10-Day Rwanda Birding Safari from Uganda: The Cross-Border Avian Route
This 10-day birding trip follows a natural path from the wetlands of Lake Victoria in Uganda to the high-altitude forests of Rwanda. By starting in Entebbe and departing from Kigali, you skip the long 9-hour return drive to central Uganda. This route allows more time in the field for target species like the Shoebill Stork, Green-breasted Pitta, and the Red-collared Mountain Babbler. This trip is designed for birders who want to see the best of the Albertine Rift without wasting days on repetitive roads. You will enter Uganda at Entebbe International Airport (EBB) and finish your journey at Kigali International Airport (KGL) in Rwanda.
Most tours make a loop back to their starting point. This often means sitting in a vehicle for a full day just to reach the airport. This 10-day itinerary is different. We move south from Entebbe, crossing into Rwanda at the Cyanika or Gatuna border. This plan gives you two distinct birding zones. You get the lowland wetlands and tropical forests of Uganda, followed by the unique montane forests of Rwanda. You only need one visa, the East Africa Tourist Visa, which costs 100 USD and covers both countries.
Safari highlights
- Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe and Lakeside Birding
- Day 2: Shoebill Tracking at Mabamba Swamp and Transfer to Lake Mburo
- Day 3: Savannah Birding in Lake Mburo and Drive to Bwindi
- Day 4: Deep Forest Birding in Ruhija (Bwindi)
- Day 5: Gorilla Trekking or Specialist Birding in Bwindi
- Day 6: Crossing the Border to Rwanda
- Day 7: Birding Volcanoes National Park
- Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
- Day 9: Nyungwe Forest and the Red-collared Mountain Babbler
- Day 10: Kigali City and Departure
Detailed 10-Day Birding Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Entebbe and Lakeside Birding
Your trip begins at Entebbe International Airport. Entebbe sits on a peninsula on Lake Victoria. This area is surprisingly birdy for a town. After checking in, we spend the afternoon at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. These gardens date back to 1898 and host a mix of water, forest, and woodland birds. We look for the Great Blue Turaco and the Ross’s Turaco in the tall trees. Along the lake shore, we often spot the Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, and the Malachite Kingfisher. The African Grey Parrot is common here, often seen flying in loud flocks at sunset. Accommodation: Protea Hotel by Marriott Entebbe (Luxury) or The Boma Hotel (Mid-range).
Day 2: Shoebill Tracking at Mabamba Swamp and Transfer to Lake Mburo
We leave early for Mabamba Swamp, a RAMSAR site on the edge of Lake Victoria. We use local wooden boats to navigate the narrow papyrus channels. The main goal today is the Shoebill Stork. This prehistoric-looking bird is best seen in the early morning when it stands still while hunting lungfish. Aside from the Shoebill, Mabamba is home to the Lesser Jacana, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, and the Papyrus Gonolek. After the swamp, we drive toward Lake Mburo National Park. This 4-hour drive takes us through the equator. We stop for lunch and arrive at the park for an evening birding walk. Discover more savannah species on our 3-day Lake Mburo safari experience for zebras and elands.
Accommodation
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge or Kigambira Safari Lodge.
Mid-range: Rwakobo Rock or Arcadia Cottages.
Affordable: Leopard Rest Camp (Safari Tents) or Eagle’s Nest Lodge.
Day 3: Savannah Birding in Lake Mburo and Drive to Bwindi
Lake Mburo is the only place on this route with savannah species. We look for the Red-faced Barbet, a rare bird found only in this region. The park also has the African Finfoot, which we look for during a boat trip on the lake. Other targets include the Tabora Cisticola and the Bare-faced Go-away-bird. In the afternoon, we head toward the highlands of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. As we climb, the temperature drops and the vegetation changes to thick rainforest. We reach the Ruhija sector, which is the highest point of the park and a prime spot for Albertine Rift endemics. Combine your birding with the chimpanzee tracking experience in Kibale National Park if you wish to extend your trip
Accommodation
Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge.
Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge or Gorilla Mist Camp.
Affordable: Broadbill Forest Camp or Ruhija Community Rest Camp.
Day 4: Deep Forest Birding in Ruhija (Bwindi)
Ruhija is home to 23 of Uganda’s 24 Albertine Rift endemics. We spend the full day on the Mubwindi Swamp trail. This is a steep hike, but it is the best place in the world to find the African Green Broadbill. We listen for the calls of the Grauer’s Warbler and the Mountain Masked Apalis. We also watch for the Regal Sunbird and the Blue-headed Sunbird in the flowering trees. This area is quiet and dense, so we rely on our ears to find the birds before they move through the canopy.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking or Specialist Birding in Bwindi
Today offers a choice. You can go for mountain gorilla trekking, which is a major highlight in Bwindi. Uganda gorilla permits cost 800 USD in 2024-2026. If you prefer to stay focused on birds, we spend the day on the Bamboo Trail or the Ivy River Trail. These trails are good for the Handsome Francolin, the White-starred Robin, and the Many-colored Bush-shrike. If we are lucky, we might find the Short-tailed Warbler in the forest undergrowth. We spend the evening reviewing our checklist at the lodge. For a deep dive into ape behavior, see our 3-day gorilla habituation tour from Kigali.
