16 Day Wildlife & Birding Tour of Uganda

You’ll be greeted at Entebbe International Airport by a private chauffeur, then it’s just a five-minute transfer to your accommodation at the Boma Guesthouse. This rustic 1940s-style guesthouse is a fusion of colonial and African design, with gorgeous views of tropical gardens and Lake Victoria. Depending on your arrival time, you might like to take one of the guesthouse’s bikes to ride into town, explore the Botanical Gardens, or join your guide for your first bird watching session in Uganda.

Main Destination:

Entebbe (City)

Accommodation:

The Boma Hotel

• Mid-range guest house located in Entebbe (City)

Today, you'll drive through to Mabamba Swamp, a short 1.5 hours from Entebbe.

After settling into your accommodation you can explore the on-sight trails and spot the numerous birds and monkeys that call this small area home. This lovely lodge is the ideal haven for birdwatchers and the best location to explore the swamps and enjoy a fantastic sunset.

Main Destination:

Mabamba Swamp

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

Accommodation:

Nkima Forest Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located near Mabamba Swamp

Today is all about the elusive shoebill storks. You will head out both early morning and again in the late afternoon into the Mabamba Swamp to give yourself the best chance of spotting some of the breeding pairs found in this area. On top of this, there is a huge amount of birdlife you can expect to see as you silently glide through the channels. This is a chance to see species such as the malachite kingfisher, the blue-breasted bee-eater, and rare shoebills, among others.

Main Destination:

Mabamba Swamp

Accommodation:

Nkima Forest Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located near Mabamba Swamp

Today, you will drive into the Budongo Forest for some bird-watching on the famous Royal Mile. Royal Mile offers a lovely gentle forest walk combined with wonderful birding and is great for anyone who has an interest in nature or just to enjoy the forest.

The Budongo forest reserve is among the most significant birding destinations in Uganda and is located on the escarpment northeast of the stunning Lake Albert. There are two endemic species here, the arethe pitta reichenowi and parmoptila woodhouse.

Main Destination:

Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation:

Murchison River Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP

Todays allows you to explore at a slower pace on the water. You will first have a morning boat ride down to the delta before enjoying an evening game drive to explore more of the park.

Expect to see elephants, hippos, giraffes, Uganda Kobs, and hopefully some of the more elusive wildlife such as lions or leopards.

Main Destination:

Murchison Falls National Park

Accommodation:

Murchison River Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Murchison Falls NP

You will drive to Semliki National Park.

This is a true birders haven nestled between the mountains and border of Uganda and DRC. The park is dominated by the easternmost extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo Basin. This is one of Africa’s most ancient and bio-diverse forests; one of the few to survive the last ice age, 12-18,000 years ago.

Main Destination:

Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve

Best Time To VisitDecember to March and June to August (Dry and early Wet seasons)

Today, you’ll focus on bird-watching in these rich forests.

This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.

This afternoon, you'll visit Sempaya Male hot springs. While Semuliki’s species have been accumulating for over 25,000 years, the park contains evidence of even older processes. Hot springs bubble up from the depths to demonstrate the powerful subterranean forces that have been shaping the Rift Valley during the last 14 million years.

Main Destination:

Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve

Accommodation:

Semliki Safari Lodge

• Luxury lodge located inside Toro-Semliki WR

This morning, you will enjoy your last game drive in Semliki National Park before later driving to Kibale Forest National Park to your accommodation.

You’ll stay right in the center of the rainforest, in lovely Turaco treetops. You will enjoy a delicious four-course dinner, then sit out on your private balcony, listening to the calls of wood owls.

Main Destination:

Kibale National Park (Chimps)

Best Time To VisitJanuary to February and June to July (Chimp trekking is easiest)

Accommodation:

Turaco Treetops Lodge

• Mid-range lodge bordering Kibale NP (Chimps) without fences

You'll delve into the rainforest with a trip to Kanyanchu, where you’ll look and listen for joyful greenbuls and whinchats, as well as birds of prey such as the western banded snake eagle and the lizard buzzard. Then, you’ll take a trek to track troops of chimpanzees in the upper branches of Kibale, keeping your eyes peeled for other primates, such as colobus and red-tailed monkeys.

Main Destination:

Kibale National Park (Chimps)

Accommodation:

Turaco Treetops Lodge

• Mid-range lodge bordering Kibale NP (Chimps) without fences

You'll move to Queen Elizabeth National Park, where you’ll participate in game drives to see more of Uganda’s wildlife, from birds to big mammals, such as elephants, leopards, and lions. You’ll stay in the heart of the park, at Mweya Safari Lodge, which offers beautiful views of the Kazinga Channel, as well as a stunning infinity pool.

This afternoon, you'll explore the Kazinga Channel, which is home to yellow-billed storks, African spoonbills, and pelicans, among other species. You'll take a boat safari across the channel to see buffalos, crocodiles, and hippos, or a hot air balloon ride for a “bird’s eyes view” of the park.

Main Destination:

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Best Time To VisitJanuary to February and June to July (Dry seasons)

Accommodation:

Mweya Safari Lodge

• Luxury lodge located inside Queen Elizabeth NP

The next stop is Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, which is the only park in Africa where you can see both gorillas and chimpanzees. You’ll stay elevated above Buhoma village at Buhoma Haven Lodge, which provides incredible views of the park and was built using local materials.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

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

Wildlife in Bwindi Impenetrable NP

Accommodation:

Haven Lodge Buhoma Community

• Budget lodge located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

Today it's the big day! You will head out gorilla trekking in the famous Bwindi forest. There is a maximum of 8 pax per group. Your trek can take anywhere from 1 to 6 hours depending on where the gorilla's slept the night before.

On your trek, you will also see many birds and potentially other monkeys.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Haven Lodge Buhoma Community

• Budget lodge located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

Today, you’ll focus on Bwindi’s bird-watching opportunities. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to around 360 bird species, including cuckoo shrikes, the fork-tailed drongo, the martial eagle, pink-footed puffbacks, white-headed wood-hoopoes and tinkerbirds.

Main Destination:

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (Gorillas)

Accommodation:

Haven Lodge Buhoma Community

Budget lodge located just outside Bwindi Impenetrable NP (Gorillas)

Moving on to Lake Mburo National Park, you’ll be able to take part in more game drives, bush walks, and even mountain bike safaris. You’ll be staying at the eco-friendly and family-run Rwakobo Rock Lodge, which is perched on a scenic outcrop just outside of the park. From here, you can see zebras, warthogs, and impalas gathering at the nearby watering hole.

Main Destination:

Lake Mburo National Park

Best Time To VisitJanuary to February and June to August (Dry seasons)

Accommodation:

Rwakobo Rock Lodge

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Lake Mburo NP

You will drive back to Entebbe to connect with your international flights home. If time allows, you will make a stop at the equator to take some pictures.