BIRDING AFRICA THE AFRICA SPECIALISTS

Rwanda and

Rwanda, Uganda Highlights and Murchison Extension 2020 © Mayur Prag © Mayur

Green-breasted Pitta

10-15 June + 15-25 June + 26-30 June 2020 Rwanda & Uganda 2020 African Green Broadbill

BIRDING Tour leader: Michael Mills AFRICA

Birding Africa Tour Summary Tour Africa Birding THE AFRICA SPECIALISTS Summary Tour Africa Birding

Focus on top �irds • small group size (max 6 pax) • boat trip for Shoebill, three mornings for Green-breasted Pitta, African Green Broadbill in Uganda and Red-collared mountain Babbler in Rwanda • chance for Chimpanzee and Mountain Gorilla Michael's incredible focus, dedication and ability to locate and show Africa's toughest is probably • six participants in a safari 4x4 unequalled on the continent. He has led dozens of tours across Africa and his experience in locating • includes transfers, drinks and birds on just the soft est of calls or briefest of views Prag © Mayur tips impresses those who travelled with him. Our three back-to-back tours of Rwanda, Uganda Tour Focus (Essential Uganda) and Northern Uganda Green-breasted Pitta Dates (Murchison Extension) off er a comprehensive Uganda off ers a great list of specials for world Rwanda 10-15 June 2020 overview of the best birding to be had in these - listers and a wide array of and other Uganda 15-25 June 2020 rich countries. During the tour we focus on fi nding wildlife for those with a more general interest, the most special birds of the region, namely Red- including opportunities to see Eastern Gorillas Murchison 26-30 June 2020 collared Mountain Babbler at Nyungwe, African and Chimpanzee. Th is trip has a strong focus on Green Broadbill at Bwindi in Uganda, Green- watching birds, but there are good opportunities for breasted Pitta at Kibale in Uganda and Shoebill at photography and mammal watching (we normally Prices (+ Single) Mabamba Swamp and Murchison Falls. However, see more than ten species of primates). we expect to see a great number of other species Rwanda $3250 + $340 Th e tour is timed to coincide with peak breeding totalling over 500, including a large number of Uganda $5850 + $580 season of birds. We expect to encounter a small Albertine Rift endemics. Sites to be visited are the Murchison $2480 + $480 amount rain. Weather will mostly be warm, Nyabarongo Wetlands, Nyungwe National Park although is cooler in the highlands and it can be hot and Akagera National Park in Rwanda, and Lake at Murchison Falls. Book online Bunyoni, Ruhiza in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale We will travel in specially converted safari 4x4 with Visit www.birdingafrica.com National Park, Bigodi Wetland, Mabamba Swamp, six window seats. More details about what to expect, Deposit ($150) by credit card Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Budongo how to prepare and what to pack are provided in Email [email protected] including the Royal Mile, Butiaba Escarpment and our Tour Instructions. © Mayur Prag © Mayur Murchison Falls National Park.

