Birding Tours

5 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park

 5 Day 4 Night Uganda Birding Watching Safari Tour To Mabamba Wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda
 12th Feb - 01st Jul

Overview

5 Days 4 Nights Uganda Birding Safari Tour

Mabamba Wetland, Lake Mburo National Park & Queen Elizabeth National Park

Experience one of Uganda’s most rewarding birding adventures on this 5 Days 4 Nights Uganda Bird Watching Safari Tour, covering three of the country’s richest ecosystems: wetlands, savannah plains, and woodland habitats.

This safari combines Mabamba Wetland Shoebill tracking, Lake Mburo birding & game drives, and Queen Elizabeth National Park wildlife and birding experiences, offering a complete Uganda birding circuit.


Safari Overview

This birding safari explores:

  • Mabamba Bay Wetland
  • Lake Mburo National Park
  • Queen Elizabeth National Park

These destinations represent Uganda’s top birding ecosystems, home to over 1,000 bird species, including rare and endemic species found only in East Africa.


Safari Highlights

  • Shoebill Stork tracking in Mabamba Wetland
  • Birding in Entebbe wetlands and Lake Victoria shores
  • Game drives in Lake Mburo National Park
  • Boat cruise on Kazinga Channel
  • Birding in savannah, wetland, and woodland habitats
  • Wildlife sightings: elephants, lions, hippos, buffaloes
  • Expert professional birding guide

Key Bird Species You May See

  • Shoebill Stork
  • African fish eagle
  • Grey crowned crane
  • Malachite kingfisher
  • Ross’s turaco
  • African jacana
  • Goliath heron
  • Bee-eaters, sunbirds, weavers, starlings
  • Open-billed stork & saddle-billed stork

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Birding Introduction

Arrival at Entebbe International Airport. Meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Depending on arrival time, enjoy birding around Lake Victoria or relaxation at the lodge.


Day 2: Mabamba Wetland – Shoebill Experience

Early morning transfer to Mabamba Bay Wetland for canoe birding. Search for the iconic Shoebill Stork and other wetland species such as herons, jacanas, and kingfishers.

Return to Entebbe or transfer towards Lake Mburo.


Day 3: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Birding & Game Drive

Drive to Lake Mburo National Park with en-route birding stops. Afternoon game drive focusing on savannah birds and wildlife such as zebras, impalas, and elands.


Day 4: Lake Mburo Birding & Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park

Morning birding walk or optional boat cruise. Later transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park with scenic birding stops along the way.


Day 5: Birding & Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise

Morning birding in the park followed by a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, one of Africa’s richest birding waterways. Expect large flocks of waterbirds and predators along the shores.

Evening return journey or overnight stay depending on flight schedule.


Why Choose This Safari?

  • Covers Uganda’s top birding destinations in one circuit
  • High chance of Shoebill Stork sightings
  • Combines birding, wildlife, and boat safaris
  • Suitable for beginners and professional birders
  • Led by expert Uganda birding guides

Uganda Birding Experience

Uganda is ranked among the top birding destinations in Africa, hosting over 50% of Africa’s bird species. This safari offers a rich combination of:

  • Wetlands (Mabamba)
  • Savannah (Lake Mburo, Queen Elizabeth)
  • Lakes and rivers ecosystems

Travel With Us

We offer:

  • Birding safaris across Uganda
  • Wildlife and big game safaris
  • Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking
  • Cultural experiences
  • Tailor-made luxury and budget tours

Popular Uganda Birding Safaris

  • 1–20 day birding tours across Uganda
  • Mabamba Shoebill specialist tours
  • Kibale Forest birding safaris
  • Murchison Falls birding expeditions
  • Kidepo Valley birding adventures

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Tour Overview

Availability

January 01 - December 31

Duration

5D/4N

Pickup Location

pickup avaiable from airport, train and also cruise

Language

English

Car PickUp

Available

Tour Guide

Included

Included

  • Ground Transportation
  • Accommodation
  • All Meals and bottled water
  • All Government Taxes
  • All Tourist attractions and activities charges charges
  • English-speaking driver/guide

Excluded

  • International Flights
  • Visa Fees
  • Airport Taxes
  • Items of personal nature like Laundry
  • Bar bills
  • Tipping and any extra expenses not included above.

Itenary

Day 1
  • 08:00 AM

    Day 1: Of 5 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Bird in Entebbe Areas (UWEC, Botanical Gardens, Lake Victoria Shores)
    Take breakfast then go birding to The Uganda Wildlife Education center (UWEC) formerly known as the Zoo. This has attracted over 170 species of wild birds 10 species of Weavers such as the rare Northern Masked Weaver, Golden Backed, African paradise, Baglafect Northern Brown Throated, Grosbeak, Black Necked and many others.

