14-Day Bird Watching Safari Across Uganda

This 14-Day Uganda Birding and Mountain Gorilla Trekking Safari combines exceptional birdwatching across Uganda's key habitats with the once-in-a-lifetime experience of tracking endangered mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Uganda hosts more than 1,070 recorded bird species—approximately 11% of the world's known bird diversity—making it one of Africa's most rewarding birding destinations.

Our carefully designed itinerary explores Uganda's finest birding landscapes, from the papyrus wetlands of Lake Victoria and open savannah of Lake Mburo to the ancient forests of Kibale, Semuliki, and Bwindi. The journey is ideal for dedicated birders, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and travelers seeking to combine a specialist birding expedition with a memorable mountain gorilla encounter.

Interested in shorter birding safaris? Explore our 3-Day Birding Experience or 10-Day Birding Safari.

Tour Highlights

• Kirimira Trail Birding
• Sempaya Trail Birding
• Sempaya Hot Springs Nature Walk
• Semuliki Game Drive
• Sebitoli Sector Birding
• Kibale Chimpanzee Trekking
• Kanyanchu Forest Birding
• Bigodi Wetland Nature Walk and Birding
• Queen Elizabeth Game Viewing
• Buhoma Sector Birding
• Bwindi Mountain Gorillas Trekking
• Ruhija Sector Birding
• Lake Mburo Birding
• Lake Mburo Game Viewing
• Queen Elizabeth Nature Walk and Birding
• Uganda Equator Experience

Tour Details

Day 1 — Arrival and Transfer to Hotel

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our company representative and transferred to your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe. In the afternoon, enjoy a relaxed introduction to Uganda's exceptional birdlife at the beautifully landscaped Entebbe Botanical Gardens, set along the tranquil shores of Lake Victoria. This rewarding first outing may reveal Orange Weaver, African Fish Eagle, Grey Parrot, Ross's Turaco, Palm-nut Vulture, and Great Blue Turaco, offering effortless birding in a scenic open setting.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Day 2 — Scenic Transfer to Semuliki National Park (Approx. 8 hrs)

After breakfast, transfer westward to Semuliki National Park via Fort Portal and Bundibugyo. The journey unfolds beneath scenic views of the Rwenzori Mountains, passing through lush plantations and colourful roadside vegetable markets before arriving in this exceptional Albertine Rift birding destination. Semuliki's lowland rainforest supports approximately 441 recorded bird species, including several sought-after Guinea–Congo forest specialists.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 3 — Full Day Birding in Semuliki National Park

Following an early breakfast, embark on a full-day birding excursion along the enchanting Kirumia Trail. This lowland-forest transect offers excellent prospects for African Piculet, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Long-tailed Hawk, Red-sided Broadbill, Nkulengu Rail, Spot-breasted Ibis, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Grey Ground Thrush, Black-throated Coucal, Blue-billed Malimbe, and Maxwell's Black Weaver. The Semuliki River is also a key site for Grant's Bluebill, Hartlaub's Duck, and the localized White-throated Blue Swallow.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 4 — Full Day Birding in Semuliki National Park

After breakfast, embark on a second full-day birding excursion along the main road, Sempaya Trail, or Kirumia Trail, selected according to the previous day's sightings. These productive forest routes offer excellent opportunities for Red-tailed Monkey, Black-and-white Colobus, and Grey-cheeked Mangabey. Target species include Piping, Black Dwarf, White-crested, Red-billed Dwarf, and Black-casqued Wattled Hornbills; Red-rumped and Yellow-throated Tinkerbirds; Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Fraser's Antthrush, and Honeyguide Greenbul.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 5 — Scenic Transfer to Kibale National Park and Sebitoli Birding Experience (Approx. 3 hrs)

After breakfast, depart for Kibale National Park, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, explore the bird-rich Sebitoli Sector, renowned for its exceptional forest birding. Keep watch for sought-after species including Toro olive and Cameroon sombre greenbuls, African pitta, great blue turaco, brown and scaly-breasted illadopsis, velvet-mantled drongo, pink-footed puffback, Bocage's bush-shrike, African black duck, brown-capped weaver, green-throated sunbird, green-breasted pitta, and black-headed sunbird, among many others.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 6 — Full Day Birding in Kibale

Following breakfast, we transfer to Kanyanchu Visitor Centre for a specialized forest birding session targeting Kibale's Albertine Rift and Guinea-Congo biome specialists. Priority species include the elusive Green-breasted Pitta and African Pitta, alongside African Grey Parrot, Great Blue Turaco, and Afep Pigeon foraging in the mid-canopy.

