24-Day Birding Safari in Uganda

Travel to Lake Mburo for acacia woodland birding and wetland specialties. Look out for the Red-faced Barbet, Crested Francolin, and African Finfoot during boat and game drives. Lake Mburo’s varied habitats also provide excellent mammal sightings.

Head to the southwestern highlands for montane birding in Mgahinga. This park offers chances to see Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, and other Albertine endemics in bamboo and montane zones.

Spend three full days birding in both the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors. Highlights include the African Green Broadbill, Regal Sunbird, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Optional gorilla tracking is also available here.

Bird your way north through Ishasha, famous for tree-climbing lions and open woodland birds such as Martial Eagle, Black-bellied Bustard, and White-headed Barbet.

Enjoy game drives and a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. The park is rich in raptors and waterbirds, including the African Skimmer, Yellow-billed Stork, and Great White Pelican. Maramagambo Forest adds forest species like White-spotted Flufftail.

Explore the Kibale Forest to search for the elusive Green-breasted Pitta and other forest birds such as Blue-headed Sunbird, White-naped Pigeon, and Dusky-blue Flycatcher. Visit Bigodi Wetland for papyrus specialties and swamp dwellers.

Spend two days exploring Semuliki's lowland rainforest trails for Congo-Guinea species like Nkulengu Rail, White-crested Hornbill, and Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill. Optional night birding may reveal owls and nightjars.

Drive to Uganda’s largest park, home to savannah birds and the iconic Shoebill (seen on a boat cruise to the Nile delta). The northern game tracks feature Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretary Bird, and Black-billed Barbet.

Focus on the Royal Mile and Busingiro for forest species including the Puvel’s Illadopsis, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, and Ituri Batis. Budongo offers a rich overlap of western and central African forest birds.

Fly or drive to this remote northeastern park. Birding here includes dryland and savannah species like Karamoja Apalis, Clapperton’s Francolin, and Ostrich. Game drives offer excellent raptor viewing and big game.

Continue into the arid landscapes of Pian Upe. This is the best place to find Uganda’s only endemic bird, the Fox’s Weaver. Also search for species like Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird and Red-fronted Warbler.

Mount Elgon's montane forest and moorland habitats offer unique species such as Jackson’s Francolin, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, and Tacazze Sunbird. Enjoy panoramic views of the eastern highlands.

Conclude your safari with woodland and wetland birding at Ziwa. Spot White-crested Turaco, African Black-headed Oriole, and sunbirds before returning to Entebbe for your international departure.