    Five species of flycatchers, Red bellied, Crested shrike flycatcher, Lead colored, Swamp flycatcher, and many others. Encounter Raptors such as the Gabar Goshawk, small banded snake Eagle, Shikra, African Goshawk, African Fish Eagle, African Hobby and many more species including captive animals.

    Proceed to Botanical gardens for another birding experience. Have lunch relax as you move forward to the evening visit to the sewage lagoons. Return for Dinner and Overnight.

    Accommodation Category:
    Entebbe Protea Hotel - Luxury option)
    (2 Friends Beach Hotel - Midrange option)
    (Central Inn Hotel - Budget option)

Day 2
  • 08:00 AM

    Day 2: Of 5 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Birding in Mabamba Wetlands
    Have breakfast then proceed to Namugabo near Mabamba swamps with the biggest population of shoebills recorded on a single day. Most of the birding is done canoeing.

    Other species to be seen may include Squacco, African water Rail, long Toed Plover, Goliath, Purple, Herons, Pygmy Goose, Yellow Billed Duck, White Faced Whistling Duck, Grey and Black Headed Heron Moorhen, Allen’s Gallinule, Black Crake, African Jacana among others. Sitatunga Antelope (swamp Antelope) and many more.

    En route to Kampala stop by another swamp this may reveal Papyrus Gonolek, White winged Warbler, Yellow Crowned Bishop, Weyns Weaver, and many more have a packed lunch and go ahead birding as you take an evening in Dinner and Overnight in either Entebbe or Kampala.

    Accommodation Category:
    (Entebbe Protea Hotel - Luxury option)
    (2 Friends Beach Hotel - Midrange option)
    (Central Inn Hotel - Budget option)

Day 3
  • 08:00 AM

    Day 3: Of 5 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Kampala – Lake Mburo National Park
    Take breakfast and transfer to Lake Mburo National park. The park is situated in western Uganda. Briefly stop at the equator, proceed to Lake Mburo, birding to the entrance of Nshara gate. Expect the following Common Scimitarbill, species; Emerald Spotted Wood Dove, Bare faced Go-Away Bird, Crested Francolin, Green Wood Hoopoe, Lilac breasted Roller, Spot-Flanked Barbet Northern Black Tit, Common Scimitarbill, Trilling Cisticola, Greater Blue Eared Starling, African Grey Hornbill, Brown Parrot may be seen.

    Take lunch then after, embark on late afternoon game drive along the Zebra Track which may expose you to species like Coqui Francolin, Black Bellied Bustard, Temmricks Courser, African Wattled Plover, Rufous napped Rufous, Chested Swallow and Flappet Lark, etc. Look out also for evasive Leopard and other nocturnal species. Back for Dinner and Overnight.

    Accommodation Category:
    (Mihingo Lodge - Luxury option)
    (Rwakobo Lodge - Midrange option)
    (Eagle's Nest Rest Camp - Budget option).

Day 4
  • 08:00 AM

    Day 4:Of 5 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Birding in Lake Mburo National Park
    Have an early morning Breakfast, embark on a nature walk encountering several species of wetland and savanna species of birds, Impalas among others. Return for lunch head for evening game drive along the Kigambira loop.

    Species to expect are; localized Red Faced Barbet, Red Headed lovebird, Black Collared Barbet, Green capped Eremomela and Lead colored Flycatcher. Back for Dinner and overnight.

    Accommodation Category:
    (Mihingo Lodge - Luxury option)
    (Rwakobo Lodge - Midrange option)
    (Eagle's Nest Rest Camp - Budget option).

Day 5
  • 08:00 AM

    Day 5: Of 5 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabamba wetland, Lake Mburo National Park, Return to Kampala
    We move on for an early morning game drive along the Lakeside Track. This entails approach to Aquatic habitats around Lake Mburo. Species to expect may include, White Winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Lesser and Greater Swamp Warbler and also the elusive Shoebill, the Blue headed Coucal.

    Continue to the lakeside campground, as we look out for the African Darter, African Water Rail, African Fin foot, Spur winged plovers, and many others. Return midmorning for breakfast and proceed for a launch- cruise in search for papyrus species missed, Hippos, Crocodiles are the extras expected.

    Set off birding to Kampala but take a stopover in Masaka town for Lunch before you proceed to Kampala hence of your five day Ugnda birding experience.