Ultimate 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Safari Itinerary for Birders

The 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari is designed to offer a complete immersion into the rich biodiversity and striking landscapes of East Africa. This expedition spans the prime birding hotspots and key wildlife areas of both Uganda and Rwanda, allowing you to experience the continent’s most iconic species, from the elusive Shoebill of Mabamba Swamp to the mountain gorillas of Bwindi and Volcanoes National Park.

This carefully curated safari combines forest birding, swamp and wetland excursions, savannah game drives, and highland forest treks, giving participants unparalleled access to over 350 bird species across diverse ecosystems. Uganda’s renowned national parks, including Murchison Falls, Queen Elizabeth, Lake Mburo, Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, and Kibale Forest, feature alongside Rwanda’s highlights such as Volcanoes National Park and Akagera National Park, presenting opportunities to track gorillas, chimpanzees, and golden monkeys while spotting endemic and rare Albertine Rift bird species.

Scenic Boat Cruise Along Lake Bunyonyi

The 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari is complemented with cultural visits, scenic stops at Lake Bunyonyi, and optional photography sessions, ensuring an intimate connection with local traditions and landscapes. Every aspect of the safari is meticulously planned to balance adventure with comfort, featuring full-board accommodation in well-appointed lodges and luxury tented camps, private 4×4 transportation, and expert guides fluent in English and trained in bird identification.

This 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari is ideal for serious birders, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts, offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience to witness the beauty of Uganda and Rwanda in all its richness, from highland forests and wetlands to savannah plains and volcanic landscapes.

Detailed 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari

Day 1 – Arrival in Entebbe & Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you are warmly welcomed by your Deks Safaris guide and transferred to your hotel for a brief rest. Depending on your arrival time, embark on a gentle afternoon birding walk at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens, located on the shores of Lake Victoria. The gardens are a haven for early birdwatching, offering sightings of Grey-headed Sunbird, Northern Black Flycatcher, African Paradise Flycatcher, Black-collared Lovebird, and African Green Pigeon.

The lake and adjacent forested areas attract various species including Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, African Jacana, and the ubiquitous Hadada Ibis. This initial foray introduces travelers to Uganda’s tropical avian diversity, setting the stage for the more specialized 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Safari excursions ahead. Keep an eye out for small mammals like Squirrels and Vervet Monkeys, which can often be spotted in the gardens.

Enjoy a sunset overlooking Lake Victoria, as the calls of resident birds provide a natural serenade. Afterward, return to the lodge for a welcome dinner and briefing about the safari. This initial day allows guests to acclimatize to the tropical climate and understand the itinerary’s emphasis on combining birding with cultural and wildlife encounters.

Animals to Spot: Vervet Monkey | Tree Squirrels | Monitor Lizard (occasionally along the lake shore)

Accommodation: Entebbe Guest House / Protea Hotel Entebbe
Meals: Dinner

Day 2 – Mabamba Wetland & Shoebill Expedition

Begin early with a transfer to Mabamba Swamp, one of Uganda’s most famous wetlands, for a full morning canoe birding excursion. This tranquil freshwater marsh is renowned for the Shoebill Stork, a prehistoric-looking bird that is both elusive and highly sought after. Paddling quietly along narrow channels, you may also encounter African Finfoot, Lesser Jacana, Goliath Heron, Long-toed Lapwing, and Grey-headed Gull.

The surrounding papyrus swamps and reedbeds host a variety of resident and migratory birds, including Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Swamp Warbler, and Lesser Swamp Warbler. Listen carefully, as the distinctive calls of the Shoebill often echo across the reeds, offering a thrilling photographic moment. After a successful morning, enjoy lunch at a nearby lodge before heading to your next stop.

In the afternoon, 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari towards Lake Mburo National Park, a scenic drive of 3–4 hours, passing rolling hills and rural villages. Along the route, you may spot White-browed Robin-Chat, Black-headed Gonolek, and Pied Crow, among others. Upon arrival, settle into your lodge and enjoy the sounds of forest and savannah birds at dusk.

