15-Day Uganda Birding Tour 2027
A 15-day Uganda birding circuit from Entebbe through Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo, Mgahinga, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, Kibale and Semliki for Shoebill and Albertine Rift specialties.
About this tour
Led by Ugandan bird guide Tugumisirize Nicholas, this Uganda birding tour follows a western and southwestern circuit beginning in Entebbe, with an early Shoebill excursion at Mabamba Swamp before continuing through savanna, papyrus wetland, montane forest and lowland forest birding sites.
The route includes Lake Mburo National Park, Echuya Forest, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest and Semliki Forest. It is designed for birders seeking Shoebill, Albertine Rift endemics and other Ugandan specialties, with accommodation and full-board route logistics arranged through the guide. Wild bird and wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Uganda.
Birds you can spot
Bucorvus abyssinicus
likely
Columba unicincta
likely
Anas sparsa
likely
Apus barbatus
likely
Elminia longicauda
likely
Anhinga rufa
likely
Muscicapa adusta
likely
Podica senegalensis
target
Icthyophaga vocifer
likely
Aerospiza tachiro
likely
Treron calvus
likely
Lophoceros nasutus
likely
Dendropicos goertae
likely
Polyboroides typus
likely
Actophilornis africanus
likely
Circus ranivorus
likely
Columba arquatrix
likely
Anastomus lamelligerus
likely
Cypsiurus parvus
likely
Terpsiphone viridis
likely
Motacilla aguimp
likely
Anthus cinnamomeus
likely
Ispidina picta
likely
Cecropis melanocrissus
likely
Threskiornis aethiopicus
likely
Otus senegalensis
likely
Megabyas flammulatus
likely
Rynchops flavirostris
likely
Platalea alba
likely
Saxicola torquatus
likely
Porphyrio madagascariensis
likely
Turdus pelios
likely
Vanellus senegallus
likely
Strix woodfordii
likely
Laniarius holomelas
likely
Hirundo angolensis
likely
Eurillas ansorgei
likely
Dessonornis archeri
likely
Turdoides jardineii
likely
Buteo augur
likely
Ploceus baglafecht
likely
Neophedina cincta
likely
Apaloderma vittatum
likely
Crinifer personatus
likely
Hirundo rustica
likely
Macheiramphus alcinus
likely
Terathopius ecaudatus
likely
Chloropicus namaquus
likely
Cinnyris pulchellus
likely
Merops gularis
likely
Euplectes gierowii
likely
Zapornia flavirostra
likely
Cuculus clamosus
likely
Milvus migrans
likely
Psalidoprocne pristoptera
likely
Spermestes bicolor
likely
Bias musicus
likely
Bycanistes subcylindricus
likely
Lybius guifsobalito
likely
Tauraco schuettii
likely
Ploceus melanogaster
likely
Turtur abyssinicus
likely
Tchagra senegalus
likely
Estrilda nonnula
likely
Bathmocercus rufus
likely
Laniarius erythrogaster
likely
Ardea melanocephala
likely
Vanellus tectus
likely
Ploceus melanocephalus
likely
Turdoides sharpei
likely
Ploceus nigricollis
likely
Apalis jacksoni
likely
Elanus caeruleus
likely
Ceuthmochares aereus
likely
Halcyon malimbica
likely
Cyanomitra alinae
likely
Turtur afer
likely
Eurystomus gularis
likely
Chlorophoneus bocagei
likely
Crithagra sulphurata
likely
Eurystomus glaucurus
likely
Nectarinia kilimensis
likely
Circaetus cinereus
likely
Cercotrichas hartlaubi
likely
Ploceus insignis
likely
Vanellus superciliosus
likely
Platysteira cyanea
likely
Nilaus afer
likely
Pardipicus nivosus
likely
Apalis rufogularis
likely
Motacilla capensis
likely
Dendropicos fuscescens
likely
Cisticola carruthersi
likely
Muscicapa cassini
likely
Aquila africana
likely
