16-Day Uganda Wildlife & Birding Safari

Mabamba Shoebill • Lake Mburo • Mgahinga Gorillas • Echuya Forest • Bwindi Gorillas • Queen Elizabeth • Kibale Chimpanzees
Discover Uganda’s Most Complete Wildlife Circuit with Mountain Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Volcanic Highlands, Big Five Encounters & Over 650 Bird Species

Safari Highlights
✔ Shoebill Stork Birding at Mabamba Swamp
✔ Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
✔ Gorilla Trekking Opportunity in Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
✔ Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale National Park
✔ Lake Mburo Walking Safari Experience
✔ Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park
✔ Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
✔ Birding in Echuya Forest Reserve
✔ Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Exploration
✔ Volcanic Highlands of the Virunga Region
✔ Over 650 Bird Species Recorded
✔ Albertine Rift Endemic Birding
✔ Cultural Encounters with Local Communities
✔ Professional 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with Expert Guide

Guests	Midrange (USD/Person)	Luxury (USD/Person)

 

2 Pax

USD 7,000

USD 11,500

 

4 Pax

USD 6,550

USD 10,850

 

6 Pax

USD 6,250

USD 10,250

Accommodation

Midrange
• 2 Friends Beach Hotel – Entebbe
• Rwakobo Rock – Lake Mburo
• Lake Chahafi Resort – Mgahinga
• Gorilla Mist Camp – Bwindi
• Enganzi Game Lodge – Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Kibale Forest Camp – Kibale

Luxury
• Serena Lake Victoria Resort – Entebbe
• Mihingo Safari Lodge – Lake Mburo
• Mount Gahinga Lodge – Mgahinga
• Ruhija Gorilla Lodge – Bwindi
• Mweya Safari Lodge – Queen Elizabeth National Park
• Crater Safari Lodge – Kibale

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe (Gateway to Uganda)
Welcome to Uganda—the Pearl of Africa. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you are warmly received by your professional safari guide and transferred to your hotel near Lake Victoria.

Depending on arrival time, enjoy a relaxing lakeside atmosphere filled with birdlife such as Pied Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Great Cormorant, and Yellow-billed Kite. Your guide will provide a detailed safari briefing covering routes, wildlife expectations, and photography tips.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Experience
Begin your adventure at Mabamba Swamp, one of Africa’s most important birding wetlands. Glide through narrow papyrus channels by canoe in search of the legendary Shoebill Stork, one of the world’s most sought-after birds.

Expect incredible sightings including African Jacana walking on floating lilies, Papyrus Gonolek calling from deep reeds, Blue-breasted Bee-eaters, Malachite Kingfishers, and swamp-specialist warblers. The calm morning light creates perfect photography conditions.

Return to Entebbe for relaxation and preparation for the journey north.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3 – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park & Evening Birding
Travel through rolling countryside toward Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park but richest in acacia birdlife. Arrive in time for an evening birding walk around the lodge area.

Spot species such as Lilac-breasted Roller, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, Green Wood Hoopoe, and African Grey Hornbill. Zebras and impalas often graze near the accommodation, offering your first true safari atmosphere.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4 – Lake Mburo Game Drive & Boat Safari
Enjoy a morning game drive through acacia-dotted plains searching for zebras, elands, topis, giraffes, and buffaloes. Birdlife includes Black-bellied Bustard, Red-faced Barbet, and African Wattled Lapwing.

In the afternoon, enjoy a tranquil boat cruise on Lake Mburo, where hippos, crocodiles, and waterbirds thrive along the shoreline. The golden sunset reflections create a magical photography experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5 – Journey to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
Travel southwest into the volcanic highlands of Mgahinga Gorilla National Park. The landscape transforms dramatically into misty volcanoes, bamboo forests, and rich montane habitats.

Afternoon birding introduces Albertine Rift endemics such as Rwenzori Turaco, Dusky Crimsonwing, and Mountain Yellow Warbler. The scenery becomes more dramatic as you approach the Virunga volcano chain.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6 – Birding Mgahinga & Gorilla Highlands
Spend a full day exploring bamboo zones and montane forests searching for rare highland species including Archer’s Robin-chat, White-starred Robin, and Strange Weaver.

