15 Days Uganda Birding & Primate Tour
15 Days Uganda Birding & Primate Tour –Chimp & Gorilla Trekking
Join us on a captivating 15 Days Uganda Birding, Chimp & Gorilla Trekking Tour. Get a lifetime opportunity to locate your favorite primate species and unique bird species.
The 2-week flawless adventure comes with exceptional activities –primate adventures like mountain gorilla trekking, chimpanzee tracking, and bird watching.
The expected places to visit to enjoy your primate and birding experience include Mabamba wetland, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Lake Bunyonyi, and Lake Mburo National Park. Contact us to customize your dream primate and birding combo safari to Uganda.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up at the airport for your Uganda safari
Day 2: Visit Mabamba Swamp/Wetland for Birding
Day 3: Drive to Budongo –enjoy afternoon forest walk
Day 4: Morning birding & Drive to the Northern circuit for bird watching along Victoria Falls
Day 5: Explore Delta birds & afternoon game drive combined with birding
Day 6: Drive to Kibale for Birding & Chimpanzee trek
Day 7: Experience the best Kibale chimpanzee trekking & birding in Bigodi
Day 8: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth Park –En route tour at the Kikorongo, afternoon boat
Day 9: Birding in the morning & proceed to Ishasha for game drive combined with bird watching- Bwindi
Day 10: Visit Ruhija for birding & Batwa
Day 11: Uganda Gorilla trekking –(Bwindi) & visit Lake Bunyonyi
Day 12: Canoeing with birding & Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Day 13: Birding & boat cruise to sight aquatic life
Day 14: Nature/Bush walk & Cultural visit –Explore Ankole Cultures & Traditions
Day 15: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up at the airport for your Uganda safari
After you have landed at Entebbe, our expert will be present to pick you up and transfer you to the lodge for relaxation.
In case of early arrival, you can proceed to the botanical gardens to explore some interesting bird species and later retire for the night.
Meal plan: Bed and Breakfast
Day 2: Visit Mabamba Swamp/Wetland for Birding
Wake up early and enjoy a heavy breakfast, then you will proceed to the stunning Mabamba wetland. At the lush Mabamba, expect to explore not only the popular elusive shoebill storks.
But also a range of other amazing birds such as the African water rail, white-winged warblers, papyrus gonoleks, purple gallinule, grey herons, egrets, and squacco, etc.
Return after a full day birding experience in Mabamba and relax at the hotel in Entebbe.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
Day 3: Drive to Budongo –enjoy afternoon forest walk (optional)
After breakfast, head off to Budongo Forest in the Northwestern circuit, about 4-5 hours. You may proceed with an afternoon forest walk in Budongo Forest Reserve. About 360 birds make Budongo a premier birding destination, and among others the Guinea-Congo forest biome.
The expected bird sightings in Budongo include the blue-breasted kingfishers, black-eared ground thrush, Nahan’s partridge, African dwarf, Narina trogon, Cassin’s hawk-eagles, Chocolate-backed kingfishers, to mention but a few.
The must-visit sites for birding excursions in Budongo Forest include the Royal Mile which is near the Busingiro sector.
Kaniyo-Pabidi in the Southern end of Budongo, and Sonso near the forest research station. Each of the birding trails offers astonishing bird sightings and should be led by an experienced guide.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 4: Morning birding & Drive to the Northern circuit for bird watching along Victoria Falls
Enjoy an unforgettable birding tour along Budongo. Catch up with interesting Uganda birds on awe morning birding excursion, enjoy the melodious sounds, and also appreciate the lush vegetation.
After the morning birding experience, return, and you will head to the Northern circuit of Murchison Falls National Park.
Expect to enjoy the afternoon boat on the Victoria Nile to the base of the falls while spotting amazing aquatic birds such as kingfishers, fish eagles, and more.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 5: Explore Delta birds & afternoon game drive combined with birding
Embark on a guided birding tour along the Albert Delta circuit, about 4 to 5 hours.
The expected bird sightings include the African fish eagles, goliath herons, pied kingfishers, elusive shoebill storks, and more.
