17 Days Uganda Birding Safaris
The 17 days Uganda Birding Safari takes you to the wonderful must see Uganda Bird Watching destinations. The tour has been purposely structured to ensure high bird species count and our interest will be the Albertine rift endemics in Uganda. The tour offers stunning landscapes and fantastic sightings.
Birding destinations
Mabamba Swamp
Our first birding site will be Mabamba Swamp, the best place to see rare Shoebill Storks in Uganda. Apart from the rare shoebill, there are many other bird species to see on this tour such as Allen’s and Purple Gallinule, Grey herons, Jacanas, Ruffaus Bellied Heron, Squaco, Purple and Goliath Heron, Globally threatened Pallid Harrier and Blue Swallow a migrant species, egrets, ducks etc.
Lake Mburo National Park
Thereafter, you will visit Lake Mburo National Park which is located in the Southern part of Uganda in Kiruhura district. The park is known for its large herds of zebras, Impalas, Elands, Topis, and buffaloes among other species. The park is home to over 68 mammal species like zebras, elands, impalas, buffalos, Defassa waterbuck, oribis, leopard, hippo, hyena, and reedbuck. Here, you will encounter the 350 bird species including the Red faced barbet (only seen here), African Fin Foot, mosque swallow, black bellied bustard, bare-faced-go away bird, Ruppell’s starling, African wattled lapwing, pied kingfisher, greater painted snipe, brown chested wattled plover, Abyssinian ground hornbill, African fish eagle, saddle billed stork, white winged warbler, rare shoebill stork, papyrus yellow warbler, Malachite kingfisher, Yellow-breasted apalis among others.
Mgahinga National park
Moving forward, you will visit Mgahinga Gorilla the smallest National Park in Uganda. It is located in the virunga ranges Kisoro district. Mgahinga Gorilla National Park boosts of being the only park in Uganda where one can trek the Golden monkeys and also the Silverback Gorillas. The park boosts of about 76 mammal species including forest elephants, buffaloes, bushbucks, black fronted duikers, giant forest hogs, golden cats, bush pigs, rodents, bats and also it is a home to 180 bird species including the rift Albertine Endemics these include handsome spurfowl, dusky crimson-wing, red-throated alethe, Kivu ground thrush, Rwenzori turaco, Rwenzori batiks, Rwenzori double-collared sunbird, collared apalis, mountain masked apalis, Archer’s ground robin, stripe-breasted tit, blue-headed sunbird, regal sunbird, strange weaver, montane nightjar, red-faced woodland warbler and Grauer’s swamp warbler.
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
After Mgahinga National Park, you will then visit Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (UNESCOs World Heritage Site) is the best birding spot is Africa. The Park is located in South Western Uganda. The park is home to half of the World’s population of Mountain Gorillas which gives a great opportunity for Gorilla Trekking and Habituation in the park’s sectors like Nkuringo, Buhoma, Ruhija and Rushaga. The park harbors 120 mammal species like Elephants, duikers, yellow-backed duiker, buffaloes, golden cats, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, black-fronted Duiker, clawless More than 350 bird species have been recorded with 23 out of 24 Albertine Rift endemics which include African Green Broadbill, regal sunbird, handsome francolin, purple sunbird, red headed blue bill, African blue cuckoo , breasted sunbird, Ruwenzori turaco, Shelley’s crimson, African green pigeon, African harrier hawk, Cinnamon-chested bee-eater, Crowned hornbill, Giant kingfisher etc.
Rwenzori mountains National Park
From there, you will Visit Rwenzori mountains National Park also known as” mountains of the moon”. It is located in Western Uganda. Its highest peak is Mt. Stanley’s margherita peak with 5109m, which is the third highest in Africa. It was named by UNESCO as a world heritage site in 1994. The journey to the peak is breathtaking as you pass various beauty points of forests, valleys, flora diversity, and scenery of the mountains, streams of water and various lakes. Rwenzori National Park provides refuge to over 70 species of mammals such as leopards, forest elephants, and Chimpanzees, the engendered species include the Rwenzori duiker, three horned chameleons as well as Rwenzori range frog. With over 217 bird species like Rwenzori turaco, rwenzori batis, handsome francolin, Strange Weaver, Archers’ Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, Montane Sooty Boubou, Slender-billed Starling, Lagden’s Bush Shrike, malachite sunbird, long tailed cuckoo, long eared owl, Bamboo Warbler, Golden-winged Sunbird, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird etc.