The quiet forest atmosphere, cool mountain air, and volcanic backdrop create a deeply immersive birding experience unique to East Africa.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 7 – Echuya Forest Birding
Explore the rich biodiversity of Echuya Forest Reserve, a critical habitat for Albertine Rift endemics.

Search for Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, and Rwenzori Batis. The dense bamboo forest echoes with bird calls and offers one of Uganda’s most specialized birding experiences.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 8 – Transfer to Bwindi (Ruhija Sector Birding)
Journey into the ancient rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Arrive in the Ruhija sector, known for exceptional endemic birding.

Spot Black-capped Apalis, Bar-tailed Trogon, and African Green Broadbill (seasonal). The forest feels prehistoric, with moss-covered trees and mist drifting through valleys.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 9 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Today delivers the ultimate wildlife experience—mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi. Trek through steep forest terrain guided by expert trackers until you encounter a habituated gorilla family.

Spend a full hour observing their behavior—silverbacks guarding calmly, mothers caring for infants, and juveniles playing in the forest undergrowth. A deeply emotional and unforgettable experience.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 10 – Buhoma Birding & Cultural Experience
Explore the Buhoma sector with forest birding targeting Rwenzori Batis, Mountain Masked Apalis, and Black Bee-eater.

In the afternoon, engage in a cultural visit with local communities, learning about traditional forest life, crafts, and conservation efforts supporting gorilla protection.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 11 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via the Ishasha Wilderness Sector
After an early breakfast, depart Bwindi and begin your scenic descent from the misty highlands into the vast savannah landscapes of western Uganda. The drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park is one of the most visually striking transitions in the entire safari, moving from dense rainforest to open plains dotted with crater lakes and volcanic ridges.

Your journey passes through the legendary Ishasha Sector, a remote and wild corner of the park famous for its tree-climbing lions. Here, fig trees and acacias sometimes host resting lions draped across branches, an unusual behavior rarely seen elsewhere in Africa. Along the way, expect sightings of Uganda kob, topi, elephants, buffaloes, and large troops of olive baboons moving across the plains.

Birding opportunities are excellent, with species such as Bateleur Eagle, Martial Eagle, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Black Coucal, and White-headed Barbet frequently recorded. The road itself feels like a moving safari corridor, with wildlife appearing continuously between forest edges and open grasslands.

Arrive at your lodge in the late afternoon, where the savannah stretches endlessly toward the horizon. Enjoy a relaxed evening as you listen to distant hyenas calling and hippos grunting from nearby waterholes.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 12 – Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise & Afternoon Wildlife Viewing
Begin the day at a relaxed pace with breakfast overlooking the savannah or crater lakes. Later, head toward the world-famous Kazinga Channel for a wildlife boat safari that offers one of the highest concentrations of hippos in Africa.

As the boat glides through calm waters, large pods of hippos surface around you while Nile crocodiles bask on the muddy banks. Elephants often gather at the shoreline to drink and bathe, creating exceptional close-range photography opportunities. Buffalo herds, waterbuck, and monitor lizards are also commonly seen along the banks.

Birdlife is outstanding throughout the cruise. Expect African Fish Eagles swooping down to catch fish, Goliath Herons standing motionless in shallow water, Saddle-billed Storks, African Spoonbills, Pink-backed Pelicans, and flocks of cormorants and kingfishers.

In the afternoon, enjoy a short game drive across the Kasenyi plains, where lion prides often hunt Uganda kob during cooler hours. The open savannah offers excellent visibility for wildlife photography, especially during golden hour when the light softens across the plains.

Return to your lodge for dinner and a peaceful night in the heart of the wild.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 13 – Full Day Game Drives & Crater Lakes Exploration
Today is dedicated to exploring the deeper wilderness of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Begin with an early morning game drive in the Kasenyi sector, one of the best areas for predator sightings in Uganda.

Lions are frequently seen following herds of Uganda kob, while hyenas patrol the grasslands in search of leftovers from nighttime hunts. Elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and giant forest hogs are commonly encountered, while leopards may be spotted resting in fig trees or rocky outcrops.

Birders will enjoy exceptional sightings including Secretarybird walking through open plains, Kori Bustard displaying in grasslands, Martial Eagle soaring overhead, and colorful species like Red-necked Falcon and Yellow-throated Longclaw.

