One-Day Mabira Forest Birding is a guided excursion out to Mabira Forest which lies only 65km (2hrs) east of Kampala. Extending over an area of 300km2 Mabira Forest is the largest block of tropical forest in central Uganda. This mid-altitude tropical rainforest is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and top birding hotspot with a checklist of over 300 species of birds mostly afro-tropical forest specialists.
Tour Overview and Bird highlights
Mabira Forest hosts excellent birding trails that explore both the regenerating and primary forest sections where top highlights include; Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Pied and Crowned Hornbill, Least Honeyguide, Tit Hylia, Green Hylia, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Grey-throated Barbet, Green-tailed and Red-tailed Bristlebill.
Birding the base trail along the riverine we look out for; Red-headed Bluebill, White-spotted Flufftail, Afep Pigeon, Red-headed Malimbe, Forest Robin, Yellowbill, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-headed Bluebill, Brown-chested Alethe, Scaly-throated Illadopsis, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Sooty Boubou, Green-backed Twinspot, Forest Woodhoopoe, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat, Western Nicator, Western Black-headed Oriole, Toro Olive Greenbul and many more.
Other highlights include: Yellow-ramped and Yellow-throated Tinkerbirds, Crowned Eagle, Yellow Longbill, Forest Robin, Western Black-headed Oriole, Weyn’s Weaver, Green-backed Twinspot, Forest Woodhoopoe and more.
Detailed Itinerary for One Day Mabira Forest Birding
Your bird-guide will pick you from your residence/hotel early morning early before 6:30am to drive up to Mabira Forest. The drive should be two hours, targeting to check in at the forest by 8am where you will meet a knowledgeable local site guide to start the birding excursion. At the forest, you will start off birding the base trail that heads out to a local pond where you hope to collect a Shining-blue Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Red-headed Bluebill, White-spotted Flufftail, Grey-headed Nigrita, Great-blue Turaco while the primary forest stretch hots Forest Scimitar bill, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Black-throated Apalis, Western Nicator, Yellow-mantled Weaver and Brown-eared Woodpecker among other interesting characters. Later on, you bird the base trail that runs through an interesting riverine stretch of regenerating forest section with chances of Cassin’s Hawk eagle, African Pied Hornbill, Grey-headed Barbet, Speckled and Yellow-throated Tinkerbirds, Natal Robin, Olive Sunbird while over the forest canopies Crowned Eagle and Sabine Spinetail patrol.
While here look out for several primates including Red-tailed Monkeys and Uganda Mangabey that frequent the riverine forest stretch. A hot lunch will be at a quite Rainforest Forest Lodge set in a very birdy section which you will explore the whole afternoon and driving to Kampala late that evening.
One Day Mabira Forest Birding Tour Includes
- Transport with a Bird guide
- Bottled drinking water.
- All entry fees and site guide fees
- A hot Lunch
One Day Mabira Forest Birding Tour Excludes
- Tips to driver and guides
- Other drinks and meals other than mentioned.