7 Days Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari

After an early breakfast at your hotel, you will depart from Entebbe and begin your scenic journey to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah national park and one of the country’s most rewarding birding destinations. The drive westward offers beautiful views of Uganda’s countryside including rolling hills, traditional homesteads, banana plantations, Ankole cattle farms, and vibrant local markets. Along the way, you will make a stop at the Uganda Equator crossing for photography, refreshments, and an opportunity to stand in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Continue through the scenic landscapes of western Uganda before arriving at Lake Mburo National Park in time for lunch at your lodge. After a short relaxation, head out for an exciting evening birding game drive through the park’s acacia woodlands, open savannah plains, wetlands, and lake shores. Lake Mburo National Park is famous for its diverse habitats and rich birdlife with over 350 recorded bird species, including several species rarely seen elsewhere in Uganda. The park is particularly known for the rare Red-faced Barbet and excellent sightings of acacia woodland birds. During the evening birding excursion, you may spot: Red-faced Barbet African Finfoot Bare-faced Go-away-bird Brown-chested Lapwing Southern Ground Hornbill Black-bellied Bustard Crested Francolin Lilac-breasted Roller Green Wood Hoopoe White-winged Warbler The game drive also provides opportunities to encounter wildlife such as: Zebras Giraffes Impalas Buffaloes Topis Waterbucks Warthogs Enjoy the stunning sunset views over the savannah before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport or pick-up from your hotel in Entebbe/Kampala, you will be warmly welcomed by your professional birding guide for a safari briefing before starting your birding adventure to the famous Mabamba Bay Wetland. Located on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Mabamba Swamp is Uganda’s most renowned Shoebill tracking destination and one of Africa’s finest wetland birding sites. The wetland is recognized as an Important Bird Area and is home to over 300 bird species, including the rare and highly sought-after Shoebill Stork. Upon arrival, you will board a traditional motorized canoe and begin a guided birding excursion through the peaceful papyrus-lined channels of the swamp. As you glide through the wetland, your experienced birding guide and local canoe operator will help you search for the elusive Shoebill while identifying numerous other bird species found within the swamp ecosystem. Besides the Shoebill Stork, you may also spot: African Jacana Papyrus Gonolek Blue-breasted Bee-eater Malachite Kingfisher Purple Swamphen African Fish Eagle Pied Kingfisher Goliath Heron Long-toed Lapwing Black Crake The excursion offers excellent opportunities for bird photography, nature viewing, and enjoying the tranquil beauty of Uganda’s wetlands. After the birding experience, enjoy lunch before transferring to your hotel in Entebbe for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Begin the day with an early morning breakfast before heading out for a guided nature walk and birding experience in Lake Mburo National Park. Unlike many other national parks in Uganda, Lake Mburo offers safe and rewarding walking safaris, allowing visitors to explore the wilderness on foot while getting closer to nature and wildlife. Accompanied by an experienced ranger guide, you will walk through the park’s open savannah, acacia woodlands, and wetland areas while searching for bird species and observing animals in their natural habitat. The morning hours provide excellent opportunities for birdwatching as many species become active during this time. Bird species commonly spotted during the nature walk include: Woodland Kingfisher African Fish Eagle Black-bellied Bustard Crested Francolin Green Wood Hoopoe Lilac-breasted Roller Brown-chested Lapwing White-winged Warbler Southern Ground Hornbill You may also encounter wildlife such as: Zebras Giraffes Impalas Buffaloes Warthogs Topis After the nature walk, return to the lodge for check-out and begin your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda’s most popular savannah national park and one of Africa’s richest birding destinations. The drive takes you through scenic western Uganda characterized by rolling hills, crater lakes, tea plantations, and traditional villages. Along the way, enjoy spectacular views of the Rwenzori Mountains, also known as the “Mountains of the Moon.” Arrive at Queen Elizabeth National Park in the evening and check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, depart for an exciting morning birding game drive in the Kasenyi Plains of Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s premier wildlife and birdwatching destinations. The Kasenyi sector is renowned for its expansive savannah grasslands, crater lakes, and rich biodiversity, making it an excellent area for both birding and wildlife viewing. The early morning hours offer the best chances of spotting numerous bird species as well as predators returning from their nighttime hunts. Accompanied by your professional birding guide, you will explore different tracks within the plains while searching for savannah birds and wildlife. Bird species commonly spotted during the game drive include: Secretary Bird Martial Eagle Abyssinian Ground Hornbill African Wattled Lapwing Black-chested Snake Eagle White-winged Tern Grey Kestrel Flappet Lark African Crake Black Bee-eater The game drive also offers excellent opportunities to encounter wildlife such as: Elephants Buffaloes Lions Uganda Kobs Hyenas Warthogs Waterbucks After the game drive, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation before heading out for an unforgettable