Semuliki National park
A low land forest park located in Western Uganda a district of Bundibugyo. Semuliki National park is great for game viewing, since it has about 53 mammal species like forest elephants, buffaloes, bush babies, antelopes, warthogs, vervet monkeys, chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys and more than 400 bird species like Red throated bee eater, king fisher, yellow throated cuckoo, piping hornbill, red-sided broadbill, capuchin babbler, blue-headed flycatcher, red-billed helmet-shrike, crested malimbe, and Chestnut-breasted negro-finch among others. That call for bird-watching safaris. Semuliki National Park is such is a birder paradise.
Day 1: Entebbe International Airport – Arrival for the Uganda Birding Tour
The 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari starts with a pick up from Entebbe International Airport where our professional driver guide will warmly welcome you to the Pearl of Africa thereafter, he will transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe where you will spend the rest of the day relaxing. Depending on your arrival time, you have an opportunity to visit to Uganda Wildlife Education center (UWEC) formerly known as the Zoo. This has attracted over 170 species of wild birds 10 species of Weavers such as the rare Northern Masked Weaver, Golden Backed, African paradise, Baglafect Northern Brown Throated, Grosbeak, Black Necked and many others. 5 species of flycatchers, Red bellied, Crested shrike flycatcher, Lead colored, Swamp flycatcher, and many others. Encounter Raptors such as the Gabar Goshawk, small banded snake Eagle, Shikra, African Goshawk, African Fish Eagle, African Hobby and many more species. Dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Papyrus Guest House or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 2: Birding Mabamba Swamp for Shoebill stork – Transfer to Lake Mburo national park
Wake up early in the morning for your delicious breakfast and start your day 2 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari with a drive southwards to Mabamba Swamp Wetland located on the fringes of Lake Victoria. On reaching the swamp, you will embark on a canoe ride in search for the incredible Shoebills that are usually found patching in the floating vegetation or flying in the air. We’ll also see a variety of other bird species like swamp flycatcher, African pygmy goose, herons, egrets, ducks, plovers, gulls, Kingfishers, warbler, swallows etc. The Mabamba birding site also offers a large selection of other bird species which might include rare Lesser Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, etc. After here, transfer to Lake Mburo national park to continue birding. You will have a stopover at the Equator for lunch and photography.
Location: Lake Mburo National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Rwakobo Rock or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 3: Lake Mburo National Park – Birding on Boat cruise and Game drive and Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After an early morning breakfast on Day 3 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari, we will head out for a game drive and also boat cruise for 2 hours on Lake Mburo. Birding whilst on a game drive in the park and a boat ride on Lake Mburo will increase our chances to see animals like buffalos, water and bush bucks, zebras, leopard, mongoose, Topi, warthogs and Impalas. Birds include African Fin foot, white-backed night heron, Giant Kingfisher, Black Collard Barbet, Malachite Kingfisher etc. Thereafter, move to the open grassland north of the camp, particularly along the Zebra Track, it’s worth exploring species such as Coqui Francolin, Red-necked Spur fowl, Black-bellied Bustard, Temminck’s Courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous-Naped and lapped Larks, Rufous-chested Swallow, Yellow-throated Long claw and Southern Red Bishop. Thereafter, you will have lunch and then transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Location: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Travellers Rest Hotel or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 4: Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After an early hot breakfast on Day 4 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari, drive to Ntebeko Camp from where we shall start our birding as we trek to one of the most scenic areas in Uganda. We take the gorge trail that loops half way up Mt. Sabinyo, through a variety of montane habitats habouring the Dusky Turtle Dove, Rwenzori Turaco, Cape Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, White-eyed Slaty and White Tailed Blue Flycatcher, Olive Wood-pecker, White-starred Robin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-napped Raven, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Yellow-crowned Canary, Streaky and Thick Billed Seedeater on our birding today we shall have a bigger focus on the shy Shelly’s Crimson-wing among other birds. Dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Travellers Rest Hotel or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 5: Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Mgahinga gorilla national park has about 180 bird species which include Albertine rift endemics. Today we traverse a variety of montane habitats along the Gorge trail seeking out the different bird species unique to this region. The species to search for include; The Dusky Turtle Dove, Cape Robin-chat, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Bronze Sunbird, Black-headed Waxbill and Streaky Seedeater. While on your day 5 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari , we may encounter the Handsome Francolin, Kivu Ground Thrush and Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, White Starred Robin, Greater Double collard Sunbird, Rwenzori Turcaco, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin Chat, Olive Pigeon, and Black headed waxbill, Western Green Tinker bird, Malachite Sunbird, Cape Robin. Dinner and overstay.