The 5 Days Queen Elizabeth Birding Tour and wildlife safari is planned to give you an opportunity to spot several bird and mammal species in Queen Elizabeth national park.  The park is known for containing over 600 bird and 95 mammals that are habituated in the park’s diverse ecosystems, which include fertile wetlands, sparkling lakes, humid forests, shady, and sprawling savanna that makes it an ideal wildlife destination for birding tours and wildlife sighting safari where you can spot numerous bird species, classic big game such as Lions, Leopard, Elephants and Caped buffaloes and over ten primate species including chimpanzees. Queen Elizabeth National Park present numerous water birds, forest and woodland dwellers in the Maramagambo Forest, various migratory species and 54 raptors. Queen Elizabeth National park has the leading checklist of different bird species of any protected area in East Africa which is attributed due to its variety of habitats. Many of the bird species in the Queen Elizabeth national park are considered as specials within East Africa, which makes it a prime birding destination.

Key birding spots in Queen Elizabeth national park include;

Kasenyi sector, Kazinga Channel, Maramagambo Forest, Mweya Peninsula, Lake Kikorongo, Ishasha Swamp, Katwe Area and Katunguru Bridge area.

Key bird species include;

The Black-rumped, Martial Eagle, Buttonquail, Chapin’s Flycatcher, African Skimmer, African Broadbill, Pink-backed Pelican, Black Bee-eater, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, White-winged Warbler, White-tailed Lark, Papyrus Canary, Papyrus Gonolek, Lesser and Greater Flamingo, Corncrake, Shoebill, Bar-tailed Godwit.

Highlights of the 5 Days Queen Elizabeth Wildlife & Birding Tour

Day 1: Pick up and drive to Ishasha sector in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park

Day 2: Full day Bird watching in Ishasha sector and searching for the tree climbing lions – Drive to the northern sector

Day 3: Morning wildlife sighting game drive and Birding in Katwe area

Day 4: Full day birding in Maramagambo forest and Afternoon boat cruise along Kazinga channel

Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking – Drive back to Kampala / Entebbe international airport

Detailed itinerary

Day 1; Pick up from your hotel in Kampala / Entebbe or Entebbe airport – Drive to Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park

Early in the morning, you will be met by our company safari guide at your residence / hotel in Kampala / Entebbe or pick up from Entebbe international airport to be briefed on your 5 Days Queen Elizabeth Birding tour and Wildlife safari and then start the drive to Ishasha sector in southern part of Queen Elizabeth national park with a stopover at the Kayabwe Equator landmark for the water experiment which shows the movement of forces on the northern and southern parts of the planet and what happens at the middle of the planet, take some photographs, have a cup of coffee to the sweetness of the Uganda’s locally made coffee powder from our local Robusta coffee. proceed with a second stopover at Igongo cultural museum to have relax, have lunch and thereafter proceed with your journey to Queen Elizabeth national park through the beautiful crater lakes, tea plantations, local people, lovely landscape on the way. Upon arrival to the park, drive straight to check in at your booked lodge and spend your evening relaxing. Dinner and an overnight

Accommodation options; Ishasha Wilderness Camp (Luxury), Ishasha Jungle Lodge (Mid-range), Topi safari Lodge (Standard)

Meal plan; Lunch / Dinner

Day 2: Ishasha Sector – Full day bird watching and tree climbing lions – Drive to Northern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park

Rise up early morning to have breakfast, get your binoculars, snacks, drinking water and then drive to Ishasha Sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park to search for the bird species. Ishasha sector, offers one of the best bird watching experience in Queen Elizabeth national where you can have an opportunity to spot several and unique bird species plus mammals. Ishasha sector has some special mammals to keep an eye out for, savannah birds and the top vulture of the region such as Africa`s most spirited eagle the Marshal eagle, Lappet faced vulture, larks and can try to tick off the rare Dusky blue flycatcher on the Ishasha River. Have a short break to relax, have lunch and then proceed with your day activity, as well as looking for the tree climbing lions one of the main sights of park which is are often found hanging on the acacia and the fig tree branches, looking down on the antelopes feeding on the savannah grasslands and others species such as Elephants, Buffaloes, Warthogs among others. Later early evening leave Ishasha sector to northern sector of Queen Elizabeth national park to check in at your booked accommodation to relax, dinner and overnight.

