Ultimate 15-Day Uganda Safari: Shoebill Birding, Golden Cat Search, Chimps & Gorillas

15-Day Uganda Mammal Watching, Nocturnal Life & Birding Safari

Discover Uganda’s incredible biodiversity on this expertly guided safari through top wildlife destinations including Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, and Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. These itinerary combines mammal tracking, nocturnal wildlife experiences, and exceptional birding opportunities.

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport, where you will meet your professional mammal guide. Transfer to Tilapia Lodge for check-in and overnight stay.

Overnight: Tilapia Lodge

Day 2: Mabamba Swamp Birding

After an early breakfast, head to Mabamba Swamp for a guided birding excursion.

Highlight species include:

• Shoebill (main target)
• African Fish Eagle
• Malachite Kingfisher
• Papyrus Gonolek
• White-winged Swamp Warbler
• Papyrus Yellow Warbler
• Carruthers’s Cisticola
• Greater Swamp Warbler
• Goliath Heron
• Purple Heron
• Squacco Heron
• Black-headed Heron
• Swamp Hen
• Intermediate Egret
• Little Egret
• Black Crake
• White-faced Whistling Duck
• Fulvous Whistling Duck
• Pied Kingfisher
• Blue-breasted Kingfisher
• Swamp Flycatcher
• Black Kite
• African Marsh Harrier
• Yellow-billed Duck
• Common Moorhen
• Long-toed Lapwing

Return to Tilapia Lodge for relaxation.

Overnight: Oslo Gardens Entebbe

Day 3: Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary & Nocturnal Walk

Transfer to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Activities:

• Guided rhino tracking on foot
• Evening/night walk targeting nocturnal species such as the African Crested Porcupine

Overnight: Ziwa Rhino Guest House

Day 4: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park

Early morning transfer to Murchison Falls National Park through Budongo Forest.

Activities:

• Visit the top of Murchison Falls for a scenic hike and birding
• Evening birding around the lodge

Overnight: Bamboo village safari lodge

Day 5: Game Viewing & Nile Boat Cruise

Morning birding/game drive in the park.

Afternoon boat cruise on the Nile River for wildlife and bird viewing.

Species include:

• Saddle-billed Stork
• Grey Heron
• Black-headed Heron
• Great Egret
• Little Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Marabou Stork
• Yellow-billed Stork
• African Jacana
• Water Thick-knee
• Common Sandpiper
• Spur-winged Lapwing
• Pied Kingfisher
• Malachite Kingfisher
• Giant Kingfisher
• Woodland Kingfisher
• Grey-headed Kingfisher
• Red-throated Bee-eater
• Little Bee-eater
• Wire-tailed Swallow
• Egyptian Goose
• African Skimmer
• African Openbill
• Black Crake

Overnight: Bamboo village safari lodge

Day 6: Transfer to Kibale via Royal Mile

Transfer to Kibale National Park with a stop at the Royal Mile in Budongo Forest for birding.

Species to expect:

• African Dwarf Kingfisher
• Chocolate-backed Kingfisher
• Blue-breasted Kingfisher
• Pygmy Kingfisher
• White-thighed Hornbill
• Black-casqued Hornbill
• Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
• Yellow-billed Barbet
• Hairy-breasted Barbet
• Yellow-spotted Barbet
• Grey Longbill
• Yellow-browed Camaroptera
• Green Hylia
• Little Greenbul
• Red-tailed Bristlebill
• Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
• White-throated Greenbul
• Forest Robin
• Fire-crested Alethe
• Chestnut-capped Flycatcher
• African Paradise Flycatcher
• Ituri Batis
• Chestnut Wattle-eye
• Jameson’s Wattle-eye
• Sabine’s Spinetail
• Cassin’s Spinetail
• Fraser’s Sunbird
• Western Nicator
• Rufous-crowned Eremomela
• Brown Illadopsis
• Pale-breasted Illadopsis
• Black-capped Apalis
• Buff-throated Apalis
• Red-headed Malimbe
• Blue-billed Malimbe
• Crested Malimbe

Proceed to Kibale.

Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp

Days 7–9: Golden Cat Search in Kibale

Dedicated days for tracking the elusive African Golden Cat.

Activities:

• Early morning forest searches
• Return to lodge for breakfast and rest
• Evening birding around the lodge
• Night forest excursions to increase chances of sightings

Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp

Day 10: Birding, Chimpanzee Tracking & Nocturnal Walk

Morning birding in Kibale National Park targeting species like the Green-breasted Pitta.

Additional species include:

• Great Blue Turaco
• Black-billed Turaco
• White-crested Turaco
• Yellow-spotted Barbet
• Hairy-breasted Barbet
• Double-toothed Barbet
• African Grey Parrot
• Blue-headed Bee-eater
• Black Bee-eater
• White-thighed Hornbill
• Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
• African Emerald Cuckoo
• Klaas’s Cuckoo
• Yellow-billed Barbet
• Western Nicator
• Yellow-throated Nicator
• Green Hylia
• Grey Longbill
• Yellow-browed Camaroptera
• Black-capped Apalis
• Buff-throated Apalis
• Chestnut Wattle-eye
• Jameson’s Wattle-eye
• Red-tailed Bristlebill
• Little Greenbul
• Yellow-whiskered Greenbul
• White-throated Greenbul
• Toro Olive Greenbul
• Joyful Greenbul
• Forest Robin
• Snowy-crowned Robin Chat
• Fire-crested Alethe
• Brown Illadopsis
• Pale-breasted Illadopsis
• Scaly-breasted Illadopsis
• African Paradise Flycatcher
• Dusky-blue Flycatcher
• Fraser’s Sunbird
• Olive-bellied Sunbird
• Collared Sunbird
• Purple-headed Starling

Afternoon: Chimpanzee tracking

Evening/Night: Walk in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Nocturnal species:

• Bushbabies
• Civets
• Serval
• African Civet
• Common Genet
• Marsh Mongoose
• White-tailed Mongoose
• Common Slender Mongoose
• African Palm Civet
• Common Potto
• Demidoff’s Bushbaby
• Thomas’s Bushbaby

Overnight: Kibale Forest Camp

Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Evening birding along the Kazinga Channel.

Species include:

• African Fish Eagle
• Pink-backed Pelican
• Great White Pelican
• Goliath Heron
• Great Egret
• Little Egret
• Cattle Egret
• Squacco Heron
• Striated Heron
• Yellow-billed Stork
• Marabou Stork
• African Openbill
• Sacred Ibis
• Hadada Ibis
• African Spoonbill
• African Jacana
• Water Thick-knee
• Spur-winged Lapwing
• Senegal Lapwing
• Common Sandpiper
• Wood Sandpiper
• Greenshank
• Pied Kingfisher
• Malachite Kingfisher
• Giant Kingfisher
• Woodland Kingfisher
• Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
• Little Bee-eater
• White-fronted Bee-eater
• Wire-tailed Swallow
• Barn Swallow
• Egyptian Goose
• Spur-winged Goose
• African Skimmer (occasional)
• Black Crake

Overnight: Pumba Safari Cottages

Day 12: Kasenyi Plains & Transfer to Bwindi

Morning birding/game drive in the Kasenyi Plains.

Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park via Ishasha Sector, famous for tree-climbing lions.

Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 13: Gorilla Trekking & Night Forest Drive

Morning gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.

Evening/night forest drive searching for the African Golden Cat.

Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 14: Golden Cat Search & Cultural Experience

Early morning golden cat search.

Optional Batwa Cultural Experience.

Evening birding followed by another night forest drive targeting nocturnal wildlife.

Overnight: Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 15: Return to Entebbe