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Gorilla Mist Camp or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 6: Birding to Ruhija sector and Mubwindi Swamp in Bwindi impenetrable Forest National Park
Bwindi Impenetrable forest is the richest forest in East Africa in relation to its trees, butterflies and birds. The bird list for the park currently totals 350 species. Day 6 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari, The forest has 10 of the 26 globally threatened species in Uganda, 5 of which are vulnerable and boasts a number of Uganda’s Albertine Rift endemics. In Ruhija, we hope to sight; Rwenzori Batis, Collared Apalis, Montane Sooty Boubou, Banded Prinia, Mountain and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Mountain Illadopsis, Archer’s Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, Strange Weaver, Blue headed, Purple-breasted and Regal Sunbirds. We will have stopover at Echuya forest for birding opportunities and possible sightings of Albertine rift endemics. You will return to the lodge for lunch.
After lunch, we continue with birding in Mubwindi Swamp trail where initially the birds on the trail are similar like those encountered before but more time spent will provide opportunities for the rare and localized Grauer’s Broadbill. Other species to lookout for are; Yellow-billed Barbet, Black-billed Turaco’s, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-headed Hoopoe, Montane Oriole, Pink-footed Puff back, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Waller’s Starling, 9 Days Birding Uganda Tour, localized Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Dwarf Honey-Guide, Rufous-breasted Sparrow hawk, Oriole Finch. Dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Gorilla Mist Camp or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 7: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Birding to Buhoma via ‘The Neck’ in Bwindi forest
After breakfast on day 7 0f the 17Days Uganda Birding Safari, you will start a drive to Buhoma in the southern part of Bwindi birding en-route. On our drive and the stopovers we make, expect to see the Black Bee-eater, calling out the Red-throated Wryneck and finding it would be a great addition, Mountain Wagtail and the Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, White-starred Robin, Olive Thrush, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Warbler, MacKinnon’s Fiscal, Collared, Mountain Masked Chestnut-throated, and Grey Apalis, Stripe-breasted Tit, Sharpe’s Starling, the elusive Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Dusky Twinspot etc. Dinner and Overnight.
Location: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Ride 4 a Woman or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 8: Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park – Gorilla Trekking and Birding at Buhoma – Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Upon waking up by the beautiful sounds of the birds singing in the sky, you will start day 8 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari with an early morning breakfast. 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.
Gorilla Trekking and Birding at Buhoma
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.
Later, proceed Buhoma section of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park that run through the forest offering excellent viewing points. The bird species to look out in these trail include; Brown, Blue-headed, Northern Double-collared and Grey headed Sunbirds, Black Bee-Eater, Kivu Ground Thrush, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater, and Common Stonechat, Black throated Robin chat, Barred Long tailed Cuckoo, Black throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis. Transfer to Rwenzori Mountains National park.
Location: Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Equator Snow Geo Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 9: Rwenzori Mountains National Park – Birding
Day 9 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari starts with a hot breakfast, thereafter you will head out to Rwenzori mountains national park for birding. While there we look out for special birds like the purple breasted sunbird, Red faced, Shelly’s and Dusky Crimson-wing, Red-bellied seed cracker, Woodhouse Antipecker, Stripe-breasted Tit, Forest Flycatcher, Grey Apalis, Ayres and Cassin’s Hawk-eagle and many others. African Long-eared Owl, sometimes considered nonspecific with the Holarctic Long-eared Owl. This is one of the only two sites in East Africa [the other being Mt. Kenya] where this bird has been recorded. Dinner and Overnight stay.
