22 Days Uganda Birding Safari, Wildlife and Gorilla Trekking

22 Days Uganda Birding Safari brings you the best of the birdlife in Uganda. Uganda has a variety of landscapes and over 1000 bird species! This 22 Days Uganda Birding Safari brings you to the most important birding sites in Uganda. Habitats to be seen: Forest, Lowland jungle, Swamps, Canals and Lakes, Mountains and Savannahs. Expect to see over 400 bird species and also the large animals of the savannahs (lion, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, hippo, leopard) and up to 16 primate species, including gorillas and chimps. Birding sites to be seen: Mabamba Swamp, Entebbe Botanical Gardens, Mabira Forest, The Nile in Jinja, Kaniyo Pabidi (Budongo Forest), Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Bigodi Swamps, Semuliki National Park, Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kazinga Channel, Bwindi National Park, Mubwindi Swamp, Lake Bunyonyi and Lake Mburo National Park.

Birding in Uganda

Birding in Uganda

Tour Details

Activities: Birding, Game drives, Chimpanzee trekking, hot springs, Boat trip
Start: Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
End: Entebbe International Airport, Uganda
Destination: Mabamba, Mabira Forest, Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo forest, Kibale Forest National Park, Semuliki National Park, Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, Lake Mburo National Park
Number of People: Tailored
Number of Days: 22
Availability: All Year Round
Price: Upon Request

Highlights Itinerary

  • Day 1 Entebbe
  • Day 2 Entebbe – Mabamba – Entebbe
  • Day 3 Entebbe – Mabira Forest – Jinja – Kampala
  • Day 4 Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 5 Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 6 Murchison Falls National Park
  • Day 7 Murchison Falls National Park- Hoima
  • Day 8 Hoima – Kibale Forest
  • Day 9 Kibale Forest
  • Day 11 Kibale Forest – Semuliki National Park
  • Day 12 Semuliki National Park – Semliki Wildlife Reserve – Fort Portal
  • Day 13 Fort Portal – Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 14 Queen Elizabeth National Park
  • Day 15 Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable
  • Day 16 Bwindi Impenetrable
  • Day 17 Bwindi Impenetrable
  • Day 18 Bwindi Impenetrable
  • Day 19 Bwindi Impenetrable – Lake Bunyonyi
  • Day 20 Lake Bunyoni
  • Day 21 Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park
  • Day 22 Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe

Detailed Itinerary 22 Days Uganda Birding Safari

Day 1 Entebbe

Arrive at Entebbe airport. Your guide will be there waiting for you. Pick up and proceed to your accommodation.

Day 2 Entebbe – Mabamba – Entebbe

Early breakfast and transfer to Mabamba Swamp, a large and accessible wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is one of the best places to see the Shoebill Stork. In the afternoon we visit the Botanical Gardens in Entebbe to see many beautiful bird species.

Day 3 Entebbe – Mabira Forest – Jinja – Kampala

Mabira Forest

Mabira Forest

Transfer to Mabira Forest, 65km east of Kampala. We spend the rest of the day birding in the Mabira forest, pausing for lunch at Jinja, and visiting the source of the Nile. Transfer to Kampala afterward.

Day 4 Kampala – Murchison Falls National Park

Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park. Birding in Kaniyo Pabidi (Budongo Forest) in the afternoon. Afterward, we proceed to Murchison falls and spend the night on the shores of the Nile.

Murchison Falls is one of the most beautiful National Parks in Uganda. One of the main attractions is the Nile, with the spectacular Murchison Falls, where the whole Nile is forced through a narrow gorge and falls 60 meters. Expect to see elephants, giraffes, lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and maybe leopards.

Day 5 Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda

Early game drive in the morning to see the large animals of Africa and also for birding. In the afternoon we take a boat trip on the Victoria Nile up to the bottom of the falls. The boat is an ideal platform to take photos of the birds.

Day 6 Murchison Falls National Park

Early morning adventure on the Nile on a private boat trip to the delta. Game drive in the afternoon or visit the top of the Falls.

Day 7 Murchison Falls National Park- Hoima

Early transfer to Budongo forest. Birding through the jungle. In the afternoon we drive to Hoima town where we spend the night. Budongo Forest is also home to many butterflies and chimpanzees.

