Safari overview
Uganda offers remarkable birding opportunities for bird lovers. Uganda is an equatorial country of astonishing contrasts. No other area in Africa can match its amazing diversity of habitats and this richness is reflected in its ever-burgeoning bird list of over 1000 species. Amongst these are many special birds such as Shoebill and the numerous spectacular endemics of the Albertine Rift Valley, which are difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. The huge bird list is all the more remarkable given the small size of the country, making it, arguably, and the richest African birding destination such birds include Rockefellers’s Sunbird, White-bellied Robin-chat, Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Purple-breasted Sunbird, African Green Broadbill, Willard’s Sooty Boubou, Rwenzori Nightjar, Albertine Owlet, Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s crimsonwing and many more. This trip will cover six National Parks; Lake Bunyonyi, Mabamba wet land and Ziwa Rhino sanctuary. 
Day 1: Arrival Entebbe
On arrival at Entebbe international airport, our tour guide will welcome you and then transfer you to the hotel for refreshments and overnight stay. He will brief you on the next day’s program as per the itinerary overnight stay and meals at Protea Hotel Entebbe/Boma Hotel/Lake Victoria Hotel/2 Friends Entebbe.
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp Birding
After early morning breakfast, you embark on the drive to Mabamba Swamp around 50km from Kampala the capital of Uganda. The drive to Mabamba is an experience of its own offering chances of exploring various bird species like Papyrus Gonolek, White Shouldered Tit, Red Cap, Western Banded Snake Eagle, White Winged Warbler, White Spotted Fluftail and Weyns Weaver. Upon arrival in Mabamba Swamp, you get to the canoe and head to the swamp in the company of a local person worth expertise in paddling through the narrow water channels surrounded by dense swamp vegetation. Birding in Uganda`s Mabamba on Lake Victoria swamp features counts of birds including the rare and the Vulnerable Shoebill stork, the Allen’s and Purple Gallinule, Grey herons, Jacanas, Ruffaus Squaco, the globally threatened Pallid Harrier and Bellied Heron. Other species like blue swallow, ducks and egrets among other birds can be explored. The swamp dwelling Sitatunga antelope may be explored during the swamp tour. You will retreat from the experience and drive to Kampala for dinner and over night at Sheraton Hotel/Cassia Lodge/Namirembe Guest House.
Day 3: Entebbe – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
In the morning meet and greet your birding tour driver guide, and your Albertine Rift Bird watching Safari Uganda is off as we drive birding to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Wildlife Ranch for evening Rhino tracking. Time allowing, we might drive to Mabamba Swamp in Mpigi to look for the Shoebill and other water birds before proceeding to Ziwa. Approximately 176kms away from Kampala is Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Wildlife Ranch seated on about 70 Square Kilometers with 20 Southern White Rhinos, over 250 bird species and other animals. For about 2hours of tracking, the sanctuary rangers will be taking you through the behaviors of these Rhinos and the dynamics of conserving them. Retreat to the sanctuary lodge, dinner, campfire and overnight stay.
Day 4: Bird Watching Ziwa Rhino Santuary
At 6:00am in the morning, prepare for a 4 hours Canoeing experience while searching for Shoebills at Lugogo Swamp – a massive swamp at this sanctuary where bird watchers stand higher chances of encountering this Majestic Africa’s most sought after bird while being treated with a magical African sunrise. With over 300 bird species, other notable birds at the sanctuary include; Beautiful Sunbird, Namaqua Dove, Pin-tailed Whydah, Bateleur, White-crested Turaco, Bruce’s Pigeon, Saddle billed Stork among others. Retreat, have lunch and drive to Murchison Falls National Park. Enter the park while viewing various animals like Giraffes, Elephants, and Buffaloes among others. Dinner and an overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge/Pakuba Lodge/Fort Murchison.
Day 5: Bird watching Murchison Falls National Park
In the morning after breakfast, we leave for a game drive birding in the park for birds like; Angola Swallow. Sooty Chat, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Red Shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Lesser Honeyguide, Green Wood Hoopoe, Beautiful Sunbird, Secretary bird, Ethiopian Swallow, Abyssinian-ground Hornbill, the Blue-breasted, Woodland, African Pigmy, and Giant Kingfishers, Yellow-billed Oxpecker among others. We’ll get back at the lodge, have lunch, and take a launch cruise birding on River Nile. Here birds include; Red-knobbed Coot, Spur-winged Goose, Shoebill, Allen’s Gallinule, Black Crake, Woolly-necked Stork, Saddle-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, lesser Jacana among other. Dinner and an overnight at Paraa Safari Lodge/Chobe Safari Lodge/Pakuba Lodge/Fort Murchison.
