Ultimate 26-Day Tailor-Made Uganda Birding Safari

Arrive at Entebbe International Airport on Lake Victoria. The programme normally treats this as an arrival, rest and briefing day, with optional garden birding only when flight timing allows.

Travel to Mabamba Bay for a canoe-based search through papyrus channels and mudflats, with Shoebill as the principal target. Continue later with an easy guided walk in Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

If Shoebill was missed, the plan allows another Mabamba attempt before leaving for Lake Mburo; otherwise depart directly. The road crosses wetlands, farmland and savanna with birding stops along the way.

Explore Lake Mburo’s woodland, wetland and savanna habitats. The park adds dry-country birds, water-associated species and opportunities for other wildlife.

Make the overland journey to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, using suitable stops for scenery and birding. Arrival begins the Albertine Rift forest section of the route.

Bird one of Bwindi’s montane forest sectors, working trails and elevations according to target priorities and current access.

Continue birding in Bwindi, using a different sector or trail where the route and target list require it.

Complete a further Bwindi session for Albertine Rift species. Gorilla tracking is an optional permit-dependent activity within this part of the published programme.

Travel through the Ishasha sector toward Queen Elizabeth National Park, birding along the route for raptors, savanna birds and park specialties.

Use the morning for a game and birding drive in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Take an afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel for waterbirds and riverside wildlife.

Continue to Kibale National Park for forest birding and chimpanzee tracking. The tracking schedule depends on confirmed permits.

Bird Kibale and Bigodi Wetland for forest, wetland and forest-edge species, including an early opportunity to search for Green-breasted Pitta.

Drive to Semuliki National Park and bird its Congo-biome forest. Return toward Fort Portal after the field session.

Make the long transfer from the Fort Portal area toward Masindi. Use practical stops for birding in remnant forest, wetland and cultivated habitats.

Reach Budongo Forest early and spend the day along the Royal Mile for forest-interior birds. Continue afterward toward Murchison Falls National Park.

Explore Murchison Falls National Park for savanna, woodland and Nile-associated species.

Continue birding Murchison’s tracks and use a River Nile boat route for waterbirds, riverside species and possible Rock Pratincole near the falls.

Drive north through Gulu and Kitgum toward Kidepo Valley National Park. This is a long overland transfer into Uganda’s semi-arid northeast.

Begin Kidepo birding around Apoka and the Narus Valley, looking for dry-country and savanna species.

Continue across Kidepo’s grasslands and drier sectors for localized specialties and raptors. The exact field area depends on current access and conditions.

Travel through Kotido and bird Bokora-Matheniko Wildlife Reserve before continuing to Moroto for the night.

Bird the Mount Moroto area, then transfer south toward Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve.

Spend time birding Pian Upe’s open savanna before continuing in the direction of Mount Elgon.

Use the day for Mount Elgon birding around the Exploration Centre and Mountain Bamboo Trail area.

Travel to Mabira Forest and begin birding in Uganda’s largest remaining block of lowland rainforest.

Complete a final Mabira Forest session, then drive to Entebbe International Airport for departure.