Day 8 Hoima – Kibale Forest

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale

After breakfast, we drive to Kibale Forest. You can take a walk through the forest around the lodge in the afternoon. It is also possible to make a night walk through the forest to see the animals of the night, like bush babies (both activities optional). Kibale Forest is a spectacular jungle, with 13 primate species! Including chimps, baboons, black and white colobus, red colobus, grey-cheeked mangabey, and L’Hoest monkey.

Day 9 Kibale Forest

Chimpanzee tracking in the morning or in the afternoon. Birding in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. It is also possible to visit the local people or the crater lakes (optional).

Day 10 Kibale Forest

Birding in Kibale Forest and the area around it.

Day 11 Kibale Forest – Semuliki National Park

Transfer to Semuliki National Park. Visit the Sempaya Hot Springs and take a walk through the jungle for birding. Semuliki is a unique place and the only lowland jungle in East Africa, part of the Congo ecosystem.

Day 12 Semuliki National Park – Semliki Wildlife Reserve – Fort Portal

Transfer to Semuliki Wildlife Reserve for a Boat trip on Lake Albert. Transfer to Fort Portal afterward. Semuliki is an interesting area, partly forested and partly savannah. The shores of Lake Albert are well known to see the Shoebill Stork.

Day 13 Fort Portal – Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to the Queen Elizabeth National Park. On our way, we pass the equator where we will make a stop. Game drive for birding or optional guided walk on the Mweya Peninsula in the afternoon. Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the best places in Uganda to see lions. Expect to see elephants, lions, hippos, crocodiles, buffaloes, and maybe leopards.

Day 14 Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game drive in the morning, boat trip on the Kazinga Channel in the afternoon. The boat is an ideal platform to take photos of the birds. The Kazinga Channel is one of the highlights of Uganda and has the highest concentration of hippos in the world.

Day 15 Queen Elizabeth National Park – Bwindi Impenetrable

Birding through the park, leading to Maramagambo Forest. Transfer to Buhoma, Bwindi, in the afternoon. Bwindi Impenetrable is a unique jungle, with many monkey species. Bwindi is one of the 2 places in the world where you can find Mountain Gorillas!

Day 16 Bwindi Impenetrable

Birding in Bwindi National Park.

Day 17 Bwindi Impenetrable

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla Trekking

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Gorilla Trekking

Birding through the Neck area of Bwindi. It is also possible to do gorilla tracking (optional).

Day 18 Bwindi Impenetrable

Transfer to Ruhija. Birding in this unique area, with a lot of Albertine endemics.

Day 19 Bwindi Impenetrable – Lake Bunyonyi

Birding in Mubwindi Swamp and after transfer to Lake Bunyonyi, the deepest and most beautiful lake of Uganda. We sleep on one of the beautiful islands. Possible activities: make a nature walk, go for a birding walk, go canoeing, take a swim, or visit the local community (all activities optional).

Day 20 Lake Bunyoni

Birding on the island and along the lake shores. Optional boat trip on the lake.

Day 21 Lake Bunyonyi – Lake Mburo National Park

After breakfast, we drive to Lake Mburo. Boat trip for birding on the lake in the afternoon. It is possible to do a night game drive with high chances of seeing leopards and nocturnal birds (optional activity).

Lake Mburo is one of the 2 national parks with zebras and the only national park with impalas in Uganda. There are no elephants and lions, so walking safaris are possible.

Day 22 Lake Mburo National Park – Entebbe

Early morning game drive or game walk in Lake Mburo National Park. Transfer to the airport for your departure.

PRICES

Prices are on request; please send an email to info@africarevealsafaris.com

All Prices Includes

  • Airport transfers
  • Accommodations with meals mentioned
  • Bottled drinking water
  • Private 4×4 custom-built safari vehicle with knowledgeable driver/guide and fuel
  • Entrance fees to the included National Parks
  • Activities mentioned as included

Excludes

  • Flights
  • Visa
  • All optional activities
  • Insurances
  • Meals not mentioned and beverages
  • Tips and personal expenses such as laundry and communication