Birding Tours
16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Overview
16-Day Uganda Bird Watching Safari Tour
Mabira Forest – Budongo Forest – Kibale Forest – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park
Discover one of the most comprehensive Uganda bird watching safari tours, designed for serious birders seeking to record as many species as possible across Uganda’s richest birding ecosystems. This 16-day, 15-night expedition by Ultimate Wild Safaris takes you through premier birding hotspots, including forests, wetlands, savannahs, and Rift Valley habitats.
Uganda is one of Africa’s top birding destinations, home to over 1,000 bird species and nearly 50% of Africa’s bird diversity. This safari focuses on maximizing sightings across key ecological zones while also incorporating primate tracking and cultural encounters.
Safari Overview Highlights
- Departure: Entebbe International Airport
- Duration: 16 Days / 15 Nights
- Focus: Birding & Primates
- Expected Bird Species: 350+
- Difficulty Level: Moderate
- Group Size: Max 14 guests
- Bird Photography: Best in forest edges and open trails
Key Birding Destinations
This Uganda birding safari covers the country’s most productive birding regions:
- Mabira Forest Reserve
- Budongo Forest (Royal Mile & Busingiro)
- Kibale Forest National Park
- Semliki National Park
- Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Lake Mburo National Park
Major Birding Highlights
Expect to search for and record rare and iconic species such as:
- Nahan’s Francolin (Mabira Forest)
- Puvel’s Illadopsis (Budongo Forest)
- Slender-billed Starling
- Green-breasted Pitta (Kibale Forest)
- African Green Broadbill (Ruhija – Bwindi)
- Albertine Rift endemics
- Numerous forest hornbills, sunbirds, and turacos
Why Choose This Uganda Birding Safari?
Our Uganda birding tours are designed for:
- Serious birdwatchers and photographers
- Nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts
- Ornithologists and research travelers
With over 15 years of guiding experience, we offer:
- Expert local bird guides
- High success rate for target species
- Access to restricted and premium birding trails
- Well-paced itineraries for optimal sightings
16-Day Uganda Bird Watching Safari Itinerary (Summary)
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Hotel stay
Day 2: Mabira Forest birding (Nahan’s Francolin)
Day 3: Transfer to Budongo Forest
Day 4: Budongo Forest – Royal Mile & Busingiro
Day 5: Birding Kibale Forest (via Busingiro route)
Day 6–7: Kibale Forest – Green-breasted Pitta search & optional chimpanzee tracking
Day 8: Transfer to Semliki National Park
Day 9–10: Semliki Forest & Kirumia Trail birding
Day 11: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Day 12: Albertine Rift endemics & optional gorilla trekking
Day 13: Ruhija birding (African Green Broadbill)
Day 14: Mubwindi Swamp birding (top Albertine hotspot)
Day 15: Return to Kampala / Entebbe birding en route
Day 16: Departure
Optional Safari Activities
- Gorilla trekking in Bwindi
- Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale
- Boat cruises in Queen Elizabeth National Park
- Nature walks and forest hikes
- Cultural village experiences
Why Uganda for Birding?
Uganda, known as the “Pearl of Africa”, offers:
- Over 1,000 bird species
- 10% of global bird diversity
- 50% of Africa’s bird species
- Unique mix of forests, wetlands, and savannah habitats
This makes Uganda one of the best bird-watching destinations in Africa.
Book Your Uganda Birding Safari
Join Ultimate Wild Safaris for a professionally guided birding experience across Uganda’s top ecosystems. Whether you are targeting lifers, endemic species, or photography opportunities, this 16-day Uganda birding safari delivers one of the richest birding experiences in Africa.
Tour Overview
Availability
January 01 - December 31
Duration
16D/15N
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
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08:00 AM
Day 1: Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Arrival for Forest Birding Safari.
Transfer to the Hotel. We bird Entebbe botanical Gardens or Uganda Wildlife Education Center depending on the time of arrival.Accommodation Category:
(Entebbe Protea Hotel - Luxury option) (2 Friends Beach Hotel - Midrange option)
(Central Inn Hotel - Budget option).
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08:00 AM
Day 2:Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Mabira Forest (Nahan’s Francolin)
This is the largest forest reserve closest to the city center. It boosts of a 315 bird species record with 74 of the 144 species of the Guinea–Congo Forests biome that occur in Uganda. We search for Nahan’s Francolin which is an IUCN Red list’ endangered species, etcAccommodation Category:
(Entebbe Protea Hotel - Luxury option) (2 Friends Beach Hotel - Mid Range option)
(Central Inn Hotel - Budget option).
