20 Days Best of Uganda Bird Watching Safari
Uganda being a home to over 1000 bird species, the country is appreciated as the number one birding destination in African. This exceptional adventurous 20 days best of Uganda Bird watching safari is to experience Uganda’s rich birding life and also discover Uganda’s stunning rainforests and savanna landscapes.
Birding in Uganda is accessible within the protected areas and outside the protected areas and it is because of this nature Uganda and Birdlife international identified 34 spots as important birding destinations in Uganda. Bwindi Impenetrable national park is the best birding destination in Africa and also Queen Elizabeth national is the most populated birding destination in African with over 600 bird species inclusive of endemic species to Uganda.
These 20 days birding adventure in Uganda is doubled with wildlife expedition across all the Ugandan National parks. Key bird species include Nahan’s francolin, Masked Apalis, Western Nicator, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Brown Illadopsis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Crowned Eagle, Black Bee-eater, Ruwenzori Apalis, Northern bearded scrub-robin, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Black dwarf and Red-billed dwarf, Greenbuls Eastern bearded.
Sassi’s olive and Simple greenbuls, Red-eyed Puffback, Yellow-throated Nictor, Grant’s bluebill, and Black-winged Oriole, Lowland akalat, the Western bronze-naped pigeon, Piping Hornbill, Rufous-sided broadbill, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Xavier’s greenbul, Capuchin babbler, Red-billed helmet-shrike, Crested malimbe, Pale-fronted ant pecker, and many more.
Tour highlights
Birding Mabamba Wetland
Birding Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary
Rhino Tracking In Ziwa Rhinos Sanctuary
Birding the Northern Bank of Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Boat Cruise on the Victoria Nile
Game Viewing Drive in Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Rift Valley Escarpment in Murchison Falls National Park
Birding Roya Mile in Murchison Falls National Park
Chimpanzee and Primates Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Birding Kihigami Wetland Trail in Semiliki National Park
Birding Semiliki National Park
Birding Maramagambo Forest Reserve
Birding Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Ishasha Sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Game Viewing Drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Tree Climbing lions expedition in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding Buhoma Sector in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding Buhoma Nkuringo Trail In Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding Buniga Nobe Forest in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding in Lake Mburo National Park
Birding Nature Walk in Lake Mburo National Park
Equator Line Expedition in Uganda
Price Includes:
- Full time English professional safari driver guide
- 4×4 safari van/ 4×4 Safari land cruiser with
- Full board accommodation
- Gorilla trekking permit fees
- Boat cruise fees
- Wi-Fi Internet on board the safari vehicle
- Bottled water
Price Excludes:
- International &domestic flight fees
- Visa fees
- Laundry services
- Items of personal nature
- Gratuities and tips
- Other beverages/ drinks
- Other extras not mentioned in the itinerary above
Itinary in details
- Day1Arrival and transfer to the hotelUpon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you meet your birding safari Guide who will transfer you to your hotel and brief you about 20 days Bird watching adventure in Uganda. After that have some relaxation and later dinner and overnight stay.
- Day2Birding in Mabamba SwampsAfter your early breakfast, you’ll start your Ugandan Birding Safari and set off to the Mabamba swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is one of the few remaining wetlands in Uganda protected by the local communities. It is an extensive papyrus wetland, with a complex of channels and lagoons, and is home to several pairs of the rare Shoebill species, Uganda’s most famous bird resident. This charismatic monotypic genus species is certainly among the most liked birds in Africa, and shall make special efforts today to look for it by paddling through the channels by a canoe. This comes along with a good selection of classic East African water birds to spot along the way like Pink backed Pelican, , Squacco Heron, Yellow billed Duck, Long tailed Cormorant, Malachite Kingfisher, Long toed Plover, , Blue breasted Bee eater, Blue headed Coucal among other. Transfer back to Entebbe botanical gardens in search for birds like African open billed Stork, African Green Pigeon, Grey Kestrel , Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Swifts, Sunbirds, Red-headed Lovebird, Weavers, Finches and other birds. Transfer back t the hotel for dinner and overnight stay.
- Day3Transfer to Ziwa Rhino SanctuaryAfter your early morning breakfast, start another day of the Uganda birding safari with a transit to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, upon arrival check in and have lunch and some relaxation, set out for the rest of the afternoon looking out for birds like Western Banded Snake Eagle, Long crested Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Crested Francolin, Blue naped Mousebird, White crested Turaco, Grey headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, White headed Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Cardinal Woodpecker, Double toothed Barbet , Grey Woodpecker, Brown throated Wattle eye, Black headed Gonolek, Sulphur breasted Bush shrike, Hartlaub’s Marsh Widowbird, Tropical Boubou among other birds.