Location: Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Equator Snow Geo Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 10: Rwenzori Mountains National Park – Hike Rwenzori Day one
Upon waking up by the beautiful sounds of the birds singing in the sky, you will start your day 10 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari with an early morning breakfast. The trek takes you to the foothills of the Mountains of Moon where you will go through the pristine rainforest of kyambogho ridge with a view of the Mubuku valley then climb the heavily forested ridge which is a home to many primates like black & colobus monkeys, blue tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and many more up to Omu’ka Kiza rest camp at 2977 meters. Dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Camp | Nyabitaba Camp |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 11: Rwenzori Mountains National Park – Hike Rwenzori Day two
Day 11 of your 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari will start with an early morning breakfast. The day you will hike Mahoma Lake at 3200 meters. The forest gives way to thick bamboo to a narrow mass covered ridge, once you reach the top you will cross the valley with a giant lobelia then go through a beautiful forest. Here, you will get a chance to see various bird species. Dinner and Overnight stay.
Location: Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Camp | John Matte Camp |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 12: Descending Rwenzori with birding
Upon waking up by the beautiful sounds of the birds singing in the sky, you will start day 12 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari with an early delicious breakfast. Start a morning walk along Lake Mahoma and descend through Nyabitaba a ranger post to see the Rwenzori three horned chameleon before you come out of the forest. Dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Rwenzori Mountains National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Camp | Nyabitaba Camp |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 13: Transfer to Semliki National Park – Birding
Wake up early morning for a heavy breakfast and start your Day 13 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari you will shortly be transferred to Semliki National Park. On arrival, you will go to the trails around the hot springs for birdlife. This gives us a great introduction to the Semliki birds like Hornbills, Chestnut Breasted Negro Finch, Black Bellied Seed Cracker and others. Dinner and overnight stay.
Location: Semliki National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Semliki Safari Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 14 & 15: Semliki National Park-Bird watching
After breakfast on day 14&15 of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari, proceed for a whole day birding on the Kirumia trail and the forest. Depending on the weather condition today we have some of the best birding within the East African region as many species are of West African Origin. Look out for birds like Black-casqued wattled, White thighed, Piping, Red-billed dwarf, White crested and Black dwarf Hornbill, Yellow throated nicator, western nicator, mountain greenbul, spotted greenbul, Rufaous Sided Broadbill, Blue Billed and Crested Malimbe, Lowland Akalat, Blue-headed Crested-flycatcher, Leaf Love, Swamp palm Bulbul, rarely seen are the Capuchin Babbler and African Piculet small bird of its own related to the woodpeckers and the Lyre Tailed Honey Guides among other birds. Dinner and overnight
Location: Semliki National Park
Accommodation Option:
| Luxury | Semliki Safari Lodge |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 16: Transfer to Kampala – Visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens
Today marks the second last day of the 17 days Uganda Birding Safari, you will start your journey to Entebbe Botanical Gardens after many days of seeking the Albertine rift endemics for another birding experience .We shall have birding stopovers at different points while in the gardens. After this experience, you will have lunch and relaxation.
Location: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation Option:
| Mid-Range | Papyrus Guest House or Similar |
Meals Plan: Breakfast and Lunch as well as Dinner
Drinking Water and Fruits Throughout the journey
Day 17: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your departure
After a heavy breakfast on your final day of the 17 days Uganda Birding Safari, you will pack your bags and check out of your accommodation. Then you will be transferred to Entebbe International Airport or you Hotel in Kampala. The End of the 17 Days Uganda Birding Safari. Thank you for specifically choosing Paradise Adventure Vacations we hope to see you again!!!!
Location: Entebbe International Airport
Accommodation: On
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 17 days in a well-modified safari Extended land-cruiser (4WD,air-conditioned and pop-up roof)
- Fuel for 17 days
- English safari driver guide for 17 days
- Mid-range accommodation for 16 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
- Afternoon game drive in Lake Mburo National Park
- Boat ride in Lake Mburo National Park
- Hiking in Rwenzori National Park
- Semuliki 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
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
The Safari Package Excludes:
- 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)
| Mid-range Safari | 2 People 1 room |
4 People 2 rooms |
6 People 3 rooms |
7 People+ |
| Price Per Person | $9,540 | $7,380 | $6,660 | GET A QUOTE |
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.