Animals to Spot: Monitor Lizard | Marsh Crocodile | African Otter (rare) | Papyrus Sedge Rat (small mammal)

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Uganda Birding Safari and Gorilla Trekking

Shoebill Tracking on a Canoe

Day 3 – Lake Mburo National Park Birding & Game Drive

Wake early for a sunrise birding walk and game drive in Lake Mburo National Park, the smallest savannah park in Uganda, yet a hotspot for both avifauna and wildlife. The park’s diverse habitats include acacia woodlands, swamps, lakes, and open grasslands, making it ideal for mixed species birding. Look for Brown-chested Lapwing, African Jacana, Black-bellied Bustard, Red-throated Wryneck, and Grey-headed Kingfisher along the water bodies.

During the game drive, expect encounters with Uganda kob, impala, zebra, and warthog, as well as predators like leopard and lion in the early morning or late afternoon. Hippos and crocodiles inhabit the lakes, offering excellent photographic opportunities. Lake Mburo also provides a chance to observe waterbirds such as Goliath Heron, Great Egret, and African Fish Eagle, adding variety to the birding checklist.

The morning concludes with a picnic breakfast near a scenic lagoon, followed by a walking safari, exploring papyrus-lined shores and woodland trails. Afternoon leisure allows for additional birding or photography.

Accommodation: Rwakobo Rock Lodge / Lake Mburo Safari Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 – Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Depart early for the 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari journey to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of Africa’s most biodiverse forests, known for its mountain gorillas and Albertine Rift endemic birds. The drive, approximately 6–7 hours, is punctuated by scenic viewpoints, small villages, and roadside birding stops. Keep an eye out for African Green Broadbill, Ruwenzori Turaco, and Narina Trogon along forested stretches.

Upon arrival in Bwindi’s Buhoma sector, check into your lodge, enjoy lunch, and spend the afternoon on a guided forest walk, identifying species such as White-bellied Robin-Chat, African Dusky Flycatcher, and Mountain Masked Apalis. The misty highlands and dense forest provide a natural stage for Albertine Rift endemics, and small mammals such as squirrels, duikers, and vervet monkeys can be observed.

The evening is dedicated to lodge relaxation and a briefing for the next day’s gorilla trekking permit and schedule.

Animals to Spot: Mountain Gorilla (distant sightings en route) | Vervet Monkey | Squirrel | Bushbuck | Duiker

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5 – Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest

Rise before dawn for gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, an unforgettable 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari experience. Each trekking group is led by expert trackers and park rangers, and the duration ranges from 2–6 hours depending on the gorilla family’s location. As you follow the forest trails, Albertine Rift endemic birds such as Chapin’s Flycatcher, Grauer’s Rush Warbler, and Ruwenzori Apalis make regular appearances.

Spend one hour observing the gorillas up close: silverbacks, females, and juveniles interact, providing rare behavioral insights. Photographers will find incredible opportunities in the filtered forest light, capturing the gorillas amidst misty bamboo and montane forest settings. Afternoon birding continues along the Buhoma Nature Trail, seeking White-starred Robin, Mountain Illadopsis, and Red-throated Alethe.

Animals to Spot: Mountain Gorilla | Black-and-white Colobus | Olive Baboon | Forest Duiker | Giant Forest Hog (rare)

Accommodation: Buhoma Lodge / Gorilla Mist Camp
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 – Bwindi Birding & Lake Bunyonyi

The morning is dedicated to birding along the Lake Bunyonyi corridor, a highland area adjacent to Bwindi, renowned for both scenic beauty and avian diversity. Search for Red-faced Woodland Warbler, African Hill Babbler, and White-bellied Robin, while scanning cultivated hillsides for raptors such as African Harrier-Hawk and Long-crested Eagle.

Enjoy a boat ride on Lake Bunyonyi, spotting waterbirds like African Jacana, Malachite Kingfisher, and Black Crake, as well as playful marsh crocodiles along the shoreline. The lake is framed by terraced hills and local villages, offering cultural immersion alongside wildlife observation. Afternoon relaxation allows for lodge birding, photography, or village visits.

