Uganda is home to over 1,000 bird species, making it one of Africa’s finest birding destinations. This 8-day birding and lake Bunyonyi safari takes you through a carefully selected range of habitats from the papyrus swamps of Mabamba and the open savannah of Lake Mburo and Queen Elizabeth National Parks, to the ancient montane forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and the scenic islands of Lake Bunyonyi.
Each location has been chosen to offer the best birding experience Uganda has to offer, giving you the opportunity to encounter a wide variety of species, including several Albertine Rift endemics and the sought-after Shoebill Stork.
This is a safari built for birders, by birders.
Whether you are a seasoned birder seeking Albertine Rift endemics or a passionate naturalist exploring the pearl of africa for first time, this safari offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness the extraordinary avian wealth that makes Uganda a truly world-class birding destination.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by one of our staff who will transfer you to your hotel for overnight. for early arrival we can do some birding in the botanical areas: look out for: Great Reed, Grey Capped, Ssdge, Greater Swamp and Eurosuian Reed Warblesr, Fain Tailed Widow bird, Striped, Malachite, Giant, Woodland and Pygmy Kingfishers, Black Bishop, Grey Woodpecker, Olive, Olive bellied, Red chested, Superb, Green Throated and Collard Sunbirds, Orange, Yellow Backed, Golden Backed, Slender Billed and Black Headed Weavers and many more.
Overnight at Airport View Hotel.
Meal Plan-BB
Day 2: Birding in Mabamba swamp, Lake Mburo NP
Day 2 takes you to one of the best birding destinations Mabamba Swamp that is situated 50km west of Kampala. We depart early after breakfast, stopping at Mpigi Swamp for papyrus oddities.
You can spot a lot of bird species including a White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-backed Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Blue-headed Coucal and other swamp specialties. Most of the birding at the marsh is from a boat paddled by our local site guides.
Look for the Shoebill up in the sky and in the marsh below. This most famous and unusual avian wonder is the only member of its family, unlike anything else on earth. Watching this strange bird preen and displaying off its enormous gaping, wooden-looking, clog-like beak is an absolutely life-changing moment.
You can also see beautiful views of it as it flies on its big wings. Also watch out for Swamp Flycatcher, African Purple Swamp-hen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White-faced Whistling-duck, Squacco, Rufous-bellied and Purple Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Winding Cisticola, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, African Marsh Harrier, Hamerkop, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Common Waxbill, Yellow-billed Duck, Blue-headed Cuckoo, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Intermediate Egret, Osprey, Long-toed Lapwing, African Pied Wagtail and Red-billed Fire-finch. Lunch in Masaka.
After, we drive to Lake Mburo national park in the afternoon to do a boat trip and Expect to view some of the water bird species including Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfishers, African finfoot, gigantic Kingfisher and the nocturnal black-backed heron, an endemic species of the area.
Overnight at up market Mihingo lodge. Meal-B, L, D
Day 3: Birding in Lake Mburo NP and transfer to Queen Elizabeth NP
The park is famous for its amazing bird list of 315 species of birds. After breakfast very early in the morning head for birding in the park via the Kigambira circle traversing a range of rich habitats. Watch out for birds such as African Marsh Harriers, Banded Snake Eagles, Shikra, Goshawks, Augur Buzzard, African fish, Twany, Steppe and African Hawk Eagles and many more.
As you walk the Eland track, filled with zebras, Eland, Impala, warthogs and many more, you will bird this lovely evergreen river valley. After lunch transfer west to Queen Elizabeth National Park, dipping down into the magnificent Albertan rift. On your 2 day birding holiday in this area, you will visit the northern Kasenyi plains with their abundance of species, the Kazinga canal and the Lake George Ramsar site.
The kob lek and mating site is in the northern Kasenyi plains which are productive and good for the savanna species, as we bird. Queen Elizabeth National Park on the banks of Lake Edward has 612 species comprising parliarctic migrants, aquatic, savannah and woodland species.
Day 4: Queen Elizabeth NP
After breakfast we explore this lovely park, the second most visited park. Today you will visit Queen Elizabeth National Park in more depth, enjoying the gorgeous drives around the extinct volcanoes and looking out for the many birds that call this place home with over 612 Bird species including both inhabitants and migrant.
