15 Days Uganda Birding Safari

15 Days Uganda Birding Safari

The 15 days Uganda birding safari is one of the best birding experience where you will have an incredible birding experience of a lifetime at the pearl of Africa. The trip starts in the botanical gardens and wildlife education center and proceed to Murchison falls conservations through the budongo forest, royal mile, busingiro and Murchison falls national park. You will also experience birding along the Albertine region as you head to Kibale forest as another birding destination.  The safari proceeds to Queen Elizabeth national park, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Lake Mburo national park.

As you get to see the various bird species you will get to participate in other activities like gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, nature walks and meeting the locals as well.

Birding destinations

Botanical gardens

Botanical gardens were established in 1901 and strategically located on the shores of Africa’s greatest Lake, Victoria. The gardens are a highly attractive destination to birdwatchers. Some of the bird species include Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Yellow-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, African Open-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black Crake, Long-tailed Cormorant, Crowned Hornbill, Vieillot’ Black Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, the Africa and Red-billed Firefinch, Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill, Senegal Coucal, Little Stint, Little Weaver, Striated Heron, Ruff, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern,  Diederik ,Cuckoos, Tambourine Dove, Little and Tooro Olive Greenbul, Water Thick-knee, Egyptian Goose, Black-headed Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Long-tailed Sterling, Grey-Headed Sparrow, the Spur-winged Lapwings among others.

The Uganda Wildlife Conservation Education Center

Popularly known as Entebbe Zoo, is a conservation center where all animals found but speaking of bird species you will be in position to see the various bird species rare shoebill, great blue turaco, giant kingfisher, African grey parrot, ostrich, crested crane, pink backed pelican, grey crowned crane, black heron, papyrus gonolek among others.

Mabamba swamp

You will then be transferred to Masindi via Mabamba bay- shoebill stork. Proceed to Mabamba swamp about 50 kms west of Kampala and on your way you will get to see the exceptional shoebill stork and other bird species like grey herons, jacanas, purple and goliath heron, egrets, ducks, papyrus gonolek, white winged warbler, squaco, among others.  Drive to Masindi via the luwero triangle and on your way you will get to see bird species like white headed barbet, grey capped warbler, red throated bee eater, black headed weaver, black headed batis, brown throated wattled eye, brown twin spot, and banbed snake eagle among others.

Budongo forest

Furthermore, you will head to budongo forest and experience birding along the royal mile where you will get to spot various bid species like the Nahans francolin, great blue and black billed turaco, Ituri batis, red chested cuckoo, blue throated roller, chestnut wattle eye, yellow throated tinker bird, grey parrot, blue breasted kingfisher, crowned eagle, Jameson’s wattle eye, collared sunbird, ross’s turaco among others.

Murchison falls national park

Moving forward you will then proceed to Murchison falls national park and have the birding experience in the northern sector of the park and the park itself since the park has over 400 bird species including swamp flycatcher, Senegal thick knee, shoebill stork, grey crowned crane, black headed lapwing, silver bird, giant kingfisher, malachite kingfisher, goliath heron, black billed barbet, eastern grey plantain eater among others.

Kibale National Park

Kibale National Park is your next location and it is located in Western Uganda in Kabarole district and it was established in 1993 and has more than 300 species of birds including olive long tailed cuckoo, western tinker bird, grey parrot, blue breasted king fisher, blue headed sunbird, red faced woodland, yellow spotted nicator, little greenbul, dusky crimson wing, red faced woodland warbler, collared Apalis, Nahan’s Francolin, great blue turaco, purple breasted sunbird, black bee eater, papyrus gonolek among other bird species.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Established in 1052 and is located in south western Uganda in rubirizi district has over 600 Bird species like the African skimmer, rare saddle billed stork, grey headed kingfisher, African mourning dove, African crowned eagle, Nubian woodpecker, swamp flycatcher, grey capped warbler, little bee eater, pam nut vulture, pel’s fishing owl, collared pratincole, rare shoebill, great white pelican, great blue turaco, yellow throated cuckoo, African fin foot among other bird species.

Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Located in south western Uganda in kanugu district and was established in 1991best known for mountain gorillas but also has over 350 bird species like handsome francolin, purple sunbird, red headed blue bill, African blue cuckoo, regal sunbird, breasted sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimson, cinnamon chested bee eater, African green pigeon, crowned hornbill, giant kingfisher, African harrier hawk, black billed turaco, black bee eater, African broadbill among other bird species.

Lake Mburo national park

Located in southern part of Uganda in Kiruhura district and was established in 1993. It is a home to over 350 bird species like the black bellied bustard, bare-faced-go away bird, African wattled lapwing, pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Saddle-billed stork, Red-faced barbet, and Yellow-breasted apalis, African wattled lapwing · Bare-faced go-away bird, Greater painted-snipe, Saddle-billed stork among other bird species.

