A 10-day birding adventure in Uganda offers a unique opportunity to explore diverse habitats and encounter bird species. Known as the “Pearl of Africa,” Uganda is home to over 1,000 bird species, including Albertine Rift endemics, savanna favorites, forest gems, and wetland specialists, offering a rich and diverse experience. Expect to spot birds like the rare shoebill, dusky crimsonwing, regal sunbird, mountain masked apalis, shelley’s crimsonwing, dwarf honeyguide, purple-breasted sunbird, handsome spurfowl, strange weaver, red-faced woodland warbler, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, stripe-breasted tit, grauer’s swamp warbler, papyrus gonolek, African skimmer, African Finfoot, yellow-billed duck, black bee-eater, red-chested sunbird, Abyssinian ground thrush, green-breasted pitta, crowned eagle, great blue turaco, Rwenzori turaco, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Silverbird, giant kingfisher, and many more; mammals like lions, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, giant forest hogs, bushbucks, waterbucks, mountain gorillas, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, red colobuses, baboons, mangabeys, antelopes and many more and the diverse landscapes. The trip starts in Entebbe and ends in Kampala.
You will meet at an agreed point with our driver from Glory Summit Tours who will brief you about the safari then you will set off for Mabamba Swamp which will take about an hour. When you get to Mabamba you will get onto a canoe and find your way through the swamp with a guide to ensure you don’t miss out on any wildlife including the Shoebill stork, which when found you will watch from a distance as it enjoys the swamp or the lung fish which is its favorite thing to eat. You will also see other birds like papyrus gonolek, African marsh harrier, northern brown-throated weaver, yellow-billed duck, blue-breasted bee-eater, papyrus yellow warbler, long-toed lapwing, swamp flycatcher, superb sunbird, eastern plantain-eater, orange weaver, broad-billed roller, and many more. Once done, you will find your way back to Entebbe town, and have lunch, after which you will head to the Uganda Wildlife Education Center for some more birding and expect to see birds like pink-backed pelican, peafowl, ostrich, grey crowned crane, African grey parrot, African fish eagle, ibis, little egret, grey heron, black-headed weaver, black-necked weaver, black-headed gonolek, black and white casqued hornbill, and many more with animals like lions, leopards, elephants, giraffes, and zebras. When done, you will head back to your lodging, have dinner, and retire for the night.
You will wake up, check out of your hotel, and have breakfast after which you will set off for Murchison Falls National Park at 7:30 am which will be 4-5hours via Luweero. You stop at the Zziwa Rhino Sanctuary to trek some black and white Rhinos with a guide which takes about 2-3 hours depending on their location. Expect to spot some birds like the shoebill, grey-crowned crane, African fish eagle, African jacana, pied kingfisher, African grey hornbill, marabou stork, white egret, red-billed oxpeckers, and many more with some animals like bushbucks, waterbucks, warthogs, pangolin, duikers and others. Then you will have lunch, exit the sanctuary, and continue to Murchison Falls National Park where you will spend the night. You will check into a lodge in time for dinner after which you will rest for the night.
After breakfast, you head to Budongo Forest for bird watching which normally takes between 2-3 hours. Expect to see birds like the rare shoebill stork, white-thighed hornbill, chocolate-backed kingfisher, yellow-footed flycatcher, African dwarf kingfisher, hairy-breasted barbet, black-headed paradise flycatcher, blue-breasted kingfisher, Cassin’s hawk-eagle, brown twinspot, ituri batis, black-eared ground thrush, Puvel’s illadopsis and many more with some mammals like antelopes, buffaloes, elephants, leopards and many more. With the birding done, you will head back to your hotel, freshen up and have lunch. Once lunch is out of the way, you will head out onto the Nile to enjoy the afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of the falls which takes about 2-3hours to see water animals like crocodiles, waterbucks, hippos, warthogs, and bird species like the rare shoebill, great blue turaco, goliath heron, back-headed lapwing, dwarf kingfisher, blue spotted doves, African jacana, African skimmer, African black crake, grey crowned crane, Senegal thick-knee, Abyssinian ground hornbill, malachite kingfisher, saddle-billed stork, fish eagle, blue-headed coucal, and many more with a guide to answer any questions you might have. After the cruise, you will hike to the top of the Falls, where you will experience the pressure of the falls, a view to die for, a rainbow, and a perfect spot for pictures there. You will head back to your lodge for both dinner and some relaxation.
After breakfast, you will check out of your lodging, exit Murchison Falls National Park, and head to Kibale Forest National Park. The drive will take 5-6 hours as you enjoy the scenic views and as you exit, keep an eye out for wildlife such as elephants, buffaloes, and antelopes. On arrival at Kibale Forest National Park, you will check in to your lodge and rest before you can have dinner. Once dinner is done you will rest for the night in preparation for the next day.
