Overview
This 18 Day Uganda Birding Tour is designed for serious birders who want to experience the country’s full range of habitats and species diversity. From wetlands and lowland forests to savannahs and montane ecosystems, you’ll explore Uganda’s most important birding areas with a specialist guide. Target species include the Shoebill, African Green-breasted Pitta, Grauer’s Broadbill, Fox’s Weaver, and more than 500 other birds across diverse ecosystems. Along the way, you’ll also encounter Uganda’s wildlife highlights such as elephants, giraffes, lions, and primates.
The journey takes you from Mabamba Swamp and Mabira Forest to Budongo, Murchison Falls, Semuliki, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Ruhija before winding down at Lake Mburo. Each day combines birding walks, game drives, boat trips, and cultural encounters, with comfortable budget-friendly accommodations keeping you close to nature. The safari ends with a walking safari in Lake Mburo before your return to Entebbe, offering a complete and rewarding birding adventure through Uganda.
18 Day Uganda Birding Tour: Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Shoebill Quest & Mabira Forest Edge
Morning pickup from Entebbe for a Shoebill quest at Mabamba Swamp, a top wetland birding site. Look for the elusive Shoebill in canoes.
Afternoon transfer to Mabira Forest edge (2-3 hrs). Key birds: Shoebill, African Jacana, African Openbill, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Duck, Goliath Heron, Long-tailed Cormorant.
Stay 2 nights at Griffin Falls Camp: Mabira Forest Camp
Day 2: Whole Day Birding in Mabira Forest
Full day dedicated to birding within Mabira Forest, a rich lowland forest. Explore trails for diverse forest species, including endemics.
Key birds: Nahan’s Francolin, Grey Longbill, Yellow Longbill, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Illadopsis species, Buff-throated Apalis.
Day 3: Transfer to Masindi & Budongo Forest Prep
Morning transfer to Masindi (4-5 hrs). Settle into your camp and prepare for Budongo. Afternoon offers local birding or relaxation.
Key birds: Eastern Plantain-eater, African Grey Hornbill, Woodland Kingfisher, Rufous-naped Lark, Grey-backed Fiscal, Lesser Striped Swallow, African Paradise Flycatcher.
Stay 2 nights at Murchison Falls Backpackers Lazy Camping: https://murchisonbackpackers.com/
Day 4: Full Day Birding at Budongo Central Forest Reserve - Royal Mile
Dedicated full day birding at Budongo’s Royal Mile. This renowned spot offers incredible forest birding, targeting sought-after species.
Key birds: Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Nahan’s Partridge, Grey Ground Thrush.
Day 5: Birding to Murchison Falls National Park
Birding en route through Busingiro Forest and Butiaba Escarpment, then transfer to Murchison Falls NP (2-3 hrs from Budongo). Diverse habitats promise new sightings.
Key birds: African Dwarf Kingfisher, Sabine’s Spinetail, Cassin’s Spinetail, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Western Nicator, White-headed Saw-wing, Black-billed Turaco.
Stay 2 nights at Red Chilli Safari Tent: https://redchillihideaway.com/
Day 6: Murchison Falls Game Drive & Boat Trip
Morning birding game drive in Murchison Falls NP, covering savannah and riverine areas. Afternoon boat trip to the bottom of the falls, excellent for waterbirds.
Key birds: Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle, Red-throated Bee-eater, Secretarybird, Saddle-billed Stork, African Skimmer.
Day 7: Travel to Fort Portal & Semuliki Prep
Birding transfer to Fort Portal (6-7 hrs). Enjoy roadside birding. Prepare for Semuliki National Park.
Key birds: Grey Crowned Crane, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Black-headed Gonolek, Double-toothed Barbet, Speckled Mousebird, Pied Crow.
Stay 3 nights at Koi Koi Cultural Village Hotel: https://www.koikoi.co.ug/ or Rwenzori View Guest House: https://www.kibaleforestnationalparkuganda.com/ruwenzori-view-guesthouse/
Day 8: Birding in Semuliki National Park
Full day birding in Semuliki, a prime location for Congo Basin biome birds. Target West African species at their eastern limits.
