7-Day Uganda Birding Safari via Kigali: Albertine Rift Endemics Route
Many birders dread the long, ten-hour drive from Entebbe to the birding hotspots of South Western Uganda. This exhausting journey often eats up a full day of your trip. By starting your 7-day safari in Kigali, Rwanda, you cut your travel time in half. You land at Kigali International Airport and reach the prime birding forests of Bwindi in just four to five hours. This route allows you to spend more time behind your binoculars and less time in a vehicle. This specific itinerary focuses on the Albertine Rift. This geographical area is home to species found nowhere else on earth. You will move through different altitudes, from the high-elevation bamboo forests to the low-lying wetlands. Our goal is to find the most sought-after birds like the African Green Broadbill and the prehistoric Shoebill Stork.
The Logistics of Crossing from Rwanda to Uganda
Crossing the border at Cyanika or Katuna is a straightforward process for international travelers. You will need an East African Tourist Visa. This single visa costs 100 USD and allows entry into both Rwanda and Uganda. It saves you the trouble of buying separate visas at the border. The roads from Kigali to the Uganda border are well-paved and wind through the beautiful hills of Rwanda. Once you cross into Uganda, the landscape becomes more rugged. You notice a change in the vegetation almost immediately as you enter the dense forests of the Kigezi region. We use custom 4×4 safari vehicles with pop-up roofs to ensure you have a clear view of the canopy at all times.
Safari Highlights
Starting in Kigali cuts travel time by 50%, giving you an extra 5 to 6 hours of active birding time on Day 1.
Focused search for the African Green Broadbill in Mubwindi Swamp and the Shoebill Stork at Mabamba.
Coverage of the 23+ endemics found only in this ancient mountain range.
Seamless crossing through the Cyanika/Katuna borders with the East African Tourist Visa.
Detailed breakdown of the Bamboo Zone, The Neck, and Kasenyi Plains habitats, often glossed over by generic sites.
A grand finale boat trip at Mabamba Swamp, ensuring the “Shoebill” is the last, most memorable bird on your list before departure.
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Your journey begins with a pickup from Kigali International Airport or your hotel in the city. After a short briefing, we head north toward the border. The drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park takes about four to five hours, depending on the border queues. We enter the Ruhija sector of Bwindi. This area is the highest part of the park. It is the best place to find high-altitude endemics. You will notice the air getting cooler as we climb toward the park headquarters. This evening, we take a short walk along the forest edges to look for early sightings of the African Goshawk and the Great Blue Turaco. Travel Time: 4 to 5 hours from Kigali. Target Birds: Black-billed Turaco, African Goshawk, Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater. Accommodation Options:Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge / Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge / Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp.
Day 2: Birding the Famous Mubwindi Swamp Trail
Mubwindi Swamp is a holy grail for birders. It is a four-kilometer trail that descends through the heart of the primary forest. The path can be slippery and steep in some sections. You need sturdy boots and a good level of fitness for this day. We spent the entire day on this trail. The primary target is the African Green Broadbill. This bird is very rare and only lives in a few high-altitude forests. It is often found near the swamp itself. The silence of the forest is broken only by the calls of the many species living here. We also look for the Grauer’s Rush Warbler in the reeds of the swamp. Target Birds: African Green Broadbill, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, Handsome Francolin, Blue-headed Sunbird, Regal Sunbird, Archer’s Robin-Chat. Accommodation Options:Luxury: Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge / Mid-range: Bakiga Lodge / Budget: Broadbill Forest Camp.
Day 3: Birding the Bamboo Zone and Transfer to the Buhoma Sector
We leave the high elevations of Ruhija and drive toward the lower forests of Buhoma. Before we leave, we spend the morning birding the Bamboo trail. This is a unique habitat where the mountain bamboo dominates the landscape. It is the best place to find the Mountain Illadopsis. The drive from Ruhija to Buhoma takes about three hours. It is a scenic route through the “Neck” of the forest. The “Neck” is a narrow strip of forest connecting the two parts of the park. We stop here for a picnic lunch and birding. The riverine forest at the Neck offers chances to see the Cassin’s Flycatcher and the Black Bee-eater. Travel Time: 3 hours. Target Birds: Mountain Illadopsis, Cassin’s Flycatcher, Black Bee-eater, Many-colored Bush-shrike, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon. Accommodation Options:Luxury: Buhoma Lodge. Mid-range: Haven Lodge Buhoma. Budget: Buhoma Community Rest Camp.