Expect to see some of the incredible species such as the secretive Black-rumped and Common Buttonquails, magnificent Martial Eagle, comical Red-necked Spur fowl, cautious African Crakes peering out from the gassy verge, African Skimmers cutting a trench across the waters in the quiet bays, enormous Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl booming around the lodge in the evenings, crisp Sooty Chats, glistening Red-chested Sunbird and Slender-billed Weaver coming into the dining room to share breakfast.
Hop on an afternoon sail on the Kazinga Channel, the short strip of water linking Lakes George and Edward. Here you will encounter the birdlife sanctuary in the park and meet “the conference of the Parties of birds” and have fine views of many water birds. They incude gull, skimmers, the great cormorants, the pink-backed pelican, the great white-backed pelican, the great African fish eagle, the goliath heron, the Caucasus heron, little & greater cattle egret, the pied kingfisher, malachite king fisher, the yellow billed stork, lesser & greater flamingo, and shoe-billed stork and many more.
Dinner and overnight at Ihamba Safari Lodge. Meal Plan-B, L, D
Day 5: To Bwindi Impenetrable park
Day 5 is the day to travel to the beautiful gorilla land through the tree climbing domain of Ishasha, southern Queen Elizabeth national park. We leave from Mweya with packed lunch for Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. We stop for birding as and where needed driving in the bottom of the western rift valley.
Dinner and overnight night at Buhoma Lodge. Meal Plan-B, L, D
Day 6: Whole Day Birding in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Transfer to lake Bunyonyi.
After breakfast, we will enjoy ourselves birding the trails leading out from the camp. Trails such as ivy river trail, muzabajiro, rushura and waterfalls trails will be productive and Species we will search for include Barred and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos; Bar-tailed Trogon; Dusky Tit; Kivu Ground-Thrush; White-bellied Robin-Chat and many more.
One of Bwindi’s star birds is the small, pitta-like Neumann’s Warbler, a loud but very secretive species! Other under-storey birds we expect to see are exhibiting African Broadbill; Pale-breasted and Mountain Illadopsis, African Hill-Babbler, Red-throated Alethe, Black-faced, Black-throated and Mountain Masked Apalises, Banded Prinia and the magnificent Black-faced Rufous-Warbler.
The mid-storey and canopy supports greenbuls, the odd Grauer’s Warbler and White-browed Crombec, Yellow-eyed Black, Ashy, Dusky-blue, Chapin’s and Cassin’s Grey Flycatchers, Chin-spot and Rwenzori Batis, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, White-bellied Crested-flycatcher, Dusky Tit, Blue-throated Brown, Blue-headed, Northern Double-collared and Grey-headed Sunbirds, Mackinnon’s Fiscal and many more.
After picnic lunch we continue birding to Ruhija en-route to Bunyonyi safari resort, Kabale meandering through the gorgeous terraced hills frequently referred to as “the Switzerland of Africa” landing on the magical resort in dusk.
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch and dinner.
Day 7: Birding in Kyevu Swamp and other Islands on Lake Bunyonyi
The Bunyonyi region is beautiful with stunning vistas. Breakfast and travel by motorized boat to Kyevu marsh for bird observation. Look out for resident endemic birds in Lake Bunyonyi such as handsome Francolin, dusky turtle dove, alpine chat etc.
We retire for afternoon and after lunch we go for boat/canoe ride for Cray fishing. Don’t miss the fascinating whistling of the concentrated birds in this location. Continue bird viewing on a nature walk around the lake and in the gardens.
Overnight at
Meal Plan – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, Bunyonyi Resort Hotel.
Day 8 : Transfer to Kampala/Entebbe:
We have an early start for the Kampala transfer, stopping for lunch in Mbarara at the Igongo Cultural Centre before arriving in Kampala and transferring to Entebbe for your flights home and/or onward travel.
Tour inclusions
A professional English speaking guide
A comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle
A gorilla permit
Birding fees
all activities specified above
Tour exclusions
International fights
Tips and laundry
Any items not specified on the itinerary
personal items like souvenirs