- Day4Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary and Transfer to Murchison Falls National ParkAfter your breakfast, today start your birding safari day in Ziwa Rhino sanctuary with a look out for birds like Western Banded Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Long crested Eagle, , Lizard Buzzard, Crested Francolin, White-crested Turaco, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Thick billed Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, African Scops Owl, Pearl spotted Owlet, Red chested Cuckoo, Square tailed Nightjar, Swamp Nightjar, Black shouldered Nightjar, Blue naped Mousebird, Slender tailed Nightjar , Green Wood hoopoe, Woodland Kingfisher, African Hoopoe, White headed Barbet, Double toothed Barbet, Grey headed Kingfisher, Nubian Woodpecker among other bird species. Have lunch and depart Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary bird as you travel to Murchison Falls National Park via the top of the falls. Have a short tour around the top of the falls from where you can walk down to the river’s bank and see the waters as they are forced through a narrow gorge and plunge down 45 meters in a majestic cascade into the Victoria Nile. Looking for birds like Raptors, Rock Pratincole, White crested Turaco, Crested Francolin, White-headed Barbet, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silverbird, Narina Trogon, Red-cheeked Cordon blue, Finches, Sunbirds, Waxbills, Canaries and other birds.
- Day5Birding Tour In Murchison Falls National ParkAfter an early morning breakfast, proceed for a game and birding drive getting back during the lunch hour. Immediately after lunch, transfer to Paraa northern bank for the boat cruise towards the bottom of the fall, and there is an opportunity to spot hundreds of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a variety of avian life. Anticipate seeing birds like Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Rock Pratincole, Swallow tailed Bee Eater, Black headed Plover, Black billed Barbet, Spotted Morning Thrush, Red throated Bee eater, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle fronted Weaver, and other bird species, alonside animals like the graceful Rothschild Giraffe, mpalas, Jackson’s Hartebeest, olive baboons, Uganda Kob, Defassa Waterbuck, Cape Buffaloes, African Elephants, Warthog, Hippos, Oribi and cats like leopard, Lion and many more.
- Day6Transfer To Masindi Via The Rift Valley EscarpmentAfter your breakfast, embark on your way back to Masindi driving via the rift valley escarpment where you will have good scenic views of Lake Albert. We shall have a birding walk at the escarpment before continuing to Busingiro Forest Centre if time allows. Do birding around the vicinity and the road, expect to see birds like Striped Kingfisher, Cliff Chat, Spotted Morning Thrush, Swallow tailed Bee-eater, Northern Crombec, Rattling Cisticola, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Red-faced Crombec, Black-headed Batis, Red-winged Ptyalin, Black-faced Waxbill , Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, and other birds. Continue to Hoima town for dinner and overnight.
- Day7Birding in the Royal Mile and Transfer to Kibale Forest National ParkAfter an early morning breakfast, and head out for the birding expedition around the Royal mile. We shall look out for birds like the African Crowned Eagle, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Heuglin’s Francolin, Dwarf Kingfisher, White thighed Hornbill, Yellow crested Woodpecker, Brown eared Woodpecker, a Selection of Tinkerbirds and Barbets Greenbuls, Fire crested Alethe, Lemon bellied Crombec, Rufus crowned Eremomela, Red tailed Ant thrush,Whistling Cisticola, Black throated Apalis, Black capped Apalis, Forest Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, Red bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Chestnut capped Flycatcher, Grey throated Flycatcher, Purple headed Starling, Brown Twinspot Western Black headed Oriole, among other birds. Primates like Blue Monkey, Black and white Colobus Monkey, Red tailed Monkey, among others. Continue to Kibale National Park via fort potal town.
- Day8Birding Day In Kibale Forest National Park.After your breakfast, you’ll go birding in the vicinity of the dense Kibale Forest looking out for the Green breasted Pitta and other avian life like Yellow billed Barbet, Black-billed Turaco, Narina Trogon, African Emerald Cuckoo, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat, Chestnut Wattle eye, Narrow-tailed Staring, Sabine’s Spinetail, among other bird species and primates like Red Colobus, Grey-cheeked Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Black and white Colobus, Red-tailed Monkey, L’Hoest’s Monkey and many more. After that continue with your birding activity to Bigodi wetland and later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
- Day9Birding in Kihigami wetland and Transfer Semiliki National ParkOn this day after breakfast, your birding safari guide will drive you to Kihingami Wetland 12km from Fort Portal town for the wild nature walk around the Swamp. This is a home to the White spoted flufftail a very shy bird species.Other birds to be seen include Red headed bluebill, Red bellied paradise flycatcher Black and white shrike fly catcher. Continue to the Semliki Valley National Park for the afternoon nature walk within the park. Birds to be seen are White thighed hornbill, White crested hornbill, Black casqued wattled hornbill, and Dwarf hornbill and later proceed to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
- Day10Birding Semiliki National ParkWake upearly in the morning for the Nature walk and birding adventure within the Semliki National Park. In case the shoebill stork was not successfully seen in Mabamba Swamp, it would be possible to again look out for this species in the Semliki -Toro Game Reserve at Ntoroko valley.
