Uganda Birding & Wildlife Safari Itinerary.

Explore Uganda’s most iconic wildlife and birding hotspots on this 23-day safari itinerary. Visit Mabira Forest, Mabamba Swamp, Pian-Upe, Kidepo Valley, Murchison Falls, Semuliki, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, Mgahinga, and Lake Mburo. Highlights include mountain gorillas, chimpanzees, tree-climbing lions, Shoebills, Golden Monkeys, and rare Albertine Rift endemic birds. Perfect for wildlife enthusiasts, birdwatchers, and adventure travelers seeking an unforgettable Ugandan experience.

Day 1: Arrival – Entebbe

Transfer: Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, transfer to Oslo Gardens or Airport Guest House.

Optional Activity: Visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens (time permitting).

• Founded in 1898, along Lake Victoria, the gardens are home to troops of red-tailed, velvet, and Guereza Colobus monkeys, and occasional spot-necked otters.
• Birdwatching highlights: Pink-backed Pelicans, African Grey Parrots, Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbills, African Pied Hornbills, African Open-Bill Storks, Yellow-billed Storks, Bat Hawks.

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Day 2: Mabamba Swamp & Mabira Forest

Morning: Mabamba Swamp, a papyrus wetland on Lake Victoria, famous for Shoebills. Boat trip to observe this iconic bird and other African waterbirds.

• Birdwatching highlights: African Marsh Harrier, African Fish Eagle, Jacanas, Yellow-billed Duck, Long-toed Lapwing, Hamerkop, Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, Papyrus Canary, Grey-crowned Crane, Red-chested Sunbirds, African Open-billed Stork, Herons, Cape Wagtails, Fan-tailed Widowbirds.

Afternoon: Mabira Forest – a 300 km² rainforest with over 300 bird species. High chance to see African Wood Owl, Eastern Potto, Demidoff’s Galagos, and Lord Derby’s Anomalous.

• Birdwatching highlights: Nahan’s Francolin, Grey Longbill, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Capuchin’s Babbler, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Forest Wood-hoopoe, Tit Hylia, Shining Blue Kingfisher, African Crowned Eagle, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Red-headed Bluebill, Eastern Forest Robin.

Overnight: Mabira Forest Lodge

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Day 3: Nature Walk & Transfer to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve

• Morning walk in Mabira Forest for birding and primate sightings.
• Transfer to Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve, Karamoja region.

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Day 4: Pian-Upe Wildlife Reserve

Explore this northeastern Ugandan reserve, home to diverse mammals and birds.

• Mammals: Leopards, Cheetahs, Sitatunga, Klipspringer, Uganda Kobs, Eland, Topis, Giraffes, Buffaloes, Serval Cats, Bat-eared Foxes, Roan Antelope, Bush Pigs, Bohor Reedbuck, Jackson’s Heartbeats.
• Birds: Fox’s Weaver (endemic), Black-bellied Fire Finch, Clapperton’s Francolin, Common Ostrich, Karamoja Apalis, Lapped Vulture, Purple Grenadier, Red-and-Yellow Barbet, Red-winged Lark, Stone Partridge, White-backed Vulture, White-bellied Bustard, White-billed Buffalo Weaver, Yellow-billed Shrike.

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Day 5: Travel to Moroto Mountains

Journey through scenic landscapes with birding stopovers.

Birdwatching highlights: African Grey Flycatcher, Augur Buzzard, Bristle-crowned Starling, Eastern Violet-backed Sunbird, Fan-tailed Raven, Fawn-colored Lark, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Goliath Heron, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Jackson’s Hornbill, Jameson’s Firefinch, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Pygmy Batis, White-bellied Go-away Bird, Yellow-bellied Eremomela.

Wetlands along the route host Rufous-bellied Herons, African Jacanas, and Goliath Herons.

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Day 6: Transfer to Kidepo Valley National Park

Travel northeast to Uganda’s most remote park, passing savannahs and wetlands.

Opportunities for additional wildlife sightings en route.