Fraseria lendu
likely
Platysteira castanea
likely
Plocepasser superciliosus
likely
Apalis porphyrolaema
likely
Batis molitor
likely
Cisticola chubbi
likely
Merops oreobates
likely
Hedydipna collaris
likely
Pycnonotus barbatus
likely
Turnix sylvaticus
likely
Falco tinnunculus
likely
Actitis hypoleucos
likely
Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
likely
Estrilda astrild
likely
Cinnyris cupreus
likely
Trachyphonus vaillantii
likely
Ortygornis sephaena
likely
Cisticola natalensis
likely
Stephanoaetus coronatus
likely
Lophoceros alboterminatus
likely
Vanellus coronatus
likely
Melierax metabates
likely
Telophorus dohertyi
likely
Pogonornis bidentatus
likely
Cercococcyx mechowi
likely
Bradornis comitatus
likely
Indicator pumilio
likely
Crinifer zonurus
likely
Trachylaemus purpuratus
likely
Alopochen aegyptiaca
likely
Dendropicos elliotii
likely
Turtur chalcospilos
likely
Sheppardia aequatorialis
likely
Euplectes axillaris
likely
Estrilda paludicola
likely
Caprimulgus pectoralis
likely
Campethera taeniolaema
likely
Amirafra rufocinnamomea
likely
Stizorhina fraseri
likely
Caprimulgus tristigma
likely
Plegadis falcinellus
likely
Emberiza flaviventris
likely
Ardea goliath
likely
Pseudocalyptomena graueri
target
Corythaeola cristata
likely
Phalacrocorax carbo
likely
Ardea alba
likely
Pelecanus onocrotalus
likely
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
likely
Sylvietta virens
likely
Hylia prasina
likely
Mandingoa nitidula
likely
Phoeniculus purpureus
likely
Camaroptera brachyura
likely
Campethera maculosa
likely
Pitta reichenowi
target
Eremomela scotops
likely
Cyanomitra verticalis
likely
Chalcomitra rubescens
likely
Apalis cinerea
likely
Balearica regulorum
likely
Ardea cinerea
likely
Falco ardosiaceus
likely
Fraseria plumbea
likely
Eminia lepida
likely
Anthreptes tephrolaemus
likely
Malaconotus blanchoti
likely
Halcyon leucocephala
likely
Nigrita canicapillus
likely
Deleornis axillaris
likely
Gymnobucco bonapartei
likely
Fraseria griseigularis
likely
Sheppardia polioptera
likely
Bostrychia hagedash
likely
Tricholaema hirsuta
likely
Scopus umbretta
likely
Numida meleagris
likely
Pternistis icterorhynchus
likely
Ploceus xanthops
likely
Baeopogon indicator
likely
Necrosyrtes monachus
likely
Passer domesticus
likely
Parmoptila jamesoni
likely
Arizelocichla kikuyuensis
likely
Anarhynchus pecuarius
likely
Chrysococcyx klaas
likely
Sarkidiornis melanotos
likely
Torgos tracheliotos
likely
Spilopelia senegalensis
likely
Phyllastrephus scandens
likely
Microparra capensis
likely
Clamator levaillantii
likely
Coracias caudatus
likely
Merops pusillus
likely
Egretta garzetta
likely
Tachybaptus ruficollis
likely
Anthreptes seimundi
likely
Eurillas virens
likely
Butorides atricapilla
likely
Tachyspiza minulla
likely
Apus affinis
likely
Ploceus luteolus
likely
Kaupifalco monogrammicus
likely
Lophaetus occipitalis
likely
Vanellus crassirostris
likely
Laniarius luehderi
likely
Lanius mackinnoni
likely
Spermestes fringilloides
likely
Corythornis cristatus
likely
Chlorophoneus multicolor
likely
Leptoptilos crumenifer
likely
Cinnyris mariquensis
likely
Polemaetus bellicosus
likely
Poicephalus meyeri
likely
Illadopsis pyrrhoptera
likely
Apalis personata
likely
Oriolus percivali
likely
Motacilla clara
likely
Streptopelia decipiens
likely
Melocichla mentalis
likely
Oena capensis
likely
Apaloderma narina
likely
Melaenornis edolioides
likely
Ploceus castanops
likely
Merops nubicus
likely
Cinnyris reichenowi
