Your 1-day Mabira Forest bird watching safari involves you exploring Mabira Forest Reserve which is set in Buikwe district, eastern Uganda about one hour’ drive from Kampala capital city in a good and comfortable 4×4 safari car. For all avid birdwatchers, this is a special package set for you to get an exceptional birding experience with a chance for you to identify some of 315 distinct avifaunal species that dwell in the lush Mabira Forest. This forest reserve is about 306sq.km making it one of the largest natural forests in Uganda. Mabira Forest was gazetted in 1932 and today, it offers refuge not only to bird species but also over 312 species of trees, several species of primates including the endangered grey-cheeked mangabeys; 97 moth species, 218 butterfly species, and many others. Over 10 trails are available for you to embark on either guided or unguided tours in Mabira Forest. The one-day Mabira Forest bird watching tour will start and end in Kampala or Entebbe.
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Entebbe/Kampala to Mabira Forest, bird watching
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Entebbe/Kampala to Mabira Forest, bird watching
Start your day with a delicious cup of tea or coffee and after, you will be transferred from your hotel or area of residence in Entebbe or Kampala to Mabira Forest about 1 hour’ drive from Kampala capital city. Arrive early enough and branch to Mabira Eco-Tourism Center which is 300m from the highway. You will have a short briefing and then you will embark on bird watching tour with a guide along developed birding trail. Expect to spot out birds like African pied hornbill, shining blue kingfisher, dwarf kingfisher, tit Hylia, sooty flycatchers, striped kingfishers, forest robin, grey throated and yellow-billed barbet, yellow whiskered, black-billed Turaco, white billed barbet, Toro olive and little grey greenbul, forest wood hoopoe, African paradise flycatcher, black and white shrike, African flycatcher, blue-throated roller, dusky throated brown sunbird, velvet mantled drongo, green throated and olive bellied sunbird to mention but a few. You will also come across primate species including the endangered grey-cheeked mangabeys, vervet monkeys and red-tailed monkeys. After an astonishing bird encounter, you will be driven back to Entebbe or Kampala.
End of 1 day Mabira Forest bird watching safari
1-day Mabira Forest bird watching safari includes
• Bird watching
• Lunch
• Transportation in a 4×4 safari car
• Services of an English speaking bird guide
• Bottled water
• All activities in the travel plan apart from the optional ones
1-day Mabira Forest bird watching safari excludes
• Uganda visa fees
• Personal insurance
• Personal expenses such as cigarettes, telephone calls, laundry services, tips, hotel fees in Entebbe or Kampala, optional activities and many others.
Other activities to do in Mabira Forest Reserve
• Guided nature walks/forest walk
• Zip lining
• Uganda mangabey monkey trekking
• Mountain biking
What to bring
• Field guide book
• Camera
• Filed clothing
• Filed bag
• Binoculars
• Insect repellent
• Good walking boots/shoes
• Rain jacket/poncho
• Bottled water
Getting to Mabira Forest
Mabira Forest is set in Buikwe district about 56kms from Kampala and 24kms from Jinja. It is reachable by public means or car hire which you can find from a trusted and reliable car hire/tour company. This forest reserve lies along the Kampala-Jinja highway.