11 Days Uganda Birding Safari and Big Five
Finding a safari that balances serious bird watching with seeing big game is a challenge. Most trips either rush through the forest or spend too much time on dusty plains. This 11-day itinerary is different. It targets the Uganda birding big five while ensuring you see lions, elephants, and leopards. We focus on the rare Shoebill Stork, the elusive Green-breasted Pitta, the African Green Broadbill, the Great Blue Turaco, and Shelley’s Crimsonwing. You will travel through diverse habitats, from the wetlands of the Nile to the ancient rainforests of the Albertine Rift. We know the logistics are a concern for international travelers. You want to know if the roads are passable and if the guides can actually find the birds. Our team uses specialized birding vehicles and local experts who know every call. We handle the permits for gorillas and chimpanzees so you can focus on your life list.
Safari 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 forest
- Day 10: Explore Lake Bunyonyi
- Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe – Departure
Detailed safari
Day 1: Arrival and Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Quest
Your journey begins at Entebbe International Airport. Our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. If you arrive early, we will head straight to Mabamba Bay Wetland. This is a Ramsar site on the edge of Lake Victoria. We use local wooden boats to navigate the narrow papyrus channels. The main target here is the Shoebill Stork. It is a prehistoric-looking bird that stands nearly five feet tall. You will also see the Lesser Jacana, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, and Malachite Kingfisher. The boat trip takes about three hours. Later, we drive for four hours to the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. This is the only place in Uganda where you can track wild rhinos on foot. Accommodation:Luxury: Amuka Safari Lodge / Mid-range: Ziwa Rhino Guesthouse / Budget: Ziwa Camping Grounds
Day 2: Rhino Tracking and Murchison Falls National Park
We start at dawn with a rhino trek. Walking through the acacia woodlands allows us to see the White Rhinos up close. It is also a great spot for the White-crested Turaco and the Bruce’s Green Pigeon. After the trek, we drive north to Murchison Falls National Park. This is Uganda’s largest protected area. We enter through the Kichumbanyobo gate and drive through the Budongo forest. We stop at the top of the falls. Here, the Nile River squeezes through a seven-meter gap. The sound is deafening. You can spot the Rock Pratincole and various swifts circling the spray. We then cross the Nile by ferry to reach the northern sector. Accommodation: Luxury: Paraa Safari Lodge / Mid-range: Pakuba Safari Lodge / Budget: Red Chilli Hideaway. Driving Time: 3 to 4 hours from Ziwa to Murchison Falls.
Day 3: Savannah Birding and the Nile Boat Cruise
The northern bank of Murchison is an open savannah. We head out for a game drive at 6:30 AM. This is your first chance to see the Big Five mammals. We look for lions, leopards, and large herds of Rothschild giraffes. For birders, the targets are the Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Denham’s Bustard, and the Secretary Bird. In the afternoon, we take a boat cruise to the base of the falls. This is a highlight for photography. You will see hundreds of hippos and huge Nile crocodiles. Along the riverbanks, look for the Giant Kingfisher, Red-throated Bee-eater, and the Goliath Heron. The boat trip lasts three hours and offers a unique perspective of the landscape. Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge / Pakuba Safari Lodge / Red Chilli Hideaway.
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
This is a long transit day as we move from the savannah to the rainforest. We drive south along the Albertine Rift escarpment. The route offers views of Lake Albert and the blue mountains of Congo. We pass through tea plantations near Fort Portal town. The change in birdlife is immediate. We leave the raptors of the plains for the forest species. We arrive in the afternoon at the edge of Kibale Forest National Park. This park has the highest density of primates in Africa. It is also the best place to find the Green-breasted Pitta. Accommodation:Luxury: Kyaninga Lodge / Mid-range: Turaco Treetops / Budget: Isunga Lodge.Driving Time: 7 to 8 hours.
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking and Green-breasted Pitta
We meet at the Kanyanchu visitor center at 6:00 AM. Finding the Green-breasted Pitta requires patience and luck. It displays in the early morning light on the forest floor. After the pitta search, we join the chimpanzee tracking group. Watching a troop of chimps move through the canopy is an intense experience. You will hear their pant-hoots long before you see them. In the afternoon, we visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This community-run project is famous for the Great Blue Turaco. You will likely see five or six of them in a single walk. We also look for the Papyrus Gonolek and the Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill. Accommodation: Kyaninga Lodge / Turaco Treetops / Isunga Lodge.