afternoon boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, a natural waterway connecting Lake George and Lake Edward. The Kazinga Channel is one of the best places in Uganda to observe large concentrations of water birds and wildlife at close range. As you cruise along the channel, you will enjoy spectacular sightings of hippos, crocodiles, elephants, buffaloes, and numerous bird species gathered along the shoreline. Bird species commonly seen during the boat cruise include: African Fish Eagle Pied Kingfisher Pink-backed Pelican Saddle-billed Stork Yellow-billed Stork African Spoonbill Great Cormorant Grey-headed Gull Malachite Kingfisher African Jacana The cruise also provides excellent opportunities for wildlife photography and scenic views of the surrounding landscapes before returning to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, depart for a guided forest birding excursion in the beautiful Maramagambo Forest, one of Uganda’s most rewarding tropical forest birding destinations. The forest lies within the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park and is known for its rich biodiversity, dense vegetation, scenic walking trails, and impressive variety of forest bird species. Accompanied by your experienced birding guide, you will explore the forest trails while listening for bird calls and searching the canopy and undergrowth for some of the region’s unique forest species. Maramagambo Forest offers a completely different birding habitat compared to the savannah plains, making it an excellent addition to the safari. Bird species commonly spotted in the forest include: Great Blue Turaco White-naped Pigeon African Emerald Cuckoo Blue-headed Sunbird Chestnut Wattle-eye Green Hylia White-tailed Ant Thrush Yellow-billed Barbet Forest Flycatcher Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill The forest is also home to several primates and wildlife species, and you may encounter: Red-tailed monkeys Black-and-white colobus monkeys Baboons Forest squirrels After the forest birding experience, return for lunch before beginning your scenic transfer to Kibale National Park, often referred to as the “Primate Capital of the World.” The journey takes you through western Uganda’s breathtaking landscapes characterized by tea plantations, crater lakes, rolling hills, and traditional villages. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of the Rwenzori Mountains and the beautiful countryside. Arrive at Kibale National Park in the evening and check in at your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the park headquarters of Kibale National Park for a briefing by park rangers before beginning your unforgettable chimpanzee tracking experience in the tropical rainforest. Kibale National Park is famously known as the “Primate Capital of the World” and is home to one of Africa’s largest populations of chimpanzees, along with 13 other primate species. The forest also supports an impressive diversity of birdlife, butterflies, and unique plant species. After the briefing, enter the lush rainforest accompanied by experienced ranger guides in search of habituated chimpanzee families. As you move through the forest trails, you will have opportunities to observe chimpanzees feeding, grooming, resting, and communicating in their natural habitat. The experience also offers excellent chances to encounter other primates including: Red-tailed monkeys Black-and-white colobus monkeys L’Hoest’s monkeys Grey-cheeked mangabeys Olive baboons The forest is equally rewarding for birdwatchers, with species such as: Great Blue Turaco African Pitta Green-breasted Pitta Yellow-spotted Barbet Black Bee-eater Blue-breasted Kingfisher After the chimpanzee tracking experience, return to the lodge for lunch and relaxation before proceeding for an afternoon birding walk in the renowned Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is one of Uganda’s richest birding sites, famous for its biodiversity, papyrus vegetation, and excellent birdwatching opportunities. The wetland is home to over 200 bird species and is particularly known for sightings of the spectacular Great Blue Turaco. During the guided wetland walk, bird species commonly spotted include: Great Blue Turaco Papyrus Gonolek White-spotted Flufftail Blue-throated Roller Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher Yellow-billed Barbet Speckled Tinkerbird Western Nicator White-winged Warbler The wetland walk also offers opportunities to encounter butterflies, monkeys, and beautiful swamp vegetation while interacting with the local community guides who help conserve the sanctuary. After the excursion, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.

After breakfast at the lodge, check out and begin your scenic return journey from Kibale National Park to Kampala or Entebbe, marking the final day of your unforgettable Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari. The drive back offers another opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of western Uganda, characterized by rolling hills, tea plantations, crater lakes, rural villages, and lush countryside scenery. Along the route, you may make brief stops for photography, refreshments, and sightseeing while appreciating the beauty of Uganda’s natural environment and local communities. As you travel through the scenic regions of Fort Portal, Mubende, and Mityana, your guide may help identify various roadside bird species and share insights about Uganda’s culture, landscapes, and biodiversity. Enjoy lunch at a selected restaurant en route before continuing to Kampala or Entebbe. Depending on your travel schedule, you will either be dropped off at your hotel or transferred directly to Entebbe International Airport for your onward flight. Arrive in the evening, marking the end of your memorable birding and wildlife adventure in Uganda.