19 Days Uganda Birding Tour; Shoebill, Endemics & Gorillas

On arrival in Entebbe, you will be met by a Greenway Nature Tours representative and transferred to your overnight accommodation. After settling, grab your binoculars because your guide will take you to the nearby Entebbe Botanical Gardens on the edge of Africa’s largest lake. This is lakeside paradise of blooms and lush vegetation is home to troops of stunning pied colobus monkeys. Get ready to add some exciting bird species to your list as you explore the gardens, home to a variety of avian treasures. Keep an eye out for the red-chested sunbird, Vieillot’s black weavers, long-tailed cormorants, black-headed herons, hamerkops, African open-billed storks, grey-headed gulls, terns, kingfishers, swamp flycatchers, and the striking black-headed gonolek. In the evening, your guide will join you for dinner and go over the plan for the next day’s trip to Mabamba Swamp in search of the monstrous shoebill.

Overnight: The Boma, or similar, Entebbe

Meal Plan: Dinner

Mabamba Swamp, just an hour’s drive from Entebbe, is one of Africa’s best spots to see the Shoebill. As we glide through the vast wetland in a dugout canoe, we’ll encounter a rich variety of the swamp’s 260 bird species. Look out for Grey-crowned Crane (Uganda National bird) Red-chested Sunbirds, various weaver species, coucals, and tropical waterbirds like the Lesser Jacana and Swamp Flycatchers. After marveling at the Shoebill, we’ll visit a spot known for Orange Weaver sightings and may also catch glimpses of Eastern Plantain-eaters, Ross’s Turaco, large flocks of Great Blue Turacos, Grey Kestrels, and the vibrant Double-toothed Barbet. After this morning adventure, we’ll drive towards Masindi, birding along the way, arriving by late afternoon or early evening at a lodge.

Overnight: Kabalega Resort Hotel, or similar, Masindi

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Budongo Forest is renowned for its rich birdlife (over 360 species), with Chestnut-capped Flycatcher being a standout species, along with two other small, warbler-like flycatchers that are taxonomically mysterious. Fraser’s Forest Flycatcher is another sought-after bird here.

However, it's the kingfishers that make the Royal Mile famous, with the Chocolate-backed Kingfisher being the most popular, alongside the stunning Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dwarf Kingfisher, and others. Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Fire-crested Alethe, and Nahan’s Partridge are often found near the forest floor, while the canopy hosts the lovely Rufous-crowned Eremomela, White-thighed Hornbill, and many other species. The forest is also home to fascinating barbets, tinkerbirds, woodpeckers, and a wide variety of greenbuls. The Royal Mile offers an incredibly beautiful and bird-rich environment, and after our visit, we will head to Murchison Falls National Park.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge, or similarMeal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

In this area, we enjoy boat trips and birding/game drives, constantly adding new species to our list. It’s also home to over 76 mammal species, including Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Giraffe, and Hippos. More than 450 bird species have been recorded here, such as Black-headed Lapwing, Silverbird, Speckle-fronted Weaver, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Red-throated Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Rock Pratincole, White-headed and Black-billed Barbets, Meyer’s Parrot, and Bateleur.

A major highlight is Murchison Falls, where the mighty Nile River squeezes through a narrow gap, creating the world’s strongest waterfall. While taking in this awe-inspiring sight, we may even spot Pel’s Fishing Owl or Bat Hawk. If possible, we can arrange night drives to search for elusive species like Long-tailed, Plain, and Pennant-winged Nightjars, and perhaps even the Greyish Eagle-Owl.

Overnight: Murchison River Lodge, or similar

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After a good breakfast, we’ll head out for birding in the Kaniyo Pabidi sector of Budongo Forest, where our main target will be the elusive Puvel’s Illadopsis. This is the only known site in East Africa where this rare forest species can be found. The forest is also home to other remarkable lowland forest birds, such as Western Crested Guineafowl, Spotted Greenbul, African Dwarf Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Forest Robin, and Yellow-mantled Weaver, among others. After our birding adventure, we’ll return to the resort where we stayed a few nights ago. We’ll enjoy dinner, unwind, and relax after a fulfilling day of birdwatching before heading to bed.

The drive from Masindi to Kibale Forest Park is absolutely amazing. As we pass through the Albertine Rift, we’ll be treated to dramatic escarpments, vast rift valley flats, and breathtaking views of Lake Albert. On the horizon, the distant Blue Mountains in Congo add to the awe-inspiring scenery. The journey takes about 5 to 6 hours, but the beauty of the landscape makes the time fly by.

Kibale is renowned as the richest forest in Africa for primates and is home to over 370 bird species. Our primary avian goal here is the elusive Green-breasted Pitta, which is best spotted at dawn when its display call helps us pinpoint its location.

Otherwise, this vibrant bird can be incredibly hard to find on the forest floor. As we search, the eerie sounds of large chimpanzee troops echo through the forest, adding to the atmosphere. There’s also the option to trek these Great Apes, and we may encounter other primates.

Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp or similar

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After an early breakfast at the hotel, we’ll embark on a scenic 2-hour drive west to the unique Semuliki National Park. This forest is an extension of the West African jungle, stretching all the way from Equatorial Guinea to Congo, and provides a rare habitat for species from the Guinea-Congo biome that aren’t found elsewhere in East Africa.

Semuliki is also known for its ancient hot springs, and as we walk along the trails in search of birds, you’ll feel the change in the air. It’s the closest you can get to the steaming jungles of central Africa from East Africa. The park is home to over 440 bird species, and we’ll be on the lookout for Guinea-Congo biome specials, including the Congo Serpent Eagle, Nkulengu Rail, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-chested Owlet, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Swamp Palm Bulbul, Blue-billed Malimbe, and several hornbills like the Piping, Black Dwarf, Red-billed Dwarf, and White-crested Hornbill, as well as the African Piculet. After an unforgettable day in this remarkable forest, we’ll head back to our hotel in Fort Portal.