Animals to Spot: Marsh Crocodile | African Otter (rare) | Vervet Monkey | African Giant Tortoise

Accommodation: Bunyonyi Overland Lodge / Birders’ Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7 – Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park via Ishasha Sector

Depart Bwindi early and drive northwards to Queen Elizabeth National Park, passing through the scenic Ishasha sector, famous for its tree-climbing lions. The drive offers roadside birding opportunities, including Brown-capped Weaver, White-headed Saw-wing, and African Blue Flycatcher in the wooded savannahs. As you approach the park, expect sightings of elephants, buffaloes, and Uganda kob grazing along the plains.

In the afternoon, embark on a game drive in the Ishasha sector, exploring open savannahs and riverine habitats. This area is excellent for observing Martial Eagle, Bateleur, and Yellow-throated Leaflove while keeping an eye out for elusive lions resting in fig trees. The diverse mosaic of woodlands, swamps, and rivers attracts over 600 bird species, making it a prime birding location in Uganda.

Return to your lodge for dinner and an evening briefing about the following day’s Kazinga Channel boat cruise, which promises a spectacular combination of wildlife and birding along the park’s waterways.

Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp / Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8 – Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise & Birding

Rise early for a morning game drive, followed by a boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel, which connects Lake Edward and Lake George. The channel is a hotspot for waterbirds, including African Openbill, Goliath Heron, Lesser Jacana, and African Fish Eagle. Hippos and Nile crocodiles are abundant, offering exceptional photography opportunities, while elephants and buffaloes often come to the water’s edge to drink.

The Kazinga Channel is also ideal for spotting kingfishers, herons, storks, and waders, with the occasional sighting of shoebill-like species in marshy lagoons. The boat moves slowly to maximize viewing and allow for photography and bird identification. After the cruise, continue with a game drive through savannah plains, observing lions, leopards, and African buffalo.

In the late afternoon, return to the lodge for dinner, reflecting on a day rich in avian and mammal diversity. Queen Elizabeth remains a key birding and wildlife area, offering both forest edge and open savannah species.

Accommodation: Ishasha Wilderness Camp / Queen Elizabeth Bush Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Chimpanzee Tracking in Kibale

Day 9 – Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park

After breakfast, drive to Kibale Forest National Park, renowned as the “Primate Capital of the World,” while offering excellent Albertine Rift birding. The route passes through agricultural landscapes, forests, and rolling hills, providing roadside birding for Little Greenbul, African Pied Wagtail, and Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher.

Arrive in Kibale for lunch and enjoy an afternoon birding walk at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, a community-managed forest patch famous for its African Broadbill, Dusky Crimsonwing, and African Emerald Cuckoo. The wetland supports a diversity of species, with papyrus, reedbeds, and swampy forest edges attracting Papyrus Gonolek and White-winged Swamp Warbler. Keep an eye out for chimpanzees, which occasionally forage near the sanctuary.

The combination of forest and wetland habitats makes Kibale and Bigodi exceptional for both endemic and migratory species, ensuring birders have abundant opportunities for sightings and photography.

Animals to Spot: Chimpanzee | Red-tailed Monkey | Black-and-white Colobus | Bushbuck | African Civet (rare)

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge / Kibale Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 10 – Chimpanzee Trekking & Birding in Kibale Forest

Begin early with chimpanzee trekking, a guided forest adventure that lasts 2–4 hours depending on the chimpanzee family’s location. Trek through lush rainforest trails while birding for Ruwenzori Turaco, African Pitta, and Bar-tailed Trogon. The dense canopy and undergrowth also host White-bellied Robin, African Dusky Flycatcher, and Mountain Illadopsis.

Observe chimpanzees in their natural habitat, interacting socially, feeding, and playing a truly remarkable primate experience. After the trek, enjoy lunch and an afternoon birding walk along forest edges and streams, targeting endemics and migratory species such as Green-headed Oriole and Black-billed Turaco. Evening leisure allows photography or lodge-based birdwatching.

