$7,975 pp (USD)
2 travelers on Start dateArrival
Arrival
Day 1
Arrival in Entebbe
Arrival in Entebbe
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your professional birding guide and transferred to your midrange accommodation, located along the scenic shores of Lake Victoria. After settling in and refreshing from your journey, you may enjoy optional birding around the Entebbe Botanical Gardens or along the lakeshore. This peaceful introduction to Uganda’s birdlife offers opportunities to spot the Great Blue Turaco, African Grey Parrot, Malachite Kingfisher, Black-headed Gonolek, and Pied Kingfisher. The gardens’ mix of woodland, lake, and open habitat makes it an excellent warm-up for your upcoming adventure. In the evening, relax at your lodge as you enjoy the tranquil breeze from Africa’s largest lake and prepare for the exciting days of birding ahead.
- Main Destination:
- Entebbe (City)
- Accommodation:
- 2 Friends Beach Hotel
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 2
Transfer to Mount Elgon National Park
Transfer to Mount Elgon National Park
After an early breakfast, set off on a scenic drive eastward toward Mount Elgon National Park, Uganda’s oldest and most spectacular volcanic mountain region. The journey takes you through Jinja—famous as the source of the Nile River—and then onward through lush farmlands, rolling hills, and forested valleys around Mbale. Along the route, enjoy birding stopovers in roadside woodlands and wetland areas, where you can expect to see species such as the Black-headed Gonolek, African Firefinch, Lizard Buzzard, and the striking Eastern Plantain-eater. As you approach the foothills of Mount Elgon, the landscape becomes cooler and greener, offering excellent photographic opportunities of the mountain slopes and local communities. Arrive at your midrange lodge in the late afternoon, where you can relax with panoramic views of the Sipi Falls and listen to the calls of sunbirds in the surrounding gardens.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Elgon
- Accommodation:
- Mise Caves
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 3
Birding on Mount Elgon Slopes
Birding on Mount Elgon Slopes
After breakfast, embark on a full day of birding along the Kapkwai Trail and the forested slopes of Mount Elgon National Park. This montane paradise, known for its cool climate and stunning vistas, offers an exceptional mix of highland forest, bamboo, and moorland habitats. The trails wind through dense montane vegetation and open viewpoints overlooking dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, creating ideal conditions for both birding and photography.
Target species for the day include the Moorland Francolin, Tacazze Sunbird, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Mountain Yellow Warbler, and the striking Jackson’s Francolin. You may also encounter species such as the White-starred Robin, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, and the Chubb’s Cisticola. With a bit of luck, you could spot the elusive Lammergeier (Bearded Vulture) soaring high above the escarpments.
- Main Destination:
- Mount Elgon National Park
- Accommodation:
- Mise Caves
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 4
Transfer to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Transfer to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
After an early breakfast, depart Mount Elgon and head north toward Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Uganda’s second-largest protected area, located in the semi-arid region of eastern Uganda. The journey offers scenic drives through fertile farmlands, open savannas, and small villages, providing opportunities for roadside birding and photography.
Arriving in the reserve in the afternoon, enjoy your first guided birding excursion across Pian Upe’s dry savanna, acacia woodlands, and rocky outcrops. Keep your binoculars ready for striking species such as the Ostrich, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, White-headed Buffalo-Weaver, Northern Red Bishop, and Rufous-crowned Roller. You may also spot grazing antelopes and other wildlife, adding to the savanna experience.
The combination of wide-open plains, endemic savanna species, and the warm afternoon light creates excellent opportunities for both novice and experienced birders.
- Main Destination:
- Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Karamoja Overland Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 5
Birding in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Birding in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
After breakfast, set out for a full day of birding in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, exploring its diverse habitats of open grasslands, acacia woodlands, and rocky outcrops. The reserve is renowned for its mix of savanna and semi-arid species, making it a prime location for birders seeking rare and endemic lifers.
Focus on target species such as Fox’s Weaver, Uganda’s only endemic bird, along with the elegant Secretarybird, the striking Eastern Chanting Goshawk, and the ground-dwelling Hartlaub’s Bustard. Along the way, keep an eye out for Northern Red Bishops, Black-headed Orioles, and the colorful Abyssinian Rollers. The landscape also provides chances to spot antelopes, warthogs, and other wildlife that share these habitats.
With its combination of unique savanna species and sweeping views of the plains, Pian Upe offers an unforgettable birding experience.
- Main Destination:
- Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
- Accommodation:
- Karamoja Overland Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 6
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
After an early breakfast, depart Pian Upe and begin the scenic drive southwest through central Uganda toward Lake Mburo National Park, the country’s smallest yet biologically rich savanna park. The journey takes you through fertile farmland, scattered villages, and open woodland, offering numerous opportunities for roadside birding and photography.
