16 Days Endemic Birds Uganda Birdwatching Safari
This safari is designed for bird watchers who want to add to their list of photographs the long list of Albertine endemic birds of Uganda alongside other birds in our carefully selected destinations across the Country.
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
Upon your arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.
If time permits, we’ll begin our Albertine Endemics Uganda birdwatching tour by visiting the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. This vibrant garden is a prime birding spot where you can expect to see a variety of sunbirds, including Olive-bellied, Scarlet-chested, Red-chested, and Orange-Tufted Sunbirds. Weavers such as the Golden-backed and Vieillot’s Black may also be encountered.
Day 2: Birding Mabamba Wetlands for Shoebill – Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park
We will start our day with an early breakfast and head to Mabamba Wetlands, which is one of Uganda’s Important Bird Areas. In this swamp, there is a very high chance of spotting the elusive Shoebill. Birding here is done by a canoe ride through papyrus channels. Other bird species we are likely to spot include; Long-toed Lapwing, Papyrus Gonolek, African Jacana, and Blue-breasted Bee-eater.
Later in the evening, we will transfer to Lake Mburo National Park and spend the night there.
Day 3: Lake Mburo Birding – Transfer to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
On this day, we will start our Albertine Endemics Uganda Birdwatching Tour with a boat ride on the beautiful Lake Mburo in search of more Albertine Endemics. This park is home to over 350 bird species, and you are likely to spot species like Southern Red Bishop, Trilling Cisticola, Senegal Lapwing, Tabora Cisticola, Red-faced, Crested, and Black Collared Barbets, Elusive Finfoot, White Winged Swamp Warbler, and many more.
In the evening you will be transferred to Mgahinga Gorilla National Park and spend the night there.
Day 4: Birding Mgahinga Gorilla National Park
After breakfast, grab your binoculars and get ready for our birding adventure. Our adventure kicks off in the stunning Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, which is home to over 180 bird species, including 14 Albertine Rift endemics, making it a top destination for birdwatchers.
Our main focus today will be the search for the Rare Albertine Endemics found here. We are likely to spot species like the Blue-headed Weaver, Rwenzori Turaco, Regal Sunbird, Cinnamon Bracken Warbler, Dusky Crimsonwing, Rwenzori Nightjar, Black-collared Apalis, Handsome Francolin, Rwenzori Batis, Archer’s Robin-chat, Kivu Ground-thrush, Mountain Masked Apalis, and the enchanting Red-throated Alethe.
After a successful birding day here at Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, we will spend the night here.
Day 5: Birdwatching at Ruhija via Echuya Forest
After having an early breakfast, we will head to Ruhija with a birding stop over at the famous Echuya Forest Reserve, which is home to about 150 bird species. This forest is a haven for Albertine Rift endemics, and with a sharp eye and luck, we might spot the following species: Rwenzori Turaco, Grauer’s Warbler, Chapin’s Flycatcher, Handsome Francolin, Sharpe’s Starling, Blue-headed Sunbird, and many more.
We shall arrive in Ruhija in the afternoon. After lunch, we will go for an afternoon bird walk in search of more Albertine Rift endemics. Here, we are likely to spot species like Rwenzori Batis, Collared Apalis, Strange Weaver, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, among others.
We shall spend the night in Ruhija.
Day 6: Birding at Mubwindi Swamp
After breakfast, we’ll head out on a scenic journey to Mubwindi Swamp, nestled within the legendary Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This swamp is a pristine destination for the Albertine Rift endemics and two highly sought-after species: the Grauer’s Broadbill and the Grauer’s Swamp Warbler.
With its dense forest, lush vegetation, and varied ecosystems, Mubwindi Swamp is a perfect spot for spotting a multitude of bird species, including several endemics that are difficult to find elsewhere in the world.
The park is home to the world’s rarest and most sought-after bird species, many of which are endemic to the Albertine Rift region, like the African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Rwenzori Turaco, Blue-headed Coucal, and Montane Oriole.
