14 Days Uganda Birding

Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe International Airport and transfer to hotel in Entebbe

Arriving at Entebbe International Airport, one of our Uganda bird-watching tour guides allocated for your trip will be at the airport with a placard to welcome you for your trip. After meeting and greeting, you will be helped with the transfer to a booked accommodation facility in Entebbe.

Meal Plan: Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Protea Hotel Entebbe, Mid-range: Boma Hotel/ 2 Friends Hotel, Budget: Acacia Hotel

Day 2: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and have an evening boat cruise

Birding Uganda – Rwakobo Rock and Lake Mburo National Park

Following an early morning breakfast, you transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. The drive takes you past the equator line in Kayabwe where you stop for photography. You continue with the drive southwards with several bird sightings. You have lunch en route. Arriving in the afternoon, you go for a boat cruise on Lake Mburo. The park is host to avifauna diversity of up to 313 bird species. Some of the bird species to look out for include the Red-Faced Barbet (endemic to Lake Mburo National Park in Uganda), Long-tailed cisticola, African finfoot, Rufous Bellied Heron, Brown-chested plover, White-winged Warbler, and many more. In the evening, you slowly drive to your hotel while looking out for some birds. You check-in and spend the night at a prior booked lodging facility.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mihingo Lodge/Mburo Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Arcadia Cottages, Budget: Eagles Nest Camp

Day 3: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Following breakfast at your lodging facility, you then start the drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The drive takes you to the beautiful highlands of Kigezi towards the Bwindi Forest which is host to almost half of the remaining Mountain Gorillas in the world.  Arriving in the evening you check into a booked hotel or lodge in the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You have lunch along the way and spot several bird species during the drive.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Midrange: Bakiga Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort & Campsite/Ruhija Community Rest Camp

Day 4: Birding in Mubwindi swamp of  Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

“Great Apes” – Amazing Gorillas and Birds in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Uganda

In the morning you have breakfast then drive out for birding to the Mubwindi swamp. You will spend the entire day birding in this area. There are several Albertine Rift endemics in this region and you can spot them on this 4km trail.  These include the Grauer’s Broadbill, Regal Sunbird, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Dwarf Honeyguide, Stripe-breasted Tit, Ruwenzori Apalis, Grauer’s Scrub Warbler, Black Goshawk, Ross’s Turaco, Handsome Francolin, Cinnamon Chested Bee-eaters, Dusky Crimsonwing, and many more.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Midrange: Bakiga Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp, Budget: Ruhija Gorilla Friends Resort & Campsite/Ruhija Community Rest Camp

Day 5: Bird watching to Buhoma through the neck

On your second day of birding in Bwindi, you will transfer from the Ruhija sector to the Buhoma sector while birding along “the neck”. This place is known as the neck because this is where the forest narrows but offers very good excellent forest birding opportunities.  Along with this spot, you should look out for bird species like the Red-throated Alethe, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Collared Apalis, Rwenzori Batis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Crimsonwing, Regal Sunbird, Red-headed Malimbe, and many more. After birding along this trail, you reach the Buhoma sector in the evening arriving in time for dinner and at a booked accommodation facility. Here you relax and spend the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/chameleon Hill Lodge, Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Mist Lodge, Budget: Buhoma Community camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge

Day 6: Mountain Gorilla tracking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After an early breakfast, you will head to the park headquarters for a briefing on the rules and regulations for Uganda gorilla safaris. During the briefing, a total of 8 tourists are allocated a single gorilla family depending on their hiking ability.

The trek starts with each group being accompanied by a park ranger talking about 2-6 hours depending on where the gorillas spent their previous night. Upon seeing the gorillas a maximum of 1 hour is allocated in the presence of these gentle giants for photography and amazing moments. After the trek, you return to the park headquarters where you receive a gorilla trekking certificate. Your driver-guide then ensures a safe transfer to your lodge for refreshment and relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Buhoma Lodge/chameleon Hill Lodge, Midrange: Buhoma Haven Lodge/Gorilla Mist Lodge, Budget: Buhoma Community camp/Gorilla Valley Lodge

Day 7: Transfer from Bwindi to Queen Elizabeth National Park

From Bwindi after a gorilla trekking safari in Uganda experience your birding tour continues with a drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. You take a slow drive through the Ishasha sector in the southern part of the park then continue and spend the night in the northern sector. You take lunch en route and spot several bird species.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget: Bush Lodge 

Day 8: Morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga channel

Kazinga Channel Boat Ride | Uganda

Have morning breakfast then proceed for a morning game drive in the Kasenyi plains. Here you explore an array of wildlife including Elephants, Buffaloes, Topi, warthogs, Hyenas, lions, and several bird species. The game drive lasts about 4 hours and remembers to carry some drinking water binoculars and a camera.