2 | Rwanda and Uganda 2020 Rwanda and Uganda 2020 | 3 Accommodation and meals Walking INTRODUCTION We stay in comfortable accommodation, as close Walking is generally easy and slow with regular as possible to the best birding areas. Although stops, often along rather broad forest trails and roads. Uganda and Rwanda, two tiny countries near In Rwanda we'll spend most of our time in the in Central Africa hot water and electricity can be Tracking gorillas and hiking in Rwanda (Nyungwe) the equator, are among the birding gems of bird rich of Nyungwe, where highlights will intermittent, all rooms provide hot showers and can be quite tough and tracking chimpanzees can be the continent. With over 1000 species having include Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Ruwenzori private facilities. Meals are generally Western-style quite fast-paced. These do require one to be fit. The been recorded here, the region has the highest Turaco, Purple-breasted Sunbird and Dusky with an African flavour. Please advise if you are terrain where gorillas are is often steep, and sturdy concentration of bird species in Africa and is Crimsonwing. A short visit to Akagera will allow us Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding vegetarian and what foods you enjoy, so that we walking boots are advised here and in Rwanda. the most accessible place to see the legendary to search for Red-faced Barbet, and at Nyabarongo Leaflet Tour Africa Birding can cater for you. As water is not safe to drink, we Otherwise, comfy walking shoes are adequate. Shoebill, one of the world's most bizarre birds. The Wetlands we hope to find Papyrus Canary and supply free bottled water in the vehicle that you can In Uganda the hike down to the African Green misty peaks and fern-laden forests of the Bwindi Papyrus Gonolek. Impenetrable National Park and Nyungwe National take to your rooms in the evening. Broadbill marsh is quite tough and does require In Uganda we start off by looking for Papyrus Yellow Park, Uganda and Rwanda's best birding hotspot, one to be fit, although we do it very slowly over the Warbler at Lake Bunyoni, before visiting Ruhiza in respectively, are an apt setting to search for a host whole day, and there will be someone to walk back Bwindi Impenetrable forest where African Green of exciting Albertine Rift endemics. African Green International flights slowly with you if you feel it is too tough, or you Broadbill and Lagden's Bushshrike would be Broadbill and Red-collared Mountain Babbler are want to make an early start back. Two of the half- popular finds. At Queen Elisabeth we'll enjoy some Please plan to fly arrive by: among the birding highlights here. Furthermore, day walks in Nyungwe are also on narrow trails and savanna birding before immersing ourselves in these mountains in Uganda offer one of the greatest • Rwanda Tour: 6 am on 10 June at Kigali require a good level of fitness. Kibale forest to search for Green-breasted Pitta and wildlife experiences on earth: the opportunity to a host of mid-altitude forest species. Bigodi wetland • Uganda Highlights: the night of 15 June at come face to face with one of our closest relatives, provides some open-country birding nearby. We'll Kigali International Airport (Rwanda) the Eastern Gorilla, in its natural habitat. We'll Group size end off with a morning at Mabamba Swamp to also search for Shoebill on small boats in a papyrus • Murchison Ext: night of 26 June at Entebbe search for the incomparable Shoebill, alongside 6 participants only. Most of the trails are quite swamp, giving us an excellent chance of a close Weyns’s Weaver. Departure is possible from the following times: broad. encounter with this extraordinary bird. And we • Rwanda: 9 pm on 15 June from Kigali (Rwanda) allocate three full mornings to searching for Green- Finally, our Murchison Extension commences Optional Gorilla and breasted Pitta and Kibale National Park. along the Royal Mile for some excellent lowland • Uganda Highlights: 7 pm on 26 June from forest birding with Ituri , Nahan's Francolin The tour is conveniently split into three, the main Entebbe (Uganda) chimpanzee tracking and Jameson's Wattle-eye as top targets, before tour focussing on the Uganda Highlights, preceded visiting the bird-rich woodlands and savannas at • Murchison Ext: 10 pm on 31 June from Please confirm with us whether or not you would by six days in Rwanda and followed by five days at Murchison Falls where a great variety of species is Entebbe (Uganda) like to track chimpanzee or gorilla. Tracking permits Budongo and Murchison Falls in northern Uganda. are strictly limited in number and sold on a first- on offer, including another chance for Shoebill. Please email the Birding Africa office with your come-first-served basis. Uganda Wildlife Service proposed flight details before booking your flight. only issues permits that are paid in full. Gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits are not included in the tour cost. If you think you might want to see gorillas but are unsure, then we can recommend it! The gorilla tracking permit currently costs $625 (this is 600 + 25 local booking fee). (In Rwanda,

© Tasso Leventis © Tasso the permit has already risen to $1500. Uganda is expected to follow but hopefully in later years). We recommend hiring a porter; they charge about US$20 cash. We stand an excellent chance of seeing chimpanzees while birding in Kibale forest (we have had a 100% success rate over the last four years). However, it is possible to do chimpanzee tracking with the parks staff for $125 (this is 115 + 10 local booking fee). Tracking gorillas can be quite tough as the terrain can be steep. Tracking chimpanzees can be quite fast-paced as the chimpanzees can be

Black Bee-eater on the move. White-winged Swamp Warbler Prag © Mayur

4 | Rwanda and Uganda 2020 Rwanda and Uganda 2020 | 5 DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY

------RWANDA ------widespread species usually present include Blue- breasted Bee-eater, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Day 1 (10 Jun): Kigali to Nyungwe Greater Swamp Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Petersen © Kenneth Western Citril, Bronzy Sunbird, Red-chested The tour starts early this morning at 6 am, either

Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Sunbird, Winding Cisticola, Swamp Flycatcher, Leaflet Tour Africa Birding with a hotel pickup or a pickup from the airport. Baglafecht Weaver, Black-crowned Waxbill, Cape We'll make our first birding stop just outside Kigali Wagtail, Rock Martin, Slender-billed Weaver, Grey- at the productive wetlands along the Nyabarongo capped Warbler, Southern Red Bishop and Fawn- River. Unfortunately papyrus habitat here is being breasted Waxbill. Continuing southwards we'll cleared at a rapid pace, but we will hope to be watch out for Ruaha Chat on roadside buildings able to find several papyrus specialties, including before pausing in some savanna habitat for a Papyrus Canary, White-winged Swamp Warbler, picnic lunch, where Ross's Turaco, Red-throated Papyrus Gonolek and Carruthers’s Cisticola. More Wryneck, Spot-flanked Barbet and Buff- bellied Warbler occur. Afer lunch we'll turn Handsome Francolin west to start our climb into the mountains of Nyungwe National Park, crossing the reserve and descending into the lowlands west of the reserve where we overnight just outside the park. © Kenneth Petersen © Kenneth Days 2-4 (11-13 Jun): Nyungwe Forest Nyungwe Forest is the largest block of Red-collared Mountain Babbler Afromontane forest on the continent and possesses an excellent network of trails Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Many-coloured which allow us to access the forest at various Day 5 (14 Jun): Nyungwe to Akagera Bushshrike, Kakamega Greenbul, Black-faced altitudes, which we will explore over three Prinia, Grey , Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Today we take the long drive from Nyungwe to full days. Red-collared Mountain Babbler is Kivu Ground Thrush (very secretive), Yellow-eyed Akagera at the opposite end of the country, arriving the most sought-after special here and we Black Flycatcher and Black-billed Weaver. After at our lodge inside Akagera in the evening. will first turn our attention to finding this dark we'll search for Ruwenzori Nightjar. However, surprisingly quiet (for a babbler) species, it is the mid-altitude forests, such as around the Day 6 (15 Jun): Akagera; afternoon to Kigali which is most common in the higher altitude park headquarters at Uwinka, that hold the greatest forests. Here too we may find Mountain We have a better part of a day to explore the rich number of Albertine Rift endemics and will Sooty Boubou, Mountain Buzzard, African savannas of Akagera National Park, also doing some demand most of our time. It is here that we are most Olive Pigeon, White-headed Wood wetland birding if time allows. Our main focus will likely to see Purple-breasted Sunbird, Ruwenzori Hoopoe, Tullberg's Woodpecker, Lagden's be to find the localised Red-faced Barbet, which Double-collared Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Bushshrike (rare), Grey Cuckooshrike, can even be seen around our hotel gardens but is Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Ruwenzori Apalis, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Chestnut- never easy to find. It is a good location for Ruaha Mountain Masked Apalis, Striped-breasted Tit, throated Apalis and Mountain Illadopsis. Chat and Long-tailed Cisticola too, and we could Grauer's Warbler, Archer's Robin-Chat, Ruwenzori Grauer's Swamp Warbler occurs in some also encounter Red-necked Spurfowl, Cinnamon- Batis, Ruwenzori Turaco, Dusky Crimsonwing and roadside swamps. The lower altitude breasted Bunting, Red-headed Weaver, Southern Handsome Francolin, alongside non-endemics forests are particularly good for Kungwe Black Flycatcher, Rüppell’s Starling, Green-capped such as Red-chested Owlet, Doherty's Bushshrike, Apalis, Neumann's Short-tailed Warbler, Eremomela, Red-faced Crombec, Flappet Lark, Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Mountain Oriole, Willard's Sooty Boubou, Cassin's Hawk- Grey , White-winged Black Tit, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, White-browed Eagle, Scarce Swift, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-headed Gonolek and Meyer's Parrot. In the Crombec and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler. Nights Red-throated Alethe, White-bellied late afternoon we drive back to Kigali, where the just outside Nyungwe National Park. Robin-Chat, Equatorial Akalat, Elliot's Rwanda Tour ends on arrival.