Day 6: Bird Watching Budongo Forest Reserve
In the morning, we get on birding Uganda’s largest forest-825sq km. In the forest, we expect a number of unique bird species which include; African Moustached Warbler, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Puvell’s Illadopsis ,Black-eared Ground-Thrush, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Little Crake, African Paradise Flycatcher, Nahan’s Francolin, Purple-headed Starling, Greater-blue eared Starling among others. Overnight at Court View Hotel
Day 7: Bird Watching Safari to Kibale National Park.
In the morning after breakfast with our packed lunch, we get our longer drive to Kibale National Park making some stop overs along the way for a number of catchy birds. Arrival and overnight at Ndali Lodge/Papaya Kibale Lodge/Kibale Forest Camp.
Day 8: Whole Day Bird Watching Kibale National Park.
Today we go birding in this forest park with a list of over 300 bird species expecting to see; Red-capped Robin-chat, White Chinned Prinia, Ludher’s Bush-shrike, Snowy-headed Robin-chat, African Emerald Cuckoo, Green-breasted Pittta, Black-billed Turaco, Narina Trogon, White-headed Wood-hoopoe, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat among others. In the evening we head bird watching to a nearby community run wetland – Bigodi Sanctuary for a number of wetland birds. Overnight at Ndali Lodge/Papaya Kibale Lodge/Kibale Forest Camp.
Day 9: Chimpanzee tracking and Bird watching Kibale National Park.
Today we do Chimpanzee tracking. Kibale National Park is greatly popular for its primate populations. With over 1500 chimpanzees and 13 other primates, Kibale has the most chimpanzees in Uganda and Africa as a whole. Other primates you may encounter include; Red Colobus Monkey, Blue Monkey, Black and white colobus monkey, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Uganda Mangabay – Lophocebus Uganda (only found in Uganda) among other primates. We will have lunch and thereafter we drive birding to Semuliki National Park. Diner and overnight Semuliki safari lodge
Day 10: Bird Watching Semliki National Park.
Semuliki National Park has over 440 bird species of which over 80 species are from the Guinea-Congo Biome found in a few if any other forests in East Africa. This National Park is the end limit of West African bird species and this gives you a chance to have Congo basin at a glance. Among the many bird species include; Nkulengu Rail, Yellow-throated Nicator, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Long-tailed Hawk, Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike, Red-eyed Puffback, Tit Hylia, Capchin Babbler, White-throated Blue Swallow, Spotted Honeyguide, Red-rumped Tinkerbird. A number of Hornbills; Black Dwarf, Piping, White-crested, White thighed, Red-billed Dwarf, and Black-casqued Wattled Hornbills. Diner and overnight at Semuliki safari lodge
Day 11: Bird watching safari to Queen Elizabeth National park,
After breakfast drive our way to Queen Elizabeth while viewing and photographing the beautiful landscapes of Rwenzori Mountain of the moon, then a game drive on our way entering the park, refresh, dinner and overnight at either at Mweya Safari Lodge/Park view Lodge/Bush Lodge.
Day 12: Game drive and bird watching in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Early in the morning after our breakfast, we embark on atypical Savanna birding for a number of birds like; Lesser and Greater Flamingos, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, a number of Weaver birds, African Crake, Martial Eagle, Bateleur, Amur Falcon, Black Coucal, European Roller, Black Headed Gonolek, Blue naped Mouse bird and among others. Late in the afternoon we go birding on a boat cruising on Kazinga Channel – a water channel that connects Lake George in Uganda to Lake Edward partly in Uganda and Congo. We expect a number of water-birds here; African skimmers, malachite king fisher, Great white and Pink Backed pelicans, Great Cormorant, Yellow billed Stork, Abdim’s Stork, woolly-necked Stork, to name just a few of the possibilities. We’ll also look out for a great mammal presence like, African savannah Elephants, hippos, Uganda Kobs,, Cape Buffalos, lions, Leopards among others. Overnight at either Mweya Safari Lodge/Park view Lodge/Bush Lodge.