Day 6: Crossing the Border to Rwanda
We leave Bwindi and drive south toward the Rwanda border. The drive offers views of the Virunga Volcanoes. We cross at Cyanika and enter Rwanda. The border process is usually smooth with the East Africa Tourist Visa. Once in Rwanda, we head to the Twin Lakes, Burera and Ruhondo. These lakes sit at the base of Mount Muhabura. We look for water birds like the Grey-crowned Crane and various herons. The air here is thin and cool, perfect for a relaxed afternoon of birding before we reach our lodge near Volcanoes National Park. Explore more of the Land of a Thousand Hills on our 6-day Rwanda primates safari.
Accommodation:
Luxury: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel or Virunga Lodge.
Mid-range: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge or Le Bambou Gorilla Lodge.
Affordable: Hotel Muhabura or Kinigi Guesthouse.
Day 7: Birding Volcanoes National Park
Volcanoes National Park is famous for gorillas, but its birdlife is equally rich. We focus on the higher altitude species here. The Rwenzori Turaco is a frequent sighting in the bamboo zones. We also look for the Archer’s Robin-Chat and the Strange Weaver. The park is well-managed, and the trails are clear. We spend time near the forest edge looking for the Red-backed Shrike and the Baglafecht Weaver. The volcanic soil makes the forest lush and green, providing a different backdrop than Bwindi. Pair your birding with golden monkey trekking in Volcanoes National Park for a unique primate encounter.
Day 8: Transfer to Nyungwe Forest
This is a longer drive day as we move toward the southern part of Rwanda. We drive along the shores of Lake Kivu, which offers a break from the forest birding. We arrive at Nyungwe Forest National Park in the afternoon. Nyungwe is one of the oldest montane forests in Africa. It holds 29 Albertine Rift endemics, more than any other site on this trip. We take a short walk near the Gisakura area to spot the Great Blue Turaco and several species of mountain monkeys.
Accommodation Options in Nyungwe:
Luxury: One&Only Nyungwe House.
Mid-range: Nyungwe Top View Hill Hotel.
Affordable: Gisakura Guesthouse or Kitabi Eco-Center.
Day 9: Nyungwe Forest and the Red-collared Mountain Babbler
This is our big day in Nyungwe. We head to the higher ridges to find the Red-collared Mountain Babbler. This bird is very hard to find elsewhere, but Nyungwe is a reliable spot. We also walk the canopy walkway, which sits 70 meters above the forest floor. From the canopy, we get a bird’s-eye view of sunbirds and weavers that stay in the treetops. We look for the Kungwe Apalis and the Ruwenzori Batis. The forest is vast, and the sound of the Great Blue Turaco often echoes through the valleys.
Day 10: Kigali City and Departure
On our final day, we drive from Nyungwe to Kigali. This drive takes about 5 to 6 hours. We pass through the rolling hills that give Rwanda its name. In Kigali, we visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial, which is an important part of understanding Rwanda’s history. After a final lunch, we head to Kigali International Airport for your departure. This “Kigali Departure” saves you from the 10-hour drive back to Entebbe, allowing you to fly home directly from Rwanda
Logistics and Travel Information
The East Africa Tourist Visa
To make this trip easy, you should apply for the East Africa Tourist Visa. You must apply for it from the country you enter first. In this case, you apply through the Uganda Ministry of Internal Affairs (Uganda Immigration, 2025). The cost is 100 USD. This visa allows you to cross between Uganda and Rwanda multiple times for 90 days.
Permit Costs and Booking (2025-2026)
If you choose to include primates, here are the current permit costs:
Uganda Gorilla Permit: 800 USD.
Uganda Chimpanzee Permit: 250 USD.
Rwanda Gorilla Permit: 1,500 USD (Rwanda Development Board, 2025).
We recommend booking at least six months in advance. Permits for Bwindi and Volcanoes sell out quickly, especially during the dry months of June to September and December to February.
What to Pack for Birding
The weather on this route changes daily. Entebbe is humid and warm. Bwindi and Nyungwe are cold and wet. You need:
Lightweight, waterproof hiking boots.
A rain jacket or poncho.
Binoculars (8×42 is recommended).
Layers for cold mornings in the mountains.
Safari Inclusions and Exclusions
What is Included
Transportation: A 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof and an expert birding guide.
Accommodation: All nights as specified on a full-board basis (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Park Entry Fees: All national park access fees for Uganda and Rwanda.
Birding Activities: Private boat at Mabamba, specialist site guides, and canopy walk fees.
Drinking Water: Unlimited bottled water provided in the vehicle.
- Airport Transfers: Pickup at Entebbe (EBB) and drop-off at Kigali (KGL)
What is Excluded
Visas: The East Africa Tourist Visa (100 USD).
Primate Permits: Optional Gorilla permits (800 USD in Uganda) and Chimpanzee permits.
International Flights: Airfare to Entebbe and from Kigali.
Personal Items: Tips for guides, laundry, alcoholic drinks, and travel insurance.