After the game drive, you return to the lodge for lunch and refreshments. In the afternoon, you head for the Kazinga channel boat cruise. This is a great chance of seeing several aquatic species like crocodiles and hippopotami alongside other wildlife and bird species on the river banks. With these amazing encounters on this 6 days wildlife safari in Uganda, you are then driven back to your accommodation facility where you spend the night. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge, Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge, Budget: Bush Lodge 

Day 9: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park while bird watching en route

This morning, you have breakfast then embark on the drive to Kibale Forest National Park. Along the way, you go bird watching and spotting several bird species. Arriving in the afternoon, you will arrive in time for dinner, relaxation, and spend the night at a booked accommodation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Primate Lodge /Kyaninga safari lodge, Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest house, Budget/Basic: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge 

Day 10: Chimpanzee tracking and bird watching in the forest with a nature walk in Bigodi wetland in the evening.

EPIC Chimpanzee Trekking & Habituation Experience in Kibale National Park, Uganda

After breakfast at your lodge get ready for a chimpanzee trekking experience. Carry along with your backpack with some drinking water and head out to the park for chimp tracking. The trek starts with a briefing on the trekking etiquette then heads out to the jungle.

Just like gorilla tracking, a maximum of 1 hour is spent in the presence of chimpanzees as you watch them playfully interact in the forest. Some of the bird species seen in the forest include the Grey-headed Olive-back, Marsh Tchagara, Scaly Francolin, White-naped Pigeon, Narina Trogon, Pied Hornbill, Yellow-billed Barbets, African Goshawk, Grey Parrots, and many more. After the trek, you return to your lodge for lunch then visit Bigodi wetland for birding. Bigodi wetland is just a 5-minute drive from Kibale Forest and hosts an array of biodiversity including primates and bird species. Some of the bird species include the Great Blue Turaco, White-collared Olive back, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Superb Sunbird, and many more.  After the nature walk at Bigodi, you then return to your lodging facility where you relax, refresh and have dinner. 

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Primate Lodge /Kyaninga safari lodge, Mid-range: Kibale Forest Camp/Chimpanzee Guest house, Budget/Basic: Kibale Forest Camp/Isunga Lodge 

Day 11: Transfer from Kibale Forest National Park to Murchison Falls National Park

Driving out of Kibale Forest National Park you are driven to Murchison Falls National Park. The drive takes you birding along the way arriving in the evening. It’s the distance between the two parks and therefore there is minimal bird watching. You arrive in time of check-in and dinner at a booked accommodation in Murchison Falls.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Chobe Safari Lodge/Paraa safari Lodge, Midrange: Pakuba safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge, Budget: Heritage safari Lodge/Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 12: Morning Game drive, evening boat cruise, and hike to the top of falls

Amazing Wildlife Safari in Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

In the morning after breakfast, your guide will be ready to take you to the jungle in search of wildlife and bird species. The game drive exposes you to sightings of wildlife species like Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Giraffes, Kobs, Buffaloes, baboons, and many more.

After the game drive in Murchison Falls National Park, you then return to your lodge for lunch and refresh. Transfer for the boat cruise/launch trip to the bottom of the mighty Murchison Falls with spectacular views and a view of several aquatic species on the river banks. From the bottom of the falls, you then start the hike to the top of the falls. The hike lasts about 1 hour with scenic views and great photography experiences. At the top, you meet your driver-guide for transfer back to your lodge where you spend the night.

Drive time: 4-5 hours
Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation options: Luxury: Chobe Safari Lodge/Paraa safari Lodge, Midrange: Pakuba safari Lodge/Murchison River Lodge, Budget: Heritage safari Lodge/Red Chili Rest Camp

Day 13: Transfer to Royal Mile in Budongo Forest

From Murchison Falls National Park, you will transfer to the Royal Mile for bird watching. This is called the Royal Mile because it was the popular leisure spot for the traditional king. There is prolific birdlife in this spot with 2 bird species not found anywhere else in East Africa and 93 of the 144 Guinea-Congo Forests biome species recorded here. You spend the whole day birding along with this spot with a chance of spotting bird species like the Dwarf Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Olive-bellied Crombec,  Nahan’s Francolin, Little Crake, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Black-winged Red Bishop, Yellow-backed Weaver, and many more.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Budongo Eco Lodge

Day 14: Bird watching en route to Entebbe International Airport

Marking the end of your 14 Days birding safaris tour of Uganda, you will have breakfast at your lodge then embark on the drive back to Entebbe. Depending on your flight departure time, you drive while birding along the way. Your driver-guide will ensure drop off at the airport in Entebbe.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

End of 14 Days Uganda birding Safari Tour