I can't speak highly enough of Birding in Paradise Safaris. From the moment we arrived in Entebbe... read more
I can't speak highly enough of Birding in Paradise Safaris. From the moment we arrived in Entebbe... read more
I took a trip to Uganda in July 2019, with my wife and a family of 3. My main objective was finding... read more
Birding in Paradise set up and executed a fantastic Uganda visit for my wife and me! From the first contact nearly a year before the trip, I knew that Johnnie and Agnes Kamugisha would be terrific hosts. They listened to my feedback on initial versions of their itineraries and they made sure that we would maximize our time there. While Johnnie is an elite bird guide, he knew that the first reason I wanted to visit Uganda was to see mountain gorillas. The itinerary worked birding around the gorillas, and we also worked in a day for chimpanzee trekking. The itinerary also included visits to Mabamba Swamp to see the mighty shoebill, Lake Mburo National Park to find African finfoot, Ruhija for mountain gorilla trekking and birding, and Queen Elizabeth National Park for more birding, looking for lions, and chimpanzee trekking. I knew Johnnie had amazing attention to detail when he met us at the airport and said he was tracking our flight status live so he could be there at the right time. The places we stayed, Lake Victoria View Guest House, Rwakobo Rock, Trekker's Tavern, and Bush Lodge were all perfect for our budget. The food was great, and each place took care to ensure we had a good experience. From Bush Lodge, our deck looked out to the Kazinga channel with elephants and hippos! Johnnie is, simply put, an incredible birder. He has an amazing ear, and he helped us spot, identify, and list 353 species of birds, something special for a 10-day trip. He also knows the mammals, reptiles, and amphibians one might encounter while birding. He drove us safely for 1,000s of kilometers around the country in a well-stocked 4x4, including a cool box, plenty of water, and a power outlet to charge all our gadgets. He always paid attention to what was happening with our activities to ensure we would have the best experience. All of this was done in a way that met our budget perfectly. I recommend Johnnie and Agnes unreservedly to plan your East Africa adventure!