"15 Day Uganda Birding Tour"
Overview: 15-Day Uganda Birding Tour & Wildlife Adventure
This carefully crafted 15-day journey through Uganda – affectionately known as the Pearl of Africa – offers an unparalleled combination of birding, wildlife viewing, and cultural immersion. Designed for passionate birdwatchers and nature lovers alike, the itinerary traverses diverse habitats ranging from wetlands and savannahs to tropical rainforests and the Albertine Rift highlands, unlocking opportunities to spot both endemic and globally sought-after species.
Your Uganda birding tour begins at Entebbe, with a gentle introduction at the famed Botanical Gardens and Mabamba Swamp – home of the elusive Shoebill Stork. From there, the journey unfolds across Uganda’s most iconic destinations: the savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo National Park, the montane richness of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest with its Albertine Rift endemics, the expansive ecosystems of Queen Elizabeth National Park, and the lush primate forests of Kibale National Park, where chimpanzee encounters complement the birding experience.
The journey continues into the legendary birding hotspot of Budongo Forest’s Royal Mile, before concluding at Murchison Falls National Park, where the mighty Nile River funnels through a narrow gorge in one of Africa’s most dramatic natural spectacles. Across these varied landscapes, you can expect to encounter over 600 bird species, alongside Uganda’s remarkable wildlife, including elephants, lions, hippos, and chimpanzees.
Comfortable lodges and safari camps throughout the itinerary provide warm hospitality and restful retreats after rewarding days in the field. Each moment is carefully balanced between discovery, relaxation, and travel, ensuring a seamless flow from one highlight to the next.
By the end of your journey, you will have experienced Uganda’s astonishing natural diversity in all its forms – it’s birds, mammals, forests, savannahs, rivers, and wetlands—leaving with not only an impressive checklist but also lasting memories of a country where every corner hums with life.
Day 1. Arrival at Entebbe Airport.
On arrival you will be received by our representative, your driver/guide who will brief you through your safari program, then transfer and check in to the service of 2 Friends Beach Hotel – Entebbe. Depending on the arrival time of your flight, we can spend the evening birding around the Botanical gardens.
Some of the specialty bird species here include; African hobby, Speckled Pigeon, Ross’s Turaco, Brown and Grey Parrot, Klaas’s, Dederick and Levaillants Cuckoo, Fork-tailed Drongo, Brown-crowned Tchagra, White-chinned Prinia, Superb Sunbird, Golden-backed and Orange Weaver, Black-headed Gonolek, to mention but a few.
Overnight at 2 Friends Beach Hotel – Entebbe.
Basis: Full Board
Day 2: Birding to Mabamba Swamp.
Have an early breakfast, with our packed lunch, we check out and start birding on the way to Mabamba Swamp, which is about 50 kms west of Kampala. Bird en-route to the swamps lookout for papyrus specials such as the Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged warbler, Nothern Brown-throated, Weyn’s weaver to mention but a few.
Move to Mabamba swamps most of the birding here is done on canoes as we look out for the rare Shoebill Stork, African Water rail, Allen’s and Purple Gallinule (swamp hen) Squacco, Goliath, Purple, Grey Herons, a variety of Egrets, ducks etc. There are also chances of encountering the elusive Sitatunga Antelope adapted to swampy habitats. We later go and check in to the service of Nkima Forest Lodge, dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Nkima Forest Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 3: Birding to Lake Mburo National Park.
After an early morning breakfast, we start birding towards Lake Mburo national park. We will have a stopover at the Equator for the water experiment, crafts & souvenir shopping, before proceeding on westwards, with en-route lunch stop. We arrive in the afternoon and check in to the service of Rwakobo rock. We later go for an evening game drive, in the park.
This is one of Uganda’s smallest savannah parks, covering about 260sq km and is home to a variety of wildlife that includes; Zebras, Elands, Impalas, Buffaloes and Topi among others. It has got a variety of habitats, like dry hillside, open and wooded savanna, forests, galleries and swamps, and this has contributed to the avifauna diversity.
In this park about 350 bird species have been recorded in the park including; Crested and Red faced Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola (Tabora), Papyrus Yellow Warbler, African Finfoot, Brubru, Rofous-bellied Heron, Black-crowned and White-backed Night-Heron, Brown-chested Lapwing, White-winged Tit, Black-headed and Papyrus Gonolek, Northern brown-throated Weaver, White-winged Warbler.
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 4: Birding and Boat Cruise – Lake Mburo National Park.
