20 day African Birding Safari passes through national parks, Important Bird Areas, most of Uganda's, diverse bird habitats, and bird species

20 day African Birding Safari

April 15, 2024
News Journeys Uganda

20 day African Birding Safari passes through national parks, Important Bird Areas, most of Uganda’s, diverse bird habitats, and bird species. The journey is led by Journeys Uganda experts, passionate and energetic guides. This trip will take you through Mabira Forest, Kaniyo Pabid, Kibale Forest, Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Mubwindi Swamp and Ruhija in Bwindi, Lake Mburo National Park, Mabamba Wetland, and Semuliki National Park one of the best national parks in Uganda. The route is built around some of the rarest and most specialised birds, such as the prehistoric Shoebill Stork, the Green-breasted Pitta and Kingfishers among others. Although the focus of our trip is on a few exceptional birds, the amazing thing about it is that we encounter a ton of more widely distributed species along the route. Expect a rewarding birding experience as you bird in the 5 diverse national parks of Uganda.

Safari Highlights of the 20 day African Birding Safari

Day 1: Arrival, Meet and greet, Birding Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Day 2: Birding to Mabira Forest

Day 3: Birding to Masindi

Day 4: Birding to Kaniyo Pabid for the Puvel’s Illadopsis

Day 5: Birding to the Royal Mile and Busingiro

Day 6: Birding to Kibale

Day 7: Whole day birding in the forest

Day 8: Birding at Semliki Wildlife Reserve

Day 9: Birding to Semliki National Park

Day 10: Birding to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 11: Whole day Birding and game viewing Queen Elizabeth National Park

Day 12: Birding to Bwindi

Day 13 & 14: Birding or Gorilla Tracking

Day 15: Birding to Ruhija

Day 16 Birding Ruhija

Day 17 Birding to Lake Mburo National Park

Day 18: More birding in the park along the Kigambira loop

Day 19: Birding to Mabamba

Day 20: Departure

Detailed Itinerary of the 20 day African Birding Safari

Day 1: Arrival, Meet and greet, Birding Entebbe Botanical Gardens

A welcome birding experience awaits early arrivals at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, where they can spot the Outstanding, African Harrier Hawk, Lizard Buzzard, Red-chested, Mariqua, Green-throated, Scarlet-chested, Collared, Bronze, Olive and Olive-bellied Sunbird, Pink-backed Pelican, Vieillot’s Black, the almost endemic Orange Weaver, Golden Backed, Village, Slender-billed, Northern-brown Throated, Grosbeak, Black-necked and Black-headed Weaver, African Grey Parrot, Yellow-billed and African Open-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Broad-billed Roller, African Jacana, Red-chested, Klaas’s, African Emerald, Levaillant’s and Diederik Cuckoos, Bat Hawk. The highly desired Giant Kingfisher, the Yellow-billed Duck, African Green Pigeon, the Pied, African Pygmy and the Malachite Kingfisher, Tambourine and Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, the seasonal Eurasian Hobby, and the Woodland Kingfisher, Red-billed Firefinch, Black Crake, Congo (African) Pied and Crowned Hornbill, Wood, Common and Green Sandpiper, Black-and-white Casqued, Little Stint, Ruff, Striated Heron, Gull-billed Tern, Green Crombec, Red-headed Lovebird, Meyer’s Parrot, Splendid Glossy Starling and the Little Greenbul, among others. Dinner and Accommodation at Jet Villas

Day 2: Birding to Mabira Forest

After breakfast in the morning, head to the Mabira Forest to go birdwatching on our 20 day African Birding Safari. In central Uganda, it is the largest remaining tropical rainforest. Mabira is home to around 300 bird species, making it one of Uganda’s most significant ornithological sites. We spend the entire day birdwatching, keeping an eye out for species such as Yellow-browed and Olive-green Camaroptera, Red-headed Bluebill, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Tit Hylia, Grey and Yellow Longbill, the seasonal African Pitta, Sooty Flycatcher, Fire-crested Allethe, Shining-blue Kingfisher, Black-billed Turaco, Brown-eared, Golden-crowned and Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Nahan’s Partridge (Francolin), Forest Wood Hoopoe, Purple-throated Cuckoo-shrike, Red-tailed and Yellow-eyed Bristlebill and many more. Following your birdwatching excursion, you will head to Rain Forest Lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 3: Birding to Masindi

After breakfast, make your way to Masindi. We will birdwatch en route today while we travel, carrying a picnic lunch and keeping an eye out for birds of grassland and open woods. Anticipate seeing a variety of species, including Grassland (African) Moustached Warbler, Lesser and Greater Blue-eared Starling, White Crested Turaco, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, White-headed Barbet, African-black-headed Oriole, Dark-chanting Goshawk, Grey-headed kingfishers are always perched on the electric wires along the way, Western-banded Snake-Eagle, Brwon Twinspot, Black-bellied Firefinch, beautiful and Pygmy Sunbird, the mashes after Luwero are good for the Marsh Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Yellow-shouldered and the newly split Yellow-mantled Widowbird, Rufous-bellied Heron, Saddle-billed Stork, Grey Crowned Crane, African Open-billed Stork, Woolly-necked Stork and sometimes the Shoebills, White-headed Saw-wing, Angola Swallow and Red-rumped Swallow, Black-headed Gonolek and many others. Dinner and lodging at Masindi or Court View Hotel

