14 Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Safari

Arrival in Entebbe and Transfer to your Guest House or Hotel

Upon arrival at Entebbe airport, you will be greeted by an Encounter Africa Safari guide who will transfer you to your guest house for the night. Depending on your arrival time, optional activities include a boat excursion to Ngamba Island, a visit to the nearby Botanical Gardens, or a short birding tour at the Uganda Wildlife Education Center.

• Accommodation: Gorilla African Guest House
• Meals: All meals included

Birding at Mabamba Wetland

After an early breakfast, we’ll drive to Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, renowned for sightings of the rare and elusive Shoebill stork. You’ll also have the chance to see species like Goliath Herons, White-faced Whistling Ducks, and Blue-breasted Bee-eaters. Birding is done by canoe, allowing for close encounters with the rich avian life. Later, we’ll return to the guest house, birding along the way.

• Accommodation: Gorilla African Guest House
• Meals: All meals included

Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, we’ll check out and drive to Lake Mburo National Park, with birding stops along the way, including a visit to Kaku Swamp. Here, you might spot species such as Grey-crowned Cranes and Saddle-billed Storks. After lunch en route, we’ll continue to Lake Mburo for an overnight stay.

• Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock / Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Lake Mburo National Park

Start your day with a game drive and birding in Lake Mburo, home to over 350 bird species. You’ll then enjoy a picnic lunch by the lakeside before embarking on a boat cruise, where you may encounter species like the African Finfoot and Papyrus Gonolek. Return to the lodge while birding along the way.

• Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock / Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast, we’ll drive to the northern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, stopping along the way for birdwatching and scenic views of the rolling hills of southern Uganda. Enjoy lunch en route before arriving at Bwindi in the evening.

• Accommodation: Broadbill Tented Forest Camp or Bakiga Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Mubwindi Swamp

Today, we’ll spend the entire day birding at Mubwindi Swamp, a haven for some of the most elusive Rift Valley endemics, including the Grauer’s Broadbill and Regal Sunbird. The diverse species here promise an exciting day of birdwatching.

• Accommodation: Broadbill Tented Forest Camp or Bakiga Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Birding to Buhoma via "The Neck"

We’ll journey to the Buhoma section of Bwindi, birding through “The Neck,” a narrow stretch of forest that offers excellent birding opportunities. Here, you may spot Albertine Rift endemics that were missed earlier, as well as a variety of other bird species.

• Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Meals: All meals included

Birding on the Main Trail

Our birding adventure continues on the Main Trail in Buhoma, where we’ll search for species such as the Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo and Bar-tailed Trogon. The forest is also home to under-storey birds like the African Broadbill and mid-storey species like the Grauer’s Warbler.

• Accommodation: Buhoma Community Rest Camp
• Meals: All meals included

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Birding En Route

After breakfast, we will depart from Bwindi and drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park, birding along the way. This park is home to over 600 bird species, making it one of the best birding destinations in Uganda. The journey will take us through the scenic Ishasha sector, known for its tree-climbing lions. Along the way, we’ll have opportunities to spot various bird species and other wildlife.

• Accommodation: Enganzi Game Lodge or Bush Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Birding and Wildlife Viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Today, we’ll embark on a full day of birding and wildlife viewing in Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the morning, we’ll explore the Kasenyi plains, a hotspot for birding. Key species to look out for include the Black-bellied Bustard, Harlequin Quail, Martial Eagle, African Crake, Temminck’s Courser, and the African Wattled Lapwing. After lunch, we’ll take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where we can spot water birds such as the African Skimmer, Great White Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, and the Malachite Kingfisher, along with hippos, elephants, and buffaloes along the shores.

• Accommodation: Enganzi Game Lodge or Bush Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Maramagambo Forest and Transfer to Kibale National Park

After an early breakfast, we’ll head to Maramagambo Forest, a haven for birders. Here, we’ll look for species such as the White-naped Pigeon, African Finfoot, Forest Flycatcher, and the Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat. After birding in the forest, we’ll proceed to Kibale National Park, known for its rich birdlife and primate population. The drive will take us through the picturesque crater lakes region.

• Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp or Primate Lodge Kibale
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland

Today, we will explore Kibale National Park, one of the best birding sites in Uganda, with over 370 bird species. We’ll walk along the forest trails in search of species such as the Green-breasted Pitta, African Pitta, Black-capped Apalis, and the Blue-headed Sunbird. In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, where we can spot the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, and the White-spotted Flufftail among others.

• Accommodation: Kibale Forest Camp or Primate Lodge Kibale
• Meals: All meals included

Birding to Entebbe

After breakfast, we will embark on our journey back to Entebbe, birding along the way. We’ll make several stops to spot various bird species in the different habitats we pass through. Arriving in Entebbe in the late afternoon, we’ll have some time to relax at the hotel.

• Accommodation: Gorilla African Guest House
• Meals: All meals included

Departure

Depending on your flight time, you may have the option to visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or the Uganda Wildlife Education Center for some last-minute birding before your transfer to the airport for your departure.