Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe Airport

Your journey begins with arriving in Entebbe, the gentle gateway to Uganda. The name "Entebbe" itself means a "seat" or "stool," a fitting welcome to this tranquil town resting on the shores of Africa's largest lake. Here, the air is already thick with the promise of the incredible birdlife that awaits.

Strolling along the scenic shores of Lake Victoria, listen for the flash of a Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill and the distinctive call of the Orange Weaver. This lush sanctuary, which maintains a collection of indigenous flora, is a delightful introduction to Uganda's biodiversity. By visiting the established Botanical Gardens, you contribute directly to the maintenance of this green space, supporting local conservation efforts in an urban setting. A great start to The Ultimate Uganda Birding Safari.

Meal Plan: Dinner  | Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 2: To Murchison Falls National Park

Today, your adventure leads you north along routes steeped in history, following the course of the mighty River Nile. Along the way, the landscape unfolds like a living tapestry: bustling roadside markets, lush green farmlands, and villages where life thrives in harmony with the land. Your journey culminates at Murchison Falls, where the Nile forces its way through a narrow 7-meter gorge, creating a breathtaking display of nature’s power, a dramatic prelude to the wildlife and birding experiences ahead. En route, enjoy lunch at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, where conservation efforts allow you to observe these magnificent creatures up close.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Fort Murchison | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 3: Birding in Budongo Forest and the Royal Mile.

Today is dedicated to the legendary Royal Mile, an ancient forest track once reserved exclusively for the traditional King (Omukama) of Bunyoro, which now offers passage for you into the deep canopy. This forest holds a secret jewel: the rare Puvel’s Illadopsis, found almost nowhere else.

Walk the historic Royal Mile, a world-renowned birding trail. Your focus will be on the Illadopsis, but the forest will reward you with flashes of brilliance: the stunning Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, the elusive African Pygmy (Kingfisher), and the vibrant Ituri Batis. Look out for the striking black-and-white of the Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher.

You are guided by locally trained expert bird guides whose specialised knowledge of the forest and its endemic species is key to its protection, directly supporting the local economy built on sustainable eco-tourism.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Fort Murchison | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 4: Murchison Falls – Fort Portal

A long, but richly scenic transfer day takes you from the low-lying grasslands and acacia of Murchison south and west towards Fort Portal. This is a region of dramatic change, where the flat savannah gives way to rolling hills and the distant, often cloud-shrouded peaks of the Rwenzori Mountains, the fabled "Mountains of the Moon." The drive showcases Uganda’s rich agricultural region, particularly its famous tea plantations, where communities live in perfect harmony with the green, manicured landscape.

Look out for primates along the road, the Black-and-white Colobus Monkeys and Baboons often line the roadside. Lunch in Fort Portal offers a taste of this charming town. Arrive at your lodge for relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Turaco Treetops | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 5: Semuliki's Western Flair and Sempaya Hotsprings

Today, you enter Semuliki National Park, a remarkable extension of the great Ituri Forest of the Congo basin, making it the only true lowland tropical rainforest in East Africa. The birdlife here has a distinct West African flavour. The park's famous Sempaya Hot Springs, bubbling up from the earth, reveal a unique and powerful underlying geological force shaping this landscape.

Birding the Sempaya and Ntandi areas is a search for rarities. Key targets include nine spectacular hornbill species, such as the magnificent Black-casqued Hornbill and the elegant White-crested Hornbill. Listen closely for the tiny calls of the Orange-cheeked Waxbill and the elusive White-napped Pigeon. The deep forest also holds the endemic Red Rumped Tinkerbird and the Palm Greenbul.

