18 Days Uganda Birding: Forests, Falls and Albertine Rift

Start from Entebbe with canoe birding at Mabamba, looking for Shoebill, jacanas, Papyrus Gonolek and other wetland birds. In the afternoon, transfer toward Mabira’s forest edge, allowing approximately two to three hours. Griffin Falls Camp is the base for two nights.

Spend a full day on Mabira’s trails. Look through the forest for Nahan’s Partridge, Grey Longbill, Jameson’s Wattle-eye and Purple-throated Cuckooshrike. The day allows sustained attention to forest habitat before returning to camp.

Travel to Masindi in the morning, a drive estimated at four to five hours. Settle into the camping accommodation at Murchison Falls Backpackers, with local birding or rest during the afternoon. Woodland Kingfisher, African Paradise Flycatcher and open-country birds may be encountered.

Use the entire day for the Royal Mile and its forest specialists. Ituri Batis, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher and Uganda Woodland Warbler are among the birds sought. Return to the same Masindi-area base.

Bird through Busingiro Forest and the Butiaba Escarpment during the move into Murchison Falls. The transfer from Budongo is estimated at two to three hours, with additional time for stops. Look for forest birds and swifts along the changing route. Stay in Red Chilli safari tents for two nights.

Take a morning game drive for savanna and riverine birds, with Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretarybird and Saddle-billed Stork among the targets. An afternoon boat trip approaches the falls, adding opportunities for Goliath Heron, African Fish Eagle and Red-throated Bee-eater.

Travel toward Fort Portal, allowing roughly six to seven hours and making roadside birding stops. Watch for turacos, barbets and other birds along the route. Stay for three nights at Koi Koi Cultural Village Hotel or Rwenzori View Guest House, providing a base for the next forest visits.

Dedicate the day to Semuliki’s Congo forest bird community. Yellow-throated Nicator, African Piculet and Maxwell’s Black Weaver are among the search targets. More elusive species, including Nkulengu Rail and Spot-breasted Ibis, require considerable luck and patience.

Begin with a morning attempt to find Green-breasted Pitta in Kibale. In the afternoon, take the nature walk at Bigodi, looking for Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-billed Barbet and papyrus-associated birds while watching for monkeys. Return to the Fort Portal-area base.

Allow another morning session for forest birds before the two-to-three-hour transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park. Continue birding in savanna and crater habitats during the evening. Bush Lodge’s camping option is the base for two nights.

Bird during a morning game drive, watching for both birds and mammals across the park’s open habitats. Take an afternoon boat outing on the Kazinga Channel for African Fish Eagle, pelicans, storks and kingfishers. Return to Bush Lodge.

Travel through Ishasha, watching for birds and the possibility of tree-climbing lions, then continue to Bwindi’s Buhoma sector. The journey is estimated at four to five hours. Stay for two nights at Buhoma Community Camp or Ruhondeza Campsite.

Spend the day birding inside Buhoma’s forest. Search for Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-billed Turaco and other birds of the dense vegetation, with attention to forest specialties that may take time to locate. The full day complements the higher-elevation birding planned later in Ruhija.

Bird during the transfer through the Neck and onward toward Ruhija. The change in elevation gives another opportunity to search for sunbirds, apalises and other montane birds. Stay for two nights at Ruhija Community Rest Camp.

Use the full day for Ruhija’s high forest, searching for African Green Broadbill, Rwenzori Batis, Strange Weaver and Handsome Spurfowl. Grauer’s Swamp Warbler is another target in suitable habitat. Return to the same camp after the day’s birding.

Leave the forest for a birding transfer to Lake Mburo, estimated at four to five hours. An evening game drive introduces acacia woodland and open-country birds, including possibilities such as Red-faced Barbet and Rufous-naped Lark. Stay for two nights at Eagles Nest’s camping option.

Explore the park’s habitats in the morning, on foot or by vehicle as arranged for the day. In the afternoon, bird from the lake, looking for kingfishers, African Fish Eagle and the more secretive White-backed Night Heron. Continue watching the shore and surrounding vegetation for additional species.

Take a final morning walk in the park to observe birds and plains wildlife from ground level. Afterward, begin the four-to-five-hour transfer to Entebbe airport. The final journey closes the loop through Uganda’s forests and savannas.