After a checkered past, Rwanda is firmly back on the birding map. The spectacular Nyungwe Forest offers the finest birding in the Albertine Rift and has more rift endemics than neighboring Uganda. This trip then takes in one of the most remarkable and revealing wildlife adventures of them all, an encounter with the engaging Mountain Gorilla at Volcans NP, where Dianne Fossey conducted her pioneer work on these amazing apes. We then move to Uganda, a tiny landlocked country supporting more than 1000 species, which deserves its reputation as a "birder’s Eden". Our Uganda segment will focus on lowland forest specialties, and in particular the spectacular Green-breasted Pitta. We’ll also look for one of the most epic of all African birds, the incredible Shoebill. This gray statuesque leviathan patrols the Papyrus swamps hunting lethargic lungfish. We won’t neglect Uganda’s other habitats, including the northern Guinea Savanna, rounding out an amazing trip through all the varied areas of these two incredible East African countries. 

Day 1: Kigali to Nyungwe FR (Rwanda). We arrive in Kigali and transfer to Nyungwe Forest for a four-night stay.

Days 2-4: Nyungwe Forest. Nyungwe is at present the best site in the world to see the thrilling and local Red-collared Mountain-Babbler. This bizarre and active flock species is a stellar attraction. Working the roadsides we expect to find many Albertine Rift endemics such as Ruwenzori (Collared) Apalis, Ruwenzori Turaco, skulking Red-crested Alethe, and Archer’s Robin-Chat. The spectacular Doherty’s Bushshrike may distract our attention before we bump into a covey of noisy Handsome Francolins, or encounter a flock of raucous White-headed Woodhoopoes. The comical echoes of Great Blue Turacos resound across the valleys, and honking calls may alert us of the presence of Black-and-white-casqued Hornbills nearby. Commoner Albertine Rift endemics at Nyungwe are Mountain Sooty Boubou, Yellow-eyed Black-Flycatcher, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, Red-faced Woodland, Grauer’s Rush, Neumann’s, and Grauer’s Warblers, Black-faced Apalis, Lagden’s Bushshrike, Purple-breasted, Blue-headed, and Regal Sunbirds, Stripe-breasted Tit, Dusky Crimson-wing and Strange Weaver. Other gems we’ll hope to see include Kivu Ground-Thrush, White-bellied Robin-Chat, and White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher. Many primates roam the canopy including Chimpanzee, Angola Pied Colobus, and Blue, Red-tailed, and L’Hoests Monkeys.

Day 5: Nyungwe to Volcans NP. Today we transfer to Volcans NP for two nights, birding en route.

Day 6: Gorilla trekking in Volcans NP. This morning we’ll do a little easy birding before embarking on a walk to see one of the five habituated Mountain Gorilla troops. Volcans NP was where Dianne Fossey conducted most of her research on gorillas. The joy of finding our gorillas will only be overcome by the amazement of watching these gentle giants. Equally gregarious but less garrulous than their Chimpanzee cousins, the group is likely to be chilled out eating celery, indulging in grooming, or involved in some other absorbing social activity. We’ll spend the rest of the day birding in this park, which holds many of the same species as Nyungwe.

Day 7: Volcans NP to Bwindi (Uganda). Today we drive from Rwanda to Uganda, spending one night in the Ruhiza sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.

Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable NP to Queen Elizabeth NP. First up we look for African Green Broadbill, a truly stunning central African endemic, and the only one unavailable at Nyungwe. After lunch we take the long road to Queen Elizabeth NP, where we overnight.

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth NP to Kibale. Queen Elizabeth NP is both a mammal and bird haven. While it offers an opportunity to view typical African megafauna such as Giraffes and Elephants, it is also a waterbird magnet, a wide diversity of which can be seen in a short time. The river trips are great and we normally see the regal Gray Crowned-Crane, the strange Hamerkop, and dainty African Jacanas trotting over lily pads next to the boat. In the afternoon we head to Kibale for a two-night stay.

Day 10:  Kibale Forest. We awake early this morning for a quest for one of Africa’s ultimate avian prizes, Green-breasted Pitta. This “mega” has recently become available, and we will spend the morning trying to find this rainforest jewel. Kibale is also famous for its Chimpanzees, and if we don’t see our closest cousins we shall certainly hear their haunting wailing and screaming in the forest. Bird parties hold the magical Black-throated Apalis and Forest Robin among the scores of illadopses and alethes. Black-bellied Seedcracker inhabits the forest edge, while the canopy holds various vermillion and black malimbes. Gray-throated, Yellow-spotted, and Yellow-billed Barbets build nests in the dead trees, and the fruiting figs attract the massive Great Blue Turaco, which looks like something straight out of a cartoon.

Day 11: Kibale to Budongo. After another morning in Kibale, we head to Budongo, which is the best place in Uganda for Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Spinetail, and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher. We’ll also search for the stunning Chocolate-backed and African Dwarf Kingfishers. The night will be spent in Masindi.

Day 12: Kaniyo Pabidi to Murchison Falls. En route to Murchison Falls NP, we stop at Kaniyo Pabidi for Puvel’s Illadopsis. Later we arrive on the banks of the Nile for a three-night stay, where it plunges spectacularly over the mighty Murchison Falls.

Days 13-14: Murchison Falls NP. We spend two days exploring Murchison Falls NP, where we shall search for Silverbird, Buff-bellied Warbler, Black-headed Batis, Black-headed Gonolek, and the very local White-rumped Seedeater. The riverine thickets hold White-crested Turaco, Double-toothed Barbet, Heuglin’s Francolin, and many others. A visit here is not complete without a boat trip to the base of the magnificent falls, where waterbirds accompany breeding parties of Red-throated Bee-eaters, and Rock Pratincoles perch on exposed boulders below the cascades. We will also try for Shoebill as it is one of the best areas in Uganda to find it.

Day 15: Murchison to Kampala. We transfer back to Kampala, where we spend the final two nights.

Day 16: Lake Victoria. After arrival on the shores of Lake Victoria, our first birds at the beautifully landscaped botanical gardens could include Orange Weaver and Red-chested Sunbird. If we failed at Murchison, we’ll explore the Mabamba Swamp for another final attempt at Shoebill.

Day 17: Kampala. We transfer out to Entebbe International Airport.

Tour Info:

CLIMATE: Warm to cool, mostly dry, but occasional thundershowers possible.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate. We’ll spend time birding some trails, only one of which is steep. Long drives on bad roads are required to get to the birding sites. The optional gorilla trek can be strenuous.