Key bird species to be able to sight Ishasha sector include; Giant Kingfisher, African Darter, Long-toed Plover, Osprey, Veracious Dove, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Abyssinian Ground, Black-headed Lapwing, Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Tinker bird, Rock Pratincole, Black-billed Barbet, wood pecker, Long-tailed Nightjar bird, Vulture, white headed barbet, Grey-backed, African green pigeon, Common bulbul, White- browed Robin-Chat, fiscal among others and you will absolutely love the birding tour in Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth national park.

Accommodation options; Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard)

Meal plan; Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

Day 3: Queen Elizabeth national park – Morning wildlife sighting game drive – Birding in Katwe area

Wake very early in the morning to coffee (600 am), get your packed breakfast and then hit the road to Kasenyi sector in the northeast of Queen Elizabeth national park. Being in the park very early in the morning will boast your chance to the meet nocturnal bird and mammal species of the park such as leopard, lion, civet, genal and serval cats before they return to their thickets. Kasenyi Area is a wildlife hotspot is where almost every tourist vehicle to Queen Elizabeth national park head to for wildlife sighting game drives because of the big games, but it also has various African bird species. It is a grassy area and open savanna hence making it an ideal home to several savannah bird species. During the game drive through Kasenyi plains you will spot various birds like hooded vulture, brown snake eagle, bateleur, palm nut vulture, long created eagle, lappet faced vulture, among others and mammals like th Africa Elephants, Caped buffaloes, Uganda kobs and other antelope species, Lions, Warthogs among others. After spotting many bird and mammal species at around mid-day drive back to the lodge to relax, have lunch and later drive to Katwe sector stop more bird species.  Katwe Sector has several swamps and crater lakes like Lake Munyanyange which is a home to various water birds, especially the Lesser Flamingos and a few Greater Flamingos.

Key bird species in Kasenyi sector; Palm-nut Vulture, African White-backed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture, Ruppell’s Griffon Vulture, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Long-created Eagle, Bateleur, Grey Kestrel, Martial Eagle, Black-bellied Bustard, African Crake, African Wattled Plover, Temminck’s Courser, Senegal Plover, Crowned Plover, Rufous napped Lark, Kittlitz’s Plover, White-tailed Lark, Flappet Lark, Zitting Cisticola, Brown-backed Srub-Robin, Grey-capped Warbler, Croaking Cisticola, Grey backed Fiscal, Black-lored Babbler, Black-crowned Tchagra, Black-headed Gonolek Pin-tailed Whydah and Fork-tailed Drongo

Key bird species in Katwe sector; Greater Flamingos, Lesser Flamingos, Montagu’s Harrier, Eurasian Mash Harrier, Avocet, Pallid Harrier, Little Stint, Common Greenshank, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Curlew Sandpiper, Red-capped Lark, Gull-billed Tern, African Moustached Warbler, Broad-tailed Warbler, Southern Red Bishop and Croaking Cisticola.

Accommodation options; Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard)

Meal plan; Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

Day 4:  Queen Elizabeth national park – Full day birding in Maramagambo forest, Kazinga channel and Mweya peninsular

After having breakfast, leave the lodge and drive to Maramagambo Forest and check out for more bird species. Maramagambo forest is famous bird watching place in Queen Elizabeth national park which contains many forest bird species like the fawn breasted waxbill, Dark capped yellow warbler, Sulphur breasted bush shrike, black headed batis, bat hawk, African green pigeon, Ross’s turaco, red tailed bristle bill, black rumped button, pink backed pelican, martial eagle African skimmer, white tailed lark, papyrus gonolek, Chapin’s fly catcher, papyrus canary and many more. After spot several bird species in Maramagambo forest return to your lodge to relax, have lunch and then drive to Katunguru Bridge and best place to spot papyrus swamp bird species such as Gull-billed Tern, Pied Kingfisher, White-winged Tern, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher, White-winged Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler Papyrus Gonolek, Carruther’s Cisticola among others then take a boat on the Kazinga channel up-to Mweya peninsular the site between the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward where you will be able to see water bird species like; African Mourning Dove, Raptors, Diederik Cuckoo, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar among others. Dinner and an overnight.

