3 days Queen Elizabeth National Park provides an excellent opportunity to explore the diverse avian life of this renowned conservation area and the wildlife including the big five which makes for is renowned for its rich diversity, boasting over 600 bird species including African fish eagles, African skimmers, malachite kingfishers, yellow-billed stork, pied kingfisher, great blue turaco, grey-crowned crane, African broadbill, yellow-throated long claw, black-headed gonolek, papyrus gonolek, swamp flycatcher, red-chested sunbirds, African Finfoot, martial eagles, African jacana, white-tailed lark and many more; primates like red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, chimpanzees and red colobuses; animals like lions, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, waterbucks, warthogs, oribi, forest hogs, crocodiles and more. Whether you’re exploring wetlands, forests, savannas, or waterways, the park offers incredible birding opportunities for enthusiasts of all levels. The trip will start from Kampala to Queen Elizabeth and back to Kampala.
Upon arrival, you will be met by a driver guide from Glory Summit Tours who will brief you on how the next 3days will move, after which you will set off for Queen Elizabeth which will take about 6-7hours. You will have a stopover at the Equator for picture moments, and another stopover in Mbarara for lunch at the Igongo Cultural center which also offers insights into the culture and history of the Ankole region. The center features a museum showcasing artifacts, traditional homesteads, and cultural performances. You’ll pass through a region dotted with crater lakes, remnants of volcanic activity. These scenic lakes offer picturesque views and opportunities for photography. Then proceed to Queen Elizabeth where you will arrive in the evening, you will check in then have dinner. Once dinner is done, you will retire at will.
You will wake up to a scrumptious breakfast, and then you will be driven out to the Maramagambo forest for your birding at 8:00am. You will have a bottle of water as you start on your hike, expect to see bird species like blue-breasted kingfisher, little grebe, African finfoot, red-chested cuckoo, black cuckoo, African emerald cuckoo, yellow-bill, Rwenzori turaco, ross’s turaco, black-headed batis, flycatchers, pigeons, warblers, bat hawk, shoebill stork and more. The forest is also known for harboring several specialist bird species that are adapted to the forest environment such as the African green broadbill, which is endemic to the Albertine Rift region and often found in the dense undergrowth of the forest. Away from the birds, the forest is also a habitat to primates like chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and more with animals like buffaloes, hyenas, genets, elephants, leopards, mongoose, warthogs, waterbucks, oribi and others. Birdwatching in Maramagambo Forest offers a rewarding and immersive experience for nature enthusiasts, providing opportunities to observe some of Uganda’s most iconic and elusive bird species in their natural habitat. The hike will take about 2-3hours depending on the pace taken up by you and any others on the hike. Once done with the hike, you will head back to your lodging, freshen up and have lunch. After lunch you will head to the Kazinga channel for a boat cruise, the boat cruise offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding landscape, including savannas, wetlands, and distant mountain ranges. During the boat cruise, expect to spot numerous water birds, including African fish eagles, pied kingfishers, African skimmers, herons, egrets, yellow-billed stork, spoonbill, knob-billed duck, Egyptian goose, African jacana, water thick-knee, pelicans, terns, cormorants and various migratory species; wildlife like hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffalo, warthogs, giant forest hogs, waterbucks and various antelope species, making it an excellent spot for wildlife viewing and this cruise will take about 2-3hours. Once done you will head back to your lodging, enjoy the sunset on route, then freshen up and have dinner. You will enjoy a camp fire as the night grows old and retire at will.
With breakfast done, you will check out of the hotel and exit the park for Kampala. On your way to Kampala you will enjoy the beautiful scenic views of the countryside and also have a chance to take some pictures while at it. A stopover in Mbarara for lunch and another at the Equator for more pictures and exploring the craft world will be done. Then proceed to Kampala at an agreed point for drop off which will mark the end of your 3 day trip.
