23-Day Uganda Gorillas, Chimpanzees and Rare Birds Safari

Airport arrival and transfer to the agreed Entebbe accommodation. If arrival time permits, visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens for Lake Victoria birding and possible red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus and other wildlife. Likely birds include Pink-backed Pelican, African Grey Parrot, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, hornbills, storks and Bat Hawk.

Take a morning boat excursion in Mabamba Swamp in search of Shoebill and papyrus wetland birds such as African Marsh Harrier, African Fish Eagle, African Jacana, Long-toed Lapwing, Blue-breasted Bee-eater and Papyrus Canary. Continue to Mabira Forest for rainforest birding, with possibilities including Nahan’s Partridge, Grey Longbill, Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Tit Hylia and Shining-blue Kingfisher.

Begin with a guided nature walk in Mabira Forest for birds and primates, then travel east toward Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve in the Karamoja region. The day combines forest birding with a substantial road transfer.

Explore the reserve’s dry savannah and woodland habitats. Birding priorities include Fox’s Weaver, Karamoja Apalis, Clapperton’s Francolin, Black-bellied Firefinch, Red-and-yellow Barbet, White-bellied Bustard, White-billed Buffalo-Weaver and raptors. Mammal sightings may include eland, giraffe, buffalo, topi, Uganda kob and, with luck, cheetah or leopard.

Travel through northeastern Uganda with birding stops across open country and wetlands. Possible species include African Grey Flycatcher, Bristle-crowned Starling, Fawn-coloured Lark, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Hemprich’s Hornbill, Jackson’s Hornbill, Pygmy Batis and Yellow-bellied Eremomela.

Continue north through Karamoja to remote Kidepo Valley National Park. Birding and wildlife stops are made as conditions and travel time allow, with broad savannah landscapes throughout the route.

Spend the day exploring Kidepo’s savannah on a game drive. Birding possibilities include Kori Bustard, Secretarybird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel and dry-country weavers and barbets. The park also supports elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, zebra, spotted hyena and other large mammals.

Travel southwest to Murchison Falls National Park. En-route and late-day birding may produce Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Denham’s Bustard, Silverbird and Black-headed Gonolek, alongside giraffe, elephant, buffalo and antelope.

Combine a savannah game drive with a boat cruise on the Nile. The river supports hippos, Nile crocodiles and a wide variety of waterbirds, while the surrounding park offers excellent opportunities for large mammals and raptors.

Travel toward Masindi and bird the celebrated Royal Mile in Budongo Forest. Targets may include Nahan’s Partridge, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-throated Roller, White-thighed Hornbill, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Grey-headed Oriole and forest greenbuls, with several monkey species also possible.

Continue to Semuliki for lowland forest birding and primate watching. Possible birds include African Piculet, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Green-tailed Bristlebill, Yellow-throated Nicator and Red-headed Malimbe.

Spend the morning birding in Semuliki’s forest before travelling to Kibale National Park. The program is adjusted to road and forest conditions while retaining time for both birding and primate observation.

Join a permitted chimpanzee-tracking activity in Kibale, subject to permit confirmation. Other primates may include black-and-white colobus, ashy red colobus, Uganda mangabey, L’Hoest’s monkey, blue monkey and red-tailed monkey. An optional nocturnal activity can be discussed for suitable dates.

Search Kibale Forest for Green-breasted Pitta and other forest birds such as African Blue Flycatcher, Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher, White-throated Greenbul and Shining-blue Kingfisher. Later, explore Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary for birds and primates; evening activity is arranged only where access and conditions allow.

Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park and take a boat excursion on the Kazinga Channel. Waterbird possibilities include African Skimmer, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, African Spoonbill and Yellow-billed Stork, with elephant, buffalo, hippo and other mammals common in the wider park.

Explore the Ishasha sector, known for its tree-climbing lions. Birding opportunities include Green Woodhoopoe, Banded Snake Eagle, Marsh Tchagra, Hooded Vulture, Grey Crowned Crane, White-backed Vulture, White-headed Barbet and Long-crested Eagle.

Undertake a guided mountain-gorilla trek in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, subject to permit availability and confirmed guest arrangements. Forest wildlife may also include duikers, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys and black-and-white colobus.

Bird the Buhoma area for Albertine Rift and forest species. Priorities may include African Broadbill, Neumann’s Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Equatorial Akalat, Great Blue Turaco and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.

Bird the forest corridor at The Neck and the higher-elevation trails around Ruhija. Possible species include Black Bee-eater, African Black Duck, Mountain Wagtail, Mountain Sooty Boubou, Red-faced Malimbe, Grey Apalis, Mountain Yellow Warbler and Western Bronze-naped Pigeon.

Travel to Mgahinga and begin birding its montane habitats. Species may include Mountain Buzzard, Dusky Crimsonwing, White-starred Robin, Mountain Oriole, Handsome Spurfowl, Regal Sunbird, Rwenzori Batis and Purple-breasted Sunbird.

Track endangered golden monkeys, subject to permit availability, and continue montane birding. Key possibilities include Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird, Blue-headed Sunbird, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Masked Apalis and Doherty’s Bushshrike.

Travel to Lake Mburo with wetland birding stops for species such as Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Swamp Warbler and Carruthers’s Cisticola. A late boat excursion may produce African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron and several kingfishers, subject to operating conditions.

Enjoy final wildlife and birding opportunities in Lake Mburo before returning to Entebbe for the onward flight. Possible mammals include impala, zebra, buffalo, waterbuck, topi and eland; birds include Lilac-breasted Roller, African Grey Hornbill, Black-headed Gonolek and Black-bellied Bustard.