Day 1: Pick up from Entebbe International Airport – Drive to Botanical gardens

On your day 1 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari, you will be picked up at the airport by our professional driver guide from Paradise Adventure Vacations who will meet and greet you, he will give you a briefing about your Safari and thereafter transfer you to botanical gardens which is a highly attractive destination to birdwatchers. Some of the bird species include Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Yellow-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, African Open-billed Stork, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Black Crake, Long-tailed Cormorant, Crowned Hornbill, Vieillot’ Black Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, the Africa and Red-billed Fire finch, Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill among others, later you will proceed to your hotel for dinner and an overnight.

Location: Entebbe International Airport

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 2: Drive to Mabamba Swamp for Shoebill – Drive to Murchison falls National Park

You wake up with a hearty breakfast on day 2 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari and proceed to Mabamba Swamp which is west of Entebbe. Get to see the exceptional shoebill stork and other bird species like grey herons, jacanas, purple and goliath heron, egrets, ducks, papyrus gonolek, white winged warbler, squaco, among others. Then drive to Murchison falls National Park with a lunch stopover and then proceed to the park where you will have dinner and overnight.

Location: Budongo Eco Lodge

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 3: Murchison falls National Park – Birding in budongo forest

Upon waking up on day 3 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari you will have a delicious breakfast you will then depart to budongo forest with packed lunch and experience birding along the royal mile a truly spectacular road with forest canopy towering far ahead. While here you will get to spot various bid species like the Nahans francolin, great blue and black billed turaco, Ituri batis, red chested cuckoo, blue throated roller, chestnut wattle eye, yellow throated tinker bird, grey parrot, blue breasted kingfisher, crowned eagle, Jameson’s wattle eye, collared sunbird, ross’s turaco among others. You will then drive back to the lodge for rest, dinner and overnight stay.

Location: Budongo Eco Lodge

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 4:  Murchison Falls National Park – Birding in Budongo Kaniyo pabidi – Hike to top of the falls – Optional Night Game Drive

On waking up on day 4 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari, you will have your lovely breakfast and thereafter you will carry out birding at Kaniyo pabidi forest in search for the puvel’s Illadopsises. You will have your lunch and thereafter hike to top of the falls for another birding experience.

OR You can Opt for a Night Game Drive which comes at an Extra Cost of $100 per person. This drive is done with an armed ranger guide and also spotlight torches which will enable you spot the predators as they hunt like hyenas, leopards, lions, bush babies, hippos among others.

Location: Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 5: Murchison Falls National Park – Launch Cruise to Delta point and Bottom of the fall  

Day 5 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari will have a delicious breakfast and thereafter you will go on a boat cruise to the Delta point to see the shoebill, other birds will be red-throated and Northern Carmine Bee-eater.  You will then have a hearty lunch and thereafter you will go on a Boat Cruise upstream to the bottom of the falls and it will take about 3 hours, while on the cruise, you will see the Nile crocodiles resting under the shade, herds of hippos while in water, elephants swimming and drinking water at the water banks and also for the bird lovers, be on the lookout for the different bird species like the black bee eater, grey crowned crane, marabou stork, Malachite kingfisher, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Long-tailed nightjar, Senegal thick-knee, Black-headed lapwing, Long-toed lapwing , Black-billed barbet,  and many others.

Location: Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 6:  Drive to Kibale Forest National Park – Bigodi wetland and Community Visit

After your heavy morning breakfast on day 6 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari, you will drive to Kibale National park which is located in Western region of Uganda in Kabarole district. This drive will take about 5 hours and it will offer you magnificent scenic views of Uganda’s landscape as you drive to the park. Enroute to your destination, you will have a lunch stopover in Fort Portal Tourism City.

Proceed to the park’s Bigodi wetland for a swamp walk and during this walk you will spot some butterfly species and birds like the Black-crowned Waxbill, White-spotted Fluff tail, White-breasted Negrofinch, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Black Bishop, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Black & white Shrike-flycatcher, Western Nicator, Superb Sunbird, among others. You will then proceed for a community walk where you will see and taste the Gins brewed from bananas, craft making, coffee processing, and then you will return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.

Location: Kibale Forest National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 7: Kibale Forest National Park – Chimpanzee Tracking

Wake up early morning for a heavy breakfast and start Day 7 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari. Wear appropriate clothing like long sleeved shirt, a pair of karky or jean trousers, a round cap, water proof boots and a heavy sweater to protect you from the falling tree branches and also in case of bad weather.  Also carry in your back packs some snacks and drinking water to help keep you hydrated during the trek since it may take about 1 to 7 hours to find the Chimpanzees depending on their location. Then you will proceed to Kanyachu Visitor center for a briefing about the Do’s and the Don’ts of the park, while here, you will be assigned a Park ranger who will take you through the forest and also a chimpanzee family to look out for.