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Day 7: Game Drive – Kidepo Valley National Park

• Mammals: African Elephant, Zebra, Spotted Hyena, Buffalo, Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Side-striped Jackal, Giraffe, Defassa Waterbuck, Warthogs, Dwarf Crocodiles, Topi, Bat-eared Fox, White-Eared Kob, Uganda Kob, Rock Hyrax, Oribi.
• Birds: Kori Bustard, Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Black-breasted Barbet, Tiny Weaver, Yellow-rumped Seed Eater, Yellow-billed Shrike, Red-tailed Chat, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Rufous Bushchat, Red-faced Crombec, Vinaceous Dove, Buff-bellied Warbler, Black-bellied Bustard, Pygmy Falcon, Vitelline Masked Weaver, Fox Kestrel, Beautiful Sunbird, Dusky Turtle Dove, Abyssinian Scimitarbill.

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Day 8: Transfer to Murchison Falls – Pakuba Game Lodge

• Uganda’s largest national park, home to the spectacular falls along the Nile.

• Birdwatching highlights: Spotted Morning Thrush, Black-headed Gonolek, Grey Kestrel, Red-winged Warblers, Silverbirds, Green-winged Pytilia, Northern Carmine Bee-eaters, Red-throated Bee-eaters, Grey-headed Kingfishers, Denham’s Bustards, Sooty Chats, Yellow-mantled Widowbirds, Blue-naped Mousebirds.

• Wildlife: Elephants, Warthogs, Giraffes, Buffalo, Bushbuck, Oribi, Lions, Patas Monkeys, Tantalus Monkeys, various mongooses.

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Day 9: Game Drive & Boat Cruise – Murchison Falls

• Cruise along the Nile to see Hippos, Nile Crocodiles, and numerous waterbirds.

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Day 10: Travel to Masindi – Birding the Royal Mile

• The Royal Mile, Masindi, famous for mahogany trees and abundant birdlife.

• Birdwatching highlights: Cameroon Sombre, Tambourine Dove, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, Nahan’s Francolin, Yellow-mantled Weavers, Blue-throated Roller, Green-throated, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, White-thighed Hornbills, Chocolate-backed Kingfishers, Grey-headed Oriole, White-breasted Negrofinch, Grey Longbills, African Pygmy, Green-headed Ituri Batis, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Shining Blue Kingfishers, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Olive Woodpeckers, Rufous-crowned Elemomela.

• Wildlife: Red-tailed Monkeys, Guereza Colobus, Ugandan Crested Mangabeys, Blue Monkeys, Olive Baboons.

• Overnight: Masindi Hotel

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Day 11: Transfer to Semuliki Valley National Park

• Mammals: Uganda Crested Mangabey, Velvet, Red-tailed, L’Hoest Monkeys, Olive Baboons, Dent’s Monkeys, Semuliki Red Colobus, De-Brazza’s Monkeys, Guereza Colobus.

• Birdwatching highlights: Green Crombec, Ayres’s Hawk Eagle, Red-thrush, Rufous-sided Broadbills, African Emerald Cuckoos, Yellow Longbill, Lemon-bellied, Yellow-throated Nicator, Piping Hornbill, African Crowned Eagle, Black-and-White Casqued Hornbill, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Dwarf Hornbill, African Piculet, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Olive Pigeon, Gabon Woodpecker, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Grey-headed Sunbird, Rufous Flycatcher Thrush, White-crested Hornbill, Red-headed Malimbe.

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Day 12: Semuliki Birding – Transfer to Kibale

• Birding and primate watching in Semuliki.
• Transfer to Kibale National Park.
• Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge

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Day 13: Chimpanzee Tracking – Kibale National Park

• Kibale: Africa’s primate capital, home to chimpanzees and numerous other primates.
• Wildlife: Olive Baboons, Guereza Colobus, Ashy Red Colobus, Uganda Crested Mangabey, L’Hoest Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Velvet Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys.
• Evening nocturnal drive for African Golden Cat and other wildlife.

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Day 14: Birding in Kibale & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

• Focus on Green-breasted Pitta, along with Grey-throated Titmice Flycatcher, African Blue Flycatcher, Dusky Cuckoo, White-throated Greenbul, Red-chested Owlet, Shining Blue Kingfisher.
• Evening walk in Bigodi Wetland: Eastern Potto, Demidoff’s Galagos, Thomas’s Galagos, Marsh Mongoose, African Palm Civet.

