Overview
This 16-day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Photography Tour offers an immersive journey through Uganda’s most iconic birding hotspots, national parks, and primate habitats. Beginning in Entebbe with birding at the Botanical Gardens and Mabamba Swamp for the elusive Shoebill, the adventure continues to Murchison Falls National Park for game drives, birding, and boat cruises along the Nile. Travelers then explore Budongo Forest’s famed Royal Mile, Fort Portal, and Kibale National Park, where birding is paired with an unforgettable chimpanzee trekking experience. Semuliki Valley’s unique lowland forest birds and Bigodi Swamp’s primates add further richness to the itinerary.
The journey progresses to Queen Elizabeth National Park, home to over 600 bird species, with game drives, a Kazinga Channel boat cruise, and the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park follows, offering the highlight of gorilla trekking alongside specialized forest birding in Ruhija and Mubwindi Swamp. The tour concludes at Lake Mburo National Park with a day and optional night game drives, birding, and a boat safari before returning to Entebbe for departure. Throughout, participants enjoy mid-range accommodations, professional guiding, customized 4×4 transport, and inclusive gorilla and chimpanzee permits—making it a comprehensive birding and wildlife experience across Uganda’s most biodiverse regions.
Day by Day Itinerary details
Day 1: arrival, meet your professional bird guide/driver and transfer to your hotel for relaxing and beat jet lag – add birding at entebbe botanical gardens this evening if time allows.
Early arrivals will have a chance for birding at Entebbe Botanical Gardens, located on the northern part of Lake Victoria. The gardens harbor a collection of tropical, sub-tropical, and temperate plants and shrubs that regenerate over the years. The place is a habitat for an extensive array of about 250 bird species. Among others, we shall have a chance to trace for; Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Saddle-Billed Stork, Golden-Backed Weaver, Yellow-Backed Weaver, Orange Weaver, African Palm-Swift, Winding Cisticola, Splendid Glossy-Starling, Northern Brown-Throated Weaver, Slender-Billed Weaver, Scaly Francolin, Green-Backed Heron, Tawny-Franked Prinia, Black And White-Casqued Hornbill, Back Kite, Yellow-Fronted Tinkerbird, Saddle-Billed Stork, Open-Billed Stork, Marabou Stork, Grey-Caped Warbler, Pied Crow, Little Egret, Black-Headed Heron, Cattle Egret, Spotted-Backed Weaver, Black And White-Manikin, Bronzy Manikin, Red-Cheeked Cordon-Bleu and a couple more.
1 Night at The Boma Hotel, Entebbe. (Dinner and Breakfast Included)
Day 2: Birding At Mabamba Shoebill Swamp In The Morning Up To 09:00 Am – Later Transfer To Murchison Falls National Park (Transfer Time Estimate 6 To 7 Hours For 357km)
Mabamba Swamp is situated in the western part of Entebbe. This morning, we have an early breakfast, start at 6:30 am, and go birding to Mabamba Swamp. We shall take an engine boat from Nakiwogo fishing village to take us to the shoebill site, where we will meet our site guide. One of the few remaining productive wetlands in Uganda is protected by the local communities. Extensive papyrus swamps with labyrinth channels and lagoons, classified as an important bird area (IBA), it’s a home of multiple Shoebills, Uganda’s most famous avian resident, and the only representative in its family, is one of the most sought-after birds. It’s only traced by canoeing through the channels by the wooden engine boat.
Other birds at Mabamba include: Papyrus Gonolek, Blue-Breasted Bee-Eater, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, White-Winged Tern, Grey-Headed Gull, Little Egret, Long-Toed Lapwing, Spur-Winged Lapwing, African Fish-Eagle, Purple Heron, Common Squacco Heron, Striated Heron, Blue-Headed Coucal, Malachite Kingfisher, Black Crake, Hamerkop, African Marsh-Harrier, Yellow-Billed Duck, Hadada Ibis, Swamp Flycatcher, Eastern Grey Plantain-Eater, Wood Sandpiper, Pied Kingfisher, White-Faced Whistling Duck, African Yellow Warbler, and others. After our successful birding here, we shall hit the road up to Murchison falls conservation area with several stops on renown spots along the way to look at birds like Great-blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Easter Grey Plantain Eater cannot be missed, we plan to drive through the Butiaba Escarpment for the scenic view of the Albert basin and chances to spot raptors patching on the poles top. Hot lunch at Kabalega Dinners.