During the trek, you will spot primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, the red tailed monkeys, olive baboons, red colobus monkeys, grey cheeked mangabeys, L’Hoest’s monkey, Mantled guereza, Potto, Vervet monkey, White-eyelid mangabey, Galago among others and also various bird species like olive long-tailed cuckoo, western tinker bird, blue headed sunbird, red faced woodland, grey parrot, yellow spotted nicator, little greenbul, blue breasted king fisher, among other bird species. You will also spot mammal species like the African elephants, the bush pigs, warthogs, forest hogs, forest cape buffaloes among others. Upon finding the chimpanzees, you will have a one hour encounter with them while learning their behaviors, social life, how they feed and play, feel free to ask the park ranger as many questions as possible. Later you will return to your accommodation for lunch and relaxation as you await dinner and an overnight.

Location: Kibale Forest National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 8: Drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Evening Game drive

Your day 8 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari will start with a delicious breakfast and thereafter you will drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park which is about 2 hours from Kibale National park. You will check into your accommodation for a hearty lunch and then spend your afternoon relaxing. Later in the evening you will go for an Evening game drive in the different trails of the park where you will see mammals like leopards, elephants, lions, buffaloes, warthogs, bush bucks, bush pigs among others. You will return back for your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 9: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Birding in Kasenyi plains – Launch Cruise on Kazinga Channel

Day 9 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari will start with a hot breakfast and thereafter you will go birding in Kasenyi plains. This drive will expose you to bird species like yellow throated long crow, grey crowned cranes, red throat spur flow, white-backed vultures, white-headed vultures and also some mammal species like Topis, serval cats, cape buffaloes, lions, bush barks, side stripped jackals among others.

You will return for your hearty lunch and then later head out for an afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. While on the cruise, you will view the herds of hippos taking in water, elephant’s drinking water on the banks of the Kazinga channel, Nile crocodiles resting in the shade at the shores and also various bird species like the martial eagle, grey crowned crane, African green pigeon, and handsome francolin among other bird species. We shall then return back to the lodge for dinner and an overnight.

Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 10: Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National park through Ishasha sector

Day 10 of your 15 days Uganda birding safari will start with an early morning breakfast and then you will check out of your accommodation to proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park which is located south of Queen Elizabeth National Park and it will take about 5 hours to reach the Northern sector of Buhoma. During your journey out of Queen Elizabeth, you will drive through Ishasha sector to search for the tree climbing lions and other wildlife like Topis, Aardvark, lions, elephants, monkeys, Uganda kobs, Hippos, leopards, water buck among others which are found in this sector of the park and then have a lunch stopover in Kihihi and proceed to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for dinner and an overnight.

Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 11: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Optional Gorilla Trekking – Birding in Buhoma

Upon waking up by the beautiful sounds of the birds singing in the sky, you will start your day 11 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari with an early morning breakfast. If you opt for the trek, you will then wear appropriate clothing for the day like a long sleeved shirt, a pair of karky or jean trousers, a round cap, water proof boots to protect you against the falling tree branches of the Impenetrable forest and also in case of bad weather. Pack some snacks and water to help in keeping you hydrated during the trek.

Optional Gorilla Trekking

Proceed to the park’s headquarters for a briefing on the Do’s and the Don’ts while you are with the mountain gorillas, you will also be assigned a park ranger who will guide you during the trek and also a gorilla family to look out for and then start the search for the mountain gorillas which will take about 1 to 5 hours depending on their location.

During your trek, you will encounter various primate species like the black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, grey mangabeys, and blue monkeys and also bird species like handsome francolin, red headed blue bill, regal sunbird, breasted sunbird, African blue cuckoo, Rwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimson, purple sunbird among other bird species. On finding the gorillas, you will be allowed to spend only one hour with them as you learn about their ways of life, how they feed and take care of their young ones, how they communicate among others. Feel free to ask as many questions as possible about these gorillas and take memorable pictures and then you will return back to your accommodation for lunch.

Birding in Buhoma

If you opt for birding in Buhoma, you will proceed with the activity along the Buhoma Waterfall Trail which is a must – visit for bird lovers as you can spot the White-tailed Ant Thrush, splendid Black Bee-eater, dapper francolin, Yellow-eyed Black, and African Sooty Flycatchers along the green bamboo zone.  You will later return to your accommodation for lunch and later await dinner and an overnight.

Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 12: Drive to Lake Mburo National Park – Night Game drive

You will wake up early morning and have breakfast on day 12 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari and then drive to Lake Mburo National Park where you will have your delicious lunch and relaxation as you await a Night game drive. Go with an armed park ranger and spotlight torches to help you see nocturnals hunting and feeding on their prey like hyenas, hares, porcupine, honey badgers, white tailed mongoose, jackals, serval cats, bush pigs, civets, galagos, leopards and also hippos while grazing on short grass. Then return back to your accommodation for dinner and an overnight.

Location: Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 13: Lake Mburo National Park – Morning Game drive – Boat Ride

On waking up on day 13 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari, you will have your breakfast and thereafter proceed for a morning game drive within the park which will expose you to different wildlife like zebras, giraffes, Elands, impalas, buffalos, Defassa waterbucks, oribis, leopards, hippos, hyenas, Topis and reedbuck among others.  You will then embark on a boat ride where you will see various bird species like black bellied bustard, bare-faced-go away bird, African wattled lapwing, pied kingfisher, Malachite kingfisher, Saddle-billed stork, Red-faced barbet, and Yellow-breasted apalis, African wattled lapwing, Bare-faced go-away bird, Greater painted-snipe, and Saddle – billed stork among other bird species.  You will then return back for your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 14: Lake Mburo National Park – Nature walk or Horse Ride – Relaxation

Upon waking up on your day 14 of the 15 days Uganda birding safari, you will have an early morning heavy breakfast and then you will proceed for a Nature walk or horse riding within the park which will take about 2 to 3 hours, this experience in Lake Mburo national park will take you off the main paths and you will go deep into the bush trails to enjoy the park and see herds of zebras, giraffes, Elands, impalas, buffalos, Defassa waterbucks, oribis, leopards, hippos, hyenas, Topis and reedbuck among others.  You will then have lunch and relaxation as you await your dinner and an overnight.

Location: Lake Mburo National Park

Accommodation Option:

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

Day 15: Drive to Entebbe International Airport or your Hotel with a stopover at the Equator

On your final day of the 15 days Uganda birding safari, you will have your delicious breakfast and thereafter drive to Entebbe International Airport or your Hotel with a lunch stopover enroute to your destination and also a brief stopover at the Equator for picture moments and a few activities if time allows. Thank you so much for specifically choosing Paradise Adventure Vacations on 15 days Uganda birding safari!!!

Location: Kampala (City)

Accommodation Option: No 

Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner

Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

The Safari Package Includes:

• Return airport transfers (pick up and drop off)
• Private transport for 15 days in a well-modified safari Extended land-cruiser (4WD,air-conditioned and pop-up roof)
• Fuel for 15 days
• English safari driver guide for 15 days
• Mid-range accommodation for 14 nights on full board (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
• All en-route meals and bottled mineral water throughout your tour
• All park entrance and activities feel and all applicable government taxes
• Night game in Lake Mburo National Park
• Bigodi sanctuary swamp and community safari
• 1 Chimpanzee Trekking permit per person (Kibale forest national park)
• 1 Mountain gorilla trekking permit per person in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park (Buhoma sector )
• A visit to the Equator land mark
• Batwa Community Encounter
• Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
• Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey

The Safari Package Excludes:

• Night Game drive in Murchison falls National Park at an Extra $100 per person
• International and domestic flights
• Country entry visa
• Personal travel insurance
• Items of personal nature/laundry/telephone charges
• Souvenirs and gifts, Tips
• Alcoholic and other soft drinks (sodas, special juice order at the lodge and wines)

Special Deals on African Safari 2024-2025 (Rates Per Person in USD)

Our Safari Vehicles Seating Plan - 4x4 Safari Land Cruiser Extended

All our Safari vehicles are Toyota Land-cruiser 4×4 with pop-up roofs. The vehicles are serviced and maintained to a very high standard before, during and after every safari. Paradise Adventure Vacations Ltd offering all-wheel drive safari vehicles suitable for off-road driving, which enable travelers to discover the magical areas of East Africa in a pleasant and reliable manner.

Our fleet consists of 4×4 Toyota Land cruisers with a hinged roof and skylights above the front seats. The hinged roof offers two main advantages: it provides shade without restricting the view, so that you can enjoy your safari even in the very sunny hours of the day. It also allows a 360-degree all-round view.

Our Vehicles Are Equipped With:

• Adjustable comfortable seats
• Electric refrigerator for drinks
• High-performance shock absorbers
• Tool & first aid kit
• Adapters and battery chargers

Due to the difficult ground and road conditions inside and outside the national parks and wildlife reserves, a four-wheel drive vehicle is not only recommended, but also crucial for an eventful safari.

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