Along the way, make multiple birding stopovers in wetlands, papyrus swamps, and acacia woodlands. Watch for species such as the Long-tailed Cisticola, Brown Parrot, Red-throated Twinspot, and the flashy Violet-backed Starling. You may also encounter small mammals and grazing antelopes, adding to the diversity of sightings.
Arrive in the late afternoon, with time to relax and enjoy the park’s scenic landscapes. Lake Mburo’s mix of lakeshore, wetland, and woodland habitats makes it a perfect location to prepare for the next day’s birding adventures.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Accommodation:
- Eagle's Nest Camp
Wildlife in Lake Mburo NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 7
Birding in Lake Mburo National Park
Birding in Lake Mburo National Park
Spend a full day exploring the bird-rich habitats of Lake Mburo National Park, one of Uganda’s top sites for acacia-associated and water-loving birds. Begin the morning with a game drive and birding safari through open woodland, savanna thickets, and lakeside trails. The park’s gently rolling hills and scattered acacia trees provide excellent visibility and photography opportunities.
Target specialties include the Red-faced Barbet—a localized species found only in this region of Uganda—along with Crested Francolin, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Black-bellied Bustard, and Rufous-chested Swallow. Mammal sightings may include plains zebra, impala, and eland, all coexisting with birdlife in the park’s open plains.
In the afternoon, enjoy an optional boat cruise on Lake Mburo (extra cost), offering a relaxed way to observe aquatic species such as the African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, Malachite Kingfisher, and numerous hippos basking near the shore.
- Main Destination:
- Lake Mburo National Park
- Accommodation:
- Eagle's Nest Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 8
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Buhoma Sector
Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Buhoma Sector
After an early breakfast, embark on a scenic drive southwest through the rolling hills and tea plantations of Kigezi, heading toward the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Africa’s richest biodiversity hotspots. The journey offers incredible birding opportunities and breathtaking landscapes, with several birding stopovers along the way.
En route, you may spot the Black Bee-eater, Ross’s Turaco, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Brown-capped Weaver, and Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher. The drive also provides a glimpse into Uganda’s rural life, with lush terraced hillsides and vibrant local markets along the route.
For those interested, the next morning offers an optional Gorilla Trekking experience (extra cost)—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to encounter the endangered Mountain Gorillas in their natural habitat. The experience combines conservation, adventure, and emotion, making it a perfect complement to your birding safari.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Haven Lodge Buhoma Community
Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 9
Birding in Buhoma – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Birding in Buhoma – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Spend a full day exploring the lush lowland rainforest of Buhoma, the northern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park, renowned as one of Africa’s most rewarding birding destinations. The day begins with an early breakfast before setting off along the Buhoma Waterfall Trail or the Munyaga River Trail, both offering access to a wide range of habitats—from dense forest understorey to open clearings and riverine thickets.
Bwindi is home to over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics found nowhere else on Earth. Target highlights for the day include the African Green Broadbill, Bar-tailed Trogon, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Equatorial Akalat, White-bellied Robin-Chat, and the elusive Black-faced Rufous Warbler. Keen birders may also encounter Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Strange Weaver, and Mountain Masked Apalis—all high-value lifers for many birdwatchers.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Haven Lodge Buhoma Community
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 10
Transfer to Ruhija Sector
Transfer to Ruhija Sector
After an early breakfast, begin your scenic ascent from the lowland rainforest of Buhoma to the higher elevations of the Ruhija Sector, located in the eastern part of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park.
En route, you’ll enjoy productive birding stopovers along forest edges, clearings, and montane thickets where high-altitude specialists thrive. Expect to encounter Rwenzori Batis, Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, and Mountain Illadopsis—species that define the Albertine montane ecosystem. Other possible sightings include Black-billed Turaco, Chestnut-throated Apalis, and Collared Apalis, each adding excitement to your growing list of lifers.
As you climb higher, the air becomes cooler and the vegetation transitions into bamboo zones and montane forest, creating ideal habitats for Albertine Rift endemics. Keep your binoculars ready for Dusky Crimsonwing and Purple-breasted Sunbird, often spotted feeding along forest margins.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 11
Birding at Mubwindi Swamp Trail
Birding at Mubwindi Swamp Trail
After an early breakfast, set out for a birding expedition along the famous Mubwindi Swamp Trail, Uganda’s most rewarding and legendary birding sites, located within the Ruhija Sector of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This trail descends gradually through pristine montane forest to the edge of Mubwindi Swamp, an area renowned among ornithologists for hosting some of the rarest Albertine Rift endemics.