Key bird species in Maramagambo Forest include; Little Grebe, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Finfoot, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Black Coucal, Yellowbill, Black Bee-eater, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Barbets, Blue-throated Roller, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Red-throated Wryneck, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Dark-capped Warbler, Blue-shouldered Robin-Cht, Broad-tailed Warbler, Green Crombec, Croaking Cisticola, African Moustached Warbler, Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher, Black-headed Batis, African Paradise Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Brubru, Brown Illadopsis, Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Marsh Tchagra, Black Bishop, Western Black-headed Oriole, Fork-tailed Drongo, White-breasted Negrofinch, Blue-naped Mousebird, Pin-tailed Whydah, Grey-Headed Kingfisher, Little Bee-eater, Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-capped Lark, Nubian Woodpecker, Swallows, Martins, Grey-capped Warbler, Swifts, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed Gonolek, Red-chested Sunbird, Slender-billed Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, Pin-tailed Whydah, Yellow-backed Weaver.

Key bird species in Katunguru Bridge Area; Gull-billed Tern, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Kingfisher, White-winged Tern, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Malachite Kingfisher, Greater Swamp Warbler, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek and Carruther’s Cisticola.

Key bird species in Mweya peninsular include; African Mourning Dove, Raptors, Squire-tailed Nightjar, Diederik Cuckoo, Swamp Nightjar, Slender-tailed Nightjar, Grey-Headed Kingfisher, Blue-naped Mousebird, Little Bee-eater, Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-capped Lark, Nubian Woodpecker, Swallows, Martins, Swifts, Swamp Flycatcher, Grey-capped Warbler, Red-chested Sunbird, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Lesser Masked Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, Yellow-backed Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver and Pin-tailed Whydah

Accommodation options; Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury), Buffalo Safari Lodge (Mid-range), Pumba Safari Cottages (Standard)

Meal plan; Breakfast /Lunch / Dinner

Day 5: Queen Elizabeth national park – Chimpanzee tracking – Drive back Kampala city / Entebbe international airport

Today rise up very early to have breakfast, get all your luggage loaded in the vehicle, check out of lodge and the drive to Kalinzu central forest reserve to tracking the chimpanzees in their natural home. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of the best places in Uganda to meet to track chimpanzees and other primates such as black and white colobus, Olive baboon, L’hoest guenon, red-tailed monkey and other mammals like both blue and red duiker, giant forest hog, bushbuck, waterbuck. Kalinzu forest reserve is estimated to have over 350 individual chimpanzees and about 70 of them are well-habituated for tracking. On arrival at the forest center you will be briefed on the rules and regulations to follow when tracking chimpanzee by the site guide and then start your forest walk to lookout for chimpanzees, others primates plus bird species. The time taken while looking chimpanzees is not known but expected to be between 3 to 5 hours once you have spotted them, you will be allowed to stay with them for a maximum of one hour and you will be free to take as many photos as you would want. Return to forest center to relax and then start your drive back to Kampala or Entebbe international airport with a stop to have lunch at Igongo cultural museum and proceed to your residence in Kampala or Entebbe international airport to prepare for your flight back home. This will be the end of the 5 Days Queen Elizabeth Park Birding tour and Wildlife safari.

5 Days Queen Elizabeth Birding tour and Wildlife safari include:

Accommodation on full board meal plan for 4 nights

Transportation for 5 days in a well modified safari vehicle either land cruiser or safari van (4×4, air-conditioned and pop up roof)

Fuel for 1 days

All park entrance and activities fees

Professional English speaking driver guide for 5 days

All en-route meals as mentioned in the itinerary

Bottled mineral water

All government applicable taxes

Igongo cultural museum

Full day Birding watching and search for the tree climbing lions to Ishasha sector

Morning wildlife sighting game drive

Half day Birding in Katwe area

Boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Half day Bird watching safari to Maramagambo forest

Half day Bird watching safari to Kazinga channel, Katunguru Bridge and Mweya peninsular

Chimpanzee tracking to Kalinzu forest

Kayabwe Equator landmark

5 Days Queen Elizabeth Birding tour and Wildlife safari exclude:

International and domestic flights, (Can be arranged on request)

Personal Travel insurance

Travel visa

Accommodation in Entebbe or Kampala before and after the tour (It can be arranged on request)

Alcoholic and soft drinks (Sodas, Beers, wines, special juice and coffee orders)

Souvenirs and gifts

Drinks and Meals not mentioned in trip plan

Other personal requirements like Cigarettes, laundry, telephone

Staff tips