Overview
This 5-day Uganda birding safari is a fast-paced, high-impact adventure covering wetland, forest, and Rift Valley species. You’ll search for the elusive Shoebill, track Albertine Rift endemics, and explore Uganda’s most productive birding ecosystems: Mabamba Swamp, Kibale Forest, and Bwindi Impenetrable Forest.
Expect to encounter 250–350+ bird species, including:
- Shoebill Stork
- Papyrus Gonolek
- Great Blue Turaco
- Green-breasted Pitta
- Ruwenzori Batis
- African Broadbill
- Grauer’s Rush Warbler
- Black-billed Turaco
Highlights
- Shoebill Stork at Mabamba Swamp Glide silently by canoe through the papyrus channels of Mabamba Swamp, one of Africa’s top sites for the rare and prehistoric Shoebill Stork. Also spot: Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, Papyrus Gonolek
- Forest Birding in Kibale National Park Bird inside one of East Africa’s most biodiverse forests – home to over 375 bird species. Target species: Green-breasted Pitta, Nahan’s Francolin, African Broadbill, Blue-shouldered Robin-chat.
- Optional Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale Track wild chimpanzees in their natural rainforest habitat while birding along the way. A perfect combo of primates + birds in one lush setting.
- Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary Community-run birding hotspot rich in wetland and forest-edge species. Highlights include: Great Blue Turaco, White-spotted Flufftail, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat.
- Scenic Birding from Kibale to Bwindi Bird the “The Neck” – a mid-altitude forest corridor between Kibale and Bwindi. Spot specialties like: Black Bee-eater, Dusky Twinspot, Purple-breasted Sunbird.
- Albertine Rift Endemics at Bwindi (Ruhija) Trek the Mubwindi Swamp Trail for rare Albertine Rift endemics, only found in this region.