellied Firefinch, Madagascar Heron, Lesser masked Weaver and Shikra.

Afternoon Birding at Budongo may be very productive. The forest is one of the largest and most beautiful forests in Uganda. It is home for African Dwarf Kingfisher, African Crowned Eagle, Olive Camaroptera, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Rufous-crowned Eremomera, Ituri Batis and Nahan's Francolin.

Evening birding may give chances of Bat Hawk, African Wood Owl, White-faced Wood Owl, White-crested and Ross's Turaco, Grey Parrots, Piping and White-thighed Hornbills, Black-shouldered Nightjar, as well as Western Tree Hyrax. In addition to birding this forest is home to Chimpanzees and Uganda's most beautiful butterflies.

Masindi Hotel

Day 8

Masindi - Kibale

We start early for a long drive to Kibale National Park. This park is one of the most accessible of Uganda's major rainforests.

Kibale is home to a remarkable 13 primate species, including the very localised Red Colobus and L'Hoest's Monkey. Kibale's major attraction, however, is the opportunity to track habituated Chimpanzees - these delightful apes, more closely related to humans than to any other living creature, are tremendous fun to watch as they squabble and play in fruiting trees.

A network of shady forest trails provides much to delight botanists and butterfly lovers, while birders are in for a treat with over 335 species recorded including the Green-breasted Pitta, African Pitta, Grey-winged Robin, Red-winged Francolin, Joyful Greenbul, White-napped Pigeon, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Red-chested Flufftail, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Warbler, White-collared Oliveback, Leaf Love, African Broadbill, Willcock's Honeyguide. White-winged Warbler, White-spotted Flufftail, Scaly-throated Honeyguide. The forest is also home to Elephants (formerly living in the savannah) Buffalo, Giant Forest Hog and a half-dozen of antelope species.

Evening birding will likely yield a few nightjar and owl species and possibly Bushbabies and Galagos.

Chimps' Nest

Day 9

Kibale

We assemble for briefing as we prepare for chimp tracking. If our morning is successful in locating these entertaining primates then we'll spend the afternoon birding along the Kamwengye to Fort Portal Road White-tailed Ant-Thrushes, Purple-headed Glossy-Starling, Brown Illadopsis, Green-breasted Pitta, White-naped Pigeon, Masked Apalis, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Black-billed Turaco, Buff-spotted Woodpecker and Green Crombec.

Chimps' Nest

Day 10

Kibale

The morning will be spent birding in the Kibale forest. Key species include Green-breasted Pitta, Cabanis Greenbul, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Red-chested Owlet, Crowned Eagle, White-napped Pigeon, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Crested Guineafowl, Western Nicator, Blue-throated, Olive, Green, 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 White-winged Warbler, White-collared Olivebacks and Papyrus Gonolek.

Amongst other species we may encounter along the long 4 km trail is African Marsh-Harrier, African Harrier-Hawk, Willcock's Honeyguide, Gray Parrot, Black-billed Turaco, Yellow-billed Barbet, White-breasted Negrofinch, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Gray Greenbul, Red-faced Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher, Black-headed Paradise-Flycatcher and Red-headed Malimbe.

Chimps' Nest

Day 11

Kibale - Semliki

We start in the morning in another section of the Kibale National Park (Sebitole) The habitat here consists of a swamp surrounded by low, scrubby secondary forest and cultivation.

We expect to see Green-backed Twinspot, Scaly Illadopsis, Olive Camaroptera, Uganda Spotted Woodpecker, White-tailed Ant-thrush, Red-capped Robin Chat and Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Great Sparrowhawk, Red-headed Bluebill, Luhdher's Bush Shrike and possibly chimps. It is a good site for a number of birds that are hard to find elsewhere including Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Cabanis's Greenbul and Joyful Greenbul as well as White-spotted Flufftail, Dusky and olive longtailed cuckoo, Lesser Honeyguide, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, White-chinned Prinia, Grey Apalis, Olive-green Camaroptera and White-collared Oliveback.

Lunch at Fort Portal and afternoon transfer to Semliki NP.

Semliki Lodge

Day 12

Semliki - Semuliki

We start very early in the morning and drive into Semuliki National Park for birding in the forest. The whole day will be spent birding the Kirumira Trail.

