13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda
Embarking on a 13-day Unique birding safari in Uganda is an adventure that offers an unparalleled immersion into the world of avian wonders. Uganda, often referred to as the “Pearl of Africa,” is a haven for bird enthusiasts, boasting over 1,000 bird species, some of which are endemic to the region. This itinerary offers a comprehensive experience, combining the thrill of bird watching with the excitement of discovering primates and other wildlife in their natural habitats.
This trip takes you through top birding habitats in Uganda which harbour unique, rare, threatened, endangered, near-threatened and vulnerable species of birds. The trip goes through Mabamba Swamps, Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale National Park and Semuliki National Park.
Outlined Itinerary of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Day 2: Birding Mabamba Wetlands
Day 3: Birding Lake Mburo National Park (boat cruise)
Day 4: Birding Lake Mburo National Park, Savannah
Day 5: Birding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Ruhija
Day 6: Birding to Mubwindi Swamp
Day 7: Birding to Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable National Park—Optional Gorilla Trekking
Day 8: Birding Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha and boat cruise at Kazinga Channel)
Day 9: Birding Northern Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasenyi)
Day 10: Birding Kibale National Park
Day 11: Birding to Semuliki National Park
Day 12: Return to Entebbe
Day 13: Departure
Detailed Itinerary of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Birding in Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be greeted by the vibrant calls of the African morning. Your guide will provide a brief orientation, setting the stage for the days ahead. For early arrivals, we shall start by birding the green and lush Entebbe Botanical Garden which hosts a variety of forest, water and urban bird species such as Giant, Woodland, Pied and Pygmy Kingfishers, Fan-tailed Widow Bird, Great Reed Warbler, Red-chested, Klaas’s, and Diederik Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Ross’s and Great Blue Turaco, Bat hawk, Green Hylia, Grey Woodpecker among others. You shall then be transferred to Papyrus Guest House for dinner and accommodation.
Day 2: Birding Mabamba Wetlands
After early morning breakfast on this day of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda, the safari kicks off with a visit to the Mabamba Wetlands, a renowned habitat for the elusive Shoebill Stork. Papyrus canoes glide through the channels, offering close encounters with this prehistoric bird and other species like the Papyrus Gonolek and the White-winged Warbler, Northern Brown-throated and Yellow-backed Weaver, Blue-headed Coucal, African and Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, African Water Rail, African Water Flycatcher, African Marsh Harrier, Yellow-billed Duck, Black Crake, Goliath Heron, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Fan-tailed Widowbird, African Pied Wagtail, Rufous-bellied and Purple Heron, among others. We shall transfer to Lake Mburo National Park at Eagle’s Nest Lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 3: Birding Lake Mburo National Park (boat cruise)
Next on the agenda of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda, the journey takes you to Lake Mburo National Park, a gem with acacia-dotted savannas and rich birdlife. We shall start with a morning boat cruise on the lake. Here, you’ll search for the African Finfoot, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Giant Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, White-backed Night Heron and Rufous-bellied Heron. You will also embark on a late evening game drive at Lake Mburo National Park while birding. Keep an eye out for Antelopes, Zebras, Giraffes and warthogs. You will then be transferred back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 4: Birding Lake Mburo National Park Savannah
After breakfast, you will embark on a foot safari or nature walk looking out for Red-faced Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Coqui Francolin, Black-bellied Bustard, White-headed Vulture, Lilac-breasted Roller, Bare-faced Go-away Bird, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Yellow-bellied Apalis, Ugandan Spotted Woodpecker, Green-backed Woodpecker, Yellow-billed ox pecker, Brown-chested Plover and African Wattled Plover among others. After lunch, we shall embark on an afternoon game drive along the rewarding Zebra track looking out for the Black-bellied Bustard, African Wattled Lapwing and Temminck’s Courser. We will then transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park at Gorilla Mist Camp Lodge for check-in, dinner and accommodation in south-western Uganda.
Day 5: Birding Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Ruhija
On this day of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda, the mist-covered hills of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest await, home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas and a hotspot for Albertine Rift endemics. After breakfast, we will transfer to the impenetrable forest in Ruhija, where birding trails lead to species like the Dusky Crimsonwing, Dusky Twinspot, Handsome Spurfowl, Black Bee-eater, Strip-breasted Tit, Dusky Turtle Dove, Mountain Wagtail, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Ayre’s Hawk Eagle, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Buzzard, Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbird, Rwenzori Apalis, Equatorial Akalat, Eastern Mountain Greenbul, Kakamega Babbler, Archer’s Robin-chat, Montane Oriole, and Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, among others.