Other species include the Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Yellow-footed Flycatchers, Chestnut-breasted Nigrita, Red-tailed Leaflove and Banded Prinia, Black-bellied Seedcracker, Shining-blue Kingfisher, and Hartlaub’s Duck, among others.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Turaco Treetops | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 6: The Long Walk of Kirumia River Trail

The Kirumia River Trail offers a deep immersion into the rainforest. This 13 km path takes you into the silent, damp heart of the forest, where light struggles to penetrate the dense canopy. It is here, along the water's edge and within the darkest thickets, that some of the most sought-after forest specialists reside, demanding patience and a keen ear.

Spend the day walking the trail. The rewards can be exceptional: the Congo Serpent Eagle, the stealthy Long-tailed Hawk, the camouflaged Spot-breasted Ibis, and the rail duo of Grey-throated and Nkulengu Rail. The tiny, stunning White-bellied Kingfisher might flash past, while the call of the Yellow-throated Nicator echoes through the trees.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge  | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 7: Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Today's journey takes you from the primate capital of the world, Kibale Forest, into the rolling savannah of Queen Elizabeth National Park. You move through landscapes shaped by water and prey, culminating in the unique Ishasha Sector, famous for a bizarre spectacle: lions that have adapted to climb ancient fig trees, escaping the heat and perhaps the biting flies. It’s a remarkable example of adaptation in the wild.

Activity & Birding: Begin your day in Kibale, renowned for its chimps (not on the itinerary, but their calls are often heard). The drive to Ishasha takes you through the Kasenyi Track area—an excellent opportunity for classic savannah birding alongside mammal viewing. Keep your camera ready for the Uganda Kob and large elephant herds. In the afternoon, the Ishasha game drive is dedicated to spotting the tree-climbing lions, with raptors like Bateleur often overhead.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Turaco Treetops Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 8: Kibale Forest – Queen Elizabeth Park

Welcome to Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), a park classified as an Important Birding Area (IBA) by Birding International and a true meeting point of East and Central African biomes. With over 600 species, the park’s sheer volume of birdlife is simply astounding, a testament to its varied habitats, from sprawling savannah to connecting forest corridors.

This transfer day sets you up for an evening game drive to seek out the first of the park’s abundant birdlife. Look for species of the acacia and savanna, such as the Nubian Woodpecker and various Cisticolas.  The park’s confluence of savanna and forest, linking to the expansive forests of DR Congo, allows visitors to spot East as well as Central African species.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Bush Lodge  | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 9: Maramagambo Forest and Boat Cruise

Start in the cool shade of Maramagambo Forest, listening for the tiny movements of specialized forest floor species.  The morning is spent birding near the forest, searching for the brilliant Shining-blue Kingfisher and the endemic Brown-chested Alethe. The afternoon boat cruise is a birders’ paradise. The shores are lined with hundreds of species: elegant waders like the Greenshank and Black-tailed Godwit, and the iconic, sunset-feeding African Skimmer that slices the water with its lower bill.

The afternoon is defined by the shimmering Kazinga Channel, a 32km lifeline connecting Lake Edward and Lake George. It is here that one of Africa’s greatest concentrations of hippos and waterbirds congregates, offering a stunning spectacle of avian life and movement.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Bush Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 10:  Queen Elizabeth - Bwindi -Buhoma Sector

Today is a pivotal journey as you climb towards the ancient, mist-shrouded ramparts of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a place of primal beauty and global significance, renowned as the final sanctuary for the endangered Mountain Gorilla. For birders, Bwindi represents the pinnacle of montane forest birding, a hotspot of endemism for the Albertine Rift.

The scenic drive through verdant hills and past traditional homesteads prepares you for arrival in the Buhoma sector. After settling in, listen for the calls of the forest. The park is home to globally threatened species like the elusive African Green Broadbill and the dazzling Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Every step here is a privilege.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Haven Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 11:  Munyanga Waterfall Trail – Ruhija Sector

Your day begins with a refreshing trek along the Munyaga Waterfall Trail, where the gentle rush of cascading water echoes through the ancient forest. As you wander beneath the towering canopy, every step reveals the wonder of one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Here, the forest hums with life—listen for rustling wings and vibrant calls as you seek out treasures like the Bar-tailed Trogon and the shimmering African Broadbill.