Day 4: Birding to Kaniyo Pabid for the Puvel’s Illadopsis

After breakfast, we head out early to drive to the southern section of Murchison Falls, where we go birdwatching in the forest. Among the many forest species we hope to see are Puvel’s Illadopsis, Narina Trogon, Fire Crested Allethe, Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Xavier’s, Plain and Little Greenbul, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Grey and Yellow Longbill, Collard, Olive, Olive Bellied and Little-green Sunbird, Fraser’s (Rufous) Flycatcher Thrush, Western Crested Guineafowl, Yellow-billed Barbet, Forest Robin, African Emerald Cuckoo, Chocolate-backed and Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Western Black-headed Oriole and many more forest species. After, we make our way back to Hornbill Wilderness Lodge for Dinner and Overnight.

Day 5: Birding to the Royal Mile and Busingiro  on our 20 day African Birding Safari

After breakfast, we commence our journey to our designated birding spot. En route, we will make several stops for birdwatching, where we will be on the lookout for grassland species such as Brown Twinspot, Cabanis’s Bunting, African (Dark-capped) Yellow Warbler, Red-collared Widowbird, Zebra and Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Brown Twinspot, Singing and Whistling Cisticola, Brown babbler, Black Bishop, Grassland Moustached Warbler and White-thighed Hornbill. Finally, we will conclude our birding journey at the Royal Mile. Rare Ituri species, such as the African Pygmy, Dwarf and Chocolate-backed Kingfishers, Ituri Batis, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Chestnut Capped Flycatcher, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Blue-breasted Kingfishers, are consistently seen during birdwatching excursions here. Other species include the Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spinetail, Yellow-spotted, Yellow Billed, and Grey-headed (Throated) Barbet, Blue-throated Roller, Narina Trogon, Nahan’s Partridge, White-spotted Flufftail as well as the Western Black-headed Oriole and Purple-headed Starling. The two locations for this birdwatching will be the Royal Mile and Busingiro Eco-tourism site—dinner and Overnight at Masindi Hotel or New Court View.

Day 6: Birding to Kibale

Due to the lengthy travel, we will only be birding in a few locations today. Among our key highlights will be the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo and Joyful Greenbul. We will arrive in the late evening and check into Primate Lodge or the Chimpanzee Forest Lodge.

Day 7: Whole day birding in the Kibale forest

After breakfast, get up early and spend the entire day birding in the Kibale forest, looking for unique bird species like the Green-breasted Pitta which is very rare in other national parks. We proceed to birdwatching at the Kihingamy Wetland in the afternoon. Anticipate seeing a variety of birds, including the Masked Apalis, Petit’s Cuckoo-shrike, Joyful Greenbul, African Pitta, Black and White Casqued Hornbill, African Thrush, and White-Headed Wood Hoopoe. Dinner and accommodation at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge.

Day 8: Birding to Semliki Wildlife Reserve 

After eating breakfast, make your way to Semliki National Park on our 20 day African Birding Safari. Drive to Semliki Safari Lodge for lunch, we go on a game drive and birding excursion in the evening will offer the opportunity to witness nocturnal species such as African Scops Owls, Pearl-spotted Owlets, Slender-tailed, Pennant-winged, and White-tailed nightjars—dinner and Overnight at Semliki Safari Lodge.

Day 9: Birding to Semliki National Park

Eat breakfast early in the morning and spend the rest of the day birding. One of the best places in Uganda to go birding is this area because it is home to rare species of West African forest birds that are only found in East Africa. It offers one of the most rewarding birding experiences among Uganda national parks. Some of the bird species that can be seen here include the Lyre-tailed Honey Guide, Red Billed, Black Dwarf, Piping, Black Wattled Casqued and White Crested Hornbills, Grey-crowned, Pale Fronted and Chestnut Bellied Negrofinch, Red-bellied, Blue-billed, Crested and Red Headed Malimbe, Yellow Throated Nicator, Fiery Breasted Bush-shrike, African Piculet, Maxwell’s weaver, Black Throated Coucal, Yellow Throated Cuckoo, Western Bronze Napped and Olive Pigeon, Red-tailed and Green Tailed Bristle bill, Eastern Bearded, Red Tailed, and Xavier’s Greenbul, Palm Swamp Bulbul, and the Leaf Love, among other species. Returning to the lodge for dinner and Accommodation in Fort Portal

Day 10: Birding to Queen Elizabeth National Park

After eating breakfast, transfer to Queen Elizabeth Park. With 612 bird species, this is the largest list of any national park in Africa, if not the world. It is the second-largest national park in Uganda. The park is home to numerous species of northern European and trans-African migrants, as well as a diversity of woodland, forest, and water birds. We will be spending the night at either Pumba Safari Cottages or Buffalo Safari Lodge.

