10 Days Uganda Birding, Rhinos and Primates Safaris

The first day of the birding excursion is dedicated to searching for the prehistoric shoebill at Mabamba Swamp and observing forest birds at Mpanga Forest. 

Mabamba is a vast marshland stretching through a narrow bay fringed with papyrus, extending towards the western main body of Lake Victoria in the Mpigi District. Although it is an unprotected area, it hosts globally threatened species and Lake Victoria Basin biome species. This Important Bird Area (IBA) is one of the prime locations for birdwatching along the northern shores of Lake Victoria and is conveniently close to Kampala. 

To locate the shoebill, boats are used to paddle through the swamp’s channels, typically taking two to three hours. The shoebill is often seen standing patiently, waiting to catch prey such as frogs, lungfish, and water snakes. Other water bird species that can be spotted include African Jacanas, Yellow-billed Ducks, White-faced Whistling Ducks, Long-toed Plovers, Village Weavers, Purple Swamphens, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Malachite Kingfishers, Grey-headed Gulls, Gull-billed Terns, White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, African Darter, and Rufous-bellied Heron.

After this memorable experience at Mabamba, you will proceed to Mpanga Forest to search for forest birds such as Little Greenbul, Lesser Honeyguide, Grey-headed Nigrita, White-breasted Nigrita, Western Black-headed Oriole, White-spotted Flufftail, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Fire-crested Alethe, and many other forest bird species. These birds can be seen feeding, perching, displaying, mating, and establishing colonies.

Mpanga Forest, a small patch of natural equatorial rainforest covering about 453 hectares, is located in Mawokota-Mpigi District, approximately 37 kilometers southwest of Kampala along the Kampala-Masaka highway. Despite its small size, it supports an impressive biodiversity with 500 species of trees and shrubs, 300 species of birds, 97 species of butterflies, and 112 species of moths. Three species of monkeys, such as Red-tailed monkeys, Black-and-white colobus monkeys, and Vervet monkeys, can be seen in the forest, along with small mammals like Pottos, Pangolins, and Bushbabies. Spending a night in this forest offers an opportunity to spot these rare nocturnal creatures.

After a busy day of birdwatching, you will drive to Kampala for your overnight stay.

After breakfast, travel to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking and birding. Enjoy the beautiful landscapes and vegetation along the way. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, established in 2005, is the only place in Uganda where rhinos can be tracked in the wild. It hosts over 22 White Rhinos. In the afternoon, enjoy birdwatching at the sanctuary, with species like White-crested Turaco, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Thick-billed Cuckoo, and White-winged Tit among others.

After the day’s activities, proceed to Masindi for dinner and an overnight stay at Masindi Hotel.

After breakfast, drive to Budongo Forest, the largest forest in Uganda, for a birding expedition. Located in Masindi, Budongo Forest is ideal for birdwatching with numerous special species also found in Congo. Spend the entire day birdwatching, spotting birds like Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Ituri Batis, Chestnut-capped Warbler, Lemon-bellied Crombec, White-thighed Hornbill, and Eremomela, among others. If time permits, visit the top of the falls for a breathtaking view.

Return to the lodge in the evening for your overnight stay at Masindi Hotel.

Early morning, travel to Kibale Forest via the Hoima-Kagadi road, a 7-hour drive. The day is primarily spent traveling with occasional stopovers for beautiful views of the rift valley escarpments and farming plantations. Have lunch en route in Fort Portal town. Arrive at Kibale Forest in the evening, check-in at your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay at Kibale Forest Camp.

Early morning, enter Kibale Forest with a specialized ranger and guide to search for the Green-breasted Pitta and track chimpanzees. On a lucky day, you might see the pitta displaying. Chimp tracking allows a maximum of one hour within their vicinity after locating them. In the afternoon, go for a Bigodi Swamp walk, spotting birds like Green Crombec, Little Greenbul, Tooro Olive Greenbul, Grey-capped Warbler, Western Black-headed Oriole, White-spotted Flufftail, Afep Pigeon, White-naped Pigeon, Olive Pigeon, and Cassin’s Grey Flycatcher. Other primates seen during the walk include Red Colobus, Black-and-white Colobus, Uganda Mangabey, Olive Baboon, Blue Monkey, and Vervet Monkeys.

Accommodation at Kibale Forest Camp.

After an early breakfast, travel to Bwindi Forest via the Kasese-Queen Elizabeth route through the Ishasha sector, known for tree-climbing lions. Along the way, stop for birdwatching to enrich your list. Upon arrival in Bwindi-Buhoma, check in at your accommodation for an overnight stay and prepare for the next day’s activities of gorilla trekking and birdwatching. Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, located in southwestern Uganda, boasts mist-covered hillsides and one of Uganda’s oldest rainforests, home to around 400 mountain gorillas and 350 species of birds.

Accommodation at Ride 4 Woman.

After a briefing, enter the dense bush to trek for the endangered mountain gorillas. This activity can take 4-7 hours. For conservation purposes, time with the gorillas is limited to one hour after locating them. After trekking, return to your lodge to rest. In the afternoon, go birdwatching in Bwindi Forest, looking for Albertine Rift endemics such as Chapin’s Flycatcher, Black-billed Weaver, Short-tailed Warbler, Bar-tailed Trogon, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Red-throated Alethe, Mountain Illadopsis, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Tullberg’s Woodpecker, Banded Prinia, Elliot’s Woodpecker, Dwarf Honeyguide, Brown-capped Weaver, Pink-footed Puffback, Purple-breasted Sunbird, and Blue-shouldered Robin-chat among others.

Accommodation at Ride 4 Woman.

Buhoma-Ruhija sector is another excellent birding zone within Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. This day involves birdwatching along the route between Buhoma and Ruhija, a 2-3 hour drive. Birds seen along the way include Black-collared Apalis, Buff-throated Apalis, Masked Apalis, Mountain Apalis, African Black Duck, Black Bee-eater, Grey Cuckoo-shrikes, Many-colored Bushshrikes, Black-billed Turaco, and White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, among others.

Arrive in Ruhija in the afternoon, have lunch, and go for evening birdwatching.

Accommodation at Gorilla Mist Camp.

Depart from Bwindi early in the morning and travel to Lake Mburo National Park. Enjoy Uganda’s countryside with eye-catching sceneries such as hills, vast banana plantations, and herds of indigenous Ankole cows along the way. Upon arrival at Lake Mburo National Park, conduct birdwatching and game viewing.

Accommodation at Eagles Nest.

After breakfast, embark on a 4-hour drive to Entebbe, marking the end of your trip. Stop at the Equator Monument to take pictures under the Equator Sign.