Semliki is known for its specialties, including Congo Serpent Eagle, Black-throated Coucal, Grey-throated Rail, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Spot-breasted Ibis, Capuchin Babbler, Yellow-throated Nicator, Northern Bearded Scrub Robin, Red-chested Owlet, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Black-collared Lovebird, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Zenker's Honeyguide, White-throated Blue Swallow, Bate's Nightjar, Yellow- throated Cuckoo, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Black-winged Oriole, Red-billed Helmet Shrike, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Icterine Greenbul, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Crested Malimbe and Blue-billed Malimbe, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Pale-fronted Negrofinch and Piping, Red-billed Dwarf, Black Dwarf, White crested, Black-casqued Wattled and White-thighed Hornbills.

Semliki Lodge

Day 13

Semliki - Queen Elizabeth NP

After breakfast we drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This park has recorded more than 600 bird species.

We'll have lunch at Mweya Safari Lodge followed by afternoon birding in the park. Special birds here include Harlequin Quail, Blue Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, White-winged Warbler, Martial Eagle, African Skimmer, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Papyrus Gonolek, Amur Falcon, Ovampo Sparrowhawk. Lowland Akalat, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Shoebill, Black Bee-eater, Caruthers's Cisticola, Terek Sandpiper, Secretary Bird, and Temminck's Courser.

Mammals include African Elephant, Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Lion, Ugandan Kobs, Side-striped Jackal, Baboons, Chimpanzees, Bush and Water Bucks, Warthogs, Giant Forest Hogs to mention but a few.

Mweya Hostel

Day 14

Queen Elizabeth NP

After early morning tea, we leave for a game drive to the vast grassland area in search of mammals including members of the cat family before returning for a late breakfast, after which we'll return for another game drive. The open savannahs are lush and green.

After lunch at the Lodge we have an exciting afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel, the narrow neck of water that connects Lakes George and Edward, with excellent photographic opportunities for waterside birds and abundant Hippopotamus. Amongst the birds we'll likely encounter African Skimmer, Striated Heron, African Spoonbill, Water Thick-knee, Three-banded Plover, Marsh, Green, Wood and Common Sandpiper, Gray-headed Gull, Plain Martin Lesser Swamp-Warbler and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.

At dusk around the lights at the lodge we are likely to see Slender-tailed and Swamp Nightjars hawking hawk moths.

Mweya Hostel

Day 15

Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi

After breakfast we check out for a half day birding in the park leading to Maramagambo Forest.

A few specialties at Maramagambo Forest include the Yellow-bellied and Jameson's Wattle-eyes, Black Bee-eater, White-tailed and Red-tailed Ant-Thrush, Brown and Grey-chested Illadopsis, Shinning Blue Kingfisher, Brown-eared Woodpeckers, Narina Trogon, Least Honeyguide, Grey Greenbul, Brown-chested Alethe, and the African Finfoot. The trail through the forest leads past a bat cave, which is rather impressive, and if we are lucky we may come across a Python that lives in the cave and feasts on the bats.

Rest of the day will be spent on driving to Bwindi NP.

Buhoma Homestead

Day 16

Bwindi

Bwindi Impenetrable NP is a magnificent verdant swathe across the steep ridges of the Albertine Rift Valley. The park's headquarters are at Buhoma, and it is from here that we will set out on our gorilla trek.

A great deal will depend upon where the Mountain Gorillas are, as to how far one has to trek, but one should expect to be in the forest most of the day.

We are allowed an hour with the gorillas and it is sure to be a very rewarding experience.

Buhoma Homestead

Day 17

Bwindi

Another full day in Bwindi this time in a section of the forest known as the "Neck" where it narrows and then later expands. There is a river at this point and with some great birds.

Key species include, Mountain Wagtail, Red-tailed and Shelley's Greenbul, Cassin's Flycatcher, Black Duck, Banded Prinia, Grey-throated Barbet, Common Buzzard, Tree Pipit, Chin-spot Batis, Black-billed Turaco, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Dwarf Honeyguide, Red-tailed Greeenbul, and we should come across bee-eaters including Black and Cinnamon-chested, Bronze-naped Pigeon, Many-coloured Bush Shrike, Ayres's Hawk-Eagle, Bronze-naped Pigeon, Narina Trogon, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-throated Alethe, Gray Apalis, African Shrike-Flycatcher and Red-headed Malimbe and in areas of dry fern vegetation, Dusky Twinspots.