6 | Rwanda and Uganda 2020 Rwanda and Uganda 2020 | 7 Day 5 (19 Jun): Ruhiza to Queen Elizabeth we drive north. We'll arrive at Mweya, headquarters of the national park, in the early afternoon and We'll make an early start from Ruhiza to get to The take a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel with its Neck, a narrow part of Bwindi Impenetrable NP. abundance of hippos, crocodiles and waterbird. Lower altitude forests here will be the focus of a New birds on the boat trip may include African full morning of birding, with plenty of new forest © Kenneth Petersen © Kenneth Skimmer, Great White Pelican, Pink-backed birds to encounter. We have had good success in Pelican, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, the past at locating the rare Chapin's Flycatcher, Squacco Heron, Striated Heron, White-breasted Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding and it is a good site also for Ansorge's Greenbul and Cormorant, Water Thick-knee, African Wattled Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Grey-headed Sunbird. A long list of other species is Lapwing, Kittlitz's Plover, Gull-billed Tern, African on offer, including African Black Duck, Black Bee- Mourning Dove, Olive Bee-eater and Black-headed eater, Speckled Tinkerbird, Bocage's Bushshrike, Gonolek. Night at Mweya in Queen Elizabeth NP. Lühder’s Bushshrike, Many-coloured Bushshrike, Toro Olive Greenbul, Red-tailed Greenbul, Olive- green Camaroptera, Brown Illadopsis, Cassin's Day 7 (21 Jun): Queen Elizabeth to Kibale Flycatcher, Dusky-blue Flycatcher and Mountain This morning we'll bird the short-grass plains of Wagtail. In the afternoon we continue to the border Queen Elizabeth National Park, stopping in some of Queen Elizabeth National Park where we may see taller grasslands en route where we hope to find Pennant-winged Nightjar and Swamp Nightjar in Black Coucal, Compact Weaver, African Crake, the evening. African Wood Owl occurs in our hotel Moustached Grass Warbler and Fawn-breasted garden. Overnight near Queen Elizabeth. Waxbill. Once on the short-grass plains we'll be watching out for larks, which may include Rufous- Day 6 (20 Jun): Queen Elizabeth naped Lark, Red-capped Lark and the scarce White- Ruwenzori Turaco tailed Lark. Lapwings are common and we'll watch We'll start off birding the open savanna near our carefully for Senegal Lapwing, which may be joined hotel. In the past this area has turned up some great by Temminck's Courser. Black-bellied Bustard ------UGANDA ------Day 3-4 (17-18 Jun): Ruhiza birds, including Red-winged Francolin, White- hides in taller grass and we may spot Quail-finch headed Barbet, Ross's Turaco and Black-chinned and Common Buttonquail as we go. Other new We have two full days at Ruhiza in Bwindi Quail-Finch. More widespread species should Day 1 (15 Jun): Arrive Kigali birds could include Western Black-headed Batis, Impenetrable Forest, one of which is allocated to include Grey-backed Fiscal, Black-lored Babbler optional Gorilla trekking (those not trekking will White-winged Widowbird, Plain-backed Pipit, and Arrow-marked Babbler. Soon, however, we'll Yellow-throated Longclaw, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Welcome to Rwanda! From the airport we transfer go birding). We will, on our first day, make the long enter Queen Elizabeth National Park, watching out Croaking Cisticola and Blue-naped Mousebird. In to our nearby hotel for an overnight stay. return hike to Mabwindi Swamp with the main for White-headed Barbet, Harlequin Quail, Stout the afternoon we'll make our way to Kibale National aim of finding the rare African Green Broadbill. If Cisticola, Red-necked Spurfowl and Sooty Chat as anyone had not joined us at Nyungwe in Rwanda Park. Overnight near Kibale NP. Day 2 (16 Jun): Kigali to Ruhiza, Bwindi they will have to be highly focussed to catch up on On the first full day of our Uganda Essentials. tour as many Albertine Rift endemics as possible, which we'll drive a short distance from Kigali to the border should include Ruwenzori Batis, Red-throated of Uganda, crossing near Kabale town. While we Alethe, Strange Weaver, Regal Sunbird, Archer's wait for our passports to be stamped we are likely Robin-Chat, Blue-headed Sunbird, Striped-breasted to see Grey Crowned Crane passing overhead. Tit, Grauer's Warbler, Mountain Masked Apalis, After a short logistical pause in Kabale town we'll Ruwenzori Apalis, Red-throated Alethe and Yellow- Petersen © Kenneth continue on to the dwindling papyrus swamps eyed Black Flycatcher. Other birds which we hope along the shores of Lake Bunyoni. Here we'll spend to encounter include Oriole Finch, Grey-chested a few hours in a attempt to see the localised Papyrus Babbler, Evergreen Forest Warbler, White-starred Yellow Warbler, and other wetlands species may Robin, Sharpe's Starling, Lagden's Bushshrike, Red- include White-winged Swamp Warbler, African chested Owlet, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Oriole Rail, Highland Rush Warbler and Western Citril. In Finch and Dwarf Honeyguide (rare). Other areas the afternoon we'll continue on the Ruhiza in the near Ruhiza will be searched for Dusky Twinspot, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, arriving at our Western Tinkerbird, and there are further chances Doherty's Bushshrike lodgings near the forest edge in the late afternoon. to see Handsome Francolin.