2 Nights at Pakuba Safari Lodge (All meals included, drinks not included)
Day 3: Morning, At 06:30 Am, After Breakfast, Up To 12:30 Pm, Birding And Wildlife Game Drive At The Northern Bank Of the Nile, and in the Afternoon, Take A Private Boat Trip To The Bottom Of The Falls.
We leave early for a morning game drive into the park, birding towards the Nile within the Borassus savanna, where we will also encounter a variety of Antelopes, Elephants, Cape Buffaloes, Giraffes, Lions, and Leopards, Jackson’s heartbeats, among others. In the afternoon we have a launch cruise to the bottom of the falls where a variety of water and special birds will be seen such as Rock Pratincole, Northern Carmine Bee-Eater, Red-Throated Bee-Eater, White-Crested Turaco, Vinaceous Dove, Beautiful Sunbird, Red-Winged Warbler, Grosbeak Weaver, Chestnut-Crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Spotted Morning-Thrush, Osprey, Black-Headed Gonolek, Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Yellow-Fronted Tinkerbird, Red-Necked Francolin, Little Sparrow-Hawk, Blue Spotted Wood Dove, Black-Billed Wood Dove, Swallow Tailed Eee-Eater, Siffling Cisticola, Singing Cisticola, Yellow-Mantled Widowbird, Olive-Bellied Sunbird, African Quailfinch, and many more.
Day 4: Transfer While Birding To Masindi Town For Budongo Central Forest Reserve.
Since our ticket for Murchison Park will still be valid, we shall search around again for the birds that we could have missed on day three (3). With an optional visit to the top of the falls. A branch at Sambiya River Lodge to look for Pel’s Fishing Owl. We shall bird through the Kaniyo Pabidi Forest before reaching our lodge. Birding through the Kanyiyo Pabidi area offers a chance to see rare species like Puvel’s Illadopsis and spot primates such as the Black and White Colobus, Blue Monkey, Olive Baboons, and others. After our hot lunch at Masindi Hotel, we shall head to Nyabyeya sugar farms to look for specialties there like Brown Twinspot, Grey-headed Oliveback, White-thighed Hornbill, and others. We return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
2 Nights at Masindi Hotel (all meals included, drinks not included)
Day 5: Whole Day Birding And Photography In The Royal Mile – Budongo Central Forest Reserve
Early after breakfast, carry our picnic lunch boxes and drive a short distance from the hotel to one of the best birding spots in Uganda, the Royal Mile. The name reveals the African historical leisure spot for the traditional king of Bunyoro. At the mile, the forest being a bit dense, the trail lining was cleared to make a perfect view with good light for the bird photographs. Budongo forest is one of the most extensive natural forests in Africa, home to a combination of vegetation and tree species found nowhere else in the forests of Africa. It has the most challenging bird species, some skulk in the tree canopies, which calls for keen observation with an enthusiastic guide!
In Budongo, we shall be looking for; Crested Malimbe, Red-Headed Malimbe, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Rufous-Crowned Eremomela, Black-Eared Ground-Thrush, Black-Throated Apalis, Black-Caped Apalis, Buff-Throated Apalis, Green Hylia, Nahan’s Francolin, Hairy-Breasted Barbet, Yellow-Spotted Barbet, Yellow-Billed Barbet, Western Black-Headed Oriole, Yellowbill, Brown-Eared Woodpacker, Yellow-Crested Woodpacker, Chocolate-Backed Kingfisher, African Dwarf, Shining Blue, Blue-Breasted Kingfisher, Yellow Longbill, African Crowned-Eagle, Forest Flycatcher, Yellow-Browed Camaroptera, Grey-Backed Camaroptera, Yellow-Mantled Weaver, Red-Heaed Bluebill, Sabines Spinetail, Casin’s Spinetail, Red-Tailed Anti-Thrush, Cameron Sombre, Slender Billed, Wilcock’s Honeyguides, Jameson’s Wattle-Eye, Blue-Throated Brown Sunbird, Little-Green Sunbird, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Rufous Flycatcher-Thrush etc. the list is endless! Later, we return to our lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 6: Transfer To Fort-Portal Town/ To The Edge Of Kibale Chimpanzee Forest, With Several Stops To Stretch Legs And Look At Birds. (Transfer Time Estimate, 5 To 6 Hours For 279km)
On the road, we shall have quite a few stops to look for birds, and a hot lunch will be at Gardens Restaurant in Fort Portal town, before proceeding to our lodge to check in and rest a bit. This evening, we will do an Optional Walking safari at Bigodi Swamp in search of some new species of birds like Shining Blue Kingfisher, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, White-spotted flufftail, and this swamp also harbors a couple of special monkeys like Uganda Mangabey, Uganda Red Colobus, L’hoest Monkey, that could be of your interest.