likely
Lanius humeralis
likely
Passer griseus
likely
Dryoscopus gambensis
likely
Euplectes franciscanus
likely
Campethera nubica
likely
Merops superciliosus
likely
Cyanomitra olivacea
likely
Dendropicos griseocephalus
likely
Cinnyris chloropygius
likely
Camaroptera chloronota
likely
Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
likely
Pandion haliaetus
likely
Atimastillas flavigula
likely
Gypohierax angolensis
likely
Laniarius mufumbiri
target
Campephaga petiti
likely
Ptilostomus afer
likely
Corvus albus
likely
Ceryle rudis
likely
Pelecanus rufescens
likely
Dryoscopus angolensis
likely
Eurillas curvirostris
likely
Anthus leucophrys
likely
Ardea purpurea
likely
Terpsiphone rufiventer
likely
Lagonosticta senegala
likely
Quelea quelea
likely
Uraeginthus bengalus
likely
Cinnyris erythrocercus
likely
Streptopelia semitorquata
likely
Cisticola erythrops
likely
Sylvietta whytii
likely
Phylloscopus laetus
likely
Malimbus rubricollis
likely
Anaplectes rubriceps
likely
Falco chicquera
likely
Pternistis afer
likely
Neocossyphus rufus
likely
Bleda syndactylus
likely
Criniger calurus
likely
Chamaetylas poliophrys
likely
Merops bulocki
likely
Streptopelia capicola
likely
Columba livia
likely
Tauraco rossae
likely
Ardeola rufiventris
likely
Corypha africana
likely
Oreolais ruwenzorii
likely
Batis diops
likely
Sylvia atriceps
likely
Lamprotornis purpuroptera
likely
Gyps rueppelli
likely
Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
likely
Illadopsis albipectus
likely
Schoutedenapus myoptilus
likely
Chalcomitra senegalensis
likely
Centropus senegalensis
likely
Vanellus lugubris
likely
Burhinus senegalensis
likely
Arizelocichla masukuensis
likely
Passer shelleyi
likely
Balaeniceps rex
target
Empidornis semipartitus
likely
Stelgidillas gracilirostris
likely
Cossypha niveicapilla
likely
Myrmecocichla nigra
likely
Artomyias fuliginosa
likely
Melaenornis pammelaina
likely
Euplectes orix
likely
Sporopipes frontalis
likely
Colius striatus
likely
Columba guinea
likely
Pogoniulus scolopaceus
likely
Ploceus ocularis
likely
Lamprotornis splendidus
likely
Tricholaema lacrymosa
likely
Cichladusa guttata
likely
Burhinus capensis
likely
Plectropterus gambensis
likely
Vanellus spinosus
likely
Ardeola ralloides
likely
Caprimulgus fossii
likely
Ploceus alienus
likely
Crithagra striolata
likely
Melaniparus fasciiventer
likely
Halcyon chelicuti
likely
Cinnyris superbus
likely
Merops hirundineus
likely
Turtur tympanistria
likely
Aquila rapax
likely
Prinia subflava
likely
Cursorius temminckii
likely
Crithagra burtoni
likely
Amblyospiza albifrons
likely
Charadrius tricollaris
likely
Phyllastrephus hypochloris
likely
Cisticola woosnami
likely
Laniarius major
likely
Cinnyris venustus
likely
Ploceus nigerrimus
likely
Vidua chalybeata
likely
Ploceus cucullatus
likely
Streptopelia vinacea
likely
Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
likely
Ploceus vitellinus
likely
Hieraaetus wahlbergi
likely
Onychognathus walleri
likely
Burhinus vermiculatus
likely
Creatophora cinerea
likely
Circaetus cinerascens
likely
Columba iriditorques
likely
Ardea ibis
likely
Guttera verreauxi
likely
Nicator chloris
likely
Oriolus brachyrynchus
likely
Pogoniulus coryphaea
likely
Cisticola lateralis
likely
Calherodius leuconotus
likely
Gyps africanus
likely
Elminia albiventris
likely
Cossyphicula roberti
likely
Nigrita fusconotus
likely
Centropus superciliosus
likely
Sylvietta leucophrys
likely
Cossypha heuglini
likely
Schistolais leucopogon