8 | Rwanda and Uganda 2020 Rwanda and Uganda 2020 | 9 Day 11 (26 Jun): Shoebill -- BUDONGO AND MURCHISON EXTENSION -- Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria is one of the most visited birding sites in Uganda. It's Day 1 (26 Jun): Arrive Entebbe star attraction, the unique Shoebill, draws not only Welcome to Uganda. From the airport you will birders, but also general tourists, almost daily. We'll © Kenneth Petersen © Kenneth transfer to your hotel in Entebbe for an overnight make an early start from Entebbe to get there before stay. many other visitors arrive, and hope to see at least

Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding one Shoebill at close range. While out on the water Leaflet Tour Africa Birding we'll watch out for Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Long- Day 2 (27 Jun): Entebbe to Masindi toed Lapwing, African Marsh Harrier, Grey Parrot, For the start of our Budongo and Murchison Falls Papyrus Gonolek, Swamp Flycatcher, breeding tour we start by driving to Masindi, gateway to Northern Masked Weaver and Weyns's Weaver Budongo Forest. Our first planned stop will be in and make a special effort to see Lesser Jacana. On some swamplands near Luwero where we hope land we'll watch out for Blue Swallow, Black-and- to find Hartlaub's Marsh Widowbird and Yellow- white-casqued Hornbill, White-chinned Prinia mantled Widowbird of the distinctive form that and Red-chested Sunbird. After lunch we'll return is called Yellow-shouldered Widowbird. Other to Entebbe for some birding around the Entebbe new birds may include Golden-backed Weaver Botanical Gardens, where highlights may include and Fan-tailed Widowbird. A second stop in Orange Weaver and Olive Bee-eater. The Uganda some woodlands will hopefully turn up White- Highlights tour ends in the evening, with departure crested Turaco and White-headed Barbet. We'll possible from 7 pm. Overnight in Entebbe.

African Skimmer Prag © Mayur

Days 8-9 (23-24 Jun): Kibale National Park tailed Bristlebill, White-tailed Ant-Thrush, Buff- throated Apalis, Fraser's Rufous Thrush and Grey- We have two full days in and around Kibale National throated Tit-Flycatcher. Hopefully we'll maintain Park, and our main reason for visiting is to search our 100% record of seeing the pitta. On previous for the rare Green-breasted Pitta, which we give tours it has taken between one and three mornings ourselves three mornings to find. As the pittas tend to find the birds. Finding the pitta quickly will allow to display most reliably at sunrise, we'll be out well us extra time for other birding, but either way we'll before first light to position ourselves in a known spend the afternoons either birding the forest edge and active territory. As the forest wakes up around or visiting Bigodi Wetland where a good selection us we’ll strain our ears to hear the distinctive thud of new birds is on offer, including White-spotted of a displaying pitta, a deep mechanical sound made Flufftail, Joyful Greenbul, Red-headed Bluebill, by wings as the bird jumps on its perch and flashes Speckle-breasted Woodpecker (rare), Black Bishop, its wings open. If we don't find them at sunrise Shining-blue Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Barbet, we'll remain in the forest all morning, searching for Orange-tufted Sunbird (rare) and Black-crowned them feeding on their territories. While we do this Waxbill. Other birds at Kibale could include we may encounter a host of other birds, including Cassin's Flycatcher, Red-headed Malimbe and Brown-chested Alethe, Afep Pigeon, Narina Sabine's Spinetail. Nights near Kibale National Park. Trogon, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Brown-eared Woodpecker, African -Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, White-throated Greenbul, Velvet- Day 10 (25 Jun): Kibale to Entebbe mantled Drongo, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, After some final birding in the Kibale area we'll Shoebill Western Nicator, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Red- drive to Entebbe for an overnight stay.

10 | Rwanda and Uganda 2020 Rwanda and Uganda 2020 | 11 lowland, watching for Dark Chanting Goshawk may include Black-billed Wood Dove, Northern and Northern Red Bishop on our way to Paraa in Carmine Bee-eater, Nubian Woodpecker and Black Murchison Falls. An afternoon boat trip sees us Scimitarbill. Along the Nile, short grass lawns hold going upstream to the bottom of the falls, enjoying Black-headed Lapwing, Senegal Thick-knee and © Mayur Prag © Mayur spectacular views before returning to Paraa. Rock Spotted Thick-knee, and if we are lucky we may find Pratincole, Goliath Heron, Red-throated Bee-eater Brown-chested Lapwing. Denser areas of habitat and Horus Swift are likely new species, and there is hold the secretive Dusky Babbler and Red-winged an outside chance of Pel's Fishing Owl and African Grey Warbler, and swampy areas may turn up Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Finfoot. From Paraa we make our way to our lodge, Shoebill. In the evening we'll cross back to the south Leaflet Tour Africa Birding set in woodland. of the Nile. Night in Murchison Falls.

