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15 Days Ultimate Bird Watching and More in Uganda

14 days, 13 nights · Queen Elizabeth National Park · Entebbe · Trip code LGS-UG 1003

Tour details

A journey built around Uganda’s birdlife, taking in Lake Mburo, the Ruhija and Buhoma sectors of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kibale Forest, and Semliki Valley, with over 1,000 species recorded across the route.

Trip codeLGS-UG 1003
Duration14 days, 13 nights
LocationsQueen Elizabeth National Park, Entebbe
Group sizeNo size limit
Before you book
  • Gorilla tracking depends on permit availability at the time of booking. Permits are in very high demand in all parks, so book as early as you can.
  • Gorilla permits cost $800 each; chimpanzee permits cost $250 each.
  • Gorillas are found mainly in Bwindi and Mgahinga; chimpanzees mainly in Kibale National Park.

Day by day

Day 1

Arrival, visit to Botanical Gardens for birding

Arriving at the airport you will be met by a Lake George Safaris representative who transfers you to your hotel and gives you a briefing about your safari.

Depending on time of arrival you can be shown around Entebbe’s Botanical Gardens, home to the Diederik Cuckoo, Black Bishop and Gabar Goshawk, plus the Uganda Wildlife Education Centre.

Key species of Entebbe: Great Reed and Ashy Flycatchers, Black Kite, Black-headed Weavers, Great Blue Turacos, Green-throated Sunbirds.

Airport Link Guest House · Bed and breakfast

Day 2

Entebbe – Nabugabo – Mabamba – Lake Mburo National Park

A stopover at Nabugabo near Mabamba Wetland, a newly discovered site on the shores of Lake Victoria with 260 recorded species and the best chance of the elusive Shoebill Stork.

Key species of Nabugabo: Lesser Jacana, Blue Swallow, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Afep Pigeon, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler.

Hyena Hill Lodge or Rwakobo Rock Lodge · Full board

Day 3

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo is an extension of the Tanzanian plains, the best place in the country to see Eland, Zebra, Topi and Impala. Morning game drive, afternoon boat safari for the park’s water birds.

Key species: Brown-chested Plover, Red-faced Barbet, Southern Ground Hornbill, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, African Finfoot, Black-collared Barbet.

Hyena Hill Lodge or Rwakobo Rock Lodge · Full board

Day 4

Lake Mburo – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Continuing south to Ruhija, a sector of Bwindi home to over half the world’s remaining gorilla population and 23 Albertine Rift endemics found nowhere else on earth.

Ruhija Gorilla Lodge · Full board

Day 5

Ruhija

A day around Mubwindi Swamp looking for Shelley’s Crimsonwing, Stripe-breasted Tit, African Hill Babbler and the Purple-breasted Sunbird.

Key species of Ruhija: Grauer’s Warbler, Rwenzori Nightjar, Rwenzori Batis, Olive Pigeon, African Green Broadbill, Strange Weaver, Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, Regal Sunbird.

Ruhija Gorilla Lodge · Full board

Day 6

Ruhija – Buhoma

Transfer to the Buhoma sector through “the neck of the forest”, a strong area for the Lagden’s Bush Shrike and Black Bee-eater.

Mahogany Springs Hotel · Full board

Day 7

Buhoma – Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth (Day 7 & 8)

North to Ishasha, best known for tree-climbing lions but also rich in birdlife, with a birding activity on arrival.

Key species of Ishasha: Brown-chested Plover, Diederik’s Cuckoo, Wattled and Violet-backed Starlings.

Ishasha Jungle Lodge · Full board

Day 8

Ishasha to the northern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth holds one of the highest biodiversity ratings of any park in the world — over 100 mammal species and 606 recorded birds. Game drive and birding on arrival.

Buffalo Safari Lodge or Twin Lakes Safari Lodge · Full board

Day 9

Queen Elizabeth National Park

A full day covering Maramagambo Forest and Kasenyi Plains, an afternoon boat trip on the Kazinga Channel, and a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Bird Observatory, founded in 1997 to study migratory and resident birds.

Key species: African Skimmer, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Red-footed Falcon, Lesser Flamingo, Grey-capped Warbler, White’s and Abdim’s Storks (in season), Saddle-billed Stork.

Buffalo Safari Lodge · Full board

Day 10

Queen Elizabeth National Park – Kibale National Park

Kibale holds over thirteen primate species including chimpanzees, red colobus and L’Hoest’s monkeys, plus 355 recorded bird species.

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or Turaco Treetops Lodge · Full board

Day 11

Kibale National Park

An optional chimpanzee track or birding activity, followed by an afternoon at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-run reserve rich in birdlife.

Key species of Kibale: White-collared Olive-back, Leaflove, African Broadbill, Green-breasted Pitta, African Pitta, Grey-winged Robin, Uganda Woodland Warbler.

Chimpanzee Forest Lodge or Turaco Treetops Lodge · Full board

Day 12

Kibale – Semliki National Park

North to Semliki Valley, part of the Congo’s Ituri Forest system with over 350 recorded species, stopping at the hot springs en route.

Ntoroko Game Lodge · Full board

Day 13

Semliki National Park

A day birding the park, with an afternoon boat on Lake Albert for wetland species.

Key species of Semliki: Shoebill, African Pygmy Goose, Red-necked Falcon, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Black-billed Barbet, Piapiac.

Ntoroko Game Lodge · Full board

Day 14

Semliki – Entebbe International Airport

Depart Semliki for Entebbe, stopping en route for lunch, arriving in time to catch your late return flight home.

What is included

  • Park entrance fees
  • Services of a full time English speaking driver/guide
  • All activities as stipulated in the itinerary
  • All meals and accommodation as per the itinerary
  • All ground transportation in a comfortable 4x4 vehicle
  • All government taxes/levies

What is not included

  • Gorilla permit for $800, Chimpanzee permit for $250
  • Optional activities or forest walks
  • Personal insurance
  • Driver guide’s gratuity
  • Phone calls and bar bills

Enquire about this trip

Send us your dates and party size and a guide will come back with availability, permits, and a fixed quote.