20 Day Ultimate Primates Birding Game and Cultural 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 will drive to Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria, one of the prime spots for viewing the rare Shoebill stork. Bird species to look out for include Goliath Herons, White-faced Whistling Duck, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, and many more. A canoe trip through the swamp will enhance our birding experience. Return to the guest house in the evening while birding en route.

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

Drive to Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, check out and drive to Lake Mburo National Park, birding along the way with stops at the Equator and Kaku Swamp. Expect to see species like Black Kite, Common and Purple Swamphen, and various geese. Arrive at Lake Mburo National Park for an overnight stay.

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

Birding and Boat Cruise at Lake Mburo

Enjoy a game drive and birding in Lake Mburo National Park, home to over 350 bird species. Look for Spot-flanked Barbets, Snake-eagles, and more. After a picnic lunch, take a boat cruise on Lake Mburo to spot water birds and other wildlife. Return to the lodge while birding on the way.

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

Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, with birding stops along the scenic route through southern Uganda. Arrive in Bwindi in the evening.

• Accommodation: Rushaga Gorilla Havens Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Gorilla Tracking and Transfer to Ruhija

Early morning transfer to Ruhija for gorilla tracking. The trek duration varies, and after observing the gorillas, return to the park headquarters for a certificate. Transfer to Ruhija sector for overnight stay.

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

Birding in Mubwindi Swamp

Birding at Mubwindi Swamp, known for elusive rift endemics like Grauer’s Broadbill and Regal Sunbird. Expect to see a range of species including Black Goshawk, African Emerald Cuckoo, and many more. Return to the lodge for dinner.

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

Birding to Buhoma via “The Neck”

Travel to Buhoma through “The Neck,” an area known for excellent forest birding. Look for Albertine Rift endemics like Handsome Francolin and Rwenzori Nightjar, among others. Return to Buhoma Community Rest Camp for the night.

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

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Birding En Route

In the morning, embark on a scenic drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Along the way, enjoy opportunities for birdwatching. Upon arrival, check in at your lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, venture on a game drive through the Kasenyi plains, where you can search for a variety of savannah wildlife, including buffaloes, antelopes, elephants, and possibly lions or leopards. Bird enthusiasts will have the chance to spot species such as the Red-chested, Diederik, and Klaas’s Cuckoo, Short-toed, Black-chested and Brown Snake-eagles, and the African White-backed Vulture, among others.

• Accommodation: Elephant Hab / Buffalo Resort
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Boat Cruise

Start your day early with breakfast before heading out for a birding adventure in the Kasenyi plains. Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts over 615 recorded bird species, making it one of the richest birding locations globally. Look out for the Red-chested Cuckoo, Black-chested Snake-eagle, African Marsh Harrier, and many more. After a morning of birding, enjoy a picnic lunch at Mweya Peninsula before embarking on a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel. This provides a unique perspective on wildlife and birdlife. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Elephant Hab / Buffalo Resort
• Meals: All meals included

Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park with Birding at Maramagambo Forest

Following breakfast, check out of the lodge and drive to Maramagambo Forest for a birding walk. Expect to encounter species such as the Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dusky Flycatcher, and Red-headed Bluebill, as well as primates like the Black and White Colobus monkey. After the walk, continue your journey to Kibale Forest National Park, arriving in the evening to check into your lodge for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Kibale National Park and Bigodi Wetland

Begin your day with an early breakfast before setting out to explore Kibale Forest, home to over 300 bird species. Look for the Green-breasted Pitta, Red-chested Owlet, and various woodpeckers. After returning to the lodge for lunch, head to Bigodi Swamp for an afternoon birding walk. Expect to see species such as the Buff-spotted Woodpecker and Great Blue Turaco. Return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Guest House
• Meals: All meals included

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

After breakfast, check out and begin your drive to Murchison Falls National Park, passing through scenic areas like Fort Portal and the tea plantations. Enjoy birding stops along the way. Arrive at your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Kabalega Wilderness Camp
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in the Delta Area of Murchison Falls National Park

After an early breakfast, cross the Nile by ferry to the northern sector of Murchison Falls National Park. Spend the day birding and game driving towards the Delta, searching for species like the Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Shoebill, and various weavers. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight.

• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Kabalega Wilderness Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Nile Delta and Top of the Falls

After breakfast, we will take a boat trip along the Nile, birding towards the Delta. Expect to see the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, White-rumped Canary, Carmine Bee-eater, Sacred Ibis, Pied Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, Saddle-billed Stork, Red-necked Falcon, Osprey, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Vinaceous Dove, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Shoebill, Fulvous Whistling Duck, White-crested Turaco, Silver Bird, Grosbeak Weaver, Goliath Heron, and Purple Heron among others. Additionally, we might encounter a variety of mammals, including Elephants, Buffaloes, Hartbeests, Giraffes, Kob, Oribis, Hyenas, Lions, and Leopards.

After lunch at the lodge, we will enjoy a boat cruise upstream to the base of Murchison Falls. We will return to the lodge in the evening for dinner and an overnight stay.

• Accommodation: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Kabalega Wilderness Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Drive to Kidepo Valley National Park

Following breakfast, we will drive to Kidepo Valley National Park, located in northeastern Uganda. After checking in to Kidepo Savannah Lodge, you can relax and prepare for an afternoon game drive. During the drive, we will look for birds such as the Kori Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretary Bird, Ostrich, Carmine Bee-eater, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Jackson’s Hornbill, and other species. Kidepo Valley National Park, once voted the best savannah park in Africa, is renowned for its diverse birdlife and is one of the best places to see cheetahs. The park also boasts large prides of lions and other wildlife including elephants, giraffes, and buffaloes.

• Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Birding in Budongo Forest

On this day, you will spend the morning and afternoon on game drives across the vast savannah plains of Kidepo Valley National Park. This park is renowned for its diverse range of wildlife, including some species not found in other Ugandan parks. We may see distinctive carnivores such as the Hunting Dog, Bat-eared Fox, Cheetah, Striped Hyena, Caracal, and Aardwolf. Among the less common ungulates are the Greater Kudu, Lesser Kudu, Roan Antelope, Chandler’s Mountain Reedbuck, Beisa Oryx, Klipspringer, and Bright’s Gazelle. Other notable wildlife includes elephants, oribis, Burchell’s Zebras, Jackson’s Hartebeests, Bush Pigs, Bohor Reed Buck, Warthogs, Rothschild’s Giraffes, Defassa Waterbucks, Cape Buffaloes, Elands, Bush Duikers, and Bushbucks. The park is also home to five primate species, including the endemic Kavirondo Bush Baby. Carnivores include lions, side-striped jackals, leopards, black-backed jackals, various small cats, and spotted hyenas.

• Accommodation: Kidepo Savannah Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Drive to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Birding En-Route

After breakfast, we will drive to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in eastern Uganda, known as a birder’s paradise with over 300 bird species. After checking in at UWA Bandas, we will relax before heading out for an afternoon game drive. During this drive, we will look for birds including the Kori Bustard, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretary Bird, Ostrich, Carmine Bee-eater, Yellow-billed Hornbill, Jackson’s Hornbill, and more.

• Accommodation: UWA Bandas
• Meals: All meals included

Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Sipi Falls

After breakfast, we will embark on a morning game drive in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve to catch any birds we may have missed. We will then transfer to Sipi Falls, located near Mount Elgon. After checking in at Sipi River Lodge, you can relax and enjoy the lodge’s amenities or take a stroll around the area.

• Accommodation: Sipi River Lodge
• Meals: All meals included

Visit Sipi Falls and Drive to Entebbe

After breakfast, we will visit Sipi Falls, a series of three beautiful waterfalls on the Sipi River. We will explore the falls and surrounding areas, enjoying the scenic beauty and local flora and fauna. In the afternoon, we will drive back to Entebbe. Upon arrival, we will check in at a hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.