Key birds: Yellow-throated Nicator, Spot-breasted Ibis, African Piculet, Long-tailed Hawk, Nkulengu Rail, White-tailed Hornbill, Maxwell’s Black Weaver.
Day 9: African Green-breasted Pitta & Bigodi Swamp
Morning search for the elusive African Green-breasted Pitta. Afternoon nature walk at Bigodi Swamp, a community-run sanctuary rich in birds and primates.
Key birds: African Green-breasted Pitta (rare), Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Barbet, Ross’s Turaco, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat, Red-headed Bluebill.
Day 10: Forest Birding & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
Morning forest birding for any missed species. Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park (2-3 hrs). Evening birding in the park’s savannah and crater areas.
Key birds: African Finfoot, Pink-backed Pelican, African Skimmer, Martial Eagle, White-winged Warbler, African Wattled Lapwing, Broad-billed Roller.
Stay 2 nights at Bush Lodge lazy camping: https://naturelodgesuganda.com/the-bush-lodge/
Day 11: Queen Elizabeth Morning Game Drive & Kazinga Channel
Morning game drive in Queen Elizabeth NP for diverse birds and wildlife. Afternoon boat trip on Kazinga Channel, offering superb waterbird views.
Key birds: Grey-headed Kingfisher, African Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Pelicans, Saddle-billed Stork, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed Gonolek.
Day 12: Birding to Bwindi (Ishasha to Buhoma)
Birding drive through Ishasha area (tree-climbing lions) of Queen Elizabeth NP, then transfer to Buhoma Section of Bwindi NP (4-5 hrs).
Key birds: African Emerald Cuckoo, Ruwenzori Apalis, White-throated Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Black Bee-eater, African Broadbill, Handsome Francolin.
Stay 2 nights at Buhoma Community Camp: https://buhomacommunityrestcamp.com/ or Ruhondeza Campsite: https://www.bwindiimpenetrablenationalpark.com/accommodation/ruhondeza-lodge/
Day 13: Birding in Buhoma Section
Full day birding in Bwindi’s dense, montane rainforest (Buhoma). Seek out Albertine Rift Endemics.
Key birds: African Green Broadbill, Fraser’s Eagle-Owl, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-billed Turaco, Dusky Crimsonwing, Stripe-breasted Tit, Red-faced Woodland Warbler.
Day 14: Birding Transfer to Ruhija via the NECK
Birding transfer to Ruhija section of Bwindi via “The Neck,” a rich birding corridor. Altitude change brings new species.
Key birds: Mountain Illadopsis, Collared Apalis, Regal Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Yellow-eyed Black-flycatcher, Doherty’s Bushshrike, Dwarf Honeyguide.
Stay 2 nights at Ruhija Community Rest Camp: https://www.hoteles.com/en/ho1174746912/ruhija-community-rest-camp-bwindi-uganda/
Day 15: Birding in Ruhija Section
Full day birding in Ruhija, known for its high concentration of Albertine Rift Endemics and montane forest birds.
Key birds: Grauer’s Broadbill, African Green-breasted Pitta (another chance!), Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver.
Day 16: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & Evening Game Drive
Transfer while birding to Lake Mburo NP (4-5 hrs). This park offers acacia savannah and wetlands. Evening game drive for unique habitat birds.
Key birds: African Finfoot, African Wattled Lapwing, Black-bellied Bustard, Rufous-naped Lark, Green-capped Eremomela, Papyrus Gonolek, Red-faced Barbet.
Stay 2 nights at Eagles Nest Camp, Lazy Camping: https://naturelodgesuganda.com/eagles-nest/
Day 17: Morning Birding & Afternoon Boat Trip Lake Mburo
Morning birding in Lake Mburo, exploring diverse habitats on foot or by vehicle. Afternoon boat trip on Lake Mburo for excellent waterbird views.
Key birds: African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Skimmer, White-backed Night-Heron, Long-tailed Cisticola, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove.
Day 18: Walking Safari & Departure
Morning walking safari in Lake Mburo NP for unique birding and wildlife viewing. Afterwards, transfer to Entebbe airport (4-5 hrs) for your return flight, ending a memorable birding adventure.
Key birds: Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Fork-tailed Drongo, various weavers (plus mammals like Zebra, Impala, Topi).
