14 Days Birding and Wildlife Safari

Begin with a pre dawn departure at around five in the morning and transfer to Mabamba Swamp, Uganda’s most reliable location for spotting the rare and prehistoric Shoebill stork, where you will explore this Ramsar wetland with a knowledgeable local guide while gliding quietly through narrow papyrus channels in a traditional dugout canoe, keeping an eye out for a wide variety of birdlife including Blue Swallow, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, and White winged Warbler, and with a high chance of success you will enjoy the special moment of encountering the Shoebill in its natural habitat before returning for a well deserved breakfast. In the afternoon, continue birding at Entebbe Botanical Gardens along the shores of Lake Victoria, walking through shaded trails and lakeside areas that host over one hundred and fifty recorded species while searching for highlights such as the African Grey Parrot, Great Blue Turaco, Palm nut Vulture, Black and white Casqued Hornbill, and the vibrant Malachite Kingfisher, before returning to your lodge in Entebbe for dinner and overnight, bringing the day to a rewarding close.

After breakfast, depart and drive west towards Lake Mburo National Park, the only park in Uganda where you can see zebras, elands, and impalas in the same landscape, enjoying scenic views along the way as you pass through rolling countryside and local towns. Make a stop at the Equator in Kayabwe for the classic water experiment and memorable photos while standing between the northern and southern hemispheres. Continue the journey with a well prepared lunch stop in Mbarara before heading into the park. Arrive in the afternoon and set out for an evening birding game drive across the savannah, searching for species such as the Bare faced Go away bird, the colorful Lilac breasted Roller, Red necked Spurfowl, Emerald spotted Wood Dove, and the striking Brown Snake Eagle as the day cools down. After the drive, proceed to your lodge located inside the park, check in, and settle in for dinner and overnight surrounded by the sounds of the wild.

Start the day early with a guided birding walk along the lake shore, searching for the elusive African Finfoot, one of the most sought after sightings in Uganda and best found in the calm waters and vegetation of Lake Mburo. After the walk, return to the lodge for breakfast before heading out for a three hour boat safari on Lake Mburo, where you will spot a variety of water birds including African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Saddle billed Stork, Goliath Heron, and the rare African Spoonbill, all set against the peaceful lake scenery. In the afternoon, continue birding in the acacia woodland areas of the park, looking out for species such as Crested Barbet, Yellow breasted Apalis, Black backed Puffback, and the striking Coqui Francolin as you explore this unique habitat. For those interested, an optional night game drive offers the chance to see nocturnal species including the remarkable Pennant winged Nightjar before returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight in Lake Mburo.

Begin the day with a morning birding session around the salt lick area, a productive habitat where you search for species such as Brown chested Lapwing, Long toed Lapwing, and African Wattled Lapwing while enjoying the open savannah surroundings. Afterward, depart and drive south towards Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its rich biodiversity, with a lunch stop in Mbarara where you may also see the famous Ankole long horned cattle grazing across the landscape. Continue the journey into the highlands and arrive at the Ruhija sector of Bwindi in the late afternoon, sitting at an elevation of about two thousand three hundred meters and known as one of the best areas for endemic bird species. Take a gentle birding walk along the forest edge to help acclimatize to the altitude, watching for species such as Bar tailed Trogon, Black faced Rufous Warbler, Mountain Yellow Warbler, and the striking Rwenzori Turaco before settling into your lodge for dinner and overnight in Bwindi.

Begin the day with an early breakfast at your lodge before transferring to the briefing point at Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where you will receive a mandatory ranger briefing on safety and trekking protocols, after which you set off into the forest on a guided gorilla trek that also incorporates continuous birdwatching as your guide points out Albertine Rift endemics and other forest species along the way including sightings such as the Rwenzori Turaco and African Green Broadbill, and upon locating the gorilla family you will spend one full hour observing them in their natural habitat before beginning the trek back while continuing to watch for additional canopy and forest floor species. After the experience, return to the lodge for refreshments, a shower, and a hot meal to relax and recover, then in the afternoon depart for a scenic drive through the highlands towards Lake Bunyonyi, arriving in the evening to check into your lakeside lodge where you can unwind by the water, enjoy the peaceful surroundings, and end the day with dinner and an overnight stay.

