20 Day Uganda Birder’s Grand Tour: Wetlands, Forests and Primates
Twenty days of birding from Mabamba to Mburo, with chimpanzees and gorillas on the way.
Go beyond the expected.
The most thorough birding itinerary we offer. Wetlands, savannah, Albertine Rift forests and the Semuliki lowland forest, with chimpanzees at Kibale and a gorilla trek at Bwindi.
- Shoebill at Mabamba
- Budongo Forest's Royal Mile
- Semuliki's Central African species
- Bwindi's Albertine Rift endemics
- Chimpanzees and gorillas
What's included
Included
- Airport transfers
- Pop-up roof 4x4 vehicle with driver-guide
- Accommodation and meals as specified
- Park and reserve entrance fees for the activities listed
- Mountain gorilla and chimpanzee permits
- Specialist birding guide services where specified
Not included
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Travel insurance
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages
Confirm current park fees, permit availability, accommodation and pricing before booking, since these can change with season and demand. Access to remote areas should be confirmed before travel.
Day by day
Day 1 Arrival and Mabamba Wetland
Entebbe and Mabamba
Arrive and paddle the Mabamba Wetland for shoebill.
Day 2 To Ziwa
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Drive north and walk with rhinos at Ziwa, with birding in the sanctuary.
Day 3 To Murchison Falls
Murchison Falls National Park
Drive to Murchison with an afternoon game drive.
Day 4 Murchison birding and cruise
Murchison Falls National Park
A morning drive and a launch cruise for water birds below the falls.
Day 5 To Budongo Forest
Hoima and Budongo
Drive to Budongo through Busingiro.
Day 6 Royal Mile
Budongo Forest
Walk the Royal Mile for forest birds and primates.
Day 7 To Kibale
Fort Portal and Kibale
Drive to Kibale Forest.
Day 8 Chimpanzee tracking
Kibale Forest
Track chimpanzees in the morning and bird the Bigodi Wetland.
Day 9 Kihingami Wetland
Kibale and Fort Portal
Birding walk in the Kihingami Wetland.
Day 10 To Semuliki
Semuliki National Park
Drive to Semuliki and bird the forest edge.
Day 11 Semuliki forest birding
Semuliki National Park
Full day on the Kirumia trail and the hot springs.
Day 12 To Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Drive to Queen Elizabeth for an afternoon game drive.
Day 13 Queen Elizabeth cruise
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Birding on the Kazinga Channel and the savannah.
Day 14 To Ishasha and Buhoma
Ishasha and Bwindi
Drive south via Ishasha to Buhoma.
Day 15 Buhoma forest birding
Bwindi
Birding walks in Bwindi's forest.
Day 16 Buhoma to Nkuringo walk
Bwindi
Walk through the forest and villages to Nkuringo.
Day 17 Rushaga pocket forests
Rushaga
Bird the small forest patches around Rushaga.
Day 18 Gorilla trekking
Bwindi
Trek to a gorilla family and spend an hour with them.
Day 19 Echuya Forest to Lake Mburo
Echuya and Lake Mburo
Bird Echuya Forest, then drive to Lake Mburo.
Day 20 Lake Mburo and return to Entebbe
Lake Mburo and Entebbe
Morning birding at Lake Mburo, then drive to Entebbe.
On this safari
Places you will visit
EntebbeExplore place →
Murchison FallsExplore place →
Murchison Falls National ParkExplore place →
Budongo ForestExplore place →
Kibale National ParkExplore place →
Semuliki National ParkExplore place →
Queen Elizabeth National ParkExplore place →
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkExplore place →
Lake Mburo National ParkExplore place →
Ziwa Rhino SanctuaryExplore place →
HoimaExplore place →
Fort PortalExplore place →Travel Guide
Knowledge connected to this page
Read planning and destination stories connected to this Offmap entity.
Uganda Chimpanzees Communities
Cultural Safari Uganda: Batwa, Buganda and Karamoja
Forest people, kingdoms, markets and cattle herders, linked to the parks.
Wellness Safari Uganda: Lake Bunyonyi, Forest and Gorillas
Lake canoes, forest walks and one gorilla trek at a slow pace.
East Africa Conservation Culture
Batwa Cultural Experience in Uganda: What It Is and How to Choose
A forest walk with Batwa hosts, and how to do it respectfully.
East Africa Birding Planning a Safari
Best Time for Birding in East Africa, Month by Month
Match your dates to the birds, not just the weather.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Multi-Country Safaris
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Gorilla Safari: Routes and Planning
Plains, craters and gorillas across three countries.
East Africa Gorilla Trekking Planning a Safari
Gorilla and Beach Safari: Combine Gorillas with Zanzibar
Pair a forest trek with a few days on the coast.
Ready to plan this Safari?
Start with the places and experiences that matter to you. We will shape the Safari around them.
Plan This Safari →Need to know?
Questions about 20 Day Uganda Birder’s Grand Tour: Wetlands, Forests and Primates
Do I need a visa to visit Uganda?
Most nationalities need a visa for Uganda, commonly available as an e-visa applied for online before travel. Requirements vary by nationality, so check the current official guidance for your passport well ahead of your safari.
How many days do I need in Uganda?
A focused gorilla trekking safari can work in as few as 4–5 days, but 8–12 days lets you combine gorilla trekking with chimpanzee tracking, a savannah park such as Queen Elizabeth or Murchison Falls, and some rest time. We shape the exact length around what you want to include.
How many national parks does Uganda have?
Uganda protects its landscapes and wildlife across ten national parks, ranging from the rainforest of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (home to mountain gorillas) to the savanna of Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest park.
How much does a gorilla trekking permit cost in Uganda?
Uganda gorilla trekking permits are issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and priced separately from your safari cost. Permit prices and availability change periodically, so we confirm the current official rate and secure your permit as part of planning your safari: book several months ahead where possible, since permits for popular dates sell out.
What is the best time to visit Uganda?
Uganda can be visited year-round. The drier months (roughly December–February and June–September) are generally easiest for trekking and game viewing, while the wetter months bring lush scenery, fewer crowds and lower lodge rates. Gorilla trekking is possible in any month, since it happens in rainforest regardless of season.
What wildlife is Uganda known for?
Uganda is best known for mountain gorillas, it holds roughly half of the world’s remaining population, alongside strong chimpanzee tracking in Kibale, tree-climbing lions in Queen Elizabeth National Park, and over 1,000 recorded bird species, an exceptional figure for a country of its size.