12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Overview

The 12 Days Uganda Birding Tour (Albertine Rift Endemics Birdwatching tour in Uganda) is designed to enable you to explore the Albertine Rift endemic bird species in detail.

It takes you through various protected areas that align with the Albertine rift including; Mgahinga Gorilla National Park with 115 species of Uganda birds, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with 214 species of birds, Rwenzori National Park with 217 species of birds of which 19 are restricted to the Albertine rift and Semuliki National Park with 441 bird species of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine rift.

12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Highlights

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda for your Albertine Rift endemics birding safari in Uganda & transfer to your lodge.
Day 2: Transfer to Kisoro & Bird Echuya forest reserve en route.
Day 3: Encounter birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Day 4: Birding transfer to Ruhija (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park)
Day 5: Encounter birds in Umubwindi swamp.
Day 6: Birding transfer to Buhoma via the neck.

Day 7: Encounter birds in Buhoma
Day 8: Transfer to Kasese
Day 9: Encounter birds in Rwenzori Mountain National Park
Day 10: Birding transfer to Semliki National Park
Day 11: Whole day birding encounter in Semuliki National Park
Day 12: Transfer back to Kampala.

12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Uganda For You Albertine Rift Endemics Birding Safari in Uganda & 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).

Day 2:  Transfer to Kisoro & Bird Echuya Forest Reserve En-route.

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kisoro in the southwest of Uganda 519km from Kampala approximately 10 hours’ drive.

You will drive through amazing scenic landscapes of central and southwestern Uganda with spots of birds that may appear along the road to your respective destination.

The Echuya forest reserve is positioned between Kabale and Kisoro and if time permits, you can take short bird walks in the forest to explore the forest birds before continuing to Kisoro overnight.

Accommodation: Mount Gahinga Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Mucha Lodge (Midrange/Standard) or Amajambere Iwacu Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 3: Encounter Birds in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

After an early breakfast, embark on a whole day birding encounter on the volcanic slopes of Mgahinga National Park.

Departing with a picnic lunch, you will commence this day-long activity at Ntebeko following the gorge trail that loops up to Mount Sabyinyo with a montane ecosystem that favors the thriving of Dusky Turtle Dove,  Cape Robin-Chat, Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu Ground Thrush, White Tailed Blue Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty, Olive Wood-pecker, Mountain Yellow Warbler, White-starred Robin, White-napped Raven, Yellow-crowned Canary, Streaky and Thick Billed Seedeater, Lagden’s Bush-Shrike, Shelly’s Crimson-wing among other bird species. Retire in the evening for relaxation and overnight.

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

Day 4: Birding Transfer to Ruhija (Bwindi Impenetrable National Park)

After breakfast, embark on the drive to the north within the Albertine rift to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park which is listed as the number one birding spot in Africa.

You can make a birding stop in Echuya forest to have chances of encountering; Little Rush Warbler, Grauer’s Rush Warbler which is among the rare Bradypterus Warblers that exist within the Albertine rift.

Continue on the drive to Ruhija with en-route birding offering chances of spotting Yellow-Bellied Waxbill, Augur and Mountain Buzzard, Dusky Crimson wing, Common Stonechat, and Dusky Twinspot among other birds.

The drive close to Ruhija headquarters offers sights of Handsome Francolin, Western Green Tinkerbird, Olive Pigeon, Archer’s Robin-Chat, White-browed Crombec, Chestnut Throated Apalis, Stripe-breasted and Dusky Tit, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Black-headed Waxbill, Rwenzori Batis among others.

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

Day 5: Encounter Birds in Umubwindi Swamp.

After breakfast, you head to birding encounters in Umubwindi swamp where you might have chances of encountering; the beautiful leafy-looking broadbill, Olive, Elliot’s and Fine-banded Woodpecker, Black-billed Turaco, African Hill Babbler, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Mountain Illadopsis, Mountain Greenbul, Red-faced Woodland, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Chestnut-throated Collard and Black Throated Apalis, Mountain Yellow Warbler,  Stripe-breasted Tit, Mountain, Shelley’s and Yellow-streaked Greenbul, African Green-Broadbill, Regal Sunbird and Rwenzori Batis among other bird species.

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

Day 6: Birding Transfer to Buhoma via The Neck.

After an early breakfast, you will embark on the transfer to Buhoma in the northern sector of Bwindi. The transfer will involve birding en route with possible sights of Black Bee-eater, Red-throated Wryneck, Mountain Wagtail, Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher, Olive Thrush, White-starred Robin, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, MacKinnon’s Fiscal, Grauer’s Warbler, Collared, Mountain Masked Chestnut-throated, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grey Apalis, Sharpe’s Starling, Strange Weaver, Dusky Twinspot, elusive Regal and Purple-breasted Sunbird.

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

Day 7: Encounter Birds in Buhoma

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, Cardinal, 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 Double Collard and Green Headed Sunbirds, Kivu Ground Thrush, Bar-tailed Trogon, African Broad 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 Kasese

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kasese. The drive will take you through the rift valley flats that are occupied by Queen Elizabeth National Park with its range of wildlife including the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha and over 600 species of birds.

Arrive in Kasese in the afternoon and do short bird walks to have chances of opportunities of spotting; the purple-breasted sunbird, Abyssinian, Shelly’s, Red-faced and Dusky Crimson-wing, Woodhouse Antipecker, Red-bellied seed cracker, Stripe-breasted Tit, Grey Apalis, Forest Flycatcher, Ayres and Cassin’s Hawk-eagle among other species of birds.

Accommodation: Equator Snow Lodge (Upmarket/Luxury), Ihamba Safari Lodge (Midrange/Standard), or Ruboni Community Camp (Budget/Basic).

Day 9: Encounter Birds in Rwenzori Mountain National Park

Have a full-day birding encounter in Rwenzori Mountains National Park having opportunities of encountering bird species that rarely thrive in low land ecosystems.

Birds that may be encountered include; Barbets, Bee-eaters, Robins,  Rwenzori Turaco, sun-birds Long-eared owls while Bearded Vultures, Swifts and Black eagles exist in the higher slopes. The Malachite sunbird is visible in the upper Alpine zone.

Day 10: Birding Transfer to Semliki National Park

After having an early breakfast, you embark on the transfer to Semuliki National Park and do birding en route.

Upon arrival, take the Sempaya trail down to the hot springs which is very amazing to encounter also. Besides that, you have opportunities of encountering birds like hornbills, Black Bellied Seed Cracker, Chestnut Breasted Negro Finch among others.

Accommodation: Semuliki Safari Lodge or Kirumia guesthouse.

Day 11: Whole Day Birding Encounter in Semuliki National Park

This is a whole day encounter in Semmuliki National Park which has got 441 bird species of which 23 are endemic to the Albertine rift forming about 90% of Albertine endemics. Take the Kirumia trail with encounters of birds that originate from the west of Africa.

The birds that might be seen in this activity include; Black-casqued wattled, Piping, White thighed, Red-billed dwarf, Rufous Sided Broadbill, White-crested and Black dwarf Hornbill, Blue Billed and Crested Malimbe, Leaf Love, Blue-headed Crested-flycatcher, Swamp palm Bulbul not forgetting the rare Capuchin Babbler, African Piculet and Lyre Tailed Honey Guide.

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

Day 12: Transfer Back to Kampala.

After breakfast, embark on the transfer to Kampala driving through the towns of Fort Portal and Mubende while making some stops en route to view numerous birds that may present themselves.

End of The 12 Days Uganda Birding Tour