Later in the day, explore the crater lake region, a scenic landscape of volcanic craters filled with water, forests, and grasslands. This area provides a quieter, more scenic experience with fewer vehicles and excellent photography opportunities.

Expect panoramic views across rolling hills, flamingo-dotted lakes (seasonal), and rich birdlife in forested crater rims.

Return to your lodge for relaxation and an evening surrounded by the sounds of the African wilderness.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 14 – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park & Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary
After breakfast, depart Queen Elizabeth and travel north toward Kibale National Park, passing tea plantations, crater lakes, and rural villages that showcase everyday Ugandan life. This scenic drive offers continuous birding opportunities along the way.

Upon arrival, enjoy lunch before heading into Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, one of the most rewarding community-based birding sites in East Africa.

Walk along wooden boardwalks and forest edges while searching for Great Blue Turaco, Papyrus Gonolek, White-spotted Flufftail, Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher, and African Emerald Cuckoo. The swamp environment is alive with color, sound, and movement, making it ideal for photography.

Primates are also abundant here. Red colobus monkeys, black-and-white colobus, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys are often seen feeding in the canopy above the trail.

Return to your lodge in the evening, surrounded by the sounds of the forest as night birds begin calling and the atmosphere turns peaceful and immersive.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 15 – Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Today delivers one of Africa’s most intimate wildlife encounters inside Kibale National Park. After an early breakfast, proceed for a briefing before entering the dense rainforest in search of wild chimpanzees.

The trek takes you deep into ancient tropical forest where sunlight filters through towering fig trees and vines, creating a dramatic jungle atmosphere. Guided by expert trackers, you will follow vocalizations, broken branches, and feeding signs until you locate a chimpanzee community.

Once found, observe their complex social behavior—grooming sessions, playful juveniles swinging through branches, and dominant males patrolling the group. The experience is highly dynamic and emotionally engaging, offering a rare glimpse into our closest living relatives.

Beyond chimpanzees, Kibale offers exceptional birding. Look for Green-breasted Pitta, Blue-headed Bee-eater, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Bee-eater, and Red-chested Owlet among many forest specialists.

After the trek, return to the lodge for relaxation, surrounded by the calming sounds of the rainforest and its rich biodiversity.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 16 – Return to Entebbe & Departure
Enjoy an early breakfast before beginning your journey back to Entebbe through Uganda’s scenic countryside. The drive offers a final opportunity to experience rural landscapes, roadside markets, and occasional birding stops depending on interest and flight schedule.

You may pause at the Uganda Equator line for photos, souvenirs, and a memorable symbolic moment standing in both hemispheres at once.

If time permits, visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens for a relaxed final walk among fig trees, monkeys, and shoreline birdlife including kingfishers, hornbills, and sunbirds.

Continue to Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight, marking the end of an extraordinary journey through Uganda’s most iconic wildlife and birding landscapes.

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

What's Included

• Gorilla & chimpanzee trekking permits (where applicable)
• Park entrance fees, ranger-guided activities, game drives & boat cruises
• Mabamba Shoebill canoe excursion
• Guided birding (Bwindi & Bigodi)
• Lake Mburo walking safari & boat cruise
• Private 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
• Professional English-speaking driver-guide
• Accommodation & meals as per itinerary
• Bottled drinking water throughout the safari
• Airport transfers
• Government taxes

What's Excluded

• International flights
• Uganda Visa
• Travel insurance
• Alcoholic and premium drinks
• Personal expenses and laundry
• Optional activities not listed
• Tips and gratuities

Best Time to Visit

This safari operates year-round.

• June – September: Best for trekking, wildlife viewing, and birding
• December – February: Excellent weather and photography conditions
• March – May & October – November: Green season with lush scenery and peak bird activity

Why This Safari Is Special

This 16-day journey combines Uganda’s most iconic birding, wildlife, and primate destinations into one seamless expedition. From Shoebill wetlands and savannah game drives to gorilla trekking in Bwindi and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, it delivers a complete East African safari experience.

It is a carefully balanced itinerary offering birding excellence, wildlife encounters, photography opportunities, and immersive conservation experiences across Uganda’s most diverse ecosystems.