15 Days Uganda Birding Safari
15 Days Birding Watching Safari in Uganda; Discover Birds of Uganda
The 15-day Uganda birding safari offers a remarkable bird-watching adventure to all bird enthusiasts. This comprehensive birding itinerary takes birders to some of the finest bird-watching sites, including Mabamba Wetland, Murchison Falls, Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetland, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Mburo, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. You will start and end the special 15-day birding safari in Uganda in Entebbe.
The Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up by driver guide & transfer to the hotel
Day 2: Explore Mabamba Wetland on Birding Excursion
Day 3: Transfer by road from Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park.
Day 4: Game drive and Boat cruise, inclusive of bird-watching
Day 5: Pick up by driver & drive to Kibale
Day 6: Enjoy a guided chimp trek & visit Bigodi
Day 7: Pick up by a driver guide & travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Day 8: Early morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 9: Pick up & transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha
Day 10: Gorilla trekking and Relaxation in the afternoon.
Day 11: Visit the Batwa Community and connect to Ruhija
Day 12: Embark on Mubwindi swamp birding excursion
Day 13: Leave Ruhija for Lake Mburo
Day 14: Guided game drive + boat ride, inclusive of bird-watching
Day 15: Leave Lake Mburo for Entebbe –end of safari
The Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up by driver guide & transfer to the hotel
Upon early arrival at Entebbe Airport, meet your driver-guide for pickup and transfer to a nearby hotel in Entebbe town. At the hotel, check in and get a briefing from our company representative later. Get the highlights as per your inspirational 15-day Uganda birding safari itinerary.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Papyrus Guesthouse
- Midrange: The Boma Hotel (Entebbe)
- Luxury: Hotel No. 5 or Protea Hotel in Entebbe
Meals: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Explore Mabamba Wetland on Birding Excursion
Leave your hotel in Entebbe and embark on an early boat to explore the diverse bird species in the scenic Mabamba Wetland. The Mabamba wetland boasts of its multiple bird species, but most importantly, today’s long day birding excursion allows you to search for the elusive shoebills, African pygmy goose, long-tailed cormorants, double-toothed barbets, common sandpipers, and more. Expect to return to the hotel to have evening relaxation and freshen up.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Papyrus Guesthouse
- Midrange: The Boma Hotel (Entebbe)
- Luxury: Hotel No 5 or Protea Hotel in Entebbe
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 3: Transfer by road from Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park.
Get a warm greeting from your driver guide, and at this time, you should have finished up with breakfast. Have insight from the guide about your journey and then hit the road to Murchison Falls National Park. Today’s journey may take about 6-7 hours and includes a stopover at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Have a lifetime opportunity to visit rhinos in their natural habitat and you will embark on a trek with an experienced guide on the lead.
Later, you will proceed to Masindi to enjoy lunch at leisure. To access Murchison, you will take the Kichumbanyobo gate in the southern side. Navigate through the scenic route, and you will proceed up to the top of the falls for photography and also enjoy views of the powerful Murchison Falls. Leave the falls for you to check in your respective lodges or camps.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Heritage Lodge
- Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Paraa Lodge
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Game drive and Boat cruise, inclusive of bird-watching
After a heavy breakfast, head off to the Northern game tracks to search for wildlife and bird species. A guided game drive combined with a bird-watching session brings you amazing encounters of wildlife, including giraffes, elephants, buffaloes, lions, warthogs, and diverse antelopes. Expect to also enjoy sights of different birds and later, you will return to the lodge for relaxation and a lunch break.
Your afternoon will be marked by an exciting boat cruise along the Victoria Nile River. This comes with astonishing sightings of hippos, crocodiles, and bird species such as fish eagles, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and more.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Heritage Lodge
- Midrange: Pakuba Safari Lodge or Paraa Lodge
- Luxury: Nile Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Pick up & drive to Kibale
Meet with your safari guide and later, you will hit the road to the lush Kibale National Park navigating via Hoima and Rift Valley region. Arrive at Fort Portal early to enjoy your lunch in one of the best restaurants. Still in Fort Portal, expect to enjoy the breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges and en route to the Park, you can be amazed by the scenic Crater Lakes.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Isunga Lodge or Rwenzori Mountain View Guesthouse
- Midrange: Primate Lodge or Chimpundu Lodge
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge or Ndali Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 6: Enjoy a guided chimp trek & visit Bigodi
Have an early morning breakfast and after, you will report to Kanyanchu Visitor Center for a briefing. Get to know the rules and regulations for chimpanzee tracking to be observed, and later, you will have a park ranger guide allocated to lead you. Depart from Kanyanchu at around 8:00 am, and the trek with chimpanzees will go for about 2-4 hours. The amazing part of it is that you have an hour to observe chimpanzee behaviors and take pictures.
On a chimpanzee trek, you stand a chance to see more than chimpanzees. Other primates and birds will also be spotted. You will get back to have lunch and end the day with the Bigodi wetland visit. At Bigodi, diverse bird species await for you to spot. They include blue turacos, yellow-spotted barbets, white-breasted negrofinch, grey-winged robin-chat, and others.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Isunga Lodge or Rwenzori Mountain View Guesthouse
- Midrange: Primate Lodge or Chimpundu Lodge
- Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge or Ndali Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 7: Pick up by a driver guide & travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park.