Day 13: Bird Watching Safari to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
After breakfast, We’ll have a longer drive to Bwindi, continue birding via Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park making some stop overs for Tree climbing Lions and birds like; Black and white Cuckoo, Pin-tailed Whydah, Black-and-white Mannikin, Black-crowned Waxbill, Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, Southern Red Bishop, Black-winged Red Bishop, Red-collared Widowbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black Bishop, Blue-napped Mousebird, Verreaux’s Eagle-owl, Bateleur among others. Continue birding south to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for a night stay at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Day 14: All Day Bird Watching Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Today is all day birding Bwindi impenetrable National park with a list of 23 Albertine Rift Endemic bird species and of course a number of other beautiful birds rare in East Africa totaling to over 350 species and among those we expect include; Bar-tailed Trogon, Rwenzori Apalis, Willard’s Bush-shrike, Montane Oriole, Handsome Francolin, Black-headed Waxbill, African Broadbill, Dwarf Honeyguide, Archer’s Robin-chat, Western Bronze-napped Pigeon, Blue-headed Sunbirds, Strange Weaver, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Collard Apalis, Grey-headed Negrofinch, Cape Robin-chat, White-tailed Blue-Flycatcher, White-bellied Robin-chat, Great bleu Turaco, Ross’s Turaco among others. Dinner and overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Day 15: Gorilla Tracking/Ruhija sector
Today, the Mountain Gorilla tracking activity which starts in the morning gives you an opportunity to penetrate the impenetrable jungle and view one of Africa’s most sought after Mammal. The experience of these great Apes takes you deep into the impenetrable forest hence standing high chances of seeing a number of other Beautiful creatures of this Bio diverse Impenetrable Forest. After tracking transfer to Ruhija sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest National Park, Dinner and overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Day 16: Bird Watching Ruhija–Bwindi.
Early in the morning with our packed lunch, we enter the jungle up to ‘Mubwindi’ Swamp a beautiful wetland deep in the forest. Here we expect to encounter more endemics and other rare bird species like; Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Turaco, African Green Broadbill, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Nightjar, Blue Headed Sunbird, Rwenzori Apalis among others. Overnight at Rushaga Gorilla Lodge/Chameleon Hill Lodge/Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Day 17: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi
After your breakfast, you will start off your journey to Lake Bunyonyi found in Kabale which is the second deepest lake in Africa and a great place for birders. You will be welcomed by the sweet sounds of the birds, the word Bunyonyi means Small birds in the local language. Upon arrival, you will go for a canoe trip on the lake whereby you will be able to see various birds, communities, landforms such as the islands (around 29 islands are in the lake). Take as much photographs as you can. After the canoe, have lunch and in the evening go for a community/nature walk through the Batwa and Abaheesi communities. Dinner and overnight Bunyonyi Bird nest/ Bunyonyi Safari Resort/ Gorilla View Resort. Meal Plan; Lunch& Dinner
Day 18: Lake Bunyonyi to Lake Mburo National Park
After morning breakfast, embark on drive to Lake Mburo National Park which is nearby and another beautiful Park. Check out the lovely Kigezi highlands, the scenery is simply soothing to the eye in the evergreen state of Africa. Arrive for lunch at your choice of lodging at Lake Mburo.
After lunch go for the afternoon Boat Safari on Lake Mburo where you will see several other lakes such as Kazuma, Lake Bwa. Gaze at the huge hippos, crocodiles and buffaloes as they drink water. There are attractive birds to check out like Abyssinian ground hornbill, the crested crane (Uganda’s national emblem), saddle bill storks among others. You can do an optional guided nature walkup spot some unique bird species, then after return to the lodge for dinner and a quiet overnight at Mihingo Safari Lodge/Mantana Tented Camp/Rwakobo Safari Lodge/Eagles Nest Mburo.
Day 19: Morning Game Drive & Return to Kampala
Being your day with cup of coffee and later have game drive through the savannah or an ultimate treat. Check out Uganda’s birdlife safari besides the mountain gorillas in Bwindi such as zebra, warthog, buffalo, klipspringer, eland, oribi and waterbuck. Lake Mburo National Park, a haven for “impalas” small antelopes and herbivorous are most concentrated in Lake Mburo of all the Ugandan National Parks. Drive to Kampala with En-route stops at Mbarara for lunch, Igongo culture to explore the culture of Ankole of long horned cattle and processed for photography at the equator then drive direct to Kampala/Entebbe where you will arrive in late afternoon.
End of 19 days bird watching safari tour in Uganda
Safari package includes
Airport transfers
Transportation safari vehicle
Accommodation and meals as per the itinerary
Boat trips
2 Gorilla permit per person to be secured and paid for in advance
Park fees
Two Chimpanzee permits for Kibale and One Kyambura Chimpanzee permit
Community visits
Services of English speaking Driver/guide.
En route lunches
Bush walk Ishasha
canoe ride for Shoebill bird
Ferry crossing fees
Hike to the Top of the falls
A boat ride along the Nile Delta
Game drives
Safari excludes
However, the package excludes: expenses of personal nature like: Visa, drinks, laundry, tips to local guides, telephone, porter fee while trekking, personal insurance, and tobacco.