One of the most splendid destinations in Uganda to plan for bird watching is Murchison Falls National Park. 
Choosing to search for birds in Murchison falls national park is commencement of creating opportunity for enjoying the bird watching experience along with the magnificent landscapes around the park and seeing some of the wildlife like giraffes, elephants, lions and many more.
On the 4 day Bird watching Murchison Falls National Park safari, bird around the park on launch trips along the Victoria Nile and on nature walks and game drives. Murchison falls national park is home to over 450 bird species including the rare shoe bill stork which is seasonally sighted towards the Albert delta on a boat cruise. The more popular boat cruise to the bottom of the falls also offers an opportunity to sight very many water birds. Due to varying vegetation types, bird watching in Murchison is a great reward with forest, water and Savannah birds. The park’s notable birds are the Abyssinian ground hornbill, marabou storks, black-bellied bustards, goliath heron, palm-nut vulture, open-billed storks and secretary birds among others.
Safari highlights
- Day 1: Birding Kampala-Mabamba swamp/bay -Masindi
- Day 2: Birding Budongo-Royal Mile and Transfer to Northern Murchison falls
- Day 3: Birding in northern Murchison falls park
- Day 4: Return to Kampala
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Birding- Kampala to Mabamba bay and proceed to Masindi
Get ready to meet the driver guide after breakfast and journey to Mabamba bay located about 50km from the capital Kampala. During the transfer towards the swamp, look out for bird species such as the Red cap, Western banded snake eagle, Papyrus gonolek and White shouldered tit among others. The highlight for this bird trip is to search for the elusive shoebill stork. It is the best way to maximize the opportunity to sight this rare bird.
Get on the canoe for a ride to areas where the guide expects the shoebill stork to be spotted. Other bird species around the swamp include grey herons, African jacana, Allen’s and Purple gallinule, Pallid Harrier, Grey rumped swallow, Angola swallow, Malachite kingfisher and Squaco among others.After canoeing, we drive back to Kampala and proceed to Masindi through the vast plains of Nakasongola to Masindi. A relatively slow drive enables us to spot many other birds along the way to our lodge.
Lunch en route. Dinner and overnight at Masindi Hotel
Day 2: Birding in Budongo –Royal Mile, Transfer to the northern part of Murchison
We wake up very early and take breakfast then drive on the dirt road through Murchison fallsmain gate toBudongo forest. It has a number of trails for birding. The Royal Mile offers thrilling bird watching experiences to bird lovers. Common sightings here are the white-thighed hornbill, yellow-browed camaroptera, Nahan’s Francolin, Hairy breasted and Yellow spotted barbet, Great blueturaco and many others. Other residents of the forest expected are the black and white colobus monkey, red tailed and blue monkey.
Transfer to the northern side of the park at Paraa landing site. Dinner and overnight at the lodge in Northern Murchison.
Day 3: Birding in the Northern side of Murchison
We drive through the plains of the park sighting a number of Savannah birds including the Abyssinian hornbill. The boat cruise to the bottom of the falls offers a chance to see lots of water birds such as pied king fishers, Senegal thick-nee, malachite kingfisher, African jacana and many others. The boat cruise is a very interesting with much more sightings of animals like hippos, elephant, and antelopes continuing to the incredible bottom of the falls.
Optional evening game drive to look out for predators like lions.
Dinner and overnight at your lodge.
Day 4: Returning to Kampala
Have breakfast and check out. Visit the top of the falls and witness the mighty falls formed by the Nile forcing through the 7m gorge. This is one of the most amazing sites not to miss out when exploring Uganda. As we drive out of the park, there are many more birds we spot. Head out of the park to Kampala.Lunch en route.
End of tour
Meal plan: breakfast and lunch