After breakfast, you will meet your driver and start your journey to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Drive via Kasese and expect an en route stopover at the Kikorongo for a photography moment at the Equator crossing. After taking pictures at the new Equator monument, continue to your lodge to check in and expect an early lunch break. In the afternoon, you will have an exciting game drive session and enjoy sights of the Big game, plus some bird species.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Bulbul Safari Lodge or Simba Tented Camp
- Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 8: Early morning game drive and afternoon boat cruise
Have a delicious cup of tea/coffee and hit the road for an early morning game drive. Explore Kasenyi in a 4×4 vehicle and expect to find a range of wildlife including Uganda Kobs, warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, lions, leopards, bushbucks, and bird species like Kori bustards. Return from the morning game drive in Kasenyi to have lunch at leisure in your respective lodge.
In the afternoon, a boat cruise will be experienced on the Kazinga channel. Diverse aquatic life awaits on the boat cruise, including hippos, crocodiles, and birds such as pelicans, bee-eaters, fish eagles, and more.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Bulbul Safari Lodge or Simba Tented Camp
- Midrange: Enganzi Game Lodge or Buffalo Safari Lodge
- Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge or Elephant Plains Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 9: Pick up & transfer to Bwindi via Ishasha
After the delicious breakfast, you will check out of your accommodation option. Depart from the lodge for Bwindi, driving through Ishasha, where you may spend some time searching for the tree-climbing lions. A scenic drive from Ishasha to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and upon early arrival, check in your respective lodge.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Engagi Lodge
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 10: Gorilla trekking and Relaxation in the afternoon.
Start this day with breakfast and after, proceed to the park offices to get briefed on gorilla trekking guidelines. Expect to hit the jungle early in search of mountain gorillas, and this will run for 2 to 6 hours, although it may vary depending on your speed of walking. An hour will be dedicated for you to observe the habits and behaviors of these large apes and get a chance to take pictures. Start returning to the lodge to spend the rest of the evening.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Ride 4 a Woman
- Midrange: Engagi Lodge
- Luxury: Mahogany Springs Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 11: Visit the Batwa Community and connect to Ruhija
At leisure, you will enjoy breakfast and then meet the local guide who will take you on a guided Batwa community visit. Get a chance to meet the Batwa, a few indigenous people in Uganda. Learn more on how they successfully lived with gorillas, their distinct cultures, and traditions. You will return from the guided Batwa community tour and you will be transferred to the Ruhija sector.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Gift of Nature Lodge or Broadbill Lodge
- Midrange: Bakiga Lodge or Ichumbi Lodge
- Luxury: Trackers Safari Lodge or Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 12: Embark on Mubwindi swamp birding excursion
After breakfast, proceed with your early birding excursion in the Ruhija sector, which lies in the Eastern side of Bwindi. Explore Mubwindi swamp, which is known for great birding sightings including archer’s robin-chats, African emerald cuckoos, African green broadbills, francolins, and others. You will have a long evening to chill in your lodge in or around Ruhija.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Gift of Nature Lodge or Broadbill Lodge
- Midrange: Bakiga Lodge or Ichumbi Lodge
- Luxury: Trackers Safari Lodge or Kiho Gorilla Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 13: Leave Ruhija for Lake Mburo
At leisure, you will have breakfast and today, you will be transferred to Lake Mburo National Park- home to abundant impalas and zebras. You will check in your lodge to enjoy a delicious lunch and relaxation.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Rwakobo Rock or Eagles Nest
- Midrange: Lake Mburo Safari Camp or Arcadia Cottages
- Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge or Mihingo Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 14: Guided game drive + boat ride inclusive of bird-watching
Embark on the early morning game drive which comes with bird-watching opportunities. On a game drive, expect to find buffaloes, zebras, warthogs, waterbucks, topis, elands, leopards, giraffes, plus birds such as black-bellied bustards, blue-headed coucals, bare-faced go-away birds, and more. In the afternoon, you will be part of a Lake Mburo boat cruise where you will explore aquatic species. The incredible encounters to expect on a boat cruise include hippos, crocodiles, and birds, including pelicans.
Accommodation options
- Budget: Rwakobo Rock or Eagles Nest
- Midrange: Lake Mburo Safari Camp or Arcadia Cottages
- Luxury: Kigambira Safari Lodge or Mihingo Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.
Day 15: Leave Lake Mburo for Entebbe –end of safari
Depart from Lake Mburo National Park for Entebbe, a journey that is most likely to take you about 4 to 5 hours. En route, you will have a photography experience at the Kayabwe Equator crossing, and you may use this period to purchase some souvenirs. Proceed to Entebbe City, and you will be dropped off at the hotel or airport.
End of safari
Inclusions
- Valid gorilla & chimp permits.
- Bird-watching or birding tours.
- Park entrance fees plus all activities in the itinerary.
- Accommodation choices for 14 nights and all meals as per the itinerary.
- Transport plus an English-speaking guide from Uganda.
- VAT
- A free bottle of water.
Exclusions
- Visa.
- Tipping + Gratuities.
- Life Insurance expenses
- Souvenirs.
- Laundry costs.
- Telephone costs plus cigarettes.
- Porter fees.