Keep an eye out for Handsome Francolin, Ruwenzori Hill Babbler, Mountain Illadopsis, and Yellow-streaked Greenbul moving through the undergrowth. The mid-level canopy may reveal gems like the Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, and Stripe-breasted Tit.
Reaching the swamp area is a highlight in itself—it is the only known location in Uganda where you can reliably find the Grauer’s Broadbill, one of Africa’s most sought-after birds and a true “mega lifer” for serious birders. The swamp and surrounding forest also shelter Dwarf Honeyguide, Archer’s Robin-Chat, and Grauer’s Rush Warbler.
- Main Destination:
- Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Ruhija Gorilla Mist Camp
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 12
Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, begin your scenic drive to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Uganda’s smallest yet one of its most biologically diverse protected areas, forming part of the larger Virunga Conservation Area shared with Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The journey offers beautiful views of terraced highlands, rolling hills, and the towering volcanic peaks of Mount Muhabura, Mount Gahinga, and Mount Sabyinyo.
Mgahinga’s ecosystem is a mix of bamboo, montane forest, and subalpine moorland, providing ideal conditions for some of East Africa’s most elusive bird species. Look out for Rwenzori Turaco, Kivu Ground Thrush, Dusky Crimsonwing, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird, and Ruwenzori Batis.
The park is also home to several Albertine Rift endemics, making it a hotspot for serious birders seeking “lifers.” You may also encounter the Golden Monkey or even spot signs of Mountain Gorillas in the dense vegetation (optional gorilla trekking can be arranged at extra cost).
- Main Destination:
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Mutanda Lake Resort
Wildlife in Mgahinga Gorilla NP
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 13
Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After an early breakfast, set out for a full day of birding in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, exploring the park’s diverse montane ecosystems that range from bamboo forests to subalpine moorlands. The day’s adventure takes you along scenic trails such as the Gorge Trail and the Bamboo Zone, which are famous for hosting a rich variety of Albertine Rift endemics and high-altitude specialists.
Keep your binoculars ready for sought-after species including Lagden’s Bushshrike, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Alpine Chat, Stripe-breasted Tit, Dusky Crimsonwing, and White-starred Robin. The melodies of the Rwenzori Batis and Mountain Yellow Warbler echo through the lush forest, offering excellent photographic opportunities for birders.
In the afternoon, you may opt for an extra activity (at additional cost) such as Golden Monkey tracking, a rare experience to observe these playful primates endemic to the Albertine Rift.
- Main Destination:
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park (Gorillas)
- Accommodation:
- Mutanda Lake Resort
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 14
Transfer to Mabamba Swamp – Shoebill Tracking
Transfer to Mabamba Swamp – Shoebill Tracking
After an early breakfast, start your scenic return journey toward Entebbe, driving through the beautiful highlands and lush countryside of southwestern Uganda. Along the way, enjoy birding stopovers in wetlands and farmlands, where you may spot species such as the Grey Crowned Crane, Black-headed Heron, and Long-crested Eagle.
This vast wetland of papyrus channels and lagoons is world-famous for its population of the Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) — a prehistoric-looking bird that is a top “must-see” for birders visiting Africa.
With aid of local guides, you glide silently through narrow waterways lined with papyrus reeds. The experience offers excellent photographic opportunities as you search for the Shoebill standing motionless while hunting lungfish or frogs. In addition to this legendary species, the swamp teems with wetland birds including African Jacana, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Malachite Kingfisher, Goliath Heron, Papyrus Gonolek, and Lesser Swamp Warbler.
- Main Destination:
- Mabamba Swamp
- Accommodation:
- Frontiers Hotel Entebbe
- Meals & Drinks:
Day 15
Departure
Departure
After breakfast, spend your final morning enjoying relaxed birding around Entebbe’s lush environments. You may revisit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, a haven for both resident and migratory species, where the tranquil lakeshore and shaded forest trails offer sightings of Great Blue Turaco, African Grey Parrot, and Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill.
Alternatively, take a peaceful walk along the Lake Victoria shoreline, observing waders and water-associated species such as the African Openbill, Long-tailed Cormorant, and Pied Kingfisher as fishermen set out in their wooden boats. This relaxed finale provides the opportunity to recap your memorable sightings and exchange highlights with your guide.
Later, you will be transferred to your onward destination, marking the end of your incredible 15-Day Uganda Endemics & Rare Lifers Birding Safari. Leave with a rewarding personal checklist, cherished “lifers,” and lasting memories of Uganda’s exceptional biodiversity and warm hospitality.
- Main Destination:
- Entebbe (City)
- Accommodation:
- No accommodation (End of tour)
- Meals & Drinks:
