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and easy to print and custom
extension itinerary), contact us
at 1-888-203-7464 or by email
at info@pibird.com

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trips, click here.
Good Routing for Extension Trips

Extending your Uganda for two to nine days is worthwhile with
the hope of adding 20 to 40 new species each day.

Mabira Forest is worthwhile for one or two days just outside of
Kampala.

Birding and transfer to Murchison Falls (including stop a Kaino)
can be enjoyable.

Murchison Falls is worth a full day (and sometimes two) of
birding and wildlife watching.

Budong Forest Reserve and Royal Mile are worth one or
two full days before heading to Kibale National Park or
Semulike.

Kibale National Park is worth some time along the Sebitoli
Trail and other locations.

Semuliki National Park is worth a day and maybe another
morning for the new birding trail and Kirumia Trail.

Based upon the expressed interest of participants a variety of
extension trips can be developed to meet a range of birding
needs.
Begin Birding at, Semuliki National Park
  • After an early breakfast, we will depart for Semuliki National Park,
    getting there in time to bird the trails around the hot springs.  
  • We will spend the rest of the day birding the National Park which
    has a number of interesting birds likely to be new to the trip.  
    Besides starting to find a few Hornbills (see Kirumia Trail
    description), we hope to also add Grey-backed Fiscal, Common
    Fiscal, Helmeted Guineafowl (wild), Black-headed Gonolek,
    Croaking Cisticola, Brown Babbler, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Lesser
    Masked Weaver, White-tailed Lark and a number of other species
    to the trip list.
  • After this whole day birding, we will drive to Bundibugyo township
    where we will spend two nights.

Semuliki National Park: Kirumia Trail
  • Starting after breakfast, we will spend the whole day birding the
    Kirumia Trail.
  • This will be a great opportunity to find Hornbills, including the
    possibility of White-thighed Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled
    Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf
    Hornbill, and Black Dwarf Hornbill.  Other terrific birds in the area
    include Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Rufous-
    sided Broadbill, Crested Malimbe, Swamp Palm Bulbul, and many
    others.  This is our one opportunity to find the very rare and range-
    restricted African Piculet.
Uganda Extension Locations
Extension Location Descriptions:

Mabira Forest

A quick one hour from Kampala is the Mabira Forest.  This spot is worth an
extra day (or two) on most trips, as you can add a number of new trip species.  
There are several trails that lead into the forest, and a number of good views
right from the bandas at which you will be staying. If time for a second day
here, a short drive from the lodge is a broad dirt track that goes into the forest
off the main Jinja road.  Birding here is easier and also worthwhile.  Some of
the birds  here include White-spotted Flufftail, Sabine’s Spinetail, White-
bellied Kingfisher, White-throated Bee-eater, Forest Wood-hoopoe, Yellow-
billed Barbet, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike,
White-throated Greenbul, Fire-crested Alethe, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis,
Green Sunbird, Weyn’s Weaver and Red-headed Bluebill.
Murchison Falls National Park
  • After breakfast, we will take the 20 minute drive to the Murchison Falls
    National Park, staying in the southern end of the park.  From here, we
    will enjoy another trip by jeep in search of wildlife and new bird
    species for the trip.  We will look out for birds like Denham's Bustard,
    Abyssinian Ground-hornbill, Black-headed Lapwing, Swallow-tailed
    Bee-eater, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Black-billed Barbet, Spotted
    Morning-Thrush, Speckle-fronted Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-
    Weaver and many more. Some of the mammals we are likely to see
    here include the graceful Rothchild Giraffe, Jackson's Hartebeest,
    Uganda Kob, Bushbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, African Buffaloe, African
    Elephant, Common Warthog, and Hippopotamus.
  • Following the morning trip through the National Park, we will head
    back to the lodge for lunch.
  • Following lunch, we will transfer to Paraa and the northern bank for the
    boat trip up to the bottom of the Falls.  From here it is possible to view
    hundreds of Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile, and a variety of bird life.
    Nesting Rock Pratincole is very likely here.  We should also find Red-
    throated Bee-eater, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose,
    African Darter, Winding Cisticola, and Giant Kingfisher.
  • If need be, the boat trip may provide another opportunity to find the
    Shoebill.
  • At some point during the day, birding the dry woodland area around the
    lodge may prove worthwhile to find Shikra, Grey-headed Kingfisher,
    Red-throated Bee-eater, Grey-headed Oliveback and Bar-breasted
    Firefinch.
  • Evening birding may also prove productive here.

En route birding to Budongo, including Lake Albert
  • After an early breakfast, we shall depart for Murchison Falls National
    Park.  On the way, we will be able to bird the rift valley escarpment
    where we will likely find new species for the trip and where we will
    have good views of Lake Albert.
  • We will hope to stop at Kanio Pabidi to look for the Puvel’s Illadopsis.  
  • After another drive, we will take a short walk around the top of the falls.  
    From here, we will enjoy additional beautiful view points and some
    additional good bird watching.  Along the walk to the river's edge, the
    waters narrow as they are forced through a rocky cleft and plunge
    down 35 meters into a majestic cascade.
  • Next, we will continue with the drive to Paraa in time for the ferry
    crossing.
  • During the day, some of the new birds we are more likely to see
    include Striped Kingfisher, Foxy Cistcola, Red-winged Grey Warbler,
    Black-headed Batis, Cliff Chat, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-
    bellied Hyliota, Greater blue-eared Starling, Red-winged Pytilia,  
    Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver and several others.

Busingiro, Budongo Forest

From the visitor center, birding is along the main road.  A search of
the canopy of tall trees on the road side can be productive.  Excellent
views of Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher and Blue-
breasted Kingfisher can be had.  Also, good chances for Emerald
Cuckoo, Yellow-spotted Barbet and Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo.  You
may also pick up White-thighed Hornbill, Western Nicator and/or
Rufous-crowned Eremomela.   Several primate species, including
Chimpanzee, can be found as well.  

The Royal Mile, Budongo Forest

This broad track cuts through some superb primary forest and a
number of excellent species can be  found here. From the Nyabyeya
College Guest House, you pass through open habitats before
reaching the forest with some quality birds found en-route with
White-collared Oliveback and Black Cuckoo being amongst the
most promising. The forest can provide opportunities to see a family
group of Chimpanzee and quality birds in the form of Chestnut-
capped Flycatcher, Forest Flycatcher, Great Sparrowhawk and
Spotted Greenbul.  Like most of Uganda the birds are well
supported by wildlife and looks at some beautiful butterflies.  Other
birds nice to find here include Marsh Tchagra, Red-collared
Widowbird, Spotted Greenbul, Purple-banded Sunbird, Little Green
Sunbird, Whistling Cisticola, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Willcock’s
Honeyguide, Narina Trogon White-thighed Hornbill, Lemon-bellied
Crombec, Senegal Coucal, and Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.

Kanyo Papidi, Budongo Forest

This small area is worth a stop for Puvel’s Illadopsis and
sometimes more.