8 Days Uganda Albertine Rift Birding and Primates Safari Experience
This eight-day trip focuses on the western arm of the Great Rift Valley in Uganda. This area is known as the Albertine Rift. It is one of the most important places for life on Earth. The region formed about twelve million years ago when tectonic plates moved apart. This movement created deep valleys and high mountains. Today, these mountains act as islands of forest. Because they are isolated, many birds and animals evolved here and live nowhere else. These are called endemics. On this safari, you will find these rare birds. You will also spend time with our closest relatives, the chimpanzees and mountain gorillas. We visit three key national parks: Kibale, Bwindi, and Mgahinga. These parks sit at different heights. Altitude ranges from 600 meters to over 4,000 meters above sea level. This change in height creates different types of forests. Each layer of the forest holds different species. If you love birds and primates, this is the most complete route you can take.
Why the Albertine Rift is Special
The Albertine Rift is a geological wonder. It contains more vertebrate species than any other region on the African continent. In Uganda, the rift valley floor is hot and dry, but the escarpments are cool and wet. This creates a “vertical” world of biodiversity. You can find lowland rainforests, bamboo thickets, and alpine moorlands within a short distance. For a birder, the prize is the 24 Albertine Rift endemics found in Uganda. Most of these live in the montane forests of Bwindi and Mgahinga. The deep valleys and misty peaks provide the perfect home for the African Green Broadbill and the Regal Sunbird. This trip is designed to give you enough time to spot these shy residents while also enjoying the famous primates of the region.
Safari Highlights
Day 1: Mabamba Wetland Shoebill Search and Kibale Forest
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Day 3: Green-breasted Pitta and Kazinga Channel
Day 4: Tree-climbing Lions and Transfer to Bwindi
Day 5: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Day 6: Birding in the Clouds at Mgahinga
Day 7: Gorilla Habituation Experience
Day 8: Return to Entebbe
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Mabamba Wetland Shoebill Search and Kibale Forest
We start early at 8 am. Your guide will pick you up and head to Mabamba Swamp on the edge of Lake Victoria. This is a massive papyrus wetland. It is the most reliable place to see the Shoebill. We use small wooden canoes to navigate the narrow channels. Local site guides know exactly where the birds are hiding. The Shoebill is a prehistoric-looking bird. It stands five feet tall and has a massive, shoe-shaped beak. It often stands still for hours as it waits for lungfish. After the boat ride, we begin the drive to Kibale National Park. This is a six-to-seven-hour journey through tea plantations and rural villages. We arrive late in the afternoon at the edge of the forest.
Day 2: Chimpanzee Trekking and Bigodi Wetland Walk
Kibale is the primate capital of the world. It holds 13 different species. After a morning briefing, you 
enter the rainforest with a ranger. You are searching for a community of habituated chimpanzees. These primates share about 98 percent of human DNA. When you find them, you spend one hour watching them play, groom, and hunt. In the afternoon, we visit the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. This is a community-run project. It is a great place to see the Great Blue Turaco. This large, colourful bird is often seen jumping between branches. You might also spot Red-colobus and Grey-cheeked mangabeys. The walk is flat and easy, following a wooden boardwalk through the swamp.
Day 3: Green-breasted Pitta and Kazinga Channel
We enter the forest before dawn. Our goal is the Green-breasted Pitta. This is one of the hardest birds
to find in Africa. It lives in the dark forest floor. In the early morning, the males perform a “display” on a low branch. They make a small “pht” sound and hop into the air. After the birding session, we drove three hours to Queen Elizabeth National Park. In the late afternoon, we take a boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel. This natural waterway joins Lake Edward and Lake George. The banks are crowded with hippos, elephants, and water birds. You will see African Skimmers, Yellow-billed Storks, and Great White Pelicans. It is a relaxing way to see wildlife from the water.
Day 4: Tree-climbing Lions and Transfer to Bwindi
We drive south through the Ishasha sector. This area is famous for lions that sleep in large fig trees. It
is a rare behavior for lions. While looking for the cats, we keep an eye out for Black-lored Babblers and White-browed Robin-chats. The landscape changes as we head toward Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The flat savannah turns into steep, emerald-green hills. Bwindi is an ancient forest. It survived the last ice age, making it one of the oldest ecosystems in Africa. We stay in the Ruhija sector. This is the highest part of the park and the best place for specialized birding.
Day 5: Mountain Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi
Today is a life-changing day. Bwindi holds nearly half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. We 
start at the park office for a briefing. You are assigned to a specific gorilla family. The trek can be short or long, depending on where the gorillas slept the night before. The forest is thick and steep. Rangers use machetes to clear a path. When you meet the gorillas, all the effort is forgotten. Seeing a 400-pound Silverback up close is a powerful experience. You spend exactly one hour with them. In the afternoon, we drive three hours to Kisoro town at the base of the Virunga Volcanoes.
Day 6: Birding in the Clouds at Mgahinga
Mgahinga is Uganda’s smallest national park. It sits on the border with Rwanda and Congo. The park consists of three dormant volcanoes. We spend the full day birding on the slopes of Mount Sabinyo. We follow the “Gorge Trail” through bamboo and montane forest. This is the best place to see the Rwenzori Turaco. This bird has bright red wings that flash when it flies. We also look for the Handsome Francolin and the Archer’s Robin-chat. The air here is thin and cool. The scenery is some of the most beautiful in East Africa, with views across the rift valley floor.
Day 7: Gorilla Habituation Experience
For many, this is the highlight. While standard trekking lasts one hour, the habituation experience gives you four hours with the gorillas. This happens in the southern part of Bwindi. You accompany researchers and rangers as they follow a family that is still getting used to humans. You get to see more complex behaviors. You watch how the juveniles learn from the adults and how the Silverback protects the group. Because you are with the group for a long time, you have better chances to see them in different lighting. This is a deep dive into the lives of these great apes.
Day 8: Return to Entebbe
We have a long drive back to Entebbe. It takes nine to ten hours. We stop at the Equator for photos and lunch. You can also buy local crafts here. If you prefer not to drive, there is an optional flight from Kisoro Airstrip to Entebbe. This 60-minute flight offers incredible views of the volcanoes and the winding rivers of the rift valley.
Photography Tips for Dense Canopy Birding
Taking photos in a tropical rainforest is difficult. The light is low, and the birds are often high up. Here are three tips to help you get the best shots:
Manage Your Light: Use a high ISO setting. Modern cameras can handle ISO 3200 or 6400 without too much “noise.” This allows you to keep your shutter speed fast enough to freeze bird movement.
Focus on the Eye: Rainforests are messy. There are leaves and twigs everywhere. Use a single-point autofocus and aim for the bird’s eye. If the eye is sharp, the photo will look good even if the tail is behind a leaf.
Support Your Gear: A carbon fibre tripod or monopod is essential. You will be looking up for long periods. A gimbal head helps you track birds that move quickly through the upper branches.
Logistics and Practical Information
Best Time to Visit: The dry seasons are June to August and December to February. Trails are less slippery, and bird activity is high. What to Pack: Bring waterproof hiking boots with good grip. Wear long trousers and long sleeves to protect against stinging nettles. A light rain jacket is a must, even in the dry season. Permits: Gorilla and Chimpanzee permits are in high demand. We recommend booking at least six months in advance to secure your spot.
