12 Days Uganda Bird Watching Safari

This 12-day Uganda bird watching safari is designed for travellers who want a longer and more rewarding route through some of the country’s best birding habitats. The itinerary combines wetland birding in Mabamba, savannah and river birding in Murchison Falls National Park, forest and community birding in Kibale and Bigodi, and additional bird-rich landscapes in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Ishasha. It is a strong choice for birders who want both specialist habitats and a broader Uganda safari experience in one trip.

Safari Highlights

• Arrival and overnight in Entebbe
• Mabamba Wetland birding, including shoebill habitat
• Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary birding and rhino tracking
• Murchison Falls National Park birding and Nile boat cruise
• Full-day savannah and river birding in Murchison
• Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi Wetland birding
• Birding in the crater region of Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Ishasha and Lake Kikorongo birding
• Return to Kampala or Entebbe

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1, Arrival in Entebbe, hotel transfer

On arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be welcomed by your driver guide and transferred to your hotel in Entebbe, a drive of about 10 minutes depending on traffic. This is a light arrival day, allowing you to rest and prepare for the start of your Uganda bird watching safari the following morning. Dinner can be arranged at the hotel or nearby, then overnight in Entebbe. Accommodation Central Inn Entebbe.

Day 2, Mabamba Wetland bird watching

After breakfast, transfer to Mabamba Wetland for a full day of bird watching. Mabamba is one of Uganda’s best-known wetland birding sites and is especially famous for the shoebill. Other birds you may look out for include the pygmy goose, African jacana, goliath heron, grey heron, black-headed heron, and white-faced whistling duck. Spend the day exploring the wetland channels with a local guide before returning to Entebbe in the evening for dinner and overnight. Accommodation Central Inn Entebbe.

Day 3, Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, bird watching and rhino tracking

After breakfast, drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. On arrival, go for rhino tracking and then continue with bird watching around the sanctuary. Watch out for species such as African broadbill, brown-crowned tchagra, African citril, brown-throated wattle-eye, African fish eagle, red-billed firefinch, Heuglin’s francolin, and shoebill. This day gives you a mix of birding and wildlife before continuing further north in the safari. Dinner and overnight at the sanctuary. Accommodation Ziwa Rhino Camp

Day 4, Morning birding at Ziwa, transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Start the day with morning bird watching around Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary before continuing to Murchison Falls National Park in the afternoon. This is an important transfer day, but it also gives you extra birding time before entering one of Uganda’s richest savannah birding areas. Arrive later in the day, check in, and relax before dinner and overnight. Accommodation Red Chilli Rest Camp

Day 5, Murchison Falls game drive, bird watching, Nile boat cruise

Before sunrise, go for a morning game drive while searching for both wildlife and birds in Murchison Falls National Park. Watch out for species such as vinaceous dove, swallow-tailed bee-eater, chestnut-capped weaver, silver bird, carmine bee-eater, common drongo, Bruce’s green pigeon, black-billed dove, Namaqua dove, and white-fronted black chat. In the afternoon, go for a boat ride along the Nile. This gives you excellent chances to watch game at the riverbanks and also spot birds such as Egyptian plover, water thick-knee, spur-winged lapwing, and rock pratincole. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight

Day 6, Full-day bird watching in Murchison Falls National Park

Spend the full day birdwatching in Murchison Falls National Park across different habitats, including woodland, river edges, thickets, and open savannah. Watch out for black-bellied bustards, marabou stork, secretary bird, open-billed stork, Abyssinian ground hornbill, widowbird, hornbills, woodpeckers, grey heron, warblers, and hamerkop. Return to your lodge in the evening for dinner and overnight. Accommodation: Same lodge as Day 4.

Day 7, Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive to Kibale Forest National Park near Fort Portal. This is a scenic transfer through western Uganda, and on arrival in the evening, you will check in and relax before the next day’s primate and birding activities—dinner and overnight at your lodge.  Accommodation at Ndali Lodge for Luxury, Mountains of the Moon Hotel or Crater Lodge for  Mid-range, or Chimpanzee Guest House for Budget.

Day 8, Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, Bigodi Wetland bird watching

After breakfast, go chimpanzee tracking in Kibale Forest. During the trek, also watch out for birds, because Kibale is home to more than 375 bird species. Some of the species associated with this region include yellow-rumped tinkerbird, brown illadopsis, purple-breasted sunbird, Abyssinian ground thrush, blue-breasted kingfisher, red-faced woodland warbler, and African pitta. Once you meet the chimpanzees, you will be allowed to spend 1 hour observing them before returning to the starting point. In the afternoon, go for a nature walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary in search of more birds.

Day 9, Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, crater region bird watching

After breakfast, drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The journey takes about 3 hours, arriving in the afternoon. Check in at your lodge, have lunch, and later go bird watching in the Crater Lakes region. This area adds a different habitat to the safari and gives you access to more species before the savannah and water-based birding in the park proper. Dinner and overnight at your lodge. Accommodation Simba Safari Camp.

Day 10, Kasenyi game drive, bird watching, Kazinga Channel boat cruise

Before sunrise, go for a game drive in the Kasenyi area while searching for both wildlife and birds. Watch out for species such as martial eagle, white-tailed lark, African skimmer, Chapin’s flycatcher, pink-backed pelican, Verreaux’s eagle-owl, black bee-eater, black-rumped buttonquail, white-winged warbler, corncrake, papyrus gonolek, papyrus canary, shoebill, bar-tailed godwit, and African broadbill. Later in the afternoon, go for a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, one of the best areas in Uganda for waterbirds and shoreline wildlife viewing. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 11, Bird watching in Ishasha and Lake Kikorongo

Spend the day bird watching around Lake Kikorongo and the Ishasha sector, including the Ishasha River area. This is a strong specialist birding day and adds more southern Queen Elizabeth habitats to the route. Return to your lodge for dinner and overnight. Accommodation at Ishasha Camp.

Day 12, Tree-climbing lions, transfer to Kampala, Entebbe departure

After breakfast, go through the Ishasha sector in search of tree-climbing lions before beginning the drive back to Kampala. Continue to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight. This marks the end of your 12-day Uganda bird watching safari.

Inclusions and exclusions

Inclusions

• Airport pick-up in Entebbe
• Private 4×4 safari vehicle with driver guide
• Accommodation and meals as per itinerary
• Bird watching in Mabamba Wetland
• Rhino tracking and birding in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Game drives and bird watching in Murchison Falls National Park
• Nile boat cruise
• Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale
• Bigodi Wetland bird watching
• Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park and Ishasha
• Bottled drinking water during the safari.

Exclusions

• International flights
• Uganda visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Personal expenses such as drinks, laundry, and souvenirs
• Tips and gratuities
• Optional activities.