Buhoma Homestead

Day 18

Bwindi (Ruhija)

We start early for Ruhija. Birding is on the main road through the Bamboo zone to Ruhija.

Ruhija is at an altitude of 2350m and lies in the south of Bwindi Park. Because of its altitude it has dramatically different nature and avifauna and is the site with the most Albertine endemics. Though this birding spot is the most enjoyed by bird watchers, Accommodation has not yet been developed.

We shall stay at the hostel which was established for researchers. Our mobile catering unit will provide a 5 course menu and hot lunch will be delivered at Mubwindi swamp.

Forest birding at Bwindi ranks the best in Uganda and Africa as well. It is home to over 23 highly localized Albertine Rift endemics present.

Special birds include Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Grauer's Warbler, Banded Prinia, Black-faced Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Red-throated Alethe, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Chapin's Flycatcher, Chin-spot Batis, Rwenzori Batis, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill-Babbler, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Grey-headed Sunbird, Mackinnon's Fiscal, Sooty Boubou, Pink-footed Puffback, Doherty's Bush-shrike, White-naped Raven, Montane Oriole, African Golden Oriole, Stuhlmann's Starling, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller's Starling, Strange Weaver, Brown-capped Weaver, Black-billed Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, Magpie Mannikin, Yellow-crowned Canary, Thick- billed Seedeater, Streaky Seedeater, African Green Broadbill, Shelly's Crimsonwing, Oriole Finch, Mountain Buzzard, Ayre's Hawk-eagle, Handsome Francolin, Black-billed Turaco, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Wood-Owl, Rwenzori Nightjar, Scarce Swift, Bar-tailed Trogon, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Black Bee-eater, (Western) Bronze-naped Pigeon, Red-chested Owlet, Tullberg's Woodpecker, Elliot's Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Western Green Tinkerbird, African Green Broadbill, Lagdens Bush Shrike, Petit's Cuckoo-shrike, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Archer's Ground Robin, Toro Olive-Greenbul, Ansorge's Greenbul, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-chat, Olive Thrush, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Grauer's Rush-warbler, Short-tailed Warbler, Neumann's Warbler and Red faced Woodland-Warbler.

Ruhija Hostel

Day 19

Bwindi - Lake Bunyoni

After breakfast we head for birding in the Mubwindi swamp. The 4km trail to Mubwindi Swamp drops from 2350m to 2050 m and is the best place for some of the most difficult to find of all rift-endemics including Grauer's (African Green) Broadbill the beautiful Regal Sunbird and Archer's Robin-Chat.

Mubwindi Swamp at an elevation of 2050m / 6725 ft holds Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Ruwenzori Apalis and African Hill Babbler sometimes treated as a separate species Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, the rare and localized Grauer's Scrub-Warbler and Carruthers' Cisticola, including very difficult to see species Fraser's Eagle-Owl and Ruwenzori Double-collared Sunbird.

We should also come across Green Broadbill, Grauer's Rush Warbler, Purple-breasted, Blue headed and Regal Sunbirds, Grauer's Broadbills, Archer's Robin-Chat, Eastern Mountain-Greenbul, Strange Weaver, Black-headed Waxbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Woodhoopoe, Waller's and Stuhlmann's Starling, and Luehder's Bushshrike and possibly Handsome Francolin.

Later in the afternoon we continue to Lake Bunyoni. By boat we travel to one of the beautiful Islands were we will spend the night.

Bushara Island

Day 20

Lake Bunyoni

Lake Bunyonyi is Uganda's most beautiful and deepest lake, where you may like to try your hand at paddling at dugout canoe, take a swim, go for birding or eat fresh water crayfish. Lake Bunyonyi supports otters and a lot of water birds such as: Kingfishers, Swallows, Cormorants, Crowned Cranes and various Weavers.

Bushara Island

Day 21

Lake Bunyonyi - Entebbe

We drive from Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe to catch our flight.

Flight