3 Nights at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or Kibale Guest Cottages or Guereza Canopy Lodge (all meals included, Drinks Not Included)
Day 7: Birding In Semliki Valley National Park Along The Famous Kirumia Trail.
We drive for about 1.5 hours to the park, so we will start early with our picnic lunch boxes by 6:00 AM and have breakfast close to the park. Semliki forest is one of the richest for lowland forest birds in Uganda and marks the eastern extension of the great Ituri Forest, a large Congo forest, and its eastern arm limits here. We shall start at dawn after an early breakfast and set off with our packed lunch. We spend 7-8hours birding along the Kirumia trail.
Key species include Red-billed, Black-casqued, Piping, and White-crested Hornbills, Black-chested Cuckoo, Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Nkurengu Rail (rare), White-bellied, Dwarf, and Pygmy Kingfishers, Piping, White-thighed, and African Pied Hornbills, Fire-crested Alethe, Red-bellied and Blue-billed Malimbe, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Lowland Akalat, Forest Scrub Robin, Greentailed Bristlebill, Leaf Love, Chestnut-breasted Negrofinches, Black-winged Oriole, etc., after we travel back to the lodge for overnight.
Day 8: Morning Birding (Green-Breasted Pitta Highlights) And Afternoon Chimpanzee Trekking.
Wake up early at 5:30 AM, have our breakfast packed, and prepare ourselves for the most sought-after bird, the Green-breasted Pitta! Thereafter, after our successful hunt for the pitta, we have breakfast, and we continue everyday birding, getting out of the forest to our hotel for lunch break. In the afternoon, drive to the park visitor center for a briefing about the trek for Chimpanzees.
Kibale National Park is home to 13 primates and about 375 bird species. Primates include; L’Hoest’s Monkey, Red Colobus Monkey, Bush Baby, Olive Baboon, Red-Tailed Monkey, Grey-Cheeked Mangabey, Black And White Colobus, Blue Monkey, Chimpanzee etc. and a long list of sought bird species like; Afep Pigeon, Red-Winged Francolin, Narina Trogon, Bar-Tailed Trogon, Black-Billed Turaco, Black Bee-Eater, White-Headed Wood-Hoopoe, Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird, African Pitta, Velvet Mantled Drongo, Petit’s Cukoo Shrike, African Broad Bill, Wilcock’s Honeyguide, White-Spotted Flufftail, Western Nicator, White-Tailed Anti-Thrush etc. we return to the lodge for a long sleep, preparing for Queen Elizabeth National Park the next day
Day 9: Birding Transfer To Queen Elizabeth National Park.
We wake up leisurely, with no hurry. We have a relaxed breakfast, check out, and drive to QENP. Lunch break will be at our lodge. We add an evening Game drive in the park. QUENP is the second largest national park after Murchison, it’s home to over 600 species of birds! Therefore, it’s one of the reasons why this park is ranked among the best birding destinations in Africa.
Here we will be looking for, Common Scimitarbill, Whinchat, Spurb, Bronzy, Olive-Bellied, Marico, Purple-Banded, Orange-Tufted, Scarlet-Chested, Beautiful, Red-Chested Sunbirds, Three-Banded Plover, Caspian Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Red-Caped Lark, Brown Babbler, Temminck’s Courser, Northern Wheatear, Black-Winged Pratincole, White-Tailed Lark, Mosque Swallow, Black-Bellied Bustard, Little Swift, Harliquin Quail, Button Quail, White-Winged Warbler, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Ovampo Sparrowhawk, Secretarybird, Caruther’s Cisticola, African Skimmers, Black-Headed Gonolek, Papyrus Gonolek, Red-Faced Cisticola, Red-Chested Cukoo, Northern Puffback, Tropica Boubou, Diederik, Klaas’s, African-Emerald Cukoos, Little Stint, Temminck’s Stint, African-Wood Owl, Black-Shouldered Night-Jar, Yellow-Throated Long-Claw, East-African Swee, Common Waxbill, Crimson-Rumped Waxbill, Fawn-Brested Waxbill, Zebra Waxbill, Village Indigobird etc..
2 Nights at Kyangabi Crater Resort, Bush Lodge, or Twin Lakes Safari Lodge
Day 10: Whole Day Birding In Queen Elizabeth National Park. Morning Game Drive, Afternoon Private Boat Trip At Kazinga Channel.
