14 Days Uganda Birding: Bwindi, Semuliki and Murchison Falls

Leave Entebbe for a boat-based Shoebill search at Mabamba, also watching for African Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek and Blue-headed Coucal. The drive to Lake Mburo takes approximately three to four hours, with evening birding after arrival. Eagles Nest Camp or Leopard Rest Camp is the base for two nights. Meals are included; drinks are additional.

Dedicate the day to Lake Mburo’s acacia woodland and savanna, followed by an afternoon boat trip. Look for Coqui Francolin, Tabora Cisticola, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove and Grey Crowned Crane. Return to the same camp, with all meals provided and drinks excluded.

Bird along the journey to Ruhija, a transfer of about four to five hours. The afternoon focuses on the school trail and the first montane birds, including possibilities such as Regal Sunbird, Stripe-breasted Tit and Mountain Masked Apalis. Stay at Broadbill Forest Camp or Trekkers Tavern. Meals are covered; drinks are extra.

Explore Ruhija for forest specialties such as Rwenzori Batis, Purple-breasted Sunbird and Grauer’s Warbler. Later, continue slowly through the Neck, stopping to bird the roadside and river corridor for Mountain Wagtail, African Black Duck and Cassin’s Flycatcher. Stay at Buhoma Community Rest Camp for two nights; meals are included, with drinks extra.

Join the morning gorilla trek, then take an afternoon nature walk to continue birding in Buhoma’s forest. Bushshrikes and broadbills are among the groups to watch for in the vegetation. The amount of afternoon birding fits around the trek. Return to Buhoma Community Rest Camp, with meals included and drinks excluded.

Travel through Ishasha toward the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, allowing approximately four to five hours for the transfer. Watch for Grey Kestrel, Wattled Starling and Yellow-billed Oxpecker, as well as the possibility of tree-climbing lions. Overnight at Engiri Game Lodge or Bush Lodge’s camping option, with meals and no drinks included.

Take a morning drive across Kasenyi’s grasslands, watching for Martial Eagle, Grey Crowned Crane and Yellow-throated Longclaw. An afternoon cruise explores the Kazinga Channel’s waterbirds, including African Fish Eagle, Pink-backed Pelican and Malachite Kingfisher. The overnight base changes to Rwenzori View Guest House or budget accommodation at Chimpanzee Forest Lodge; meals are included and drinks extra.

Start early with a search for Green-breasted Pitta, whose detectability varies with season. The afternoon program combines chimpanzee trekking with a nature and birding walk at Bigodi, where Great Blue Turaco and papyrus birds are among the possibilities. Use the same Kibale-area accommodation, with meals included and drinks excluded.

Allow roughly two to three hours for the transfer to Semuliki and spend the day birding its lowland forest. Search for Congo forest specialties including White-crested Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill and African Piculet; elusive birds such as Nkulengu Rail require patience and luck. Return to the Kibale-area base for the night, with meals included and drinks extra.

Travel north to Masindi, a drive of around five to six hours. Use the afternoon for Nyabyeya’s grasslands, searching for Brown Twinspot, Grey-headed Oliveback, waxbills and firefinches. Stay for two nights at Kolping Hotel or Masindi Hotel in budget accommodation. Meals are included, while drinks are not.

Spend the full day in Budongo with particular attention to the Royal Mile. Forest kingfishers, including Chocolate-backed and Blue-breasted Kingfishers, share the target list with Yellow-footed Flycatcher and Yellow-spotted Barbet. Continue looking through the forest layers before returning to the Masindi hotel. Meals are covered; drinks remain extra.

Bird along the transfer through Busingiro Forest and the Butiaba Escarpment to the Nile’s southern bank. The journey is estimated at two to three hours before birding stops, with changes from forest to more open habitat. Lemon-bellied Crombec and Red-throated Bee-eater are among the possibilities. Stay at Red Chilli, Nkudwa Nile View Hotel or another offered option; meals are included and drinks extra.

Search the northern-bank savanna in the morning for Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Denham’s Bustard and Northern Carmine Bee-eater. In the afternoon, approach the falls by boat while watching for Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle and Rock Pratincole. Return to the same accommodation with meals provided and drinks additional.

Travel back toward Entebbe, allowing about five to six hours for driving plus stops. The program detours to Ziwa for white rhinos and local birding, with attention to open-country birds along the route. Finish with a drop-off in Entebbe or at its international airport.