Uganda2010-1

For more information (including
and easy to print itinerary),
contact us at 1-888-203-7464
or by email at info@pibird.com

To learn about our other great
trips, click here.

Uganda: November 2 through November 18 2010

with Johnnie Kamugisha

Birding begins in Kampala as we travel to Mabamba Swamp on June 20 in the morning. Other
destinations over the next two weeks will include Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park,
Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Budongo Forest
Reserve, Lake Mburo National Park, Muchison Falls National Park and many other bird watching
spots along the way. 400 to 450 species of birds are expected to be seen.

Brief Itinerary

Flight In: Assure you can start with the group on Saturday
morning, November 2.

November 2: Birding on foot and by boat at Mabamba Swamp
(for Shoebill) and birding in the Kampala area.
November 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and
birding in the area.
November 4: Lake Mburo National Park and birding in transit to
Bwindi area/Ruhija. Start Ruhija area birding.
November 5 to November 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
National Park

Day 1 BIFNP: Ruhija and Bamboo Zone
Day 2 BIFNP: Mubwindi Swamp/Ruhija Area
Day 3 BIFNP: More Ruhija Area & transfer to Buhoma
Day 4 BINFP: Buhoma Main Trail
Day 5 BIFNP: Other Buhoma Area Birding

(or Optional Mountain Gorilla Trek)
November 10: Bwindi early morning birding and the birding in
transit to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
November 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park
November 12 and 13: Semuliki National Park, including the
new birding trail and Kirumia Trail.
November 14: Semuliki in the morning, birding in transit to
Kibale National Park, and afternoon birding along the Sebitoli
Trail in Kibale National Park.
November 15: Kibale National Park in early morning, and
birding in transit to Misindi.
November 16: Budongo Forest Reserve and the Royal Mile
November 17: Enroute birding to Murchison Falls National
Park, including Lake Albert views and birding from the rift valley
escarpment and birding near top of falls and on ferry crossing.
November 18: Murchison Falls National Park
November 19: Transfer back to Kampala with bird stops in
transit (including Kainio and other locations).
November 20: Start flights back home.

With Uganda's Top Bird Guide: Johnnie Kamugisha was
featured in Birder's World Magazine as one of the top
guides in Uganda. One of our trip hosts has been exploring
Uganda birding possibilities for several years and has
spoken to many bird watchers to learn about the best
birding spots and the best local guides. Johnnie was highly
recommended by everyone who birded with him. Johnnie
has been guiding throughout Uganda for over a decade and
is recognized by many as the top bird guide in the country.

This full itinerary is available below. Please contact us at
1-888-203-7464 if you are interested in birding in Uganda,
as we want to discuss flight and lodging details with you.

Partnership for International Birding: Full Itinerary for Uganda in 2010

Flight In: Either fly into Entebbe airport on November 1 during the day or evening, or fly overnight
and arrive the morning of Tuesday November 2. Nearly all flights will leave the United States or
other locations on October 31. Contact us before making flight arrangements to assure you can
start with the group on Tuesday morning, November 2. Also, consider birding the Botanical
Gardens (close to the airport), as this is very worthwhile. We can arrange for a guide there for
those arriving a day or two early. We plan to leave the airport area shortly after the arrival of the
morning (usually 8:30 AM flight) from London (or points elsewhere) on Tuesday.

Tuesday, November 2: Mabamba Wetlands, Lake Victoria and Kampala Area

After leaving the airport, we will meet our guide and head towards the Mabamba
Wetlands. After taking a few birding stops along the way, we will arrive at the boat dock.
After enjoying views of a few birds at the boat dock, we will begin our search for the Shoebill
by canoe. As we are paddled by canoe and as we look for the Shoebill, we hope to find
Long-tailed Cormorant, Common Squacco Heron, Yellow-billed Duck, African Open-billed
Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, and Long-toed Lapwing. We may even find Blue-headed
Coucal and Blue-breasted Bee-eater in the area.
After our journey through the wetlands, we will travel and bird our way back towards
Kampala. We will look out for Grey Kestrel, African Green-Pigeon, Great Blue Turaco,
Ross's Turaco, Angola Swallow, Splendid Starling, Black-headed Weaver, Northern Brown-
throated Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, other Weaver species, White-rumped Swift, Little
Swift, African Palm Swift, and Red-billed Firefinch. We will begin our observations of the
beautiful Sunbird family (including Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Red-chested Sunbird, Collared
Sunbird, and Green-headed Sunbird) and have our chance to see a number of other bird
species during our travels on this first day.
Our lodging for the evening will be a nice bed and breakfast near Lake Victoria.

Itinerary for Uganda in 2010 to be continued below to under the Martial Eagle.

