February 5th – Arrival to Entebbe, Uganda.  Transfer to a hotel near the shores of Lake Victoria.  For those who arrive early enough we will have an afternoon trip to the botanical gardens which is a great place to photograph a variety of birds including African Grey Parrot, Ross’s Turaco and Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher.  The bottle brush bushes here attract a wide variety of beautiful sunbirds.  Accommodation: K Hotel, 4 star

February 6th – We will check out early and drive down to the west side of Lake Victoria to the Mabamba Wetlands.  Here we will take a boat trip where we have a good chance to photograph the iconic Shoebill Stork.  We will also photograph a wide variety of waterbirds as well as some kingfishers and bee-eaters on the boat trip.  After that we have a six-hour transfer to our next location near Lake Mburo National Park.  Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge

February 7th -In the morning we will visit a waterhole which attracts both birds and mammals.  Bare-faced Go Away Birds, African Green Pigeons, Zebras and Giraffes come to drink here.  In the afternoon we will have a game drive to photograph Zebra, Eland and other mammals as well as raptors, francolin and other birds.  Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge.

February 8th – Morning photography in the park then we have about a five-hour transfer to the mountainous Bwindi region of Uganda.  On the way we will stop at some papyrus swamps for specialty species there such as Papyrus Canary, Gonolek and Yellow Warbler.  We will arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 9th – Today we have the option of doing some bird and monkey photography around the lodge grounds or heading out with the guides to do some forest bird photography.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 10th – Today is our Mountain Gorilla trekking day.  Many people have described photographing and being amongst these gentle giants as a highlight in their lives.  We have requested to photograph a troop which is usually reasonably close to the headquarters but there will be some walking involved to get to them.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 11th – Today you have the option of going on another Gorilla trek or doing forest bird photography looking for Albertine Rife endemics including Regal Sunbird, Banded Prinia and more.  The bird photography right outside the lodge is excellent for White-tailed Blue Flycatcher and many Sunbirds including Bronze and Scarlet-chested.  Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Camp

February 12^th – We will check out early and visit a lake which is very good for a variety of waterbirds such as Hammerkop and that also has bottle brush bushes for Sunbirds.  Then we will try for Black Bee-eater on our drive through to Buhoma.  We will arrive in the late afternoon.  The lodge we use is very good for the striking African Paradise Flycatcher. Accommodation: Buhoma Gorilla Camp

February 13th – We will do morning bird photography at the park headquarters.  The trees here are full of sunbirds including the stunning Green-throated Sunbird.  Then we check out and head to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park.  We will have an afternoon game drive in the park, with luck we will find Queen Elizabeth’s tree climbing lions.  This is also the best part of the park for Leopards.  Lodge: Ishasha Jungle Lodge

February 14th – We will have a morning game drive.  Queen Elizabeth National Park has the longest bird list of any park in all of Africa so we will be on the lookout for great birds such as Martial Eagle, Dwarf Bittern and Verreaux’s Eagle Owl as well.  After lunch we will have a game drive from the Ishasha sector of the park to our next lodge in the Northern part of the park.  This is a good part of the park for raptors including Long-crested Eagle. We will arrive at our lodge in the late afternoon and do a bit of photography around the lodge.  Lodge: Buffalo Safari Lodge.

February 15th – Morning photography near the lodge or game drive.  The bird photography around our lodge is excellent with Prong-billed Barbets, Black-headed Gonoleks, Red-chested Sunbirds, Grey Kestrels and many other species in the area.  Behind the lodge there are often Giant Forest Hogs and Buffalo.  In the afternoon we will have a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel.  We will photograph African Fish Eagles, Pied Kingfishers, African Skimmers and much more.  Lots of Buffalo and Elephant come to the water in the afternoon to bathe and drink.  This channel rivals the Chobe in Botswana for river photography.  Lodge: Buffalo Lodge

February 16th – We will have another boat trip this morning with Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfishers, Palm Nut Vultures and a lot of other great birds.  In the afternoon we will take a game drive to a lake which has large concentrations of Lesser and Greater Flamingoes as well as waders such as Pied Avocet.  Lodge: Buffalo Lodge

February 17th – Morning game drive in the parks open areas which have Secretary Birds, Uganda Kob, Lions, Bustards and more.   Then we check out and have a two-hour transfer to Kibale National Park.  This afternoon we will have a walk at the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary.  Here we should photograph Red Colobus and a variety of monkeys and birds such as Superb Sunbird and Shining Blue Kingfisher.   Accommodation: Kibale Forest Cottages

February 18th – Today is our chimpanzee trekking day.  We will photograph a troop of habituated Chimpanzees which allow us to be very close.  In the afternoon we will photograph at the lodge.  The open forest here attracts a lot of raptors such as African Goshawk, Lizard Buzzard and African Harrier Hawk.  The Black and White-casqued Hornbills are usually around.  Accommodation: Kibale Forest Cottages

February 19th – Morning bird photography in Kibale, the lodge has a lot of sunbirds, turacos and other birds as well as monkeys.  Then check out and either head on the the extension to Murchison Falls or return to Entebbe.  Accommodation: K Hotel, Entebbe

February 20th – Depending on your departure time we will spend the morning at the botanical gardens.  Then transfer to the airport for your trip home.