likely
Tauraco leucolophus
likely
Melaenornis fischeri
likely
Dendrocygna viduata
likely
Lybius leucocephalus
likely
Psalidoprocne albiceps
likely
Trigonoceps occipitalis
likely
Phoeniculus bollei
likely
Corvus albicollis
likely
Apus caffer
likely
Sarothrura pulchra
likely
Neocossyphus poensis
likely
Elminia albicauda
likely
Bycanistes albotibialis
likely
Melaniparus leucomelas
likely
Euplectes albonotatus
likely
Cisticola marginatus
likely
Hirundo smithii
likely
Tringa glareola
likely
Halcyon senegalensis
likely
Macrosphenus flavicans
likely
Anas undulata
likely
Ardea brachyrhyncha
likely
Buphagus africanus
likely
Mycteria ibis
likely
Apalis flavida
likely
Chloropicus xantholophus
likely
Melaenornis ardesiacus
likely
Crithagra mozambica
likely
Pogoniulus chrysoconus
likely
Euplectes macroura
likely
Pogoniulus bilineatus
likely
Buccanodon duchaillui
likely
Macronyx croceus
likely
Pogoniulus subsulphureus
likely
Eurillas latirostris
likely
Guides
Itinerary ▼
Locations & map
- Entebbe - Central Uganda Uganda (Arrival and departure city on Lake Victoria.)
- Mabamba Swamp - Lake Victoria basin Uganda (Papyrus wetland birding for Shoebill and wetland species.)
- Lake Mburo National Park - Western Uganda Uganda (Savanna, woodland and wetland birding.)
- Mgahinga Gorilla National Park - Virunga Mountains Uganda (Montane and bamboo-zone Albertine Rift birding.)
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest - Southwestern Uganda Uganda (Montane forest birding around Ruhija, Mubwindi Swamp, the Neck and Buhoma.)
- Queen Elizabeth National Park - Western Uganda Uganda (Savanna, wetland and Kazinga Channel waterbird habitats.)
- Kibale Forest - Western Uganda Uganda (Forest and swamp birding, including Green-breasted Pitta possibilities.)
- Semliki Forest - Western Uganda Uganda (Lowland forest birding with Congo basin specialties.)
Availability & pricing
Availability: Available on request · Season: Fixed January 1-15, 2027 departure; Uganda dry-season birding is also typically strongest from January to March and June
Included
- Professional birding guide - Guiding fees for the published birding program.
- Accommodation - Route accommodation at the listed or similar lodges/camps.
- Meals and drinking water - Food and drinking water in the vehicle or during activities.
- Park fees - Park fees for the tour route as quoted by the guide.
- 4x4 safari vehicle, transport and fuel - Road transport and fuel for the itinerary.
Not included
- Gorilla and chimpanzee permits - Primate permits are not included in the quoted price.
- International flights - Travellers arrange international flights.
- Tips and personal expenses - Tips, medications and hotel drinks are excluded.
Transport & stays
- 4x4 safari vehicle The route uses a 4x4 safari vehicle, with boat or canoe activities where included in the itinerary. | Meet: Entebbe International Airport or an agreed Entebbe hotel | Pickup: Airport or Entebbe hotel pickup can be arranged for the itinerary.
Accommodations
- Route lodges, camps and hotels (days 1-15) Confirmed after inquiry
Policies & FAQ
Cancellation Policy
Payment Terms
Insurance & Safety
Are gorilla and chimpanzee permits included?
No. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are excluded unless later confirmed in writing.
Can the route or accommodation be adjusted?
Final accommodation and route logistics are confirmed after inquiry according to availability and group needs.