Day 11: Whole day Birding and game viewing Queen Elizabeth National Park

This park offers one of the most rewarding experiences of all national parks in Uganda when birding.While birdwatching, take an early morning drive around the Kasenyi area in search of game. Verreaux’s Eagle Owls are usually visible early in the day. Other bird species that can be seen on this birding day include the African Harrier Hawk, Bateleur, Brown, Black-chested, Short-Toed, and Brown-snake Eagles, Martial and Tawny Eagles, Lizard Buzzards, Grey Kestrels, Flappet, Rufous-napped and White-tailed Lark, Crowned, Senegal, and African Wattled Plovers, Harlequin Quail, and Common Buttonquail. We take a launch cruise along the Kazinga channel in the afternoon, which links Lakes George and Edward. This channel provides opportunities for viewing a variety of birds, including the African Spoonbill, Lesser Flamingo, African Jacana, African Open-billed Stork, African Fish Eagle, Grey Headed, Malachite, and pied Kingfisher, as well as Great White and Pink-backed pelicans, Goliath and Grey Heron. Dinner and overnight at Pumba Safari Cottages.

Day 12: Birding to Bwindi

After breakfast, transfer to the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest while birding along the way. This is one of the best birding destinations in Uganda with unique bird species rare in other national parks. We have the opportunity to travel through the Ishasha sector today on our 20 day African Birding Safari, where we may see tree-climbing lions and other wildlife. We can also keep an eye out for grassland birds, such as larks, pipits, African Cuckoo Hawks, Black Cuckoos, White-Winged Tits, Ovambo Sparrow Hawks, and others. Finally, we travel to Buhoma, where we will have dinner and spend the night at either the Buhoma Haven Lodge.

Day 13 & 14: Birding or Gorilla Tracking

We have a full day of optional gorilla tracking or birding in the Bwindi Buhoma area’s forest today. When birdwatching, we keep an eye out for a variety of species, including; African Broadbill, Many-coloured and Bocage’s Bush-shrike, Waller’s, Stuhlmann’s, Jameson’s Antpecker, Red-throated Allethe, Narrow-tailed Starlings, Red-faced Woodland Black-faced Rufous and Neumann’s Warblers, Brown, Scaly-breasted and Mountain Illadopsis, White-headed Wood Hoopoe, Bar-tailed Trogon, Olive, Northern-double Collared, Little-green, Green, Green-throated, Bronze and Grey-headed Sunbirds. Dinner and lodging at Ride 4 A Woman or Buhoma Haven Lodge.

Day 15: Birding to Ruhija

Today we transfer to the Ruhija birding route through the neck. Expect to see different bird species such as the Western-bronze Napped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, Honey-guide Greenbul, Ansorge’s Greenbul, Doherty’s Bush-shrike and the Yellow-billed Barbet among others—dinner and overnight at Gorilla Mist Camp.

Day 16: Birding Ruhija

After breakfast, we head out birding in search of the following bird species: African Green-Broadbill, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-throated Apalis, Collared Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Rwenzori Batis, Olive, Elliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpecker, African Green-Broadbill, Mountain, Yellow whiskered and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird. Back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at Gorilla Mist Camp.

Day 17:Birding to Lake Mburo National Park

After an early Breakfast, we shall transfer to Lake Mburo National Park one of the most rewarding of national parks in Uganda when birding. Keep an eye out for different bird species along the way. We shall reach the park in the Afternoon . Dinner and Overnight at Rwakobo

Day 18: More birding in the park along the Kigambira loop

Have breakfast early to spend more time in the park birdwatching along the Kigambira Loop, which passes through a range of productive habitats. This park has some unique bird species and species in other national parks in Uganda. African fish, Tawny, Steppe, and African Hawk Eagles, African Marsh Harriers, Shikra, Goshawks, Augur Buzzards, and many other birds can be expected. In the afternoon, retire for a boat excursion on Lake Mburo to observe many water bird species, including African finfoot, Papyrus gonolek, Malachite Kingfishers, and Giant Kingfishers. After birding on the 19th, we travel to Kampala for dinner and an overnight stay at Papyrus Guest House.

Day 19: Birding to Mabamba

After eating a hearty breakfast and packing your lunch, head to the Mabamba Wetlands to go birding. You’ll be paddling through the swamp in a canoe while you look for birds, including the majestic Shoebill, as well as other species like Long-tailed Cormorant, Squacco Heron, Yellow-billed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Long-toed Plover, Blue-headed Coucal, and Blue-breasted Bee-eater. Make your way back to Kampala by birding your way, keeping an eye out for African open-billed storks, African green pigeons, Ross’s turaco, and Great Blues. Afterwards, return to our Lodge for dinner and an overnight stay. This swamp offers unique and rewarding birding experiences slightly different from the birding experience in national parks.

Day 20: Departure

You will transferred to the Airport for departure and it will mark the end of our 20 day African Birding Safari.

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