9 Days Uganda Birding Tour

Day 1 – Arrival

Arrive in Uganda at Entebbe International Airport. Meet our Safari guide who will transfer you to your accommodation.

Day 2 – Birding Mabamba Swamp and afternoon transfer to Masindi

We drive to Mabamba Swamp, one of the best places to see the elusive Shoebill. While on canoe watch out for birds like; Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Goliath Heron, Swamp Flycatcher, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana and more.

Accommodation: Budongo Eco Lodge

Day 3 – Birding in Budongo Forest

Budongo Forest Reserve boasts a rich bird life. Budongo Forest protects the largest natural forest area in East Africa with over 350 bird Species along the famous Royal Mile.

The different bird species to be looked for while in Budongo include Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Spinetail, and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Spotted, Xavier’s, White-throated, Red-tailed and Honeyguide Greenbuls, and many, many more.

Accommodation: Budongo Eco Lodge

Day 4 –  Game Drives and Afternoon Launch Trip

We have a game drive where you will have chances of viewing; Hartebeest, Lions, Buffalo, Primates, Mongoose, Giraffe and Elephants. We then have an afternoon launch cruise to view Nile crocodiles, hippos, and a wide variety of water birds like; the Shoebill, Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Roller and Ground Hornbill, Pied Kingfishers and many more.

Day 5 – Transfer to Kibale National Park.

Transfer to Fort Portal, Kibale forest late afternoon. Kibale forest is the best location for chimpanzee tracking in East Africa with 1450 chimpanzees present, Uganda’s largest population of endangered primates. Kibale forest is also home to the rare L’hoest’s monkey and the threatened Red Colobus Monkey.

The park also hosts 325 bird species which include the Black capped Apalis, Blue-headed Sunbird, Collared Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, the African Pitta, Green-breasted Pitta, Black Bee-eater, Yellow-spotted Nicator, and the Crowned Eagle. 

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge

Day 6 – Chimpanzee tracking in the forest – Uganda

Drive to the visitor center for briefing and chimp tracking.  The activity may take 2 to 3 hours. Kibale National Park contains the highest density of primates in the world including; Black and White Colobus, Red Tailed Monkeys and the Grey Cheeked Mangabey.

Birding in the afternoon in the Bigodi wetlands is an amazing activity. The bird species likely to be seen include, Speckle-breasted Woodpecker, Cabanis’s Greenbul and Joyful Greenbul as well as White-spotted Flufftail, Dusky and Olive Long-tailed Cuckoos, Lesser Honeyguide, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, White-chinned Prinia and others.

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge

Day 7 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

We drive to Queen Elizabeth national park, Uganda’s most popular tourist destination. It is home to almost 100 mammal species and 612 bird species, with a big number of elephants, hippos, giant forest hogs and a variety of antelopes all regularly sighted around the tourist village on the Mweya Peninsula.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 8 – Game drive and afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel.

You go for a morning game drive for; lions, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, warthorgs and more. After lunch, you have an exotic launch trip on the Kazinga Channel, a narrow neck of water that connecting lakes George and Edward, with photo opportunities for birds and abundant hippos, families of buffalos, and elephants.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge

Day 9 – Transfer to Kampala

We drive out of the park having our lunch on the way and stopping en route to visit the Mpambire Royal Drum makers. We also stop over at the Equator before we continue to Kampala. Stay at Metropole Hotel.