By afternoon, the adventure ascends toward the misty highlands of the Ruhija Sector, where cool mountain air greets you and the terrain transforms into a sanctuary for rare Albertine Rift endemics. After lunch, as you climb higher through the lush montane forest, look out for the dazzling Purple-breasted Sunbird and the elusive Red-faced Woodland Warbler may grace your path amid breathtaking vistas.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 12: The High Altitude Endemics of Ruhija

You will journey deep into the mystical heart of the Mubwindi Swamp Trail, a hidden realm where time seems to stand still and nature reveals some of its rarest treasures. As you descend into this misty, marshy valley, each step feels like entering a living museum, where ancient species have quietly thrived in splendid isolation.

Your ultimate quest is to find the elusive African Green Broadbill, a dazzling gem among Africa’s most coveted birds. Along the way, keep your eyes open for the radiant Regal Sunbird, the secretive Grauer’s Rush Warbler, and the vivid Shelley’s Crimsonwing, each a masterpiece of color and rarity. The high-altitude forest hums with life too, from the striking Rwenzori Turaco to the elegant Handsome Francolin, completing an unforgettable day in this birder’s paradise.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Bakiga Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 13: Journey to the Acacia Savannah - Lake Mburo

Leaving the mystical depths of Bwindi’s “impenetrable” forest behind, the landscape opens into the golden savannahs and rolling acacia woodlands of Lake Mburo National Park. Though Uganda’s smallest savannah park, its mosaic of wetlands, plains, and rocky hills teems with life. The shimmering lake at its center is a peaceful haven for waterbirds and a key stopover for migratory species.

After checking in, set out on an afternoon boat cruise, a serene glide across bird-rich waters. Watch for the elusive African Finfoot, the colorful Papyrus Gonolek, and the dazzling Malachite Kingfisher along the reed-lined shores. As dusk falls, the park stirs with evening calls, and even short walks near your lodge reveal woodland species thriving.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Mpogo Safari Lodge | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 14: Kigambira Loop Birding – Entebbe

Your final full birding morning unfolds along the Kigambira Loop, a picturesque sweep of acacia woodland alive with the sounds and colors of the savannah. The open terrain, dotted with umbrella trees and golden grass, offers a refreshing contrast to the dense forests of previous days, a fitting finale to your birding journey through Uganda’s varied landscapes.

As dawn paints the horizon, a take on a birding drive, seeking the rare and striking Red-faced Barbet, one of Uganda’s most prized endemics. The lively Red-headed Lovebird flutters through the treetops, while the regal African Hawk Eagle soars overhead, a perfect showcase of the park’s dryland specialists.

Begin the scenic journey back to Entebbe, your mind filled with reflections of forest whispers, wetland calls, and savannah songs. It’s a day to savor the rhythm of the road and the memories of the remarkable avian diversity that has defined your Ugandan adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner | Accommodation: Papyrus Guest House | Comfort Level: Mid-range

Day 15: Track the Prehistoric Shoebill at Mabamba & Farewell

Your final birding adventure leads to the vast Mabamba Swamp on Lake Victoria, home to the legendary Shoebill Stork, one of Africa’s most extraordinary and elusive birds. Gliding quietly through the papyrus channels by canoe, you’ll search for this prehistoric giant, a fitting finale to your safari and a true symbol of Uganda’s wild beauty.

Along the way, watch for the vibrant Papyrus Gonolek and the graceful Blue Swallow, both treasures of this Ramsar-listed wetland. Beyond its birdlife, your visit helps sustain local canoe guides, the dedicated guardians of Mabamba, whose livelihoods depend on protecting this fragile ecosystem.

After this rewarding finale and a farewell lunch, transfer to Entebbe Airport, carrying memories of Uganda’s feathered wonders and the people working to preserve them.