An early breakfast is scheduled after which you will head to the Kanyachu visitors center at 7:30 am, with the lead of an experienced bird guide you will head into the forest and this will take about 2-3 hours. Expect to see birds like green-breasted pitta, great blue turaco, African grey parrot, blue-headed sunbird, black bee-eater, white-naped pigeon, crowned eagle, little greenbul, African pitta, alpine swift, barn swallow, brown-eared woodpecker, African pied wagtail, and many more. You might also spot some chimpanzees, monkeys, baboons, and mangabeys. After bird watching, you will head back to your lodging, have lunch, and then head to Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for a community tour. Accompanied by a local guide you will learn more about the different cultures, local medicines, and traditional life. Storytelling will be done by the community people, plus the history and issues being faced by the developing community will also be looked at. While at the sanctuary you will see birds like black and white casqued hornbill, African grey parrot, yellow-billed barbet, kingfishers, great blue turaco, papyrus gonolek, tinkerbird, and primates’ even chimpanzees which might be rare while on the hike and this will take about 3hours. You will then return to the hotel in time for dinner after which you will take leave and rest for the night at will.
After breakfast, you will check out of your hotel and exit Kibale Forest National Park for Queen Elizabeth National Park, and this will take 2-3 hours. En route, you will view the most picturesque scenery in Uganda, showcasing a blend of lush greenery, rolling hills, cultural landscapes, and unique geological features, including the beautiful Rwenzori Mountains. You will get to Queen Elizabeth in time for lunch, after checking into your lodging, you will enjoy your lunch as you prepare for the boat cruise. With lunch done, you will head to Kazinga Channel and launch, the cruise will take 3-4hours with a guide to avail answers to any questions you might have during the boat cruise, and during the cruise you will see water animals like the hippopotamus, buffaloes, water bucks, crocodiles and bird species like African fish eagles, African skimmers, yellow-billed stork, martial eagle, white-tailed lark, little bee-eater, swamp nightjar, grey-capped warbler and many more. You will head back to the hotel in time for dinner and after dinner, you can enjoy the evening by the fire as you relax for the night.
You will enjoy your breakfast then head out to Maramagambo forest for bird watching which will take about 3-4hours. With the biggest number of bird species in Uganda, you will see marabou stork, black cuckoo, little grebe, African finfoot, black coucal, Rwenzori turaco, blue-breasted kingfisher, yellow bill, red-chested cuckoo, and many more. During the hike you will also see other chimpanzees, monkeys, elephants, and bush pigs; after the hike, you will head back to your lodging, freshen up and have lunch. When done, you will check out of your lodging and find your way to Bwindi impenetrable forest. This will take 4-5 hours and you will get to Bwindi in time for check-in and dinner, then retire for the night.
After breakfast, you will be picked up by the driver guide and head out to the Buhoma sector which is home to about 300 birds with endemics and migratory birds and has multiple trails to choose from. You will with the help of an expert guide be able to enjoy the different birds in the sector including red-headed bluebill, white-headed saw-wing, African cuckoo, African blue flycatcher, African pygmy kingfisher, Rwenzori batis, dusky twin spot, mackinnons shrike, brown-capped weaver, handsome francolin, barbets, spinetail, and many more. When done birding, you will be picked up and taken back to your lodging for some freshening up, then enjoy your lunch. Once lunch is done you will head out for the Batwa cultural tour. With the help of a local guide, you will be involved in different community activities like music, dance and drama, crafting, and honey harvesting. Storytelling will also be key as a way to learn the Batwa people’s history and what makes them an interesting group of people; you will also spot some birds like bronzy sunbird, purple-breasted sunbird, Rwenzori turaco, and many more with some monkeys. You will then return to the hotel, have dinner, and rest for the night in preparation for the next day.
You will wake up in time for breakfast and checkout, after which you will exit Bwindi for Lake Bunyonyi which will take about 3-4 hours. During this time you will enjoy the green scenic views and also have some picture moments as beautiful views must be captured for memories. You will get to your lodge at Lake Bunyonyi in time for lunch, after which you will check and rest. Later you will head out for canoeing on Lake Bunyonyi with 29 islands to be visited, you will not miss out on the most popular island which is ‘Punishment Island’ and you will also get to see some birds like the grey shrikes, grey crowned crane, pied kingfisher, malachite kingfisher, cinnamon-chested bee-eater, bronzy sunbird, pied wagtail, hadada ibis, great cormorants, herons, sunbirds, raptors, bee-eaters, woodpeckers, widow birds, and weavers and after you will relax by the lake and enjoy the sunset and this is breathtaking for a view. Once the sun is set, you will head back to your lodging, have dinner, and retire at will.
You will wake up to a beautiful breakfast, and then check out of the lodge and prepare for your departure for Kampala, which will take about 9 hours. You will have one stop over at the equator, for lunch, picture-taking moments, and exploring the craft village after which you will continue to Kampala and will be dropped off at the agreed-upon point which will mark the end of the 10 days of birding in Uganda.
