Twenty-one days across Uganda's main birding habitats: Nile and Budongo, Kidepo and Karamoja, Mount Elgon, Kibale, Semuliki and Bwindi.
The most complete birding route we offer. It crosses Uganda from the Nile and Budongo to the dry Somali-Masai country of Kidepo, up Mount Elgon, and west to the Congo-basin forest of Semuliki and the Albertine endemics of Bwindi.
More than 600 species are possible, from the shoebill and the Green-breasted Pitta to Fox’s weaver and the African green broadbill. It is a long trip with several long drives, and every one of them ends somewhere worth the journey.
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.
Arrive and spend a relaxed afternoon at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for great blue turaco, Ross’s turaco, bat hawk and orange-tufted sunbird.
Overnight
The Boma Entebbe (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A quiet boutique guesthouse in a leafy garden, ten minutes from Entebbe airport.
Paddle into Mabamba Swamp at dawn for the shoebill, lesser jacana, papyrus gonolek and blue-breasted bee-eater. Drive north to Masindi in the afternoon.
Walk the Royal Mile for chocolate-backed and blue-breasted kingfishers, Nahan’s partridge, Ituri batis and Uganda wood warbler.
Overnight
Nile Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Timber bandas on the south bank of the Nile, with a pool above the river.
Drive into Murchison Falls and stop at the top of the falls for rock pratincole on the boulders.
Overnight
Nile Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Timber bandas on the south bank of the Nile, with a pool above the river.
Cruise to the Nile-Lake Albert delta for Pel’s fishing owl, African skimmer and white-winged warbler. In the afternoon, search for Abyssinian ground hornbill and Denham’s bustard.
Overnight
Nile Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Timber bandas on the south bank of the Nile, with a pool above the river.
Leave the usual tourist circuit and drive north-east through Gulu to Kitgum, breaking the long journey to the frontier.
Reach Kidepo by midday and take an afternoon drive in the Narus Valley for dry-country raptors, ostrich, Clapperton’s francolin and Abyssinian roller.
Overnight
Apoka Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only upmarket lodge in Kidepo, among the boulders of the Narus Valley.
Cross the dry Kidepo riverbed for Somali-Masai specialities: pygmy falcon, fox kestrel, Jackson’s hornbill and Karamoja apalis.
Overnight
Apoka Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only upmarket lodge in Kidepo, among the boulders of the Narus Valley.
A rugged, scenic drive through Karamoja, past Kotido and Kaabong, to Moroto at the foot of Mount Moroto.
Bird the acacia scrub and lower slopes for stone partridge, white-bellied go-away-bird and Emin’s shrike, then continue to Soroti.
Take a morning boat on Lake Bisina to find Fox’s weaver, Uganda’s only true endemic, then climb to Sipi Falls on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
Overnight
Sipi River Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Stone cottages in a garden beside the main Sipi waterfall, on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
Walk the high trails of Kapkwai for Hartlaub’s turaco, Jackson’s francolin, Tacazze sunbird and black-collared apalis.
Overnight
Sipi River Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Stone cottages in a garden beside the main Sipi waterfall, on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
A long drive back across Uganda, through Kampala and Fort Portal, to the edge of Kibale Forest.
Overnight
Primate Lodge Kibale (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only lodge inside Kibale Forest, a short walk from the chimpanzee briefing.
Enter the forest before sunrise for the Green-breasted Pitta. In the afternoon, walk Bigodi Wetland for great blue turaco and papyrus gonolek.
Overnight
Primate Lodge Kibale (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only lodge inside Kibale Forest, a short walk from the chimpanzee briefing.
A day trip to Semuliki and the Kirumia Trail for white-crested, black dwarf and piping hornbills, then back to Kibale.
Overnight
Primate Lodge Kibale (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only lodge inside Kibale Forest, a short walk from the chimpanzee briefing.
Drive across the Equator to Queen Elizabeth and take the afternoon cruise on the Kazinga Channel for waterbirds, hippo and elephant.
Overnight
Mweya Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The classic lodge of Queen Elizabeth, on the Mweya Peninsula above the Kazinga Channel.
Drive through Ishasha, where lions rest in the fig trees, and climb into the lower forest of 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.
Hike the waterfall and river trails for short-tailed warbler, red-faced woodland warbler and banded prinia.
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 Neck as you climb to the cool ridges of Ruhija at 2,300 metres, looking for black bee-eater and Rwenzori batis.
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.
Trek into Mubwindi Swamp for the African green broadbill, Grauer’s rush warbler, regal sunbird and Archer’s robin-chat.
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.
Begin the long drive back to Entebbe, scanning the woodland around Lake Mburo for missed species before your evening flight.
The Boma Entebbe (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
A quiet boutique guesthouse in a leafy garden, ten minutes from Entebbe airport.
Lunch & dinner
Nile Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Timber bandas on the south bank of the Nile, with a pool above the river.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Apoka Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only upmarket lodge in Kidepo, among the boulders of the Narus Valley.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Sipi River Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
Stone cottages in a garden beside the main Sipi waterfall, on the slopes of Mount Elgon.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Primate Lodge Kibale (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The only lodge inside Kibale Forest, a short walk from the chimpanzee briefing.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Mweya Safari Lodge (opens the property’s website in a new tab)
The classic lodge of Queen Elizabeth, on the Mweya Peninsula above the Kazinga Channel.
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$13,400 | US$11,360 | US$10,678 | US$10,678 | US$10,678 | US$10,678 | Get quote |
| Low season (Mar to May, Nov) | US$11,760 | US$9,970 | US$9,372 | US$9,372 | US$9,372 | US$9,372 | 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. Lodges at Gulu, Kitgum, Moroto and Soroti are simple and will be confirmed when you enquire. 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: forests and ridges are cold at dawn and can be wet at any hour, while the plains are hot. Bring waterproofs, sturdy waterproof boots, long socks to tuck trousers into, a wide-brimmed hat, 8×42 or 10×42 binoculars and, for photography, a fast lens.
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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