Day 6: Birding to Mubwindi Swamp
Today after breakfast, we will bird to the popular Mubwindi swamp with our packed lunch. While here, keep an eye out for the elusive African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Swamp Warbler, Black-billed Turaco, Western Green Tinkerbird, Mountain Greenbul, Fine-banded Woodpecker, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Rwenzori Batis, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Collared Apalis, Strip-Breasted Tit, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Regal and Blue-headed Sunbird among others. After this strenuous but rewarding activity, you shall be transferred back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 7: Birding to Buhoma Bwindi Impenetrable National Park- Optional Gorilla Trekking
After early morning breakfast, we will start by birding to Buhoma which is the lower side of the park. While in the Buhoma sector of the park. For those opting birdwatching should look out for the Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, African Green Broadbill, White-bellied Robin-chat, Black Bee-eater, Kivu Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Blue-headed, Blue-throated and Little Green Sunbirds among others. Those Opting for gorilla trekking will be briefed early morning at the park headquarters about the do’s and don’ts of gorilla trekking, advised on what to carry and hired porters. You are then assigned a ranger guide. You will then start tracking the gorillas and shall only spend one hour with them on finding them.
We will then transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Plains which is a famous home of tree-climbing lions. You will be transferred to Buffalo Safari Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 8: Birding Queen Elizabeth National Park (Ishasha and boat cruise at Kazinga Channel)
On this eighth day of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda, Queen Elizabeth National Park offers a diverse palette of habitats, from savanna to wetlands. After breakfast, we shall embark on a game drive in the Ishasha part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, looking out for wildlife species like tree-climbing lions, and antelopes, as well as various bird species such as Marsh Tchargra, White-headed Barbet, Brubru, Common Scimitar bill, Orange-breasted Bush shrike, and the Twilling Cisticola, among others. After lunch, we will embark on a boat cruise at the Kazinga channel. The Kazinga Channel is a birding paradise, with the chance to spot the African Skimmer, Pink-backed Pelican, Great White Pelican, White-winged Tern, Water Thick Knee, Pied Kingfisher and a variety of raptors such as the Goliath Heron. You will be transferred back to your lodge for dinner and accommodation.
Day 9: Birding Northern Queen Elizabeth National Park (Kasenyi)
After breakfast, we will transfer to Kasenyi which is the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park looking out for different wildlife species such as buffaloes, hyenas, Zebras, giraffes, elephants, cheetahs, lions, leopards and various bird species such as Rufous-necked Lark, Red-capped Lark, Black-bellied Bustard, Spot-flanked Barbet, Brown-snake Eagle, Martial Eagle and Lappet-faced Vulture among others. We will transfer to Kibale National Park in the evening. You will transfer to Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10: Birding Kibale National Park
After breakfast, we shall transfer to the dense Kibale Forest. In Kibale, the dense forest canopy resonates with the calls of Green-breasted Pitta and other forest specialists such as White-napped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Sooty Flycatchers, Yellow-billed, Spotted and Hairy Spotted Barbet. Chimpanzee tracking adds an exhilarating dimension to the birding experience. You will also get involved in a chimpanzee tracking experience in the dense Kibale Forest. This activity involves tracking the location of the chimpanzee and spending one hour with them photographing, and observing their feeding and social behaviours. After these activities, you will be transferred back to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 11: Birding to Semuliki National Park
After early morning breakfast on this day of the 13-day Unique Birding Safari in Uganda, we will transfer to Semuliki National Park. Semuliki’s lowland forests are a continuation of the Congo Basin, providing a unique birding experience with species like the Congo Serpent Eagle, the Long-tailed Hawk, during the day on very lucky days we find the Bate’s Nightjar, the Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Black-winged Oriole, Orange-tufted Sunbird, Rufous-sided Broadbill, Black-throated Cuckoo, Blue-billed Malimbe, Spot-breasted Ibis, Nkulengu Rail, Yellow-throated and Western Nicator, Red-chested Owlet, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Chattering Yellowbill, White-bellied Kingfisher, Red-ramped Tinkerbird, Lyre-tailed and Zenker’s Honeyguides, African Piculet, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, the striking Hartlaub’s Duck, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Pale-fronted Nigrita, Chestnut-breasted Nigrita and White-thighed Hornbill among others. You will be transferred to the Chimpanzee Forest Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 12: Return to Entebbe
A leisurely drive back to Entebbe with stops for birding en route allows for reflection on the incredible diversity encountered. Dinner and overnight at Papyrus Guest House
Day 13: Departure
Your safari concludes with a transfer to the airport, carrying memories of the sights and sounds of Uganda’s avian marvels.
This itinerary offers a blend of birding with cultural insights and wildlife viewing, ensuring that each day is filled with discovery and wonder. The accommodations are carefully selected to enhance the experience, providing comfort and proximity to the birding sites. Pre-booking is essential, especially for gorilla and chimpanzee tracking permits, to secure your place in this once-in-a-lifetime journey. For those with a passion for birds and nature, a 13-day unique birding safari in Uganda is not just a trip; it’s a transformative journey that connects you with the rhythms of the wild and the intricate beauty of the avian world.