Post-Kibale, we shift habitats entirely for a wetland-edge birding transect at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a papyrus-and-swamp-forest mosaic supporting roughly 200 recorded species, eight primate taxa, and dense butterfly diversity.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 7 — Scenic Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Approx. 7 hrs)

After breakfast, embark on a scenic transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, enjoying diverse birdlife and breathtaking views of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges en route. Drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its vast savannahs, over 600 bird species, and 95 mammal species, including tree-climbing lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, topis, chimpanzees, bushbucks, hippos, Defassa waterbucks, and giant forest hogs.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 8 — Full Day Birding in Buhoma Sector

After breakfast, set out on a specialist birding excursion in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park's Buhoma sector, following the Waterfall Trail through prime Albertine Rift forest habitat. Target species include Bar-tailed Trogon, Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo, Dusky Tit, Northern Double-collared Sunbird, Kivu Ground Thrush, Black Bee-eater, Handsome Francolin, Banded Prinia, Equatorial Akalat, Grey-chested Illadopsis, Red-throated Alethe, White-bellied Crested Flycatcher, Grauer's Swamp Warbler, White-bellied Robin-Chat, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Neumann's Warbler, Black-faced Prinia, Jameson's Antpecker, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Willcocks's Honeyguide, Black-billed Weaver, the elusive Chapin's Flycatcher, White-browed Crombec, Magpie Mannikin, and the recently described Willard's Sooty Boubou.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 9 — Gorilla Trekking Experience in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Your mountain gorilla trek begins with a detailed orientation led by an experienced local ranger guide. You will then join a group of up to eight visitors and be allocated a habituated gorilla family to track. Accompanied by your guides, you will make your way through dense forest vegetation, following the gorillas' movements. The hike can be demanding and may last between 2 and 8 hours, depending on the location of the family and the terrain. Once found, you will spend a magical hour in their company, standing only a few metres away as these gentle forest giants feed, interact, play, and rest.

After this extraordinary encounter, you will be transferred to a lodge in the Ruhija Sector for some well-deserved relaxation, followed by dinner. You will then prepare for the next morning's birding experience and enjoy an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 10 — A Full Day Birding in Bwindi (Ruhija Sector)

Following an early breakfast, we will devote the full day to systematic birding along the Ruhija sector trails and roadside mosaic in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This high-elevation Albertine Rift habitat combines montane forest, bamboo, regenerating scrub, and cultivated clearings, offering excellent potential for a diverse suite of regional and forest-associated species.

In scrubby edges and open patches, key targets include Ross's Turaco, Red-throated Wryneck, Copper and Variable Sunbirds, Black-necked and Holub's Golden Weavers, Yellow Bishop, Brown-backed Scrub-Robin, Black-throated Seedeater, African Stonechat, Black-crowned Waxbill, Chubb's Cisticola, and Doherty's Bushshrike.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

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Day 11 — Scenic Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park (Approx. 6 hrs)

After an early breakfast at the lodge, bid farewell to Bwindi and travel northeast through the scenic Kigezi Highlands toward Lake Mburo National Park. En route, remain alert for sought-after montane species missed earlier, including Cinnamon Bracken-Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Mountain Yellow Warbler, and the localized Kandt's Waxbill. Stop for lunch at Igongo Cultural Centre in Mbarara before continuing to Lake Mburo, arriving in the afternoon.

Lake Mburo National Park combines seasonal wetlands, papyrus swamps, woodland, and Acacia savanna, making it one of Uganda's most rewarding birding destinations. With over 350 recorded bird species, key targets may include African Finfoot, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Brown Parrot, Red-faced Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Blue-naped Mousebird, Nubian Woodpecker, Papyrus Canary, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, Tabora Cisticola, Green-capped Eremomela, Spot-flanked Barbet, White-backed Night-Heron, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Yellow-throated Leaflove, Giant Kingfisher, Coqui Francolin, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-headed Lovebird, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Lilac-breasted and Broad-billed Rollers, Narina Trogon, Trilling Cisticola, Southern Red Bishop, African Scops-Owl, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, and Pennant-winged Nightjar.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Day 12 — Bird Watching Excursion & Transfer to Entebbe (Approx. 5 hrs)

Begin the day with an early breakfast before setting out for a rewarding 4–5 hour guided birding excursion in Lake Mburo National Park. The morning session follows selected bird-rich trails and habitat edges, including the Warukiri–Rwonyo trail network, Mihingo woodland trails, and, where conditions allow, sections around Lake Mburo and the Rubanga Forest area. These habitats offer excellent opportunities to search for acacia and savannah specialists, woodland species, wetland birds, and water-associated birds.

After the birding activity, depart Lake Mburo National Park for Kampala. En route, stop at the Uganda Equator Crossing at Kayabwe for memorable photographs and the classic water-flow demonstration illustrating the Coriolis-effect concept. Arrive in the evening for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Day 13 — Full Day Birding Experience in Mabamba Wetland

Begin the day with an early breakfast before transferring to the launch site for an immersive canoe excursion into the Mabamba Wetlands. Set along the northern shores of Lake Victoria, this Ramsar-listed wetland and Important Bird Area is one of Uganda's premier birding destinations—and a celebrated stronghold for the enigmatic Shoebill.

Glide quietly through channels bordered by papyrus as your specialist birding guide searches for the Shoebill, often encountered stalking lungfish in the open marsh. The wetland also offers excellent opportunities for a rich assemblage of papyrus and lake-edge specialists, including African Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Gull-billed Tern, Lesser Jacana, Carruthers's Cisticola, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, and Golden-backed, Slender-billed, Northern Brown-throated, Grosbeak, Weyns's, Vieillot's, Orange, and Black-headed Weavers.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation Options:

Day 14 — Departure

Have your morning breakfast, after which our professional driver will transfer you to the airport for your flight back home. This marks the end of your 14-day birding journey through Uganda, filled with remarkable birding encounters and unforgettable wilderness experiences.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

Price Inclusions & Exclusions

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