This tiny landlocked country supports more than a thousand species, making the proverbial pilgrimage to see the lonesome Shoebill at Murchison Falls and the Albertine Rift endemics at Bwindi National Park incredibly rewarding. Uganda has an excellent infrastructure and a great diversity of habitats, from the papyrus-fringed swamps of Lake Victoria to lowland and highland forests of the Albertine Rift and the northern Guinea Savanna. While the birding is phenomenal, coming face-to-face with the Mountain Gorillas is one of the most touching experiences any wildlife enthusiast could hope for.

Day 1: Entebbe to Mabamba to Masindi. After arrival on the shores of Lake Victoria, our first birds at the beautifully landscaped botanical gardens could include Orange Weaver and Red-chested Sunbird. The surrounding bush holds comical Eastern Gray Plantain-Eaters and the enormous Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill. We then explore the Mabamba Swamp and have our first attempt at the legendary Shoebill. One of the most remarkable birds in Africa, the Shoebill never disappoints, and we hope to see one before heading off to Masindi, where we spend the night.

Day 2: Budongo Forest. By dawn we’ll be at Budongo’s Royal Mile, which is the best place in Uganda for Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Spinetail, and Chestnut-capped Flycatcher. We’ll also search for the stunning Chocolate-backed and African Dwarf Kingfishers. We get to test our identification skills on the many greenbuls here, including Spotted, Xavier’s, White-throated, and Honeyguide Greenbuls. Canopy flocks support Brown-crowned Eremomela, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Rufous Thrush, and Uganda Woodland-Warbler.

Day 3: Kaniyo Pabidi to Murchison Falls. En route to Murchison Falls NP, we stop at Kaniyo Pabidi. Several species are more easily found here than elsewhere, particularly Puvel’s Akalat. Later we arrive on the banks of the Nile River where it plunges spectacularly over the mighty Murchison Falls.

Days 4-5: Murchison Falls NP. We spend two days exploring Murchison Falls NP, where we shall search for Silverbird, Buff-bellied Warbler, Black-headed Batis, Black-headed Gonolek, and the very local White-rumped Seedeater. The riverine thickets hold White-crested Turaco, Double-toothed Barbet, Heuglin’s Francolin, and many others. North of the Victoria Nile, we may encounter Stanley’s Bustard and Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill. A visit here is not complete without a boat trip to the base of the magnificent falls, where waterbirds accompany breeding parties of Red-throated Bee-eaters, and Rock Pratincoles perch on exposed boulders below the cascades. If we missed the Shoebill at Mabamba, we have another chance to catch up with it here as this is one of the best areas in Uganda to find it.

Days 6-7: Murchison Falls NP to Kibale. Kibale is famous for its chimpanzees, and if we don’t see our closest cousins we shall certainly hear their wailing and screaming in the forest. In this excellent lowland forest we’ll search for the many dazzling sunbirds this area supports. Bird parties hold the magical Black-throated Apalis, Forest Robin, and Common Wattle-eye among the scores of illadopses and alethes. Black-bellied Seedcracker inhabits the forest edge, while the canopy holds vermillion and black malimbes. Gray-throated, Yellow-spotted, and Yellow-billed Barbets build nests in the dead trees, and the fruiting figs attract the cartoon-like Great Blue Turaco as well as Pied Hornbills.

Days 8-9: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth NP. Queen Elizabeth NP is both a mammal and bird haven. While it offers an opportunity to view typical African megafauna, it is a waterbird magnet that also holds many typical African bush birds, a wide diversity of which can be seen in a short time period. The river trips are great and normally have Gray Crowned-Crane, the strange Hamerkop, and African Jacanas trotting over lilly-pads next to the boat.

Days 10-13: Bwindi Impenetrable NP. We spend the next four nights in the rugged Kigezi Highlands at the magical and enchanting Bwindi Impenetrable NP. This highly diverse park supports 24 of the 26 Albertine Rift endemics that occur in Uganda. Starting at Buhoma in the Munyaga River valley, we shall search for key endemics such as Red-throated Alethe, Red-faced Woodland-Warbler, Masked Apalis, and Ruwenzori Batis. Other specialties include Black-faced Rufous-Warbler, Black Bee-eater, and White-bellied Robin-Chat. The mid-story is home to Lüehder’s Bushshrike and Bar-tailed Trogon. After a few days we head to Ruhiza via Kitahurira. We’ll spend at least one day exploring the highland forest at Ruhiza, which has a dramatically different avifauna and holds most of the Albertine Rift endemics. The star attractions here are Collared Apalis, Grauer’s Scrub-Warbler, Dusky Crimson-wing, Archer’s Robin-Chat, and Regal Sunbird. The trail to Mubwindi Swamp may reveal the most difficult of all the rift endemics, African Green Broadbill. The swamp itself holds Grauer’s Rush-Warbler.

Days 14-15: Bwindi to Lake Mburo NP. Early this morning we head to Lake Mburo. Here we’ll look for many of the Victoria basin endemics such as White-winged Warbler and the dazzling Papyrus Gonolek. Other wetland birds abound and we keep our eyes peeled for herons, ducks, plovers, gulls, and kingfishers. We’ll also search the savanna and acacia woodland for Spot-flanked Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Red-headed Lovebird, Ross’s Turaco, and Red-faced Barbet.

Day 16: Lake Mburo NP to Kampala. After spending the morning at Lake Mburo we return to Kampala.

Rwanda pre-tour: Mountain Gorillas and rare Albertine Rift endemics (7 days)
Rwanda is back! This trip offers a renewed chance to bird Nyungwe, Africa’s largest tract of Albertine Rift forest.  Otherwise rare Albertine Rift endemics such as Rwenzori Turaco, Red-collared Mountain Babbler, Kivu Ground Thrush and Kungwe Apalis are realistically gettable, all of which are rarely or never seen in Uganda. Furthermore, we’ll visit the most accessible population of the world-famous Mountain Gorillas at Virungas NP. This park has become well known as the place where Dian Fossey famously studied the Mountain Gorillas in the 1960’s, bring their plight to the world spotlight in the process. The optional gorilla tracking usually involves a tough hike through steep terrain, but most people will not want to miss this special experience.

Tour Info:

CLIMATE: Warm to cool, mostly dry, but occasional thunder showers possible.

DIFFICULTY: Moderate. We’ll spend time birding some trails, only one of which is steep. Long drives on bad roads are required to get to the birding sites. The optional gorilla trek can be strenuous.