14 Day Western Uganda Birding Safari: Albertine Rift Specials
Mabamba, Budongo, Murchison, Kibale, Semuliki, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi's Buhoma and Ruhija, and Lake Mburo.
Go beyond the expected.
Fourteen days chasing green-breasted pitta and Ituri batis. Combine shoebill, the Royal Mile, Semuliki's lowland forest, the Buhoma and Ruhija sectors of Bwindi, and a gorilla trek.
- Shoebill at Mabamba
- Royal Mile at Budongo
- Semuliki lowland forest specials
- Buhoma and Ruhija birding
- Gorilla trek and Lake Mburo
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 permit
- Chimpanzee permit
- Boat cruises as listed
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 Botanical Gardens
Entebbe
Arrive and bird the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Day 2 Mabamba and Masindi
Mabamba and Masindi
A morning in the Mabamba Swamp, then a four-hour transfer to Masindi with lunch on the way.
Day 3 Budongo's Royal Mile
Budongo Forest and Murchison Falls
Birding the Royal Mile with a packed lunch, then a four-hour transfer to Murchison.
Day 4 Nile cruise and falls
Murchison Falls National Park
A boat cruise to the delta and a game drive, then the top of the falls.
Day 5 To Kibale
Kibale Forest National Park
A six-hour transfer to Kibale and dinner at a treetop lodge.
Day 6 Chimpanzees and Sebitoli
Kibale Forest
Track chimpanzees, then bird around the Sebitoli area.
Day 7 Semuliki
Semuliki National Park
A two-hour drive and a morning of birding in the Semuliki forest.
Day 8 Queen Elizabeth cruise
Queen Elizabeth National Park
Transfer to Queen Elizabeth for an afternoon Kazinga Channel cruise.
Day 9 Ishasha and Bwindi
Ishasha and Bwindi
Birding through the Ishasha sector, then transfer to Bwindi.
Day 10 Buhoma birding
Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Birding the Buhoma sector with a packed lunch in the forest.
Day 11 To Ruhija
Ruhija
A two-hour drive through The Neck and optional birding around Ruhija.
Day 12 Gorilla trekking and Ruhija birding
Ruhija
Trek to a gorilla family in the morning and bird the surrounding forest after lunch.
Day 13 To Lake Mburo
Lake Mburo National Park
A five-hour transfer and an afternoon game drive.
Day 14 Boat cruise and return
Lake Mburo and Entebbe
A morning boat cruise on Lake Mburo, then drive to Entebbe.
On this safari
Places you will visit
EntebbeExplore place →
MasindiExplore place →
Murchison FallsExplore place →
Murchison Falls National ParkExplore place →
Kibale National ParkExplore place →
Semuliki National ParkExplore place →
Queen Elizabeth National ParkExplore place →
Bwindi Impenetrable National ParkExplore place →
Lake Mburo National ParkExplore place →
Budongo ForestExplore 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 14 Day Western Uganda Birding Safari: Albertine Rift Specials
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.