The Mabamba Bay wetland system boasts of a 260 bird species record, with seven of the 12 Lake Victoria Basin biome species that occur in Uganda being available. Lake Mburo National Park is the best place in Uganda to view the typical savannah bird species. The park also has about 313 different bird species including 8 of the 12 species of the Lake Victoria Basin biome that occur in Uganda.
Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrival
DAY 2: Birding in Mabamba
DAY 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo
DAY 4: Birding in Lake Mburo
DAY 5: Departure
Entebbe International Airport (Google Map)
3 Hours Before Flight Time
Arrive at Entebbe International Airport where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel of choice. Depending on your arrival time, the Entebbe Birding Tour is a possible optional excursion today. The Uganda Wildlife Education center (UWEC) formerly known as the Zoo and The Entebbe Botanical Gardens offer great optional birding opportunities.
Journey Time: +20 mins
Meal Plan: Not Included
Accommodation: Budget: Airport Guesthouse/Midrange: The Boma Hotel/Luxury: No.5 Boutique Hotel
Early transfer to Mabamba Swamp and Look out for many different birds on our way to the swamp like the Papyrus Gonolek, White Shouldered Tit, Red Cap, Western Banded Snake Eagle, White Winged Warbler, White Spotted Flufftail, and Weyns Weaver. This Swamp is one of the best places to spot the exceptional Shoebill Stork. Over a hundred other bird species are a must-see for a lucky birder. You could also see a swamp antelope, the Sitatunga.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Budget: Airport Guesthouse /Midrange: The Boma Hotel /Luxury: No.5 Boutique Hotel
After breakfast, with packed lunch, we bird to the best choice place to find the African Finfoot: Lake Mburo National Park. Have a short stop at the Equator for an informative talk and a photographic opportunity. During the journey, we will have several stop-overs to catch some species in the bushes and papyrus swamps aside the road for papyrus endemics while you look at the beautiful scenery. On checking in, we will go for an evening game drive for some bird species and a variety of mammals, for example, Warthogs, Zebras, Elephants, and many others.
Journey Time: 4+ hrs
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Budget: Rwonyo Rest Camp /Midrange: Arcadia Lake Mburo Lodge /Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
On this morning game drive, look out for Buffaloes, Eland, impala, warthog, waterbucks, giraffes among other animals. After lunch, we proceed for an afternoon boat ride. Look out for hippos and crocodiles found in the lake. You will also see the malachite kingfishers, African Fish eagles, blue-headed weavers, Rufuos, long-tailed starlings, the pied kingfishers, hamerkops, Herons, pelicans, the rare shoebill among others.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Budget: Rwonyo Rest Camp /Midrange: Arcadia Lake Mburo Lodge /Luxury: Mihingo Lodge
Have an early breakfast, go for a game drive for more species possibly missed out the previous days then a bird to Masaka for our lunch before birding back to Kampala or Entebbe. End of tour
Note: A nature walk is also possible on this day
Journey: +5 hrs
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
Accommodation: Not Included