Day 6: Semuliki National Park Hot Springs
We take a short drive to Semuliki National Park. This park is an extension of the Ituri forest from Congo. It hosts many Central African bird species not found elsewhere in East Africa. We visit the Sempaya hot springs, where the water boils at over 100 degrees Celsius. We walk the forest trails looking for the Piping Hornbill, Nkulengu Rail, and the Black Dwarf Hornbill. The forest is dense, so we rely heavily on sound. We also do a night game drive in the Semuliki Wildlife Reserve. This is the best chance to see the Pennant-winged Nightjar and the White-tailed Mongoose. Accommodation:Luxury: Semliki Safari Lodge / Mid-range: Ntoroko Game Lodge / Budget: Bumaga Camp. Driving Time: 2 hours from Kibale to Semuliki.
Day 7: Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kazinga Channel
We drive south to Queen Elizabeth National Park. The park sits between Lake George and Lake Edward. It has a bird list of over 600 species. We arrive in time for a late lunch. In the afternoon, we take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway connects the two lakes. It has the highest concentration of hippos in the world. For birders, it is a paradise. You will see the African Skimmer, Pink-backed Pelican, and the Saddle-billed Stork. The elephants often come down to the water to drink, providing great photos with the waterbirds in the foreground. Accommodation: Luxury: Elephant Plains Lodge / Mid-range: Enganzi Game Lodge / Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages. Driving Time: 3 to 4 hours.
Day 8: Tree-climbing Lions and Ishasha Sector
We drive to the southern part of the park called Ishasha. This area is famous for tree-climbing lions. They rest in the branches of large fig trees to escape the heat and insects. It is one of the few places in Africa where you see this behavior. While searching for the lions, we look for savannah birds like the Martial Eagle and the Lappet-faced Vulture. We then continue our journey toward the mountains of Bwindi. The landscape changes from flat plains to steep, terraced hills. Accommodation: Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp / Mid-range: Enjojo Lodge / Budget: Topi Lodge. Driving Time: 2 to 3 hours to Ishasha, then 2 hours to Bwindi.
Day 9: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to half of the world’s mountain gorillas. Today is a physically demanding day. After a briefing, we enter the thick forest. The trek can take two to six hours, depending on where the gorillas spent the night. Once we find them, we stay for one hour. Watching these giants interact is a moving experience. For birders, Bwindi is also about the Albertine Rift Endemics. Even during the gorilla trek, keep an eye out for the African Broadbill and the Handsome Francolin. The forest is ancient, having survived the last ice age, which explains its high biodiversity. Accommodation:Luxury: Buhoma Lodge / Mid-range: Haven Lodge Buhoma / Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp. Walking Time: 2 to 7 hours.
Day 10: African Green Broadbill and Mubwindi Swamp
We head to the Ruhija sector of Bwindi. This is the highest point of the park. We hike down to the Mubwindi Swamp. This is the most reliable place in the world to find the African Green Broadbill. The trail is steep and can be slippery. We also look for Shelley’s Crimsonwing, which is perhaps the hardest bird to find in Uganda. Other targets include the Grauer’s Broadbill and the Regal Sunbird. This is a specialized birding day that requires a good level of fitness. We spend the whole day in the forest with packed lunches. Accommodation: Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge / Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge / Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp
Day 11: Transfer to Entebbe and Departure
On our final day, we begin the long drive back to Entebbe. We stop at the Equator crossing for photos and a quick coffee. We also pass through the Lake Mburo area, where we might spot the Long-crested Eagle or the Crested Barbet on the roadside. We arrive in Entebbe in the late afternoon. We can arrange a day room for you to freshen up before your international flight. This concludes your 11-day birding and Big Five safari. You leave with a full memory card and many new additions to your birding list. Driving Time: 8 to 9 hours. Drop-off: Entebbe International Airport.
What to Pack
Binoculars: 8×42 is recommended for forest birding.
Clothing: Neutral colors like khaki or green.
Footwear: Waterproof hiking boots with good grip.
Protection: Insect repellent and sunblock
If you have more time to explore the remote corners of the North, our 14-Day Luxury Birding Uganda Safari offers a deeper dive into Kidepo Valley and the Royal Mile.
Short on time? You can still find the Shoebill and Albertine Rift endemics on our compact 6-Day Uganda Birdwatching Safari.
Looking for a different route? Compare this itinerary with our other expert-led Uganda Birding Safaris to find your perfect match.
