Discover Uganda’s remarkable birdlife on this 6 Days Bird Watching Safari in Uganda with Verdant Safaris. Uganda is one of Africa’s exceptional birding destinations, offering a remarkable variety of habitats ranging from wetlands and lakeshores to forests, savannahs and riverine ecosystems. On this safari, you will explore some of the country’s most rewarding birding locations, including Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. You will have opportunities to search for the elusive Shoebill, African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, egrets, bee-eaters, weavers, hornbills and many other species. In addition to birdwatching, you will enjoy game drives and a boat cruise, giving you opportunities to encounter elephants, buffaloes, hippos, antelopes and other wildlife. With experienced birding guides, comfortable accommodation and carefully planned activities, this safari offers an excellent introduction to Uganda’s spectacular birdlife and natural landscapes.
Day 1: Entebbe and Mabamba Swamp Bird Watching Experience
Your bird watching safari begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala before travelling towards the shores of Lake Victoria. You will proceed to Mabamba Swamp, one of Uganda’s most famous wetland birding destinations and an important site for searching for the Shoebill. You will explore the extensive wetland aboard a traditional motorised canoe, moving quietly through channels surrounded by papyrus and other aquatic vegetation. With the help of your experienced birding guide and local boat operator, you will search for the Shoebill as well as African jacanas, African fish eagles, herons, egrets, kingfishers and various wetland species. The calm waters and open channels provide excellent conditions for photography and patient bird observation. After the wetland excursion, you will enjoy lunch before returning to Entebbe for an afternoon birding experience around suitable gardens, wetlands or lakeshore habitats. You will then check into your accommodation, enjoy dinner and relax after your first day of birding.
Accommodation options: Papyrus Guest House, Airport View Hotel, Best Western Premier Garden Hotel Entebbe
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 2: Entebbe to Lake Mburo National Park Bird Watching
After breakfast, you will leave Entebbe and begin your journey towards Lake Mburo National Park in south-western Uganda. The drive takes you through beautiful countryside, with opportunities to observe birds around cultivated fields, wetlands, roadside habitats and rural settlements along the way. You will have lunch en route before continuing towards the park, which is known for its combination of savannah, woodland, wetlands and lakeside habitats. Upon arrival, you will begin birding around the park and its surrounding areas, searching for species such as African finfoot, papyrus gonolek, African fish eagle, pied kingfisher, southern red bishop and various weavers and lapwings. You will also have opportunities to see wildlife such as zebras, impalas, buffaloes and Uganda kobs as you explore the park. You will proceed to your lodge in the evening, where you can enjoy dinner and relax while listening to the sounds of the surrounding wilderness.
Accommodation options: Rwakobo Rock, Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagles Nest Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 3: Lake Mburo Birding, Game Drive and Nature Walk
You will wake up early for one of the most rewarding birding sessions of the safari, taking advantage of the cool morning conditions when many bird species are active. After breakfast, you will explore Lake Mburo National Park on a game drive, combining birdwatching with wildlife viewing across the park’s open grasslands, acacia woodland and wetland habitats. Your guide will help you search for species such as African wattled lapwings, grey-crowned cranes, Rufous-naped larks, bee-eaters, hornbills, weavers and various raptors. As you move through the park, you may also encounter zebras, impalas, topi, buffaloes, warthogs and Uganda kobs. After the game drive, you will return to your lodge for lunch and some relaxation before enjoying a guided nature walk in the afternoon. Walking through the park provides excellent opportunities to observe smaller birds, butterflies and wildlife at close range while learning about the different habitats and plant species.
Accommodation options: Rwakobo Rock, Mburo Safari Lodge, Eagles Nest Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 4: Lake Mburo to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast, you will leave Lake Mburo National Park and begin your journey towards Queen Elizabeth National Park, one of Uganda’s most diverse wildlife and birding destinations. The journey takes you through the scenic landscapes of western Uganda, with rolling hills, farms, villages and cultivated areas providing opportunities for roadside birding. You will have lunch en route before continuing towards Queen Elizabeth National Park. Upon arrival, you will explore suitable birding habitats around the park, where the combination of savannah, woodland, crater lakes and wetlands supports a remarkable variety of bird species. Your guide will help you search for species such as African fish eagles, grey-crowned cranes, saddle-billed storks, pied kingfishers, bee-eaters, herons and various raptors. Depending on your arrival time, you may also enjoy a short game drive, providing opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs and other wildlife. You will proceed to your lodge for dinner and an evening of relaxation.
Accommodation options: Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 5: Queen Elizabeth Bird Watching, Game Drive and Kazinga Channel Cruise
You will begin the day early with a birding-focused game drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park. The morning hours offer excellent conditions for observing birds as well as wildlife, and your guide will carefully search the savannah and woodland habitats for different species. You may encounter grey-crowned cranes, African wattled lapwings, African fish eagles, Senegal lapwings, grey-backed fiscal, various kingfishers and numerous other species. You will also have opportunities to see elephants, buffaloes, Uganda kobs, warthogs and other wildlife as you travel through the park. After the morning activity, you will return to your lodge for breakfast or lunch, depending on the day’s schedule, before relaxing for a while. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a boat cruise along the famous Kazinga Channel, where the shores attract large numbers of water birds, including herons, egrets, storks, kingfishers and African fish eagles. The cruise also provides excellent wildlife viewing, with hippos, crocodiles, elephants and buffaloes frequently seen close to the water.
Accommodation options: Buffalo Safari Lodge, Enganzi Game Lodge, Kasenyi Safari Camp
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Day 6: Departure
After breakfast, you will begin your journey from Queen Elizabeth National Park towards Entebbe, marking the final day of your bird watching safari. Depending on your departure time, you may enjoy a short early morning birding session or game drive before leaving the park. This provides one final opportunity to search for birds in the savannah and woodland habitats, while your guide helps you identify species that you may have missed during the previous day’s activities. You will then travel through the scenic countryside of western and central Uganda, passing farms, villages, plantations and roadside markets. You will have lunch en route and continue towards Entebbe, with a possible short birding stop at a suitable wetland or roadside habitat depending on your flight schedule. Your Verdant Safaris driver will ensure that you arrive at Entebbe International Airport in good time for your scheduled departure. Your 6 Days Bird Watching Safari in Uganda ends at the airport, leaving you with memorable experiences of Uganda’s wetlands, forests, savannahs, wildlife and exceptional bird diversity.
Meals: (Breakfast, Lunch)
Safari Inclusions
- Airport pick-up and drop-off in Uganda.
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle throughout the safari.
- Services of an experienced English-speaking birding and safari guide.
- Fuel and transportation as specified in the itinerary.
- Accommodation as outlined in the itinerary.
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary.
- All applicable national park entrance fees.
- Mabamba Swamp boat excursion.
- Lake Mburo National Park game drives.
- Guided nature walk in Lake Mburo National Park.
- Queen Elizabeth National Park game drives.
- Kazinga Channel boat cruise.
- Services of local boat operators where applicable.
- Birding excursions as specified in the itinerary.
- Uganda Equator stop if time and route permit.
- Bottled drinking water during safari journeys and game drives.
- All applicable government taxes and service charges.
Safari Exclusions
- International flights to and from Uganda.
- Uganda entry visa.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls and telephone charges.
- Alcoholic drinks and premium beverages.
- Tips and gratuities for your guide, driver, boat operators and lodge staff.
- Binoculars and personal birding equipment.
- Personal photography equipment.
- Souvenirs, crafts and personal shopping.
- Optional activities not specifically included in the itinerary.
- Additional accommodation before Day 1 or after Day 6.
- Any services not specifically listed under the inclusions.