5-Day Albertine Rift Birding Safari– Shoebill & Endemics

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival in Entebbe & Birding in Mabamba Wetland (Shoebill Search)

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by your Naleyo Tours and Travel birding guide. After a brief orientation, you will head directly to one of Africa’s most important birding sites — Mabamba Wetland on the shores of Lake Victoria. Here, you board a traditional canoe and glide through papyrus-lined channels alive with bird calls and vibrant colors.
Mabamba is the best place in East Africa to find the majestic Shoebill Stork, whose massive prehistoric appearance captures every birder’s imagination. Along the way, you’ll also encounter Papyrus Gonolek, African Marsh Harrier, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, and several kingfisher species. The wetland’s serenity, paired with suspenseful scanning, creates an unforgettable first day.
Later, return to Entebbe for a relaxed evening at your lodge.

Main Destination:

Mabamba Swamp

Best Time To Go August to September and December to February (Best for spotting shoebill)

High Season June to September (Peak time for Uganda)

Best Weather

Accommodation:

ViaVia Entebbe Guesthouse

• Budget hostel located in Entebbe (City)

+39 Photos

+38 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Lunch & dinner (Breakfast not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Transfer to Bwindi via Scenic Highlands (Birding En Route)

After breakfast, you ll begin the scenic journey to the Albertine Rift. The drive winds through rolling hills, terraced farmlands, papyrus wetlands, and open woodlands—each offering productive birding stops. Expect sightings of Great Blue Turaco, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, African Harrier-Hawk, and Ross’s Turaco.
You will arrive in the high-altitude forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Ruhija) by late afternoon. The cool air, mountain mists, and thick evergreen forest echo with the songs of rare montane species, setting the tone for tomorrow’s exceptional birding.
Enjoy dinner as you listen to nightjars calling from the forest edge.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Best Time To Visit June to August and December to February (Gorilla trekking is easiest)

High Season June to September (Gorilla permits are scarce)

Best Weather June to July and December to February (Less rainfall)

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

GorillaCommon

ChimpanzeeRare

ElephantRare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

Show more

GiraffeNone

LeopardNone

CheetahNone

BuffaloNone

ZebraNone

WildebeestNone

HippoNone

Accommodation:

Broadbill Forest Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

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Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Full Birding in Ruhija (Mubwindi Swamp & Endemics)

Today is the highlight of the safari — a full-day birding expedition through Ruhija’s world-renowned trails. You will descend toward the mystical Mubwindi Swamp, a hotspot for Albertine Rift endemics and home to some of Africa’s most elusive species.
This region offers exceptional chances of encountering:
Grauer’s (African Green) Broadbill – Uganda’s most sought-after endemic
Regal Sunbird
Handsome Francolin
Rwenzori Batis
Mountain Masked Apalis
Doherty’s Bushshrike
Stripe-breasted Tit
Birding in this quiet, ancient forest is magical—mist drifting through tall trees, sunbirds flitting in flowering lobelias, and distant calls echoing over the valley.
Return to your lodge in the late afternoon for a well-deserved rest.

Main Destination:

Ruhija Sector (Bwindi Impenetrable NP)

Accommodation:

Broadbill Forest Camp

• Budget tented camp located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Birding Echuya Forest & Lake Bunyonyi

After breakfast, you’ll depart for the bamboo-dominated Echuya Forest, one of the last strongholds of the endangered Grauer’s Swamp Warbler. This compact but productive forest also holds Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, and several bamboo specialists.
Later, continue to the scenic shores of Lake Bunyonyi, one of Africa’s deepest lakes and a wonderful birding refuge. Enjoy gentle birding along the islands, spotting species like Red-chested Sunbird, Carruther’s Cisticola, and numerous weaver species. The tranquil landscape is perfect for photography and relaxation after days of intensive forest birding.

Main Destination:

Lake Bunyonyi

Accommodation:

Birdnest @ Bunyonyi Resort

• Mid-range resort located at Lake Bunyonyi

+5 Photos

+4 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Return to Entebbe & Departure

Enjoy a slow lakeside breakfast before driving back toward Entebbe. The journey offers opportunities for roadside birding, market stops, and scenic viewpoints. Depending on your schedule, you may stop at the Equator for photos before continuing to Entebbe for drop-off.
Your Albertine Rift birding adventure comes to an end with incredible memories and world-class sightings.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.