Explore the diverse avian landscapes of Eastern Uganda, from the lush rainforests of Mabira and Mt Elgon to the expansive wilderness of Pian Upe, Mathenko, and Kidepo. This midrange tour offers a strategic balance of comfort and exceptional birding, targeting the iconic Shoebill, the endemic Fox’s Weaver, and Karamoja Apals. With professional guiding, optimized photography windows, and hand-picked eco-lodges, you will experience the very best of the region’s 400+ species.
You’ll be collected from the airport.
Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.
Day 1
Mabamba Shoebill Site and Entebbe Botanical Gardens Birding
Your journey begins with a 45-minute drive to the Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar site where we navigate by traditional wooden canoe. This community-led project offers a glimpse into the fishing culture of the Entebbe shores. In the afternoon, we explore the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Birds possible; Shoebill, Orange Weaver, Lesser Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Double-toothed Barbet, African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfisher, Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill.
Mammals and Primates Possible; Vervet Monkeys and Mantled Guerezas.
Accommodation; Papyrus Guest House.
Day 2
Transfer to Mabira Forest and add Afternoon Birding Around the Lodge
A 3-hour drive through the bustling markets of Mukono brings us to Mabira Forest, one of Uganda’s largest remaining central forest reserves. You will notice the roadside “roasted chicken” vendors at Namawojjolo, a staple of Ugandan transit culture.
• Birds: Nahan’s Partridge, Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, Sabine’s Spinetail, African Pygmy Kingfisher, White-spotted Flufftail, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Forest Robin, Fire-crested Alethe, Grey Parrot, and Tit Hylia.
• Wildlife: Grey-cheeked Mangabey and Red-tailed Monkey.
• Accommodation: The RainForest Lodge.
Day 3
Spend the whole morning and afternoon birding in Mabira Forest with the local site guide
Spending the full day under the canopy with an expert site guide, we delve into the complex ecosystem of Mabira. This forest is a sacred site for the local Baganda people, often used for traditional healing and spiritual ceremonies.
• Birds: Green-tailed Bristlebill, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Yellow-billed Barbet, Blue-throated Roller, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Nathan’s Francolin, African Pied Hornbill, Crested Malimbe, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Shining-blue Kingfisher.
• Wildlife: Squirrels and various fruit bats, Uganda Mangabey
• Accommodation: The Rain Forest Lodge.
Day 4
Mabira for the final morning and afternoon travel to Kapichworwa town
After a final morning birding session, we begin a 5-6 hour transfer to the foothills of Mt. Elgon. As we ascend toward Kapchorwa, you will witness the terraced farming of the Sebei people, famous for producing Uganda’s world-class long-distance runners.
• Birds: Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Narrow-tailed Starling, Waller’s Starling, Slender-billed Starling, Grey-throated Barbet, Willcocks’s Honeyguide, and Cassin’s Honeyguide.
• Wildlife: Side-striped Jackal.
• Accommodation: Home of Friends.
Day 5
Morning and aternoon birding at Kapkwai Exploration Center with a professional ranger site guide
We explore the montane forest of Mt. Elgon at the Kapkwai Center. The local Sabiny culture is deeply tied to these highlands. Birding here offers high-altitude specialties in a unique Afro-montane environment.
• Hartlaub’s Turaco, Tacazze Sunbird, Black-shouldered Kite, Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Black-collared Apalis, Luhder’s Bush-shrike, Chubb’s Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, and African Blue Flycatcher.
• Wildlife: Blue Monkey and Black-and-white Colobus.
• Accommodation: Home of Friends.
Day 6
Transfer to Pian Upe National Reserve and Bird here for the rest of the day
A 1.5 