The Albertine Rift endemics at their best: Mgahinga's volcano slopes, Mubwindi Swamp and the trails of Ruhija and Buhoma.
This is a route for serious forest birders. It follows the Albertine Rift endemics through the high bamboo of Mgahinga and the misty ridges of Ruhija to the lower trails of Buhoma, with more than twenty-five localised species in reach.
It is demanding walking at altitude, and every day is planned around the forest’s best hours.
Uganda
Luxury safari
Handpicked luxury lodges and camps, chosen for their setting, service and guiding.
Private safari
Your own vehicle and guide for the whole journey, never shared with other travellers.
Made to measure
Change the pace, a lodge or an activity and we rebuild the itinerary around you.
Start any day
Travel on the dates that suit you, subject to lodge and permit availability.
Solo travellers welcome
Priced for one on request, with the single supplement shown under Rates.
Pace and fitness
Balanced, fitness: challenging.
Drive south-west through the terraced hills of Kigezi, climbing toward the Virunga volcanoes. You can also arrive through Kigali for a shorter drive.
Overnight
Mount Gahinga Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Lava-stone bandas at the gate of Mgahinga, under three Virunga volcanoes.
A steep full day through bamboo and forested gorges for Rwenzori turaco, regal sunbird and Kivu ground thrush, with Archer’s robin-chat and Rwenzori double-collared sunbird in the afternoon.
Overnight
Mount Gahinga Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Lava-stone bandas at the gate of Mgahinga, under three Virunga volcanoes.
Spend the morning in the lower bamboo for handsome spurfowl and mountain yellow warbler, with golden monkeys possible. Drive north to the high-altitude Ruhija sector of Bwindi.
Overnight
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Descend the steep trail to Mubwindi Swamp, the best birding site in Bwindi. The main target is the African green broadbill, with Grauer’s rush warbler, Carruthers’s cisticola and Stripe-breasted tit around the swamp.
Overnight
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Bird the road and forest edge at Ruhija for regal sunbird, Rwenzori batis, Black-billed turaco and mountain illadopsis, then descend to the lower rainforest at Buhoma.
Overnight
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Walk beneath the canopy for short-tailed warbler, Kivu ground thrush and African broadbill, then along the river paths for many-coloured bush-shrike and bar-tailed trogon.
Overnight
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Follow an old trail through remote valleys for black bee-eater, Oberlaender’s ground thrush and white-bellied robin-chat, with forest kingfishers and flycatchers along the river.
Overnight
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Spend the morning on community tracks and forest borders for weavers, sunbirds and hornbills. In the afternoon, visit the Neck, a narrow forest corridor reliable for black bee-eater, Cassin’s flycatcher and Chapin’s flycatcher.
Overnight
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Drive back to Entebbe, or cross early to Kigali if you are leaving from there.
Mount Gahinga Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Lava-stone bandas at the gate of Mgahinga, under three Virunga volcanoes.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Bwindi Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Eight bandas facing the forest in Buhoma, a short walk from the gorilla trek briefing point.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Important to know
Rates per person
| Season | Solo | 2 people | 3 people | 4 people | 5 people | 6 people | 7+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High season (Jun to Oct, Dec to Feb) | US$10,750 | US$9,110 | US$8,563 | US$8,563 | US$8,563 | US$8,563 | Get quote |
| Low season (Mar to May, Nov) | US$9,440 | US$8,000 | US$7,520 | US$7,520 | US$7,520 | US$7,520 | Get quote |
Prices are per person, in US dollars, and depend on the number of travellers sharing the vehicle and guide. They are sample rates for planning and will be confirmed when you enquire, as lodge and permit prices change each year. Gorilla trekking or golden monkey tracking can be added if booked early; permits are extra. Sightings of any single species cannot be guaranteed, but the route is built to give you the best chances.
Best time for this trip Jun to Aug, Dec to Feb
Pack layers: the ridges at Ruhija and Mgahinga are cold at dawn. Bring waterproofs, sturdy waterproof boots with ankle support, and long socks to tuck trousers into. Bring fast lenses and 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars for the dark understory.
Made to measure
Every Uwera safari is private. Slow the pace, add a night by a lake, swap a lodge or bring the children: tell us in your request and we will rebuild the itinerary around you.
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