After the birding experience, retreat and enjoy lunch before proceeding with a guided game drive combined with birding.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (plus plenty of water)
Day 6: Drive to Kibale for Birding & Chimpanzee trek
Today, you will be transferred to Kibale National Park, driving along the Hoima route, about 7-8 hours.
On arrival at Fort Portal, lunch will be offered in one of the top restaurants (Garden Restaurant), and later, you will continue to the lodge along the Kamwenge road.
Enjoy the rest of the evening in the pre-booked safari lodge and later, have dinner at leisure.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 7: Experience the best Kibale chimpanzee trekking & birding in Bigodi
Chimpanzee tracking will be your unforgettable experience to enjoy while in Kibale National Park.
The day will begin with orientation from Kanyanchu tourism centre, where you will also get the park ranger guide to lead you.
The expected duration for today’s chimpanzee trekking in Kibale covers between 2 and 4 hours, inclusive of 1 hour for up close with chimpanzees.
In the afternoon, when you have finished with lunch, you can continue to Bigodi for a nature walk and birding.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 8: Kibale to Queen Elizabeth Park –En route tour at the Kikorongo, afternoon boat
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park, a journey to take you about 2-3 hours.
En route from Kibale, you have a photo stop at the Kikorongo equator crossing and continue to catch up with a birding tour using a boat for you to look out for aquatic birds.
The Kazinga Channel will be your key site of interest for today’s afternoon birding experience in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 9: Birding in the morning & proceed to Ishasha for game drive combined with bird watching- Bwindi
After the morning breakfast, proceed to the Kasenyi track for a birding experience. Look out for interesting birds that survive around this sector, including the Kori bustards.
About 620 bird species are in Queen Elizabeth National Park alone, distributed across the sectors, including Kasenyi.
In the afternoon, expect to enjoy a bird-watching tour combined with tree-climbing spotting at Ishasha. Continue to Bwindi for you to have adequate relaxation.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 10: Visit Ruhija for birding & Batwa
After breakfast, embark on the Ruhija birding tour. Explore the best birding trails while sighting a range of bird species, including the majority of Albertine rift endemic species.
They include stripe-breasted sunbirds, Rwenzori turacos, Rwenzori batis, and Grauer’s warblers. Return from the Ruhija birding session and relax, enjoy lunch, then proceed to the Batwa cultural experience.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 11: Uganda Gorilla trekking –(Bwindi) & visit Lake Bunyonyi
Get up early and prepare for the enriching day, which includes mountain gorilla trekking. Today, you will be briefed on gorilla trekking rules, and the gorilla families will be assigned to accompany you.
Expect to take 2-6 hours in the rainforest while searching for mountain gorillas with the Bwindi park ranger guide. You may also be joined by the porters who carry your luggage, especially heavy items.
After gorilla trekking, your next visit will be Lake Bunyonyi- Uganda’s deepest lake and also a charming waterbody with 29 islands. Enjoy the evening relaxation at the lodge while viewing the lake or opt to go swimming.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 12: Canoeing with birding & Drive to Lake Mburo National Park
Enjoy an early morning canoe ride with an expert. Today, you will be exploring some of the 200 bird species that reside in the scenic Lake Bunyonyi.
Afterward, get ready to connect to Lake Mburo, home to 350 bird species and huge concentrations of zebras and impalas.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 13: Birding & boat cruise to sight aquatic life
Go birding along the savannah trails and explore amazing birds in Lake Mburo National Park.
This park is home to birds such as emerald-spotted wood dove, African wattled lapwing, saddle-billed storks, white-browed coucals, and more.
In the afternoon, continue birding along Lake Mburo while on a boat ride.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 14: Nature/Bush walk & Cultural visit –Explore Ankole Cultures & Traditions
Enjoy an early morning breakfast and after, you will go for a bush walk also referred to as nature walk.
Explore Lake Mburo on foot and interact with some of the amazing wildlife and birds.
In the afternoon, you will be visiting the nearby community to explore the Ankole traditions and cultures.
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 15: Departure
After breakfast, check out and next, drive back to Entebbe but expect an en route photo stopover at Kayabwe Equator monument. Continue up to Entebbe and expect to arrive by afternoon; relax while you wait for the night flight or be at the lodge if your holiday is still ongoing in Uganda.