Day 4 (30 Jun): Murchison Day 5 (22 Jan): Murchison to Entebbe Today we make a pre-dawn start to arrive at Paraa Our last day of the tour sees us starting off birding in and catch the first ferry across the Nile River to the the broad-leafed woodlands near our lodge, trying north bank, watching for Pennant-winged Nightjar our best to avoid tsetse flies. If we are very fortunate and Greyish Eagle-Owl on the way. Once across the we will be able to find the rarely-seen Ring-necked river we'll head out into the open grasslands, full of Francolin, although are only likely to hear it. Other large mammals adorned with Piapiac. Large birds are woodland birds may include Red-winged Warbler, the order of the day and we'll watch for Abyssinian Brown-rumped Bunting, Red-winged Pytilia, Ground Hornbill, Black-bellied Bustard, Denham's Brown-backed Woodpecker and Yellow-billed Bustard, Heuglin's Francolin and a variety of raptors Shrike. Over the rest of the day we make our way as it warms up. Whistling thorn thickets are home back to Entebbe, where the tour ends. Flights can be to Shelley's Sparrow, Speckle-fronted Weaver and taken from 10 pm onwards. Nahan's Francolin Rattling Cisticola, and other birds in wooded areas

pause for lunch in Masindi before continuing to eye, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, African Dwarf the farmlands near The Royal Mile, where we'll Kingfisher, . Other possible species include Crested search for species such as Black-bellied Firefinch, Guineafowl, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Cassin's Heuglin's Francolin, Cardinal Quelea, Red-headed Spinetail, Sabine's Spinetail, Blue-throated Roller, Quelea, Whistling Cisticola, Brown-backed Scrub African Pied Hornbill, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Robin, Black Bishop, Brown Twinspot, Moustached , Little Grey Greenbul, Spotted Greenbul, Yellow Grass Warbler, Red-headed Lovebird, White- Longbill, Grey Longbill, Lemon-bellied Crombec, thighed Hornbill, Cabanis's Bunting, Red-collared Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Widowbird and Grey Parrot. Warbler, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Rufous- crowned Eremomela, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Day 3 (28 Jun): Budongo Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Purple-headed Glossy Starling, Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Fire-crested The first and only proper lowland forests that we'll Alethe, Fraser's Forest Flycatcher and Forest Robin. bird in Uganda are at Budongo Forest, and as such it hosts a long list of new species, including several Day 3 (29 Jun): Masindi to Murchison localised specials. We'll spend the day on famous The Royal Mile where a broad road leads through After some final birding on our way through spectacular forest and a network of narrow trails Budongo we pause at the Butiaba Escarpment. leads off into the surrounding undergrowth. Of the Open savanna with scattered bushes are good for special birds, Ituri Batis is the most significant, as Foxy Cisticola and Green-backed Eremomela, Budongo is the only locality worldwide where it and we may find Black-billed Barbet, Red-winged can safely be seen (all other sites are in DR Congo). Warbler, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Yellow- The threatened Nahan's Francolin is another major mantled Widowbird, Flappet Lark and Cardinal © Tertius Gous © Tertius Silverbird target, and other specials include Jameson's Wattle- Quelea here too. We then drop down into the hot

12 | Rwanda and Uganda 2020 Rwanda and Uganda 2020 | 13 INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TOUR © Mayur Prag © Mayur • boat trips • services of Birding Africa tour leader and local guides Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Leaflet Tour Africa Birding • entry fees and activities as per itinerary • accommodation and all meals • airport transfers • bottled water in the vehicle • one soft drink per meal • general tips

BOOKLET AND CHECKLIST Birding Africa provides: 1. Tour Details leaflet with detailed itinerary (this document). 2. Tour Information Pack, emailed to you. 3. Tour Booklet with checklists, provided in hard copy at the start of the tour.

QUESTIONS? Email Michael at [email protected] and copy [email protected].

HOW TO BOOK 1. Complete our easy online booking form. 2. Secure your booking deposit by credit card on our 3D secure online payment site ($150) 3. Settle the balance by bank transfer 150 days before the tour. We will email you a reminder and the banking details.

Shoebill

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