The Royal Mile, Budongo Forest, Uganda (1 Viewer)

[Steve Babbs]

Can anyone give me any tips? Places to stay, bearing in mind I'll have my wife and daughter? They're not keen on roughing it too much. Masindi has decent accommodation but is a bit of a drive especially as I'm not meant to drive the hire car in the dark. I'm not clear if there is a fee to bird the road and everyone seems to use a guide here. I'm not keen on having one but will do so if needed so recommendations and contact details would be appreciated.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Giving this a bit of a shove upwards.

 

[dwatsonbirder]

Steve, I can't comment on more comfortable environments as we stayed at the local college (perfectly fine albeit rather basic) but my understanding is that a guide is a requirement for birding the Royal Mile nowadays (contrary to previous gen). Have a look at my trip report on here which gives some info for the guide ( I think his name is Raymond). DM me if you need any further info and I'll try to help 👍🏼

 

[Steve Babbs]

Steve, I can't comment on more comfortable environments as we stayed at the local college (perfectly fine albeit rather basic) but my understanding is that a guide is a requirement for birding the Royal Mile nowadays (contrary to previous gen). Have a look at my trip report on here which gives some info for the guide ( I think his name is Raymond). DM me if you need any further info and I'll try to help 👍🏼

I've got your very useful report. I'd be fine staying that the collage but I am not sure if it still puts people up.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Update: So today I went to Royal Mile with the aforementioned Raymond. It was a very good, if exhausting day. Highlights included African Dwarf Kingfisher, Spotted Greenbul, Ituri Batis, Fire-crested Alethe, Cabanis's Bunting, Zebra Waxbill and Grey-headed Oliveback. And a Chimp. A few other targets were heard but not seen.

Raymond confirmed that you're supposed to have a guide at Royal Mile. I paid 90,000 shillings for half a day entry. We visited a few other sites in the area, including the farmland areas and 'the pond'. Raymond was excellent and worked very hard to find things. Note that he doesn't have a speaker or laser pointer, so you might want to bring those along if you have them.

There's very little infrastructure at Royal Mile, just a gate with a guy manning it and a guy who cycles around collecting the fee.

One thing to note is that the road from Masindi to the Budongo area is a bit of a laugh at the moment as it's basically being converted into a new road, which will be very fast once it's done. This makes it a bit tricky and dusty in places, although it's generally pretty obvious where to go.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Thanks Andrew. How much did you pay Raymond? Did you stay in Masindi?

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Thanks Andrew. How much did you pay Raymond? Did you stay in Masindi?

Rate is $50 a day, which seems fairly standard for local guides in Uganda. Yes, I stayed in Masindi (New Court View). Driving time is about 45 minutes from there to Royal Mile.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Sorry but one more question (for now anyway) but I saw on your Twitter account that you saw Grauer's Broadbill. Are they reasonably 'gettable' now? Can you recommend a guide for Bwindi?

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Sorry but one more question (for now anyway) but I saw on your Twitter account that you saw Grauer's Broadbill. Are they reasonably 'gettable' now? Can you recommend a guide for Bwindi?

I stayed at Broadbill Camp and use the camp owner Emmy Gongo. The other guide I used in that area was Gordon Rwamushengye (+256 772 682028). They will both know the area. The broadbills were feeding young at the nest and will probably become a lot harder to find once they have fledged (which may already have happened).

 

[Steve Babbs]

I stayed at Broadbill Camp and use the camp owner Emmy Gongo. The other guide I used in that area was Gordon Rwamushengye (+256 772 682028). They will both know the area. The broadbills were feeding young at the nest and will probably become a lot harder to find once they have fledged (which may already have happened).

Yes it looks like I might well be too late for this. I've just read a report where they went mid-July and considered that too late, seeing just the abandoned nest.