- Day11Birding in Queen Elizabeth National ParkThe 20 days best of Uganda birding safari will take you for another 3 hour roadtrip to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Park is the most visited in Uganda and largest national park in Uganda, and ranks highest with respect to overall diversity, with a bird species list of about 600 species. The park has a range of habitats from moist forest at Maramagambo to wild savannah excellent for Lions, Leopards, African Elephants, Hyenas, Ugandan Kobs, olive Baboons, Giant Hogs, Warthog, cape buffalos among others. Look out for bird species like White spotted Flufftail, African Emerald Cuckoo, Yellow-billed Barbet, Black-billed Turaco, Kingfishers, Cisiticolas, Shrikes, Lesser Striped Swallow, Starlings, Widowbirds among other bird species.
- Day12Birding in Queen Elizabeth National ParkOn this day immediately after your breakfast, we will head out for a game drive and birding adventure coming back in time for lunch and in the afternoon set for the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, to spot a variety of wildlife species, hundreds of hippos, Nile crocodile and avian life. Look out for bird species like Pelicans, Storks, African Spoonbill, Green-backed Heron, Kittlitz’s Plover, Senegal Plover, Larks, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Wattled Plover, Babblers, Sunbirds, Weavers, Widowbirds, Weavers, among others. Look out for wildlife species like Uganda Kob, Bushbuck, Defassa Water buck, Cape Buffaloes, Nile Elephants, Warthog, and cats leopard, spotted Hyena and Lion among others.
- Day13Queen Elizabeth National park and Ishasha Sector Birding Activity.After an early morning breakfast, head out for birding maramagambo area around Lake Nyamusingiri looking out for bird species like Black Bee Eater, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Brown-eared Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Snowy-capped Robin-Chat, Honeyguide Greenbul, Red-colored Widowbird, Buff-throated Apalis, among other bird species. Dinner and overnight stay in Ishasha Sector
- Day14Birding Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkAfter your breakfast, your birding safari guide will transfer you to Bwindi Impenetrable national park. This vast reserve offers the most productive montane forest birding in Africa and is a home to 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine valley endemic bird species. Once part of a larger forest that included the Virunga Volcanoes in the neighboring Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Look out for bird species like Raptors, Bee Eaters, Barbets, Tinkerbirds, Kingfishers, Woodpeckers, Apalises, Swallows, Larks, Honeyguide Greenbul, Cisiticolas, Pipits, Chats, Shrikes, Starlings, Widowbirds, Shrikes, among other birds.
- Day15Bwindi Impenetrable forest National ParkOn this day, with your birding Safari guide, commence with traverse of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park on 14km walk from the Buhoma trail towards Nkuringo sector. This walk is for the birding enthusiast and a must do activity in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Look out for bird species like bee-eater, Bar-tailed trogon, and Western green tinker bird among others. After the activity you will embark on the 2 hours drive to Ruhija sector for your overnight stay.
- Day16Birding in Rushaga sector Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkOn this day embark on the drive to Rushaga sector of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Forest around the waterfall trail within the Park, this is a unique birding spot in a gorgeous wrap of the dense forest, Here you are able to spot the Yellow eyed black flycatcher, Regal sunbird, Banded prinia, Short tailed warbler which is Albertine rift valley endemic.
- Day17Birding in Buniga and Nombe forestAfter Breakfast, drive to the Nombe pocket forest near Nkuringo sector to take on another birding safari experience in another sector of Bwindi impenetrable forest national park. The location has been well appreciated by guests looking for Bwindi Forest specialties. Here you will be able to spot the Purple breasted sunbird, Stripe breasted tit, Doherty’s bush shrike and Rwenzori double collared sunbird. After you lunch have an evening bird watching along the road adjacent the nearby Buniga pocket forest outside the village of Nkuringo and later head o the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
- Day18Transfer to Lake Mburo National ParkAfter your breakfast, transfer to Lake Mburo National Park. You will have a chance to stop at Echuya Forest for another birding adventure and later we proceed to Lake Mburo national park. This park has a wide range of vegetation cover from open Acacia woodlands to various papyrus lined lakes and swamps. We will continue with our adventure this afternoon in Lake Mburo National Park where we will be looking out for bird species like Bateleur, Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove,Blue-napped Mousebird, African Grey Hornbill, Yellow-breasted Apalis, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Spot-flanked Barbet, White-napped Raven, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed Waxbill and Fork tailed Drongo, among other birds.
- Day19Birding in Lake Mburo National ParkWhole day birding in Lake Mburo National Park looking out for bird species like the Bateleur, Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Brown Parrot, Black-bellied Bustard, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, African Grey Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Blue-napped Mousebird, Long tailed Cisticola, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Long tailed Cisticola, among other birds. Alongside mammals like the gorgeous Eland, Impala, Cape Buffalo, zebras, Reedbuck, Waterbuck Bushbuck, Topi, Hippos, Oribi, Bush-duiker, giraffes and others.
- Day20Transfer Kampala or EntebbeTransfer to Kampala or Entebbe, after breakfast with your luggage, arrive in Entebbe in the afternoon. Look out for birds like Bateleur, Crested Francolin, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Lilac-breasted Roller,Brown Parrot, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, , African Grey Hornbill, Spot-flanked Barbet, Blue-napped Mousebird Striped Kingfisher, Golden-backed Weaver and many more. Drive to the lodge in Entebbe for refreshments before we proceed to Entebbe international airport for our departure flight.
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