The day begins with an early morning nature walk along the shores of Lake Mburo, offering an excellent opportunity to encounter both wildlife and birdlife at close range. As you explore, look out for mammals such as Buffalo, Waterbuck, Bushbuck, Dwarf Mongoose, Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Impala, Zebra, Topi, Warthog, Eland, and, with some luck, Leopards. The park also provides rewarding birding, with specialties including the Black-headed and Papyrus Gonolek among many others.
Additional highlights may include sightings of Coqui Francolin, Brown-chested Lapwing, Lilac-breasted Roller, and the elusive Shoebill Stork, making Lake Mburo a true gem for bird enthusiasts. You will return to the lodge in the afternoon for lunch and some relaxation. Later, embark on a scenic boat cruise along Lake Mburo, where you can enjoy another perspective of the park’s wildlife and bird species as the day draws to a close.
Overnight at Rwakobo Rock Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 5: Birding towards Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Today’s journey takes you to the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, a true paradise for bird enthusiasts and one of Africa’s most celebrated biodiversity hotspots. Bwindi is home to more than 331 bird species, including nearly 90% of all Albertine Rift endemics—making it a premier destination for specialized birding.
Among the highlights are species that are difficult, if not impossible, to see elsewhere in East Africa. Look out for rarities such as Neumann’s (Short-tailed) Warbler, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, and Grauer’s Rush Warbler, alongside forest jewels like the Bar-tailed Trogon, Wilcock’s Honeyguide, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimsonwing, and White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, among many others.
By evening, you arrive at Ruhija Trekkers’ Tervan Cottages, where warm hospitality and the tranquil setting of the forested highlands provide the perfect base for your Bwindi birding adventure. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.
Overnight at Ruhija Trekkers’ Tervan Cottages
Basis: Full Board
Day 6: Birding Mubwindi Swamp, Bwindi Forest National Park.
After breakfast, we go down to UWA offices for registration, get ranger guides and start our birding session towards Mubwindi swamp. (Here we can also have optional Gorilla trekking, depending on the clients interests.) This is a good spot for the high elevation bird species and the Albertine rift endemics. So we search for specialties that include; the Chestnut-throated, Mountain-masked, Black-throated and Rwenzori Apalis, Stripe-breasted and Dusky Tit, Black-billed Turaco, Grey-throated Barbet, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Mountain-yellow, Grauer’s Rush and Grauer’s Wrabler.
We also expect the Northern Double-collard, Rwenzori Double-collard, Varieble, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds, Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Grauer’s Broadbill, Bared Long-tailed Cuckoo, Archer’s Robin-chat, Oriole-finch, White-bellied Crested, Yellow-eyed Black, White-eyed Slate and Dusky Flycatchers, Ludher’s, Grey-headed and Dohert’s Bush-shrike, Scaly-breasted and Mountain Illadopsis, Yellow-streaked and Mountain Greenbul, Banded Prinia, White-starred Robin and Dusky Crimsonwing among others. We come back to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Ruhija Trekkers’ Tervan Cottages
Basis: Full Board
Day 7: Birding towards Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, you set out with packed lunches for a full day of birding as you make your way toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. The route includes a stop at the famed “neck” of the forest, an excellent birding site that provides a chance to look for species that may have been missed in Ruhija. Here, keen eyes can search for the Black-billed, Brown-capped, and Strange Weavers, as well as Dusky-blue and Cassin’s Grey Flycatchers. Other possibilities include the Black Cuckoo, Cinnamon-breasted and Black Bee-eaters, the lively Yellow Bishop, and several starling species such as Narrow-tailed, Stuhlmann’s, and Waller’s Starlings. Birders may also be rewarded with sightings of the African Hill Babbler and Cubb’s Cisticola among others, making this stretch especially fruitful.
Continuing south, the scenery gradually changes from montane forest to the broad savannahs of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Entering through the Ishasha Sector, you keep a lookout for the area’s famous tree-climbing lions, often seen draped across the branches of large fig trees—a rare and unforgettable sight in East Africa.
By evening, you arrive at Topi Lodge, your base for the night. Nestled close to the park, the lodge offers both comfort and a genuine sense of place, surrounded by the sounds of the wild. Dinner is enjoyed in a relaxed setting as you prepare for the next day’s explorations within the park.
Overnight at Topi Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 8: Whole Day Birding Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, you spend the day birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most celebrated wildlife reserves. The morning begins in the Ishasha Sector, a region famous for its rare tree-climbing lions. While keeping an eye on the fig trees for these unique predators, you also search for an array of savannah specialties. Possible sightings include Violet-backed & Wattled Starlings, Brown-chested and Senegal Lapwings, as well as Spot-flanked, Double-toothed, and White-headed Barbets. Keen birders may also identify the Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, alongside impressive raptors such as White-backed, Rüppell’s Griffon, White-headed, and Lappet-faced Vultures soaring overhead.