Begin the morning with a boat birding safari on Lake Bunyonyi, known as the place of many little birds and celebrated as one of Africa’s deepest crater lakes with nearly nine hundred meters in depth and twenty nine emerald islands scattered across its calm waters, as you glide along the shoreline and papyrus edges in search of species such as Papyrus Gonolek, Northern Brown throated Weaver, African Marsh Harrier, Lesser Swamp Warbler, and the secretive White winged Warbler while enjoying the peaceful lake scenery. After the excursion, return for a relaxed lunch overlooking the islands before beginning your transfer towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through the Ishasha sector which is famous for its tree climbing lions often seen resting in large fig trees. Continue into the park and enjoy a sunset birding drive around the crater lake region including areas such as Nyamunuka and Bunyampaka, where you may spot Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Great White Pelicans, Pink backed Pelicans, and Black winged Stilts as the light softens over the landscape, then proceed to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Set out before dawn for a boat safari along the Kazinga Channel, a forty kilometer natural waterway linking Lake Edward and Lake George and known for one of the highest concentrations of waterbirds in Africa, where you will encounter large pods of hippos, watch African Fish Eagles diving for prey, and spot species such as Giant Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, African Skimmer, and with some luck the rare Shoebill, all while enjoying the rich wildlife activity along the banks. After the cruise, return for breakfast and then drive to Maramagambo Forest for a guided forest birding experience, exploring this lush habitat in search of species including Rwenzori Turaco, Black Bee eater, White naped Pigeon, Red chested Sunbird, and the unique Shining Blue Kingfisher. Continue with a visit to the bat cave, home to thousands of Egyptian fruit bats, and take in the views from the nearby crater lake viewing platform before returning to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Begin the day with an early morning birding session on the Kasenyi Plains, an open savannah habitat known for rich mixed flocks of birds and mammals, where you search for species such as the Secretary Bird walking through the grass in search of prey, the impressive Kori Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, Rosy breasted Longclaw, Black bellied Bustard, and the rare White tailed Lark while enjoying the active wildlife around you. After the drive, return for breakfast and then begin your transfer north towards Kibale National Park, widely known as the Primate Capital of the World and home to thirteen species of primates including chimpanzees. Along the way, stop in Fort Portal within the scenic crater lake region for a well prepared lunch before continuing the journey. Arrive at Kibale Forest in the late afternoon and head out for an evening forest birding walk along the main track, looking out for species such as African Emerald Cuckoo, Blue headed Sunbird, Yellow billed Barbet, and the elusive Nahan’s Francolin before checking into your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.

Begin the day with morning chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest, where experienced guides lead you through the forest in search of a habituated chimpanzee community with a very high chance of success, and along the way you may encounter other primates such as Red tailed Monkeys and Grey cheeked Mangabeys as well as a variety of forest birds including Great Blue Turaco, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, and Yellow spotted Barbet, and once the chimpanzees are located you will spend one full hour observing their behavior as they feed, groom, and interact in their natural environment. After the trek, return to refresh before transferring to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community run conservation area known for its rich biodiversity, where you will enjoy an afternoon birding walk along raised boardwalks through the swamp in search of species such as the Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, White spotted Flufftail, and with some luck even the Shoebill, while also spotting mammals like Sitatunga antelope, Red Colobus monkeys, and Bushbuck, before returning to your lodge in Kibale for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart and drive west towards Semuliki National Park, an eastern extension of the Ituri Forest from the Democratic Republic of Congo and a unique ecosystem that hosts Central African species not found anywhere else in East Africa, enjoying the scenic journey as the landscape gradually shifts towards lowland tropical forest. Upon arrival, visit the Sempaya Hot Springs, a fascinating natural site with two steaming geysers known as the male and female springs, where you can witness boiling water bubbling from the ground and even cook eggs in the hot pools. In the afternoon, head into Semuliki’s lowland rainforest for a guided birding experience, exploring this rich habitat in search of rare and elusive species such as the Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre tailed Honeyguide, Black casqued Wattled Hornbill, Yellow throated Nicator, and the striking Red bellied Paradise Flycatcher, while also keeping an eye out for species unique to this park including the Long tailed Hawk and the rarely seen Nkulengu Rail, before proceeding to your lodge near Semuliki for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, depart Fort Portal and begin a scenic transfer through the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountains, enjoying views of rolling hills, tea plantations, and peaceful countryside landscapes as you make your way back towards Entebbe or Kampala. Along the journey, take in the changing scenery and local life before continuing on a comfortable drive to your final destination. Arrive in the evening and check into your booked lodge, where you can relax, unwind, and enjoy a restful overnight stay after your journey.

After breakfast, visit the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre for a final birding and wildlife experience, walking through well maintained habitats where you can observe a variety of bird species and rescued animals up close while enjoying the relaxed lakeside setting in Entebbe. After the visit, return to your lodge to relax and prepare for departure, marking the end of your safari. If your flight is scheduled for today, your guide will transfer you to Entebbe International Airport in time for your departure, and if your travel plans continue on a later date, the guide will drop you at your accommodation.