The sites are arranged geographically and by broad habitat type. They commence with the swamps and woodland of the Victoria basin, then loop westwards through the montane forests of the Albertine Rift Valley and intermediate altitude forests of western Uganda, move across the country through increasingly arid savanna areas, ending with eastern forests.

BEST AREAS WHERE TO WATCH BIRDS IN UGANDA.
Kampala
Entebbe Botanical Beach
Kajansi Fish Farm
Entebbe - sewage pond
Mabamba - wetland
Mpanga Forest
Lake Mburo
Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Semliki National park
Budongo Forest Reserve
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Murchison Falls National Park
Kidepo Valley
Moroto Town
Mount Elgon National Park

African Greenwich Safaris Limited recommends a 3- week birding itinerary around Uganda. This is intended to help you maximize the time you spend in the country and takes into account such factors of the ease of access of the sites, their productivity, the time required to see a fair proportion of the birds and their importance to the serious bird watcher (hence, the montane forests of the Albertine Rift Valley have a higher priority than those of Mount Elgon). We must stress that, this does not mean that areas not included are not worth birding only that other sites may be more worthwhile for birders with time constraints.

DAY 1 : Arrival at Entebbe airport. Depending on time of arrival, stay either at Entebbe Botanical Gardens or drive to Jinja and Moiré Forest.

DAY 2 : Early morning, bird watching in Jinja town and the surrounding areas. After breakfast, drive to Busingiro Budongo forest reserve. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Budongo forest reserve.

DAY 3 : Birding in Budongo Forest Reserve "The Royal Niles" in the morning and Busingiro area in the afternoon, night at Budongo Forest Reserve or in Masindi town.

DAY 4 : Drive early to Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo Forest reserve enroute to Parra in Murchison Falls National Park. Spend the morning chimpanzee tracking and birding inKaniyo Pabidi Forest and the afternoon at Murchison Falls south of the Nile the area above the falls and woodland around Parra.

DAY 5 : Go across the Nile early and spend the whole day on the game viewing tracks north of the river, go around the Albert Nile swamp to check on the rare shoebill stork.

DAY 6 : Early morning birding in the vicinity of Parra, at 9:00am go for a boat trip up the Nile to Murchison Falls. Afternoon drive to Masindi, birding lake Albert and the escarpment of the Albertine Rift Valley en route. Dinner and over night in Masindi town.

DAY 7 : Drive to Kibale Forest National Park, birding the entrance road to the forest in the late afternoon or relax, if you are tired after thelong drive. Dinner and over night at Ndali Lodge.

DAY 8 : Bird the Kanyanchu area (chimpanzee-tracking in the forest) or the main road up to the Bigondi swamp walk.

DAY 9 : After Bigondi swamp, drives to Mweya in Queen Elizabeth National Park for a boat trip. You will also bird watch in the crater area and around Mweya peninsular. Overnight at Mweya Safari Lodge.

DAY 10 : Lake Kikorongo and Kashenyi track. After the game drive you can visit Imaramagambo Forest walk for bird watching and visit the historical sites like the bat cave and Blue Lake. Over night you may decide to camp or drive back to your lodge.

DAY 11 : Drive to Buhoma, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park bird watch in the camp area in the afternoon, overnight at Mantana or other camps.

DAY 12 : Wake up very early, prepare and walk into the forest, bird the waterfalls trail, walking slowly back along the main track.

DAY 13 : Go gorilla trekking or birding the main track overnight and dinner at your lodge.

DAY 14 : Early departure for Ruhizha, birding "the neck" for a few hours enroute. Afternoon along the road towards Kabale. Dinner and overnight at Ruhizha.

DAY 15 : Walk the long trail to Mubwindi swamp, afternoon around Ruhizha.

DAY 16 : Walk the short trail to Mubwindi swamp afternoon around Ruhizha. Overnight at Ruhizha.

DAY 17 : Bird slowly along the road towards Kabale then departs for Lake Mburo National Park. Late afternoon birding along entrance road to Rwonyo. Dinner and overnight at Matana luxury tented camp or Rwonyo.

DAY 18 : Early morning walk along lakeside track and Kigambiro loop. After lunch drive to Kampala or Entebbe.

EXTRA DAYS: YOU CAN VISIT:

SEMULIKI NATIONAL PARK : For a minimum of 3 days to make it worthwhile, preferably camping along the Kirumia river trail though it is possible to visit the Sempaya area or walk part of the Kirumia river trail in 1-2 days.

SEMULIKI WILDLIFE RESREVE : For 1-2 days, staying at Semuliki Safari Lodge and birding Lake Albert, the gallery forest along the Mugiri River, the woodland towards Ntoroko and the Semuliki flats.

KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK : For a minimum of 4 days to make it worthwhile staying at Apopka and concentrating on the dry Kidepo valley and the granite outcrops.

MGAHINGA GORILLA NATIONAL PARK : For 1-2 days go gorilla trekking and find Rwenzori Turaco, birding at Bunyonyi swamp.

RECOMMENDATION.
This is a birder's and not a photographer's guide. However, being enthusiastic photographers ourselves, we think that the following basic information might help you. Bring all the film you might need with you. Slide film is almost impossible to find in Uganda. It is also very expensive and often long expired. Bring enough lense cleaning equipment (blow brush, soft tissue, lens cleaning liquid etc.

Well-behaved bird watchers are an important lobby for nature conservation. When birding in Uganda behave as you would anywhere else, it is imperative to respect habitats, laws and the rights of local people. If in doubt ask the local people, a friendly request can open many doors and aid in interpretation of some bird names into the local language.

Last but not least, in most cases it's better to stay in the vehicle anyway because it acts as a hide and allows you to get much closer to your subject than you would on foot. However, you may go out in some places, but ask your guide before going out of the vehicle. This is for your safety. Remember that in some of the parks there are dangorous animals like lions.

For Further Details Email Us at : tours@agsgorilla.com , mukasa@agsgorilla.com
Website : www.agsgorilla.com.