As you continue north toward the Mweya Peninsula, the birding opportunities remain rich and varied. The open grasslands and wetlands may reveal African Hoopoe probing the ground, the bright plumage of the Southern Red Bishop, or the striking flight displays of the Red-collared Widowbird. Other species, such as the Stout Cisticola, bring further variety to the day’s checklist. With over 600 recorded bird species, Queen Elizabeth holds the title of Uganda’s most diverse birding destination.
By late afternoon, you arrive at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge, a charming retreat that combines comfort with a close-to-nature experience. Dinner is served overlooking the wild surroundings, with the sounds of the African night as your backdrop, rounding off a rewarding day of discovery.
Overnight at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Basis: Full Board
DAY 9: Whole Day of Birding Kasenyi area & Kazinga Channel, QENP.
The day begins with an early morning breakfast and then with our packed lunch, start birding along the Kasenyi plains. The park protects about 95 mammal species plus about 612 bird species that includes; the Grey-headed Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatcher, Black-headed and Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged, Grey-capped, Greater Swamp, Lesser Swamp, African Reed and Siege Warbler, Slender-billed Weaver and Brimstone Canary, near the Katungulu Bridge.
We then proceed with birding/game drive towards the famous Kasenyi Plains, winding through grassland dotted with Acacia and Cactus trees, nearby the Kobs’ matting grounds, where we normally locate Lions and other mammals including Buffaloes, Kob (the national animal for Uganda), Waterbuck, Bushbuck and Elephants. Along the road we may find Scaly Francolin, Red-necked Spurfowl, Harlequin Quail and Common Button-quail, Rufous-napped, Flappet and Red-capped Lark, Martial Eagle, Western-banded, Black-chested and Brown Snake Eagles and Bateleur.
In the afternoon we embark on a boat launch down the Kazinga Channel. This incredible area normally offers stunning views of Pink-backed & Great White Pelican, Saddle-billed Stork, Hamerkop, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Water Thick-knee, African Skimmer and over-summering Palearctic shorebirds. In the evening before dinner we will try for the nightjars that may include the Black-shouldered, Freckled, Square-tailed, Pennant-winged and Slender-tailed Nightjars, as well as owls, like the African Scops, White-faced Scops, and the African Wood owls among others.
Overnight at Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Basis: Full Board
Day 10: Birding to Kibale National Park.
After breakfast, you set out for Kibale National Park, one of Uganda’s most celebrated birding and primate destinations. The drive takes only a few hours, but the route is rewarding, following the foothills of the majestic Rwenzori Mountains. With packed lunches prepared, the journey becomes part of the experience, as roadside birding stops offer the chance to spot a variety of species unique to this region.
Depending on your timing, you may choose to spend additional hours birding within Kibale itself in the afternoon. The park is renowned for its extraordinary biodiversity, boasting over 370 bird species, including the sought-after Green-breasted Pitta, as well as colorful forest specialists such as African Grey Parrots and African Pittas. The forest is also home to 13 primate species, making it one of the richest ecosystems of its kind in Africa.
By evening, you arrive at Kibale Guest Cottages, where you check in and unwind after a day of exploration. Surrounded by the lush greenery of the forest edge, the lodge provides a peaceful retreat. Dinner is enjoyed in the cozy dining area, as you prepare for the days of discovery awaiting you in Kibale.
Overnight at Kibale Guest Cottages
Basis: Full Board
Day 11: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee trekking.
Today we will spend our full day at the Kibale National Park with activities mainly being birding and Chimp tracking. After breakfast, we assemble at the chimp tracking briefing ground, where we will learn all the required procedures. It is not strenuous, but can sometimes take longer depending on our luck. Lunch will be organized according to the trend of the day’s activities, either picnic lunch or a hot menu lunch. Kibale Conservation Area holds a good list of both special primates and birds.
These include Chimpanzee, Red Colobus Monkey, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys, Red-tailed Monkey and Galagos. The forest is also home to the Scaly Francolin, Marsh Tchagra, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Green-backed Twinspot, Bicoloured Mannikin, White-naped Pigeon, Afep Pigeon, Narina’s Trogon, Joyful Greenbul, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black Bee-eater, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Black-faced Rufous Warbler.
Overnight at Kibale Guest Cottages
Basis: Full Board
Day 12: Birding to Hoima.