Itinerary for Uganda in 2010: Continued

Wednesday November 3: Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, we will begin out travels to Lake Mburo National Park. Our route will
include a number of opportunities to bird along the way. We will plan to arrive at the
Lake Mburo area and at our lodge in the early afternoon, as we anticipate several
hours of good bird watching as we travel along the road to Mburo. We hope to find
Lesser Blue-eared Starling, Lilac-breasted Roller, Broad-billed Roller, White-headed
Barbet, African Green-Pigeon, and Long-crested Eagle.
After checking in, we will head out for some late afternoon birding. Birding here is a
delightful experience, and often one of the highlights of a birding trip to Uganda. We
will search for birds like Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Spot-
flanked Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Black-headed Gonolek, and many others.
Other birds we may find here include Carruther’s Cisticola, Saddle-billed Stork,
African Jacana, Purple Heron, Yellow-billed Egret, White-faced Whistling-Duck, African
Fish Eagle, Black Crake, Long-toed Lapwing, White-winged Tern, and Pied
Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, and Fan-tailed Widowbird.
Night birding will include a try to see African Scops-Owl, Square-tailed Nightjar,
Swamp Nightjar, Freckled Nightjar, and Black-shouldered Nightjar.

Thursday, November 4: Birding in Transit to Bwindi area/Ruhija

After breakfast, we will start the day with some early morning birding in the Lake
Mburo as we head through the National Park by jeep. We may add Lagden’s Bush-
shrike, Dwarf Honeyguide, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, and Bar-tailed Trogon to the
trip list.
We will then travel further along towards the Ruhija area of Bwindi Impenetrable
Forest National Park. Along the way, we will take a number of birding stops in search
of Handsome Francolin, Olive Pigeon, Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Mountain Masked
Apalis, White-browed Crombec, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Doherty's Bush-
shrike, Montane Oriole, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed
Waxbill and a number of others.
We will arrive in Ruhija and continue birding until dinner.
We will stay at a research location which gives us access to bird watching in this
fantastic area in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This research location offers bunk
beds in two different guest houses.

Itinerary for Uganda and 5 more days at the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park to
be continued under the Luhder's Bush-shrike below.

Itinerary for Uganda in 2010: Continued at Bwindi

Friday, November 5 to Tuesday, November 9: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
National Park

Day 1 at BIFNP: Bamboo Zone from Ruhija:

After breakfast, we head out in search of a number of birds in the
bamboo forests. In the bamboo zone, we will hope to find the Kivu
Ground-Thrush, Dusky Crimsonwing, Yellow-bellied Waxbill,
Bamboo Warbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, Mountain Yellow
Warbler, Collared Apalis and White-starred Robin. We will hope to
add to our list of Albertine Rift endemics.
Other interesting birds we may encounter include Sharpe’s Starling,
Western Green Tinkerbird, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Mountain Black
Boubou, Sooty Boubou, Brown Twinspot, Dusky Twinspot, Black and
White Mannikin, Jackson’s Pipit, and African Goshawk. We will also
be on the look out for Augur Buzzard, Olive Pigeon, Black-billed
Turaco, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Mountain
Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland Warbler,
Grauer's Warbler, Chubb's Cisticola and Stripe-breasted Tit.
Depending upon the productivity of the birding in the bamboo zone,
we will head back towards the guest houses at the research station
with a few birding stops along the way.
After getting back to the guest houses, we will take a short break for a
late afternoon tea (or coffee) and continue to bird a number of trails
nearby the research station before dinner.
That night, we will do a little night birding and hope to find Rwenzori
Nightjar and African Wood Owl.

Day 2 at BIFNP: Mubwindi Swamp and More Birding in Ruhija:

After breakfast, we hike down to the Mubwindi Swamp looking out for
a number of birds including the Black-billed Turaco, Western Green
Tinkerbird, Fine-banded Woodpecker, Strange Weaver, African Green
Broadbill, Mountain Greenbul, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, African Hill-
Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Red-
faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer's Warbler, and Montane Masked
Apalis.
This will certainly be one of the highlights of our birding trip, but
please note this walk is physically challenging. We will go slowly
and keep the pace manageable (as we will be bird watching). We
also hope to find Chestnut-throated Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit,
Rwenzori Batis, Doherty's Bush-shrike, Bar-tailed Trogon, Blue-
headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird and more.
We will have opportunities to continue birding throughout the day
include the hike back to our research camp location. On the way
back, we may find Rwenzori Hill-Babbler, and Grey Cuckoo-shrike,
and other birds new to our trip.
That evening, we will again stay at the guest houses at the research
station.

