7-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Tour: Few countries in Africa can match Uganda’s natural diversity. This 7-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Tour takes you across some of the country’s most rewarding ecosystems—lakeshores, savannahs, forests, and wetlands. Each region offers rich birdlife and thriving wildlife, creating a balanced adventure for passionate birders and nature enthusiasts alike.
Starting from Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria, the journey leads southwest to Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest savannah park but an essential birding hotspot. You’ll then continue to the world-famous Queen Elizabeth National Park, renowned for its incredible mammal diversity and over 600 bird species. Finally, the trip ends in Fort Portal and Bigodi Wetlands, where tropical forest birds and primates thrive in lush vegetation. This itinerary is perfect for both private travelers seeking flexibility and group tours desiring shared exploration. Each day blends expert-guided birding, classic wildlife encounters, and comfortable accommodation in Uganda’s most scenic regions.
Entebbe International Airport (EBB)
Location: Entebbe lies on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, Uganda’s largest lake and Africa’s second-largest freshwater body. The region provides perfect access to both forest and wetland birding.
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, meet your guide and transfer to your lodge. In the afternoon, visit Entebbe Botanical Gardens and the nearby Lake Victoria shorelines. These habitats offer a gentle start for birding and nature photography. Expect Great Blue Turaco, Black-headed Gonolek, African Fish Eagle, Malachite Kingfisher, and African Paradise Flycatcher. The area also supports vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and colorful butterflies—an ideal soft landing to begin your safari.
Why Entebbe: It’s the most accessible introduction to Uganda’s avifauna and combines lush gardens, lakeside habitats, and easy bird sightings near the airport.
Accommodation Options – Entebbe:
Meal Plan: Dinner included.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water provided.
Location: Lake Mburo lies in southwestern Uganda, about 4 hours from Kampala, within the Ankole sub-region. The park’s rolling hills, acacia woodlands, and open lakes make it one of Uganda’s top savannah birding and wildlife destinations.After breakfast, drive through the scenic countryside, stopping at Mpanga Forest for a short birding walk. Spot Great Blue Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, and White-spotted Flufftail.
Arrive at Lake Mburo National Park by midday. In the afternoon, embark on a game drive through open plains. Watch for zebra, impala, eland, and buffalo grazing alongside Bateleur Eagles, Lilac-breasted Rollers, Crested Francolins, and Bare-faced Go-away-birds. Lake Mburo is also one of the best places to find the elusive African Finfoot and the Papyrus Gonolek, making it a magnet for birders.
Why Lake Mburo: Its mosaic of savannah and wetland ecosystems supports over 350 bird species and abundant plains game in a compact, easy-to-explore park.
Accommodation Options – Lake Mburo:
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water included.
Location: Queen Elizabeth National Park stretches across western Uganda, between Lakes Edward and George, bordering the Rwenzori Mountains. It’s Uganda’s most biodiverse park, hosting 95 mammal species and over 600 bird species. Begin with a boat cruise on Lake Mburo, a great opportunity to see African Fish Eagles, Pied Kingfishers, African Jacanas, and Malachite Kingfishers. Hippos, crocodiles, and water monitors are common along the banks.
Afterward, depart for Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive passes through Mbarara and the Kichwamba escarpment, offering breathtaking Rift Valley views. As you enter the park, spot elephants, warthogs, and Uganda kob grazing across the savannah. Evening birding near the lodge may reveal Slender-billed Weavers, Grey-backed Fiscal, and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers.
Why Queen Elizabeth: It’s Uganda’s birding capital, offering a rich mix of open grassland, crater lakes, and water channels teeming with life—perfect for combined wildlife and birding experiences.
Accommodation Options – Queen Elizabeth:
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water included.
At sunrise, head for a game drive in the Kasenyi Plains, home to large herds of Uganda kob, elephants, buffaloes, and sometimes lions on the hunt. Look for Black-bellied Bustard, Crowned Lapwing, Brown Snake Eagle, and Red-capped Lark.
In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel, where over 60 bird species can be seen within two hours. Look for African Skimmers, Pink-backed Pelicans, Yellow-billed Storks, and Water Thick-knees. You’ll also see hundreds of hippos, crocodiles, and elephants coming to drink. Return for a relaxed evening at the lodge and listen to the haunting calls of nightjars and frogs.
Why Kazinga Channel: It hosts one of the world’s largest concentrations of hippos and an incredible diversity of waterbirds—making it a photographer’s paradise.
Accommodation Options – Queen Elizabeth:
Same as Day 3.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water included.
After breakfast, enjoy a last morning birding and game drive as you exit the park. You might encounter African Crakes, Grey Kestrels, and Black-crowned Tchagra. Then, travel north to Fort Portal, a clean, green town at the base of the Rwenzori Mountains.
Fort Portal’s crater lakes and forest edges provide excellent birding for Speckled Tinkerbird, White-chinned Prinia, and Yellow-throated Longclaw. In the evening, enjoy a gentle walk near your lodge with views of the mountains.
Why Fort Portal: It connects western Uganda’s lowland savannahs and mid-altitude forests, offering unique transition habitats rich in birdlife.
Accommodation Options – Fort Portal:
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water included.
Location: Bigodi Wetlands lies near Kibale National Park, one of East Africa’s best tropical forest reserves, about 6 km from Fort Portal town. After breakfast, explore the Bigodi Wetlands Sanctuary with a community guide. The swamp and forest support over 200 bird species and are famous for Great Blue Turaco, White-spotted Flufftail, Papyrus Gonolek, Yellow-billed Barbet, and Speckled Tinkerbird.
You may also spot red-tailed monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and the elegant black-and-white colobus. The sanctuary’s boardwalks and community trails provide excellent close-up views.
Why Bigodi: It’s one of Uganda’s best community-run conservation areas, offering intimate birding experiences and primate sightings in a lush environment.
Accommodation Options – Fort Portal:
Same as Day 5.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water included.
After breakfast, enjoy a final short walk around Tooro Botanical Gardens for a few last species such as Olive-bellied Sunbird and African Blue Flycatcher. Then, drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, arriving in the late afternoon.
Your 7-Day Uganda Birding and Wildlife Tour ends with unforgettable memories and a checklist brimming with species.
Meal Plan: Breakfast and lunch.
Drinks: Bottled mineral water included.
