6 Days Bird Watching Safari in Uganda

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda, Mabamba Wetland Bird Watching and Transfer to Entebbe

Your Uganda bird watching safari begins with your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, where you will be welcomed by a representative from Verdant Safaris and introduced to your professional birding guide. Depending on your arrival time, you will proceed towards Mabamba Wetland, an important birding site on the shores of Lake Victoria and one of Uganda’s most reliable locations for searching for the Shoebill. You will explore the papyrus channels by canoe, moving quietly through the wetland while watching for Shoebills and other water-associated species. Other possible sightings include African Jacana, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, herons, egrets, weavers and other wetland birds. Mabamba supports a rich variety of species and is particularly well known for its Shoebill population. After the birding excursion, you will return to Entebbe for relaxation, dinner and an overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Papyrus Guest House, Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe, 2 Friends Beach Hotel

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 2: Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Budongo Forest Birding

After an early breakfast, you will begin your journey northwards towards Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda’s largest protected area and one of the country’s important birding destinations. The journey will include birding opportunities around Budongo Forest, where the forest environment provides a completely different habitat from the wetlands of Mabamba. You will take a guided birding walk through suitable forest trails, carefully listening for calls and watching the canopy, forest edges and undergrowth for colourful and elusive species. Possible sightings include kingfishers, hornbills, barbets, bee-eaters, woodpeckers, flycatchers and a variety of forest specialists. After your forest birding session, you will continue towards Murchison Falls National Park, enjoying changing landscapes as the journey moves from forest and cultivated areas towards savannah. You will arrive at your lodge in the evening, settle in and enjoy dinner while preparing for the following day’s extensive birding activities.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 3: Full-Day Bird Watching in Murchison Falls National Park and Nile Delta Boat Cruise

Today is dedicated to exploring the rich birdlife of Murchison Falls National Park, with birding activities covering savannah, woodland and riverine habitats. You will start early when bird activity is at its peak, driving through the northern sector of the park while your guide helps you identify birds by appearance, behaviour and calls. Potential sightings include Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Secretarybird, Black-bellied Bustard, Open-billed Stork, Red-throated Bee-eater, kingfishers, hornbills, herons and various raptors. In the afternoon, you will take a boat excursion along the Nile towards the Lake Albert Delta, an excellent environment for observing waterbirds and riverine species. Keep your binoculars ready for Goliath Herons, African Fish Eagles, African Skimmers, Saddle-billed Storks, kingfishers, egrets and other water-associated birds. The boat trip also provides wonderful views of the surrounding landscape and may bring you close to hippos, crocodiles and other wildlife before returning to your lodge.

Accommodation Options: Paraa Safari Lodge, Pakuba Safari Lodge, Murchison River Lodge

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 4: Bird Watching in Murchison Falls and Transfer to Kibale Forest

You will wake up early for another birding session around Murchison Falls before beginning your journey southwards towards the Kibale region. The morning session provides another opportunity to search for species that may have been missed during the previous day’s activities, particularly birds active around open woodland, grassland and riverine areas. After breakfast, you will depart the park and travel through rural Ugandan landscapes, passing local communities, farmland, plantations and changing vegetation zones. As you approach Fort Portal and Kibale, the landscape becomes increasingly green, with forest patches and tea-growing areas providing a striking contrast to the northern savannah. Depending on your arrival time, you will have an opportunity for an introductory birding walk around the lodge or nearby forest edge. Kibale is particularly significant for forest birding, with species such as Great Blue Turaco and Green-breasted Pitta among the sought-after birds in the region. You will enjoy dinner and rest at your accommodation in preparation for the following day’s dedicated forest and wetland birding.

Accommodation Options: Primate Lodge Kibale, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 5: Full-Day Kibale Forest and Bigodi Wetland Bird Watching

Today offers one of the highlights of your Uganda birding adventure as you explore the forests and wetlands around Kibale. You will begin early with a guided birding experience, taking advantage of the morning period when many forest species are most active. Your guide will help you search the canopy, forest floor and undergrowth for colourful forest birds, while listening carefully for distinctive calls. Depending on conditions and season, possible sightings may include Great Blue Turaco, African Grey Parrot, Black Bee-eater, kingfishers, barbets, greenbuls, sunbirds and the elusive Green-breasted Pitta. Kibale is particularly valued for its forest birding opportunities, while the nearby Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary adds papyrus, wetland and forest-edge species to your checklist. In the afternoon, you will explore Bigodi’s community-managed wetland trails, where local knowledge can greatly improve your chances of finding specialised species. After an enriching day of birdwatching, you will return to your lodge for dinner and your final overnight stay.

Accommodation Options: Primate Lodge Kibale, Turaco Treetops, Kibale Forest Camp

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)

Day 6: Final Birding Session and Departure

Your final morning begins with an early breakfast followed by a short birding session around the lodge or a suitable nearby forest edge, depending on your departure schedule. This provides one last opportunity to add species to your birding checklist and photograph some of Uganda’s colourful forest birds before you begin your journey back towards Entebbe or Kampala. Your guide will continue helping you identify birds by their calls, plumage, habitat and behaviour, making the final session both enjoyable and educational. After the birding activity, you will depart Kibale and travel through the scenic countryside, with opportunities to stop for refreshments and photographs along the way. Depending on your flight schedule, you may have lunch in Kampala or Entebbe before proceeding to Entebbe International Airport. Verdant Safaris will ensure that you arrive at the airport in good time for your onward flight, marking the end of your six-day Uganda bird watching safari. You will depart Uganda with your birding checklist, photographs and memorable experiences from the country’s wetlands, forests and savannah landscapes.

Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)