After breakfast, you depart with packed lunches prepared for the journey to Masindi, a town that serves as the gateway to several key birding regions in western Uganda. The route carries you through a tapestry of traditional homesteads and the rolling hills of the Tooro and Bunyoro kingdoms, where expansive tea plantations stretch across the landscape in neat, green rows. These stops along the way provide excellent opportunities for birding, with a variety of forest-edge and savannah species to look out for.
At Kagadi, you pause for a picnic lunch before continuing your journey. The drive itself is rewarding, offering glimpses of rural life and Uganda’s cultural heartlands, alongside the chance to spot more avian highlights in this richly diverse region.
By evening, you arrive in Masindi and check in at Masindi Kolping Hotel, a welcoming base for your stay. After settling in, dinner is served, and you have the evening to relax in preparation for tomorrow’s birding adventures.
Overnight at Masindi Kolping Hotel
Basis: Full Board
Day 13: Birding the Royal Mile – Murchison Falls National Park.
After an early morning breakfast, with our packed lunch, we start birding on the way to the Royal Mile, Budongo forest (This is one of Uganda’s birding hotspots). It used to be a hunting ground for the king of Bunyoro and that’s where the name Royal Mile came from. And along the main trail, the forest has been cut back to allow good viewing area.
Some of the key species that we are likely to encounter on this day are; Grey-headed Olive-back, Black Kite, Lizard Buzzard, Wahlberg’s and Long-crested Eagle, African Green Pigeon, Blue-spotted Wood-dove, Red-eyed and Laughing Dove, Brown Parrot, Eastern Plantain-eater, African Palm Swift, Speckled Mousebird, White-headed Barbet, Red-rumped & Lesser-stripped Swallow.
On this route we also expect the Yellow-throated Longclaw, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Brown Twinspot, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, White-thighed Hornbill, African Crowned Eagle, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Yellow-browed Camaroptera, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped, Grey-throated, Forest, Sooty and African-shrike Flycatcher, Lemon-bellied and Green Crombec.
Plus the Rufous-crowned Eremomela, African Pygmy, African Dwarf, Blue-breasted and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Nahan’s Francolin and Spotted Greenbul among others. We later proceed on to Murchison Falls national park and check in to the service of our accommodation for dinner and overnight.
Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Basis: Full Board
Day 14: Whole Day Birding Murchison Falls National Park.
The day begins with an early breakfast and with our packed lunch we start the birding drive on the northern section of the mighty River Nile. So after our picnic lunch we shall, proceed for a boat cruise to the bottom of the Falls. The key species of this park include; Shoebill Stork, Bat Hawk, Red-necked Falcon, White-crested Turaco, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Pel’s Fishing-owl, Standard-winged, Standard-winged, Pennant-winged and Long-tailed Nightjar.
We also look out for Swallow-tailed and Northern-carmine Bee-eater, Spotted Morning thrush, Silverbird, Greater Blue-eared, Violet-backed and Bronze-tailed Starling, Beautiful Sunbird, Northern Red Bishop, Rock Pratincole, Black-billed Barbet, White-fronted Black Chat, Cabanis’s and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Foxy Cisticola and Bar-breasted Firefinch among others.
Overnight at Pakuba Safari Lodge.
Basis: Full Board
Day 15: Birding to Kampala
After breakfast, you bid farewell to Murchison Falls National Park and begin the return journey toward Entebbe. The drive offers one last chance to enjoy birding along the way, with roadside stopovers allowing you to capture any species that may have eluded you earlier in the safari.
Around midday, you pause at Kabalega Dinners for a relaxed lunch before continuing south. The changing scenery unfolds once more – villages, farmlands, and open landscapes – providing a fitting backdrop as you reflect on the many discoveries of your Ugandan adventure.
By evening, you arrive in Entebbe and continue directly to Entebbe International Airport in time for your onward flight. With this, your birding and wildlife journey through Uganda comes to a close, leaving you with lasting memories of rare sightings, breathtaking landscapes, and the warm hospitality of the Pearl of Africa.
Highlights of this 15 Day Uganda Birding Tour:
- Bird watching through some Uganda’s birding hotspots.
- Shoebill at Mabamba Wetland Sanctuary.
- Birding through Lake Mburo national Park.
- Albertine Rift Endemics at Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
- Visiting Murchison Falls – the World’s most powerful falls.
- Chimpanzee trekking at Kibale forest national park
- Boat cruises on River Nile, MFNP and Kazinga Channel, QENP.
- Bird watching at Kanio-Pabidi, Budongo forest.
Safari Summary:
Tour Duration: 15 Days & 14 Nights
Departure / Return Location: Entebbe, Uganda
Destinations on Tour:
- Entebbe
- Mabamba Swamp
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Murchison Falls National Park
- Budongo Forest
- Kibale National Park
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Entebbe
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