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Day 15: Queen Elizabeth National Park – Boat Excursion

• Boat trip to view Nile wildlife and waterbirds.
• Birdwatching highlights: Saddle-bill Stork, African Skimmers, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Goliath Heron, Black Crakes, African Spoonbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Grey Herons, Pied Kingfishers.
• Wildlife: Lions, Leopards, Waterbuck, Elephants, Uganda Kob, Cape Buffalo, Spotted Hyenas, Serval Cats, Banded Mongooses.

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Day 16: Game Drive – Ishasha (Tree-Climbing Lions)

• Birdwatching highlights: Green Woodhoopoe, Banded Snake Eagle, Marsh Tchagra, Sooty Chat, Hooded Vulture, Grey-crowned Cranes, White-backed Vulture, Red-coloured Widowbird, Crimson-rumped Waxbill, White-headed Barbet, Hamerkop, Long-crested Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle.

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Day 17: Gorilla Trekking – Bwindi

• Trek to encounter mountain gorilla families.
• Other wildlife: Yellow-backed Duikers, Blue Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Guereza Colobus.

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Day 18: Birding – Buhoma Main Trail

• Key species: African Broadbill, Newman’s Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Red-capped Robin Chats, Blue-shouldered Robin Chats, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Equatorial Akalat, Arsornge’s Greenbul, White-bellied Robin Chats.
• Other species: Elliot’s Woodpecker, African Goshawk, Great Blue Turaco, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Many-colored Bush-Shrike, Blue-throated Brown Sunbird, Red-headed Bluebill.

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Day 19: Birding Ruhija & The Neck

• Birding in Ruhija and the Neck area, prime spot for black bee-eaters.
• Species: African Black Duck, Mountain Wagtail, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Kakamega and Red-tailed Greenbuls, Red-faced Malimbe, Grey-throated Apalis, African Shrike Flycatcher, Mountain Yellow Warbler, African Emerald, Olive and Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Tambourine Doves, Western Bronze-naped Pigeons, Red-tailed Bristlebils, Stuhllmann’s Starlings.

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Day 20: Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

• Birding in Mgahinga.
• Birds: Mountain Buzzard, Dusky Twinspot, African Crowned Eagle, White-starred Robin, Olive Pigeons, Red-faced Woodland Warbler, Mountain Oriole, Grey Cuckoo Shrike, Striped Tit, Handsome Francolin, White-breasted Crombec, Chubb’s Cisticola, Mountain Thrush, Regal Sunbird, Ruwenzori Batis, Purple-breasted Sunbird.
• Mammals: Black-fronted Duikers, Yellow-backed Duikers, L’Hoest Monkeys, Silver Monkeys, Guereza Colobus.
• Nocturnal species: African Wood Owl, Ruwenzori Nightjar, Demidoff’s Galagos, Spectacled Galagos, Eastern Potto, African Golden Cat, African Civet Cat, Side-striped Jackal.

Overnight: Mucha Lodge

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Day 21: Mgahinga – Golden Monkey Tracking

• Throated Apalis, Mountain Masked Apalis, Doherty’s Bushshrike.
• Track endangered Golden Monkeys.
• Birdwatching: Albertine Rift Endemics: Rwenzori Turaco, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Dwarf Honeyguide, Ruwenzori Double-colored Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, Equatorial Akalat, Chestnut-

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Day 22: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Acadia Cottage

• Stop at wetlands for Papyrus Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, Caruthers’s Cisticola.
• Night boat excursion for White-backed Night Heron, African Finfoot, Giant Kingfisher, Shining Blue Kingfisher.
• Wildlife: Impala, Buffalo, Warthogs, Hippos, Zebra, Defassa Waterbuck, Side-striped Jackals, Dwarf and Banded Mongooses, Leopold, Bush Pigs, Bushbucks, Topi, Elands.
• Birds: Crested Francolin, Brown Parrot, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Blue-naped Mousebird, Lilac-breasted Roller, Green Wood Hoopoe, African Grey Hornbill, Black-headed Gonolek, Marico Sunbird, Rufous-chested Swallow, Black-bellied Bustard, Rufous-naped Lark.

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Day 23: Transfer to Entebbe & Departure