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Despite its small size, Uganda is Africa’s richest country for birding tours, boasting a staggering bird list of over 1,000 recorded species. No other country on the continent can match Uganda’s amazingly diverse range of habitats.
Nestled in Equatorial East Africa, Uganda is a spectacular country defined by its geographical extremes and rich biotopes:
This unique blend of misty mountains, lush forests, and immense lakes makes Uganda a top, rapidly emerging birding destination in Africa.
This tour is designed for ease of exploration, ensuring maximum time immersed in the magical world of birds:
Prepare to be fascinated by key sightings on this tour:
For those seeking more, optional budget tour extensions are available to Semliki National Park, Kibale Forest, Budongo Forest, or Bwindi National Park (for the magnificent Mountain Gorillas).
Our Uganda short birding tour can be combined with a 22-day Uganda Birding tour. Read our latest Uganda Birding tour report.
Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe and Botanical Gardens Birding
Your exciting and exclusive Uganda Budget Birding Tour begins at Entebbe International Airport (EBB), the gateway for Uganda’s birding adventures. If time permits upon arrival, we will make our first stop just minutes away at the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Birding here is conducted entirely on foot and offers an excellent, immediate introduction to Uganda’s rich and diverse avifauna.
Here, we hope to encounter a variety of species, including the striking Papyrus Gonolek, Southern White-faced Scops-Owl, African Wood-Owl, Grey Kestrel, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Orange Weaver, Bat Hawk, Plain Greenbul, Lesser Jacana, Green-throated Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird, and Weyns’s Weaver.
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp – In Search of the Shoebill
We start the day early by heading to the renowned Mabamba Swamp, one of Uganda’s premier birding sites. Our main goal today is the legendary Shoebill. We’ll explore this extensive papyrus wetland, with its crisscrossing channels and lagoons, aboard a traditional small wooden canoe (comfortably seating four birders plus a local guide) for an intimate and unforgettable birding experience.
Mabamba Swamp
Mabamba is a must-visit hotspot for any birder, offering an impressive list of species. Other notable birds we may encounter include Purple Starling, Blue-headed Coucal, Lesser Jacana, Grey-rumped Swallow, Weyns’s Weaver, Goliath Heron, Hooded Vulture, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Slender-billed Weaver, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Splendid Starling, Red-chested Sunbird, Blue Malkoha, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Allen’s Gallinule, and Western Citril. The swamp is also a breeding ground for the rare Blue Swallow, an intra-African migrant.
In addition to waterbirds, the surrounding edges offer opportunities for open-country and woodland species such as the Eastern Plantain-eater, Crowned Hornbill, Rufous-chested Swallow, and African Green Pigeon. After an unforgettable morning in Mabamba, we transfer in the afternoon to Mabira Forest, ready for the next chapter of our birding adventure.
Day 3: Immersive Birding in Mabira Forest
We dedicate the better part of the day to exploring Mabira Forest, one of Uganda’s most productive rainforest birding sites. Covering approximately 300 square kilometers and conveniently located near Kampala, we will utilize well-established nature trails—such as the Buttress, Red-tailed Monkey, and Turaco trails—to maximize our sightings within this lush environment.
The forest boasts more than 300 bird species, and walking the trails provides fresh air, gentle exercise, and immersive encounters with the forest’s diverse ecosystem. Among the rare and sought-after species here are the skulking Nahan’s Francolin, the impressive Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, the diminutive Tit Hylia, and the elusive Grey Longbill.
Other highlights we hope to encounter include Forest Scimitarbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Western Nicator, Green Crombec, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Grey Greenbul, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Grey-headed Sunbird, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, Lowland Sooty Boubou, Green Hylia, Yellow-breasted Forest Robin, Black-crowned Waxbill, Congo Pied Hornbill, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Sabine’s Spinetail, and the striking Black-bellied Seedcracker.
Mabira’s mix of trails, towering trees, and abundant birdlife ensures a rewarding day of rainforest birding, making it one of the finest day birding destinations in Uganda.