Day 4: Forest Birding in Buhoma and Optional Gorilla Trekking
Buhoma is at a lower altitude than Ruhija. This means the bird list here is quite different. The trails are wider and flatter, making for easier walking. We walk along the Waterfall Trail and the Main Trail. You will find that the bird activity is highest in the early morning. For those who want to see the Mountain Gorillas, this is the day to do it. You can swap the morning birding for a gorilla trek. While trekking for gorillas, you will still see many birds, though the focus is on the primates. If you choose to stay on the birding trail, we will hunt for the Short-tailed Warbler. This bird is very difficult to see and requires a lot of patience. Target Birds: Short-tailed Warbler, Bar-tailed Trogon, White-bellied Robin-Chat, Pink-footed Puffback, Red-throated Alethe. Accommodation Options:Luxury: Buhoma Lodge. Mid-range: Haven Lodge Buhoma. Budget: Ride 4 a Woman.
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha
After breakfast, we head north toward Queen Elizabeth National Park. This drive takes about four hours. We pass through the Ishasha sector. Ishasha is famous for its tree-climbing lions, but birders love it for the open savanna species. We spend the afternoon birding the plains of Ishasha. The habitat here is a mix of acacia woodland and grassy savannas. It is a great contrast to the dense forests of Bwindi. We look for large raptors and ground-dwelling birds. You might see the Martial Eagle or the Lappet-faced Vulture circling above the plains. Travel Time: 4 hours. Target Birds: Martial Eagle, Palm-nut Vulture, African Crake, Trilling Cisticola, Senegal Plover.Accommodation Options: Luxury: Ishasha Wilderness Camp. Mid-range: Enjojo Lodge. Budget: Topi Lodge.
Day 6: Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise and Kasenyi Plains
We drive from Ishasha to the northern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This takes about two hours. The main highlight today is the boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This channel connects Lake Edward and Lake George. It has one of the highest concentrations of water birds in the world. From the boat, you can get very close to the birds without disturbing them. You will see hundreds of Great White Pelicans and Yellow-billed Storks. After the boat cruise, we take a drive through the Kasenyi plains. This is the best area to find the African Skimmer, which is a rare and beautiful bird to watch as it flies low over the water. Travel Time: 2 hours. Target Birds: African Skimmer, Papyrus Gonolek (in the nearby swamps), Gull-billed Tern, Great Snipe, Grey-headed Kingfisher. Accommodation Options: Luxury: Mweya Safari Lodge. Mid-range: Kasenyi Safari Camp. Budget: Pumba Safari Cottages.
Day 7: Transfer to Entebbe via Mabamba Swamp
On our final day, we leave early for the long drive to Entebbe. This drive takes about six to seven hours. However, we have one final major stop at the Mabamba Swamp on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is the most reliable place in East Africa to see the Shoebill Stork. We use small wooden canoes to navigate the narrow channels of the papyrus swamp. The Shoebill is a massive bird that looks like a statue as it waits for fish. Seeing this bird is the perfect end to your safari. After the swamp, we continue to Entebbe International Airport for your evening flight home. Travel Time: 7 hours (including the swamp visit). Target Birds: Shoebill Stork, Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Swamp Flycatcher
Understanding the Albertine Rift Habitat
The Albertine Rift is a branch of the East African Rift. It covers parts of Uganda, Rwanda, Congo, and Burundi. This area is special because it stayed forested during the dry periods of the last ice age. This allowed many bird species to evolve in isolation. When you visit Bwindi, you are standing in one of the oldest forests in Africa. The deep valleys and high peaks create different microclimates. This is why you can see so many different birds in such a small area. According to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, Bwindi is a critical site for the conservation of these endemic species.
Packing Essentials for a Birding Safari
Binoculars: A pair of 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars is ideal.
Rain Gear: It can rain at any time in the rainforest. A light, breathable rain jacket is vital.
Footwear: Waterproof hiking boots with good grip are a must.
Field Guide: The “Birds of East Africa” by Terry Stevenson and John Fanshawe is the best book for this region.
- Clothing: Wear neutral colors like green, brown, or khaki. Avoid bright colors and blue, as blue attracts tsetse flies in some areas.
If you have less time, view our 6-day Albertine Rift birding route starting in Entebbe
Check out our 5 interesting facts about Rwanda to prepare for your arrival in Kigali
You can easily add mountain gorilla trekking to this birding day.
Compare this route with our 3-day luxury gorilla habituation package
Explore the nature walks in Uganda available in this sector.
See our full 3-day Queen Elizabeth safari for more wildlife details.
Learn about chimpanzee trekking options in the nearby Kyambura Gorge.
Visit our birdwatching tours page for a full list of feathered adventures.
