11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure

This 11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure takes you to Uganda’s top birding spots, including Mabamba Wetland, home to the iconic shoebill, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, Semiliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Lake Bunyonyi. The tour starts and ends in Kampala and includes wildlife experiences such as gorilla and chimpanzee trekking, boat rides, hiking, and nature walks, among others.

11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure  highlights

• Day 1: Birding excursion at Mabamba wetland – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
• Day 2: Shoe Bill trek – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Top of the falls visit
• Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise – Murchison Falls
• Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
• Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk
• Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park – Hot springs and night game drive
• Day 7; Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park boat cruise and evening game drive
• Day 8: Lion tracking – transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
• Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
• Day 10: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
• Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe – Departure

Detailed safari

Day 1: Birding excursion at Mabamba wetland – Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Depending on where you are in Entebbe, you will be picked up by our company representative at 8 am and taken to Mabamba wetlands, located by Lake Victoria. This is one of Uganda’s top birding sites, where you can see many different bird species, including the rare shoebill stork. Your safari guide will join you as you start birdwatching and take a canoe ride on the wetland to observe the birds closely. After spending half a day birdwatching, you will have lunch and then drive to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which takes about four hours. You will arrive in the late afternoon, followed by dinner and an overnight stay at Ziwa Rhino Guesthouse or Amuka Safari Lodge, depending on your chosen option.

Day 2: Shoe Bill trek – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park – Top of the falls visit

Your day 1 of 11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure will begin by waking up early and travel to Lugogo swamp in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for bird watching and the shoebill trek. Start your canoe ride by 6 am to see the shoebill and enjoy the Ugandan sunrise. This activity is great for nature lovers and bird watchers. Spend about 4 hours on the swamp, then go back to the lodge for a late breakfast, refresh, and check out. Next, head to Murchison Falls National Park, which takes 3-4 hours with a lunch stop and a visit to the top of the falls, before reaching your lodge for relaxation, dinner, and an overnight stay.

Holub’s Golden Weaver

Day 3: Game drive and launch cruise – Murchison Falls

Enjoy an early morning breakfast, then take a game drive to see animals like elephants, giraffes, and lions. In the afternoon, go on a launch cruise to see Murchison Falls and the River Nile, where you can spot hippos, crocodiles, and various species drinking and bathing. Have dinner and sleep overnight.

Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park

You will have breakfast early before driving for 7-8 hours to Kibale Forest National Park, with lunch in Fort Portal town. In the late afternoon, go to your booked lodge for dinner and conclude your day 4 of 11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure.

Day 5: Chimpanzee trekking and Bigodi swamp walk

Have an early morning breakfast and go for a briefing to start chimpanzee trekking. Kibale Forest National Park is a top safari spot in Africa for this activity. The 795 km² park features diverse tropical forests and many wildlife species, especially 13 types of primates, including chimpanzees. After trekking, enjoy lunch and visit Bigodi wetland to see birdlife and nature. Have dinner and stay overnight at the lodge.

Day 6: Transfer to Semuliki National Park – Hot springs and night game drive

On the 6th day of your 11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure, after your breakfast, you will start early and travel to Semuliki National Park. After registering at the park headquarters, you will visit the Hot Springs of Sempaya and meet the Pygmies at Ntandi. In the afternoon, you will drive to the wildlife reserve for a game drive to spot animals like Leopards and Forest Elephants. After dinner at the lodge, you will go on a night game drive to find species like the slender mongoose and several cats before returning to Semiliki Safari Lodge for an overnight stay.

Day 7; Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park boat cruise and evening game drive

Rise up early, have breakfast, and then travel to Queen Elizabeth National Park, arriving in time for lunch. After lunch, enjoy a launch cruise to see water animals like hippos and crocodiles, as well as various water birds. In the evening, go on a game drive in the Kasenyi area to spot elephants, buffalo, and possibly lions and leopards. Return to your lodge for dinner and an overnight stay at your chosen accommodation.

Day 8: Lion tracking – transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, start your lion tracking experience, then travel to Bwindi National Park. The trip takes 5-7 hours with lunch along the way. Arrive in the afternoon and have dinner, and stay overnight at the chosen lodge.

Day 9: Gorilla trekking experience – Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

On the 9th day of your 11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure, you will have an early breakfast before heading to the park headquarters with a packed lunch. Here, you will have a briefing by the ranger guides. Dress in trekking gear, including sturdy shoes, long-sleeved clothing, and rain gear. Gorilla trekking in Bwindi can take 2 to 8 hours, depending on the gorillas’ location. Rangers track them daily, and once found, you can spend 1 hour observing and photographing these gentle creatures before heading back.

After trekking, meet your safari guide and travel to Lake Bunyonyi, a 2–3-hour drive from Bwindi National Park. Enjoy relaxation and views at your lodge. Options include Bunyonyi Birdnest lodge (luxury), Bunyonyi Rock Resort (mid-range), Heritage Resort (budget).

Day 10: Explore Lake Bunyonyi

Lake Bunyonyi, meaning “place of little birds,” features steep hills with green vegetation. After breakfast, enjoy a canoe ride to visit islands and see various bird species. You can also choose to do other excursions. Dinner and overnight stay at the lodge.

Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe – Departure

You will have breakfast, after, check out of the park and drive to Kampala, stopping for lunch and a visit to the Equator. Then, depending on your flight, you will transfer either to your hotel or to Entebbe International Airport for your return flight. This marks the end of your 11-Day Uganda Birding Safari Adventure with Caracal Explorers.

Inclusions:

• All ground transport in an air-conditioned 4X4 vehicle with a pop-up roof
• All Airport transfers both pick-ups and drop offs
• 1 gorilla trekking permit per person
• 1 Chimpanzee Trekking permit per person
• A private English-speaking guide
• Lunch and bottled drinking water throughout the tour
• All park entrance fees
• Fuel for 11 days
• All airport transfers, including pickups and drop-offs
• All activities mentioned in the itinerary
• All accommodation for 10 nights
• All Government taxes

Excludes

• Travel ticket
• Visa Ticket
• Tips
• Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and cigarettes
• Medical Insurance
• Accommodation the night before the safari and after the tour