Day 4: Travel and Birding at Lake Mburo National Park
We begin with an early breakfast before setting off for Lake Mburo National Park. Despite being Uganda’s smallest national park (covering roughly 260 sq. km), it is recognized as one of the country’s finest birding destinations, rich in both avian and mammal life. We will arrive at our lodge in time for a hot lunch, followed by an afternoon of birding within the tranquil lodge grounds and the surrounding area.
Here we hope to encounter species such as the clattering Trilling Cisticola, the tiny and dazzling African Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-necked Spurfowl, African Green Pigeon feeding in fruiting figs, Senegal Lapwing, Mosque Swallow, Southern Red Bishop, Black Bishop, Red-headed Lovebird, and Brown-throated Wattle-eye.
In the evening, as we settle in the dining area, the forest comes alive with night sounds. We’ll keep an eye out for Fiery-necked, Freckled, Swamp, Pennant-winged, and Slender-tailed Nightjars swooping around the lodge lights. With luck, even the unusual Egyptian Toad may be seen wandering across the restaurant floor, adding a unique twist to the experience.
Day 5: Extensive Birding Drive in Lake Mburo
We start the day with an early morning game drive deep into Lake Mburo National Park. This compact yet highly rewarding destination harbors over 300 bird species. Birding here is conducted efficiently from the vehicle, allowing us to cover a wide variety of habitats and maximize our sightings.
Key areas for excellent birding include the Warukiri and Miriti swampy valleys. These locations feature a valuable habitat mix of papyrus and acacia woodlands, drawing in a high concentration of both resident and seasonal migratory birds.
Key birds to look out for include:
With its mix of acacia savanna, woodland, and wetland, Lake Mburo offers a diverse and exciting day of birding, with plenty of opportunities to spot Uganda’s unique species.
Afternoon – Boat Ride on Lake Mburo
In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a scenic boat ride on Lake Mburo, an excellent way to explore the park’s aquatic habitats and get close views of a variety of bird species. Our main targets here will be two of the park’s most sought-after specialties: the elusive African Finfoot and the shy White-backed Night Heron.
Along the lake’s edges, we’ll also look out for:
The combination of open water, papyrus fringes, and wooded shoreline makes this boat ride a highlight of birding in Lake Mburo National Park—a relaxing yet rewarding way to add more exciting species to our checklist.
Day 6: Lake Mburo to Entebbe Airport (Departure)
Following a final breakfast, we conclude our Uganda Budget Birding Tour with a transfer from Lake Mburo directly to Entebbe International Airport (EBB) for your connecting flight back home.
The 3-day birding tour in Amboseli explores a variety of habitats within a rich and exceptionally promising biosphere. Amboseli is one of the best places in Africa to view large herds of savannah elephants, all framed by superb, unobstructed views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak.
Amboseli National Park boasts one of Eastern Africa’s most striking landscapes, featuring an impressive mix of environments—from the vast, dried-up bed of Lake Amboseli and lush wetlands fed by sulphur springs to open savannas and pockets of woodland. These diverse habitats create an area of outstanding scenic beauty and offer superb opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife photography.
Ruma National Park is a hidden birding gem for nature lovers, birdwatchers, photographers and wildlife enthusiasts, offering a rich diversity of species and some of Kenya’s most picturesque scenery. This delightful birding hotspot boasts a sensational mix of habitats, making it one of the country’s finest birding destinations. It is the best place to spot the rare Montane Blue Swallow and the iconic Roan Antelope, alongside a wide variety of other species. Thanks to its mild climate and natural landscapes, birdwatching in Ruma is productive throughout the year. For an even more rewarding experience, a visit to Ruma can be seamlessly combined with nearby birding treasures such as Lake Victoria, Busia Grasslands, Mount Elgon, Kongelai Escarpment, and Kakamega Forest, forming part of Kenya’s western birding circuit.