Day 3 at BIFNP: Morning Final Try for Ruhija Endemics and Specialties,
and Birding Transfer to Buhoma Area

We will start in the morning expanding our Ruhija area finds. We will
hope to add (and nearly complete) our list of Albertine Rift endemics
with Rwenzori Batis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grauer’s Warbler and Archer’
s Robin-Chat. We are bound to add a few surprises.
After finishing birding in the area, we will start the drive to the
Buhoma area of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Forest. We will
birding en-route throughout the National Forest and looking for birds
like Kivu Ground-Thrush, Black Bee-eater, Red-throated Wryneck,
Mountain Wagtail, Toro Olive Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Olive
Thrush, Cassin's Grey Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler,
Grauer's Warbler, Chubb's Cisticola, Banded Prinia, Mountain
Masked Apalis, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Collared Apalis, Stripe-
breasted Tit, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Sharpe's Starling, Regal Sunbird,
Strange Weaver, Dusky Twinspot, Yellow Bishop, Black-throated
Seedeater and many others.
We should arrive at the lodge before dinner, allowing time to clean up
well before enjoying a good meal together.

Day 4 at BIFNP: Buhoma Main Trail

We will start after an early breakfast at 7 AM when the National Park
opens.
We will start birding the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest by penetrating it
along the Buhoma Main Trail. We will search for species like the
Africa Goshawk, Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, African
Broadbill, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Red-throated Alethe, Ayre’s
Hawk-Eagle, Chapin's Flycatcher, Red-faced Woodland Warbler,
Grauer's Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, Dusky Tit, Bocage's
Bush-shrike, Ludher's Bush-shrike, Pink-footed Puffback, Petit's
Cuckoo-shrike, Blue-headed Sunbird, Black-billed Weaver, Brown-
capped Weaver, Red-fronted Antpecker, Magpie Mannikin and many
others. We should add several new species of Tinkerbirds, Barbets,
Woodpeckers, and Greenbuls to our trip list as well.
We will return from birding in time for dinner at our lodge. A full
nights rest will be in order for those who are lucky enough to try for
the Mountain Gorilla the following day.

Day 5 at BIFNP: Other Buhoma Lodge Area Birding
(or Optional Mountain Gorilla Trek)
There are two very good options for spending the day.

(1)

For those wishing to spend an additional $500 to search for the

Mountain Gorilla, this thrilling experience will start at 8 AM in the

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. We recommend you to wear good

walking shoes, carry good rain gear and bring along plenty of

drinking water. This hike can be tough and challenging and so you

must be in reasonably fit condition. You will carry a picnic lunch

with

you into the forest. If you find these rare primates (no

guarantee), you

will likely find this to be you most thrilling mammal

find of the trip.

(2) For those who prefer another day of bird watching with Johnnie,

we will head out to bird the Waterfall Trail as the National Park

open

and after seeing the Gorilla Trek group off after breakfast. We

will

look out for species like Black Bee-eater, White-headed Wood-

hoopoe, African Broadbill, Red-throated Alethe, Pink-footed

Puffback,

Petit's Cuckoo-shrike, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon,

Blue-headed

Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-chested

Owlet and many

others.

At the end of the day, we will all again assemble for dinner back at our lodge.

Itinerary for Uganda continued with Queen Elizabeth National Park,
Semuliki National Park and Kibale National Park in the right hand column
under the Ross's Turaco.

Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Continued

Wednesday, November 10: Bwindi Early Morning, Birding in Transit to Queen
Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, the group will head towards Queen Elizabeth
National Park (QENP). We will be able to find a number of interesting
mammals and should find a number of new bird species for the trip on
our way to QENP. We should find Grey-headed Kingfisher, Lesser
Striped Swallow, Zitting Cisiticola, Grey-backed Fiscal, Common Fiscal,
Widowbird, several Babbler species, and others.
Good and productive birding will make the trip to Queen Elizabeth
National Park very enjoyable.
Night birding (likely as we come in) will focus on Slender-tailed Nightjar
and include another try at Square-tailed Nightjar and Swamp Nightjar.

Thursday, November 11: Queen Elizabeth National Park

After a cup of tea or coffee in the lounge, we will set off early by jeep to
search the National Park for a number of bird and mammal species.
We would hope to find Martial Eagle, Common Button-quail, Yellow-
throated Longclaw, Red-capped Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Black-lored
Babbler, Arrow-marked Babbler, Yellow-backed Weaver and a number
of other new trip species. At our breakfast stop, we will enjoy a
complete breakfast along with terrific bird watching.
After completing the morning of bird watching, we will have lunch at the
Lodge. After lunch, we will take a boat ride down the Kazinga Channel.
Along the boat route, we will see a variety of wildlife, hundreds of
Hippopotamus, Nile Crocodile and numerous water birds. We will look
out for Pelicans, Green-backed Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, Saddle-billed
Stork, African Spoonbill, Kittlitz's Plover, Senegal Lapwing, African
Wattled Lapwing, and numerous other species. We will also look out
for mammals like Uganda Kob, Bushbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, African
Buffaloe, African Elephant, and Common Warthog. If we are very lucky
we may also see Leopards and Lions.