Overnight: Mountains of the Moon Hotel or similar

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

On our way to Bwindi Forest, we’ll make a stop at Queen Elizabeth National Park, staying on the scenic Mweya Peninsula along the Kazinga Channel. This park, officially opened by Queen Elizabeth in 1954, is famous for its tree-climbing lions and is home to almost 100 mammal species and over 600 bird species. One of the highlights of our visit is a boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, where we’ll encounter Nile Crocodiles, Hippopotamuses, and a wide variety of waterbirds. We’ll also spot mammals like Common Warthog, African Buffalo, Uganda Kob, and many others, with the Forest Hog often stealing the show.

Overnight: Bush Lodge or Similar

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

The Mountain Gorillas here roam freely between Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC, and while we may get lucky and spot them, it’s more likely we’ll encounter them later in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. One of the primary reasons we visit this park on our Uganda birding tour is to search for the stunning Rwenzori Turaco. The park also features expansive bamboo forests, where we’ll be on the lookout for the elusive Abyssinian Ground Thrush. The rare Shelley’s Crimsonwing, an Endangered species (according to the IUCN), might make an appearance—though it's increasingly hard to find, and surprisingly, not due to human activity. We may get a glimpse of some Albertine Rift endemics here, though many will have to wait until we reach Bwindi for a closer look.

Overnight: Mutanda Lake Resort or Similar

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We’ll head to one of Africa’s most biodiverse forests, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, beginning in the high-altitude Ruhija section. As soon as we arrive, we’ll start birding the forested hills, aiming to spot the striking Black Bee-eater and hopefully find Grauer’s Swamp Warbler at a roadside location. This will help shorten the long walk on day 14, as the warbler is found in the lower reaches of Mubwindi Swamp. However, a trek down to the swamp is unavoidable, as it’s home to the sought-after Grauer’s (African Green) Broadbill. The hike down to the broadbill’s location—and back—takes much of the day, but it’s one of the tour’s best birding experiences. Participants typically encounter a steady stream of lifer birds throughout the day, mostly Albertine Rift endemics.

Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp or Similar

As we travel from the higher-altitude Ruhija to the lower-elevation Buhoma sections of the park, we’ll make a stop at "The Neck," a prime birding spot that offers species we won’t find elsewhere. Here, Black Bee-eater and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater are relatively easy to spot.

Chubb’s Cisticola can be heard singing from the thickets, while the Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher—known for its constant movement and loud calls—might make an appearance. The male of this striking bird has a black-and-white plumage with bright yellow eyes, while the female is chestnut and white. We may also spot Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Mackinnon’s Shrike, Bronzy Sunbird, African Grey Woodpecker, and Augur Buzzard, among others.

We’ll also search for deep-forest species, many of which are rare and mostly confined to this region, such as the Bar-tailed Trogon, Petit’s Cuckooshrike, Lühder’s Bushshrike, and Red-throated Alethe. In Buhoma, you’ll have the option to trek for Mountain Gorillas for a day (if you prefer not to join the trek, you’ll have a chance to enjoy more birding, relax, or photograph the birds around the lodge).

Overnight: Ride 4 a Woman, Buhoma

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

We’ll begin the day with an early breakfast before checking out of our accommodation, bidding farewell to the fantastic staff. Our journey then takes us northeast to the final destination of this incredible birding tour—Lake Mburo National Park. The drive will take approximately 5 to 6 hours, but we’ll make birding stops along the way and take breaks as needed.

Entering the park through the Sanga Gate, we’ll be greeted by the sight of the famous long-horned Ankole cattle, a highlight of the region and perfect for some memorable photos. After arriving at our lodge and checking in, we’ll enjoy a delightful late lunch. The day will conclude with an exciting evening game drive in the park, where we’ll have the chance to spot some of Lake Mburo’s 350 bird species, along with Plains Zebra, Impala, Common Eland, African Buffalo, Oribi, Waterbuck, Leopard, Hippopotamus, Spotted Hyena, and Topi.

Lake Mburo offers us an excellent opportunity to see birds typically found in arid environments, including the Blue-naped Mousebird, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Golden-breasted Bunting, and the rare Red-faced Barbet, along with the more common Spot-flanked Barbet. After a day of birding and wildlife watching, we’ll return to the lodge to freshen up before enjoying a delicious farewell dinner, all while the African night quietly settles over the waters of Lake Mburo.

Overnight: Rwakobo Rock, or similar

Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch and Dinner

After a hearty early breakfast, we’ll embark on a short private boat cruise on the lake—our final "safari activity" of the tour. This serene and picturesque cruise offers the perfect opportunity to take in the stunning surroundings and spot some last special species for our list, including African Finfoot, African Fish Eagle, Squacco Heron, Water Thick-knee, Pied and Giant Kingfishers, and plenty of Hippos.

Following the boat cruise, we’ll begin our journey back to Entebbe, about 4 to 5 hours away. But before we reach the airport, we have one final surprise! We’ll stop at the Ugandan Equator crossing at Kayabwe, where you can stand with one leg in the Northern Hemisphere and the other in the Southern—an unforgettable photo opportunity and a great chance to pick up some memorabilia as a souvenir of this amazing birding adventure in Uganda. We’ll then head to Entebbe Airport, where we’ll say our heartfelt goodbyes after an incredible journey and newfound friendships. From there, you’ll depart for your onward flights. For those with late-night departures, a day room in Entebbe can be arranged for your convenience.