We will spend the night at Mubwindi National Park.
Day 7: Transfer to Buhoma with an Optional Gorilla Tracking
After an early breakfast, we’ll set off for the legendary gorilla-tracking adventure in the heart of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. While this activity is optional, it’s highly recommended for anyone seeking a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Trekking through the dense jungle in search of these majestic primates can take anywhere from 1 to 8 hours, depending on where the gorilla family is located.
After this momentous experience, we will head to Buhoma with a stop at “The Neck” which is a famous birdwatching hotspot. Here, we’ll have the chance to spot an exciting array of bird species, including the striking Saddle-billed Stork, the regal Grey Crowned Crane, the elusive Shoebill, the vibrant Ross’s Turaco, and the magnificent Great Blue Turaco, and more Albertine Rift endemics.
We will spend the night at Buhoma.
Day 8: Full-Day Birding on the Buhoma
On this day, we will enjoy a full-day Albertine Endemics Uganda Birdwatching tour at Buhoma main trails, which is part of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. Our main search for the day will include Albertine Endemics like Red-throated Alethe, Archer’s Robin-Chat, Kivu Ground Thrush, Grauer’s Warbler, Montane Masked Apalis, Collared Apalis, Short-tailed Warbler, and Red-faced Woodland Warbler.
We shall spend the night here at Buhoma.
Day 9: Transfer to the Rwenzori Mountains
On this day, we will head to the mighty Rwenzori mountains after having an early breakfast. We shall have stopovers on the way on different habitats like acacia woodlands and open grasslands in search of more Albertine Endemics en route. We shall spend two nights here in the Rwenzori Mountains.
Day 10: Rwenzori Mountains
The day will be a full birding session in the mountain.. We shall explore the pristine rainforest of Kyambogho Ridge serving us the breathtaking views of the Mubuku Valley. We shall trek all the way to Nyabitaba Hut, and we expect to see Albertine endemics like Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Red-throated Alethe, Rwenzori Turaco, Rameron Pigeon, Brown Woodland Warbler, Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird and Rwenzori Double-collared Sunbird. Being a Mountain birding session, the weather will likely be wet and cold and therefore, preparations for this weather are important. We will spend the night at the foothill of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Day 11: Transfer to Semliki Valley National Park
This morning, after breakfast, we will have a birding session near the lodge/ camp. After lunch here, we will transfer to Semliki Valley National Park in the afternoon, where we will spend the night.
Day 12 & 13: Full-day Birdwatching at Semliki Valley National Park
For the next two days, we shall be spending our time here at Semliki Valley National Park, which is home to the most sought-after bird species. Its unique location and diverse habitats make it a prime spot for Albertine Endemics and many other bird species. You are likely to spot the following birds: Red-rumped Tinkerbird, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Nkulengu Rail, Yellow-throated Cuckoo, Congo Serpent Eagle, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, Grey Ground-Thrush, and many more.
Nights will be spent here at Semliki Valley National Park.
Day 14: Morning Albertine Endemics Birdwatching & Transfer back to Entebbe Airport.
After breakfast, we will start with an early morning birding session at Semuliki Valley National Park for any last-minute sightings before heading to Entebbe Airport. After lunch, we will depart Semuliki Valley and head to Entebbe Airport in Kampala, Uganda, for departures. This will mark the end of our 14-day Albertine Endemics Uganda birding tour.
OTHER WILDLIFE HIGHLIGHTS
While the focus of this tour is on the remarkable Albertine Rift endemics, Uganda’s rich biodiversity offers plenty of additional wildlife encounters along the way. Expect to spot playful troops of colobus and blue monkeys, the charismatic L’Hoest’s monkey, and even golden monkeys in Mgahinga. In Bwindi and Kibale, you may cross paths with chimpanzees and other forest mammals, while the wetlands and savannahs reveal antelopes, bushbuck, and even the occasional forest elephant.