Friday, November 12 and Saturday November 13: Transfer to, and 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 July 1 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.

Saturday, November 13: 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.

Itinerary for Uganda continued as we go to Kibale National Park and
Muchison Falls National Park. Continued below under the White-throated
Bee-eater and the Abyssinian Hornbill below.

Itinerary for Uganda in 2010: Continued

Sunday, November 14: Semuliki Early Morning, Birding in Transit to, and Begin Birding Kibale
National Park

In the morning after an early breakfast, we will head back to Semuliki for a morning bird
walk (based upon how successful we have been and finding area specialties in the
previous days). If need be, this will again be a chance to see a number of Hornbill
species and a try at some of the other species most easily found in this area.
After the morning bird walk, we will transfer to Fort Portal near Kibale Forest. Several
good birding stops along the way will likely add birds to the trip list and keep the transfer
fun for all. We will hope to find Black Bishop, Slender-billed Starling, Red-winged
Starling, Crested Malimbe, Lizard Buzzard, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater and many
others.
That afternoon, we will bird along the Sebitoli Trail in Kibale National Park.

Monday, November 15: Kibale National Park in Early AM and Birding in Transit to Misindi

After breakfast, we will drive northwest to Masindi with a number of good birding stops
en-route. We will look out for birds like Striped Kingfisher, Lesser Striped Swallow,
Joyful Greenbul, Masked Apalis, Cassin's Grey Flycatcher, African Stonechat, Yellow-
mantled Widowbird, Mackinnon’s Fiscal, White-naped Pigeon, Many-coloured Bush-
shrike, Western Banded Snake-Eagle, and Green-headed Sunbird and many others.
That afternoon, we should arrive at our lodge with a little time to bird before dinner.
That night we will try to find Standard-winged Nightjar and Long-tailed Nighjar.

Tuesday, November 16: Budongo Forest Reserve and the Royal Mile

After an early breakfast, we will proceed to bird the Royal Mile. We will have again have a
chance to find White-thighed Hornbill. Best of all, we will likely find a number of new
Kingfishers, including Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dwarf Kingfisher, African Pygmy
Kingfisher and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher. We will have a better chance to find
examine the Barbet and Tinkerbird families, as we look for Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird,
Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, and Grey-
throated Barbet. We will also have a better chance of finding Yellow-crested
Woodpecker, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher,
Western Black-headed Oriole, Purple-headed Starling, Rufous-crowned Eremomela,
Spotted Greenbul, White-breasted Negrofinch, and African Crowned Eagle. We will also
likely see Blue Monkey, Red Tailed Monkey, and Black and White Colobus and several
other new mammal species.

Itinerary for Uganda continued as we go to Murchison Falls National Park. Continued under
the Saddle-billed Stork.

Itinerary for Uganda in 2010: Continued

Wednesday, November 17: En route birding to Murchison Falls National Park, 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.

Thursday, November 18: 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; however, the
Shoebill may require an additional launch and a change to our plans.
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.

Our trip to Uganda wraps up as we bird our way back to Kampala and catch our flights
home. Continued below to the left of the African Paradise-flycatcher.

Nestling Tour's Covey of Adults Itinerary for Uganda in 2009: Finale

Friday, November 19: Transfer back to Kampala with Birding in Transit, including Kainio and other locations.

After breakfast, we will proceed for a whole day drive for the return journey back to Kampala. That being said, we will
likely have time for a number of birding stops along the way, depending on our progress along the road. We will
look out for birds like White-crested Turaco, Greater Blue-eared Starling, White- headed Barbet, African Paradise-
flycatcher, and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu along the way. Some stops may add a few new species of Waxbills,
Finches, Sunbirds, Cuckoos, Weavers, and raptors as we move along to Kampala.
We will end the day back at our hotel with a reasonable transfer to the Entebbe airport (about 5 minutes).
Please call before booking your flight or you may have to pay for additional transfer or lodging costs.

Species Lists: A complete bird list
of 1,014 species is available upon
request. We also have a list of the
141 mammals which could be
seen on this trip.

Uganda 2010

Uganda Options on
Length of Trip and Pacing:
This itinerary is for the
birders, loving an early
start and birding until
dusk. A more leisurely
paced trip can also be
developed over one week
or over two weeks.

Many possible
itineraries year
round, but best
times June and
into August, and
then November
and December.