Animals to Spot: Chimpanzee | Red-tailed Monkey | Black-and-white Colobus | Bushbuck | Forest Elephant (rare)

Accommodation: Ndali Lodge / Kibale Guest House
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 11 – Transfer to Murchison Falls National Park via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Depart Kibale after breakfast for Murchison Falls National Park, stopping at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route. Here, enjoy a guided walk to see white rhinos and spot associated bird species such as Wattled Starling, Long-tailed Cormorant, and African Openbill. Continue the drive through the scenic Masindi plains, birding for Rufous-crowned Eremomela and Northern Pied Babbler along roadside woodland areas.

Arrive at Murchison Falls National Park for dinner and lodge check-in. Murchison is home to over 450 bird species and abundant wildlife, with habitats ranging from riverine forests and savannahs to papyrus swamps.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Rhino Tracking Uganda Tours

Day 12 – Murchison Falls Game Drive & Nile Boat Cruise

Start with a morning game drive to explore savannahs, woodlands, and riverbanks. Target bird species include African Grey Hornbill, Lilac-breasted Roller, and Red-necked Spurfowl. Large mammals such as elephant, buffalo, and giraffe are abundant, and sightings of lions and leopards are possible.

After lunch, embark on a boat cruise along the Nile River to the base of the falls, observing hippos, Nile crocodiles, and shoals of fish while scanning for birds like African Skimmer, African Openbill, and Giant Kingfisher. The dramatic waterfalls provide stunning photographic backdrops. Evening at the lodge allows relaxation and reflection on the day’s wildlife and 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari encounters.

Accommodation: Paraa Safari Lodge / Murchison River Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13 – Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda – Golden Monkey Trekking

Cross into Rwanda and travel to Volcanoes National Park, a lush montane forest renowned for gorilla and golden monkey trekking. After settling into your lodge, embark on a trek to see golden monkeys, observing their playful behavior in bamboo forests. The park is rich in Albertine Rift endemic birds, such as Red-headed Bluebill, Dusky Crimsonwing, and Yellow-eyed Black Flycatcher, making it a prime location for forest birding enthusiasts.

Afternoon walks in the forest trails provide opportunities to spot Ruwenzori Turaco, Black-billed Turaco, and Mountain Yellow Warbler, as well as small mammals like bushbucks and giant forest hogs. Evening relaxation at the lodge overlooks misty volcanic peaks.

Animals to Spot: Golden Monkey | Bushbuck | Giant Forest Hog | Olive Baboon | Forest Elephant (rare)

Accommodation: Mountain Gorilla View Lodge / Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14 – Kigali City Tour & Departure

Transfer to Kigali, Rwanda’s vibrant capital, with stops for birding along rural wetlands or urban parks, spotting Black-headed Weaver, African Pied Wagtail, and Pied Crow. Enjoy a guided city tour, visiting the Kigali Genocide Memorial, local markets, and cultural centers, reflecting on the history and resilience of Rwanda.

After lunch, transfer to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, concluding an unforgettable 14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari with memories of pristine forests, savannahs, wetlands, and extraordinary wildlife.

Animals to Spot: Vervet Monkey | Olive Baboon | Monitor Lizard | Occasional Savannah Mammals along rural roads

Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Excursion Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

Safari Inclusions

Airport transfers in Uganda and Rwanda.
All ground transportation in a private 4×4 safari vehicle.
Accommodation on full board basis (breakfast, lunch, dinner).
Gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits.
Game drives, boat cruises, and guided birding excursions.
Experienced English-speaking safari guide.
Park entrance fees and government taxes.
1 liter of complimentary bottled water per person per day.
Cultural experiences (Batwa visit, Kigali Genocide Memorial).
Bird checklists provided by the guide.

Safari Exclusions

International flights to and from Uganda/Rwanda.
Visa fees for Uganda and Rwanda.
Travel and personal insurance.
Personal expenses (drinks, tips, souvenirs, optional activities).
Vaccinations and medical costs.
Any activity not mentioned in the itinerary.

14-Day Uganda–Rwanda Birding Safari