Early after breakfast, we leave the hotel for a game drive. We’ll have a chance to see several birds and mammals like Giant Forest Hog, Elephants, Bush Bucks, Water Bucks, Wart Hogs, Baboons, Uganda Cobs, etc., after lunch, and get ready for the afternoon boat cruise along the great Kazinga channel. Along this channel, you’ll have a boat ride that is rich in savanna and water birds, as well as plenty of mammals! On your ride, a well-informed site guide will guide you, and they will be in a position to help you in all ways concerning the wilderness of this park.
Day 11: Birding And Wildlife Game Drive At Ishasha As We Connect To Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla National
Ishasha area is located in the southern part of QENP, the key and most famous of tree-climbing lions, but it’s also the best birding area to spot a few savanna species that you could have missed in your previous day birding tour. You will later drive to Bwindi National Park for an overnight at Buhoma Sector.
1 Night at Buhoma Community Haven Lodge or Ride 4 a woman Lodge.
Day 12: Gorilla Trekking Day And Limited Evening Birding As We Connect To Ruhijja Sector
After breakfast, you report to park headquarters for a briefing before the gorilla tracking excursion. This activity may take anywhere between 3 and 6 hours, so a reasonable degree of fitness is required. Gorilla tracking is a remarkable experience to stare in the eyes of these gentle giants, watch them as they play, and go about their daily activities. It’s indeed a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you must never miss! Each encounter is different and has its own rewards! But you’re likely to enjoy the close view of adults feeding, grooming, and resting as the youngsters frolic and swing on the vines in a delightful display.
Since this activity takes anywhere between 3 and 6 hours, you will drive to Ruhija Sector through the “NECK”. This area is also key to search for Bwindi specials: Red-Throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Yellow Eyed Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-Headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Rockefellower’s Sunbird, Purple-Breasted Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimson-Wing, Grauer’s Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Black-Faced Apalis, Collard Apalis, Stripe-Breasted Tit, Ruwenzori Batis, African Green Broadbill, Dwarf Honeyguide, Black-billed Turaco, Handsome Francolin, and other birds.
2 Nights at Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge, or Bakiga Lodge.
Day 13: Whole Day Birding On The Main Trail To Mubwindi Swamp
(Reasonable fitness required), And if you’re not fit enough, you may decide to stay and bird along the roadside and School trail. Forest birding in Bwindi ranks number one in Africa, with the best sight guides who use their mouth whistles to call birds. At the main trail, we bird all the way to Mubwindi swamp, and the specials to look at are: Red-Throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Yellow Eyed Flycatcher, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-Headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Rockefellower’s Sunbird, Purple-Breasted Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimson-Wing, Grauer’s Warbler, Neumann’s Warbler, Black-Faced Apalis, Collard Apalis, Stripe-Breasted Tit, Ruwenzori Batis, African Green Broadbill, Dwarf Honeyguide, Black-billed Turaco, Handsome Francolin, and other birds. Later, return to the lodge for an overnight.
Day 14: Birding To Lake Mburo National Park – Add Evening Game Drive In The Park
We shall target an evening game drive and connect to the Optional night game drive. This park is ideal for nocturnal species like night-jars, bushbabies, and Cats and dogs such as hyenas, leopards, Janet cats, Civets, and others.
2 Nights at Rwakobo Rock Lodge or Hyena Hill Lodge
Day 15: Early Morning Birding And Wildlife Game Drive, Afternoon Private Boat Tour Lake Mburo.
While in the park, we shall look out for birds like: African-Grey Hornbill, Black-Loward Babbler, Red-Headed Weaver, Greater Blue-Eared Starling, Trilling Cisticola, Green-Wood Hoopoe, Brown-Chested Lapwing, Scaly-Throated Honeyguide, Lesser-Masked Weaver, White-Backed Vulture, Tabora Cisticola, Crested-Spurfowl, Red-Faced Barbet, Little Bee-Eater, Etc. And Mammals Like the Zebra, Eland, Topi, Impala, Cape Buffalo, and Warthog, etc. Today, we target the boat ride along Lake Mburo, where we hardly miss the African Finfoot, White-backed and Black-crowned Night Heron, and Giant Kingfisher. An Optional night drive always produces good views of Black Shouldered, Northern Tanzania Fiery-necked Nightjar, Nocturnal Mammals, and Bush Babies.
Day 16: Birding To Entebbe For Your Return Flight.
Since the flight is late in the day, we can decide to have an early morning game drive to try to catch up on what we missed the day before, and later hit the road back to Entebbe or wake up and start the journey, making several stops on the way to look for birds. Upon arrival, we check into our planned day-use lodge to take a shower, change, and relax before dropping you off at the airport for your return flight.
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