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08:00 AM
Day 3: Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest has a prolific bird-life with two species of birds not found elsewhere in East Africa: 10 of the 22 species of the Sudan–Guinea Savanna biome and 93 of the 144 species Guinea–Congo Forests biome that occur in Uganda.Accommodation Category:
(Masindi Hotel - Luxury option) (Budongo Eco Lodge - Mid Range option)
(Hotel Victory Bijja - Budget option)
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08:00 AM
Day 4:Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Budongo Forest Uganda (Puvel’s Illadopsis) Slender-billed Starling
We bird the marvelous Royal mile and several other trails for magnificent bird species. We look for the Puvel’s Illadopsis and Nahan’s Francolin and other special birds.Accommodation Category:
(Masindi Hotel - Luxury option) (Budongo Eco Lodge - Mid Range option)
(Hotel Victory Bijja - Budget option).
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08:00 AM
Day 5: Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Busingiro-Kibale Forest National Park
For the early hours of the day, we bird Busingiro and later transfer to Kibale Forest National Park which is the most accessible of Uganda's major rainforests.Accommodation Category:
(Papaya Lake Lodge - Luxury option) (Chimpanzee Guest Cottages - Mid Range option)
(Chimpanzee Guest House - Budget option)
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08:00 AM
Day 6 & 7: Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Green-breasted Pitta Search and Optional Chimpanzee Tracking
In Kibale we will bird areas of the forest, Bigodi wetland Sanctuary and Sebitoli for Unique forest species & papyrus endemics.Accommodation Category:
(Papaya Lake Lodge - Luxury option) (Chimpanzee Guest Cottages - Mid Range option)
(Chimpanzee Guest House - Budget option)
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08:00 AM
Day 8: Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Semliki National Park in Uganda
Semliki harbours a large number of predominantly Central African species which cannot be found anywhere else in East Africa and these include some of the continent's most spectacular and sought-after birds such as; Long-tailed Hawk, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Black-wattled Hornbill, the Nkulengu Rail just to mention but a few. There is a single, unconfirmed report of the globally threatened Lesser Kestrel.Accommodation Category:
(Semuliki Safari Lodge - Luxury option) (Ntoroko Game Lodge - Mid Range option)
(Kirumia Guest House - Budget option)
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08:00 AM
Day 9 - 10: Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Semliki forest and the Kirumiya trail
It's one of the richest areas for both flora and fauna in Africa most especially birds, we bird the place for only two days. We aim at a record of 400 species which will include White-tailed Robin-Chat, Northern Bearded Scrub-Robin, Capped Wheatear, Common Stonechat to mention but a few.Accommodation Category:
(Semuliki Safari Lodge - Luxury option) (Ntoroko Game Lodge - Midrange option)
(Kirumia Guest House - Budget option)
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08:00 AM
Day 11 : Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
This is the best place for forest birding in Uganda and yet Africa’ number one birding spot, the park has 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics including the globally threatened species such as the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. Other birds such as Oberlander's/Forest Ground Thrush, Sassi's Olive Greenbul, Dusky Crimson-wing, & many more can also be observed.Accommodation Category:
(Silverback Lodge - Luxury option) (Buhoma Haven Lodge - Mid Range option)
(Buhoma Rest Camp - Budget option).
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08:00 AM
Day 12 :Albertine Rift Endemics Tour and Optional Gorilla Trekking in Uganda
At Buhoma, we look out for species like, the Black Bee-Eater, Dusky Tit, Brown-caped Weaver, the Yellow-billed and yellow-spotted Barbets, the African and Black-and-white Shrike Flycatchers, and many others. Bwindi impenetrable forest habituates families of mountain gorillas along with other species of primates for example, Chimpanzees, Colubus monkeys, Olive baboons, name it.Accommodation Category:
(Silverback Lodge - Luxury option) (Buhoma Haven Lodge - Midrange option)
(Buhoma Rest Camp - Budget option).
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08:00 AM
Day 13 : Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Ruhija (African Green Broadbill) Bwindi Forest.
Today we bird Ruhija in search for the darling African Green Broadbill, Handsome Francolin, Strange Weaver, Shelley’s and Dusky Crimson-wings, Mountain masked and Rwenzori Apalises and many more.Accommodation Category:
(Silverback Lodge - Luxury option) (Buhoma Haven Lodge - Midrange option)
(Buhoma Rest Camp - Budget option).
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08:00 AM
Day 14 : Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Birding Mubwindi (Bwindi Forest)
Whole day birding Mubwindi Swamp we look out for the Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, White tailed blue flycatcher, Brown capped warbler, Black Billed weaver, Rwenzori Nightjar & African Green Broadbill.Accommodation Category:
(Silverback Lodge - Luxury option) (Buhoma Haven Lodge - Mid Range option)
(Buhoma Rest Camp - Budget option)
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08:00 A.M
Day 15 : of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Birding to Kampala/Entebbe
Today you will go for short birding in Entebbe and Kampala city tourAccommodation Category:
(Entebbe Protea Hotel - Luxury option) (2 Friends Beach Hotel - Midrange option)
(Central Inn Hotel - Budget option).
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08:00 A.M
Day 16 : Of 16 Days Uganda Birding Tour - Mabira forest, Budongo forest, Kibale forest, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Departure
Today Ultimate wild safaris driver will transfer you to the Airport for your flight back home, hence calling it end of Uganda birding experience.
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