12 Days Uganda Birding Tour – Bird Watching in Uganda
This 12-day Uganda Birding Tour is a comprehensive birdwatching safari covering the country’s most important habitats — lowland rainforest, montane forest, wetlands, savanna, and lakeshores.
About this tour
This 12-day Uganda Birding Tour is a comprehensive birdwatching safari covering the country’s most important habitats — lowland rainforest, montane forest, wetlands, savanna, and lakeshores.
The itinerary focuses on Albertine Rift endemics, forest specialists, wetland species, and iconic African birds.
The tour visits Uganda’s top birding hotspots including Semliki National Park, Kibale Forest, Bigodi Wetland, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Mburo National Park, offering excellent chances to record hundreds of species.
The itinerary focuses on Albertine Rift endemics, forest specialists, wetland species, and iconic African birds.
The tour visits Uganda’s top birding hotspots including Semliki National Park, Kibale Forest, Bigodi Wetland, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Lake Mburo National Park, offering excellent chances to record hundreds of species.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Uganda.
Birds you can spot
Abyssinian Ground Thrush
Geokichla piaggiae
target
Geokichla piaggiae
target
African Emerald Cuckoo
Chrysococcyx cupreus
target
Chrysococcyx cupreus
target
African Grey Hornbill
Lophoceros nasutus
target
Lophoceros nasutus
target
African Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
target
Actophilornis africanus
target
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Ispidina picta
target
Ispidina picta
target
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill
Bycanistes subcylindricus
target
Bycanistes subcylindricus
target
Black-billed Turaco
Tauraco schuettii
target
Tauraco schuettii
target
Carruthers's Cisticola
Cisticola carruthersi
target
Cisticola carruthersi
target
Common Scimitarbill
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
target
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
target
Congo Pied Hornbill
Lophoceros fasciatus
target
Lophoceros fasciatus
target
Crowned Eagle
Stephanoaetus coronatus
target
Stephanoaetus coronatus
target
Dusky Crimsonwing
Cryptospiza jacksoni
target
Cryptospiza jacksoni
target
Grauer's Broadbill
Pseudocalyptomena graueri
target
Pseudocalyptomena graueri
target
Grauer's Swamp Warbler
Bradypterus graueri
target
Bradypterus graueri
target
Greater Swamp Warbler
Acrocephalus rufescens
target
Acrocephalus rufescens
target
Grey Parrot
Psittacus erithacus
target
Psittacus erithacus
target
Little Greenbul
Eurillas virens
target
Eurillas virens
target
Mountain Oriole
Oriolus percivali
target
Oriolus percivali
target
Papyrus Canary
Crithagra koliensis
target
Crithagra koliensis
target
Papyrus Gonolek
Laniarius mufumbiri
target
Laniarius mufumbiri
target
Piping Hornbill
Bycanistes fistulator
target
Bycanistes fistulator
target
Red-chested Flufftail
Sarothrura rufa
target
Sarothrura rufa
target
Red-tailed Ant Thrush
Neocossyphus rufus
target
Neocossyphus rufus
target
Rufous Piculet
Sasia abnormis
target
Sasia abnormis
target
Rufous-sided Broadbill
Smithornis rufolateralis
target
Smithornis rufolateralis
target
Shelley's Crimsonwing
Cryptospiza shelleyi
target
Cryptospiza shelleyi
target
White-bellied Kingfisher
Corythornis leucogaster
target
Corythornis leucogaster
target
White-starred Robin
Pogonocichla stellata
target
Pogonocichla stellata
target
White-throated Greenbul
Phyllastrephus albigularis
target
Phyllastrephus albigularis
target
White-winged Swamp Warbler
Bradypterus carpalis
target
Bradypterus carpalis
target
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Pogoniulus bilineatus
target
Pogoniulus bilineatus
target
Zenker's Honeyguide
Melignomon zenkeri
target
Melignomon zenkeri
target
Itinerary
Day 1
Entebbe / Kampala → Semliki National Park
Early morning departure from Entebbe or Kampala
• Drive west to Semliki National Park
• Afternoon birding in savanna and forest edge habitats
• Typical species: hornbills, francolins, scimitarbills, woodland birds
• Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
• Drive west to Semliki National Park
• Afternoon birding in savanna and forest edge habitats
• Typical species: hornbills, francolins, scimitarbills, woodland birds
• Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
Day 2
Semliki National Park (Kirumira Trail)
• Full-day birding along the Kirumira Forest Trail
• Target species include:
Red-billed Piculet
Zenker’s Honeyguide
Rufous-sided Broadbill
Piping Hornbill
White-bellied Kingfisher
African Piculet
• One of Uganda’s richest lowland forest birding areas
• Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
• Target species include:
Red-billed Piculet
Zenker’s Honeyguide
Rufous-sided Broadbill
Piping Hornbill
White-bellied Kingfisher
African Piculet
• One of Uganda’s richest lowland forest birding areas
• Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
Day 3
Semliki National Park
Continued birding in Semliki (Kirumira or Sempaya area depending on conditions)
• Focus on forest interior and riverine species
• Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
• Focus on forest interior and riverine species
• Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge
Day 4
Semliki → Kibale Forest National Park (Sebitoli Area)
• Morning transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
• Birding in the Sebitoli sector, known for mixed forest species
• Overnight: Ndali Lodge or Kanyanchu Tourist Centre
• Birding in the Sebitoli sector, known for mixed forest species
• Overnight: Ndali Lodge or Kanyanchu Tourist Centre
Day 5
Kibale Forest & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
• Morning birding in Kibale Forest (Kanyanchu area)
• Possible species:
African Crowned Eagle
Grey Parrot
Greenbuls, turacos, forest robins
• Afternoon birding in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
• Key wetland species:
Papyrus Gonolek
Papyrus Canary
White-winged Swamp Warbler
• Overnight: Ndali / Kanyanchu
• Possible species:
African Crowned Eagle
Grey Parrot
Greenbuls, turacos, forest robins
• Afternoon birding in Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
• Key wetland species:
Papyrus Gonolek
Papyrus Canary
White-winged Swamp Warbler
• Overnight: Ndali / Kanyanchu
Day 6
Kibale → Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Drive south to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• En-route birding stops
• Afternoon birding around Buhoma sector
• Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp or Buhoma Community Bandas
• En-route birding stops
• Afternoon birding around Buhoma sector
• Overnight: Gorilla Forest Camp or Buhoma Community Bandas
Day 7
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest (Waterfall Trail)
• Full-day birding on the Waterfall Trail
• Focus on Albertine Rift endemics and montane forest species
• Overnight: Bwindi (Buhoma)
• Focus on Albertine Rift endemics and montane forest species
• Overnight: Bwindi (Buhoma)
Day 8
Bwindi Forest (Mubwindi & Buhoma Areas)
• Birding along Mubwindi Swamp Trail and surrounding forest
• Target species include:
Montane Oriole
Black-billed Turaco
Red-chested Flufftail
• Overnight: Bwindi Forest Camp
• Target species include:
Montane Oriole
Black-billed Turaco
Red-chested Flufftail
• Overnight: Bwindi Forest Camp
Day 9
Bwindi Forest (Ruhija Sector)
• Birding excursion to Ruhija highland area
• Montane and high-altitude forest species
• Possible sightings:
Grey-throated Barbet
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Red-tailed Greenbul
• Overnight: Bwindi
• Montane and high-altitude forest species
• Possible sightings:
Grey-throated Barbet
Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater
Red-tailed Greenbul
• Overnight: Bwindi
Day 10
Bwindi → Lake Mburo National Park
• Scenic drive to Lake Mburo National Park
• Afternoon birding in savanna woodland and lakeshore habitats
• Typical species:
Mosque Swallow
Rüppell’s Long-tailed Starling
Waterbirds and acacia woodland species
• Overnight: Rwonyo Rest Camp or Mantana Tented Camp
• Afternoon birding in savanna woodland and lakeshore habitats
• Typical species:
Mosque Swallow
Rüppell’s Long-tailed Starling
Waterbirds and acacia woodland species
• Overnight: Rwonyo Rest Camp or Mantana Tented Camp
Day 11
Lake Mburo → Kampala
• Morning birding walk or game drive in Lake Mburo
• Transfer back to Kampala with birding stops en route
• Overnight: Kampala (Serena / Sheraton Hotel)
• Transfer back to Kampala with birding stops en route
• Overnight: Kampala (Serena / Sheraton Hotel)
Day 12
Kampala to Entebbe Airport
• Transfer to Entebbe International Airport
• End of tour
• End of tour
Locations & map
- Entebbe and Kampala - Central Region Uganda (Tour start and end area; exact pickup is confirmed after enquiry.)
- Semliki National Park - Western Region Uganda (Lowland forest, riverine habitat and savanna-edge birding.)
- Kibale Forest National Park - Western Region Uganda (Forest birding in the Sebitoli and Kanyanchu sectors.)
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary - Western Region Uganda (Wetland and papyrus specialists.)
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Southwestern Uganda Uganda (Montane forest and Albertine Rift birding around Buhoma, Mubwindi and Ruhija.)
- Lake Mburo National Park - Western Region Uganda (Savanna woodland, lakeshore and waterbird habitats.)
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request
Price: Price on request
Included
- Transportation by four-wheel-drive vehicle - Included for the tour route.
- Full-board accommodation - Accommodation and meals as described in the programme.
- Park fees - Included according to the source programme.
- Birdwatching permits - Included according to the source programme.
- English-speaking driver/guide - Full-time driver/guide.
- En-route lunches - Included during transfers and birding days.
- Game drives - Included where described in the programme.
- Airport transfers - Included at the start and end of the tour.
Not included
- Visa costs - Not included.
- Drinks - Not included unless explicitly specified.
- Laundry - Personal expense.
- Tips to local guides - Not included.
- Telephone charges - Personal expense.
- Personal insurance - Not included.
- Tobacco and other personal expenses - Not included.
Transport & stays
- Four-wheel-drive vehicle Overland transfers, birding stops and game drives according to the programme. | Meet: Entebbe or Kampala hotel | Pickup: Hotel pickup; exact location confirmed after enquiry.
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.