10 Days Uganda Birding Safari – Overview

The 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari features birds in east and central Uganda. The Uganda birding tour takes you birding in Uganda destinations of Mabamba Wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Mabamba swamp offers opportunities for spotting the rare shoe bill stork along with other 215 species of birds while the Savannah landscapes of Lake Mburo offer sights of the Red Faced Barbet along with other 350 species of birds.

The raised forested landscapes of Bwindi are listed as the number one birding spot in Africa with 214 species of birds while the rift valley flats of Queen Elizabeth National Park along with the forested areas of Maramagambo offer interesting birding encounters on Uganda safari with 600 species of birds.

10 Days Uganda Birding Safari – Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda (Entebbe International Airport) & Transfer to Your Lodge

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport which is the main gateway to Uganda after your long flight. You will be welcomed by our courteous guide who will then transfer you to your respective lodge for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Imperial Botanical Resort (Upmarket/Luxury), Cassia Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or the Lodge (Budget/Basic).

The 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari

Day 2: Encounter Birds in Mabamba Wetland & Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park

After an early breakfast, embark on the transfer to Mabamba swamp for a memorable birding encounter. The canoe ride on Mabamba water-logged area will expose you to magnificent flora and counts of birds that enjoy the naturally given food of snails and other water organisms.

The rare shoebill stork is the major spot of the day while other species like Squacco, long Toed Plover, African Water Rail, Goliath, Purple, Pygmy Goose, Herons, Yellow Billed Duck, Grey and Black Headed Heron, White Faced Whistling Duck, Moorhen, Black Crake, Allen’s Gallinule and African Jacana may be spotted in the area. The wildlife like elusive Sitatunga Antelope can also be spotted.

After this activity, embark on the transfer to Lake Mburo National Park arriving in the evening for dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Mihingo Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Arcadia Cottages (Midrange/Standard) or Eagles Nest (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Encounter Birds in Lake Mburo National Park

After an early morning breakfast, embark on the full day search of birds in the savannah landscape of Lake Mburo National Park. Explore the park on foot following the respective trails in the company of an armed ranger to save you from attacks of wild animals.

Explore the Miriti and Warukiri swamps, Rubanga forest and the salt lick. The encounter offers you chances of spotting Rufous-bellied Heron, Bateleur, Coqui Francolin, Grey Crowned Crane, Brown-chested Lapwing, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, Brown Parrot, Green Wood-hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Red-faced Barbet, White-headed Barbet, Long-tailed Cisticola, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike, Finfoot, White-winged Tit and Yellow-breasted Apalis among other birds.

The boat ride on Lake Mburo in the afternoon exposes you to counts of Kingfishers and African fish eagle.

Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 4: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park And Bird Ruhija in The Evening.

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Ruhija in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is listed as the number one birding spot in the whole of Africa.

The journey is 235km passing through farmed landscapes of south western Uganda and the towns of Mbarara and Kabale before arriving in Bwindi for lunch and relaxation.

In the afternoon, you will embark on the birding in forested hilly landscapes of Ruhija with opportunities of encountering Handsome Francolin Mountain Illadopsis, White-starred Robin, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Ayres’s and Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Mountain Buzzard,  Grauer’s Warbler, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Masked, Collard, Dusky and Shelley’s Crimson wing, Chestnut Throated and Black – Throated Apalis, Dusky Tit, Red Faced Woodland Warbler,  Stripe Breasted Tit among other bird species.

Accommodation: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp (Midrange/Standard) or Broadbill Forest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 5: Bird in Umubwindi swamp.

After an early breakfast, embark on the birding encounter to the Umubwindi swamp which has got a legendary attachment that later resulted in the naming of the entire national park as Bwindi.

The water-logged environment of Umubwindi swamp is a haven for a range of birds among which include; African Green Broadbill, Purple-breasted, Red Faced Woodland Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Grey Cuckooshrike, Mountain Illadopsis, Mountain Greenbul, Buff-Throated, Chestnut, Grey, Collard, Black Throated,  Mountain Masked, Blue-headed and Regal Sunbirds.

Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 6: Bird Ruhija and Buhoma

Do a short bird walk in Ruhija in the morning after which you will transfer to the northern sector of Bwindi (Buhoma) Upon arriving, you will bird within Buhoma environs with chances of encountering;  Rufous-chested Fluff tail, Handsome Francolin, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Neumann’s Warbler, Red-chested Owlet among other bird species.

Accommodation: Gorilla Forest Camp (Upmarket/Luxury), Silverback Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Buhoma Community Rest Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 7: Bird Buhoma or Optional Gorilla Trekking

Birding in Buhoma commences early in the morning and gives you opportunities of encountering Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Rufous-chested Fluff tail, Pink Footed and Northern Puff Back, Honey Guide, Red Tailed, Toro Olive, Slender Billed, Little, Sheilley’s, Little Grey, Cabani’s White Throated and Yellow Wiskered Greenbuls, Cameroon Sombre,  Elliots, Cardianl, Yellow Crested, Red Throated Allethe, Fine Banded woodpeckers, Red Faced Woodland Warbler, White Headed Wood Hopoe, Black faced Woodland Warbler, Waller’s, Stulman’s and Narro Tailed Starlings, Banded and White Chinned Prinia, Black Bee Eater, Blue Throated Brown, Northern Double Collard, Blue Headed, Collard, Olive, Green, olive Bellied, Rwenzori  Doulbe Collard and Green Headed Sunbirds, Kivu Ground Thrush, Bar tailed Tragon, African Borad Bill, Neumann’s Warbler, Red-chested Owlet, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher and Pale-breasted Illadopsis. Retire for relaxation and overnight.

Accommodation: You will have dinner and overnight at your previous lodge.

Day 8:  Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park & Bird Along The Kazinga Channel.

After breakfast, you transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park 160km about 5 hour’s drive. You will pass through the landscapes of Ishasha in the south of Queen Elizabeth where by chance you can encounter the tree-climbing lions that dwell in the fig trees of Ishasha.

You will arrive at Mweya for lunch after which you will embark on the birding encounter along the 45m long Kazinga channel using the launch.

The two-hour launch cruise will not only expose you to over 60 species of birds but also other Uganda safari offerings like Hippos, Nile Crocodiles not forgetting elephants, buffaloes, and other antelopes drinking on the channel side. the birds that might be encountered include; the African Skimmer, African Spoonbill, Striated Heron, Herring Gull, Water Thick-knee, Lesser Black Backed Gull,  Three-banded Plover, Green, Marsh, Wood, and Common Sandpiper, Plain Martin, Gray-headed Gull, Lesser Swamp-Warbler among others.

Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Enganzi Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Pumba Safari Cottages (Budget/Basic).

Day 9: Encounter Birds in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Have a whole day encounter with birds in the varied ecosystems of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The birding encounter can be conducted in Mweya peninsular, environs of Lake Kikorongo, Maramagambo forest, Savannah plains of Kasenyi, Katunguru bridge Area among other areas.

Queen Elizabeth National Park exposes you to birds like; Temminck’s Courser, Rupell’s Griffon, Martial Eagle,  White Headed, Lappet Faced Vultures, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Small (Common) Buttonquail, African Crake, African Skimmer, Black Headed Gonolek, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Amur Falcon, Lowland Akalat, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Greater and Lesser Flamingo among others.

The sights of wildlife like elephants, buffaloes, spotted Hyena, side stripped jackals, and Antelopes among others may not be missed.

Accommodation: You will spend an overnight at your previous Lodge.

Day 10: Transfer Back to Kampala.

After breakfast, you can take a short bird walk in the Maramagambo forest before returning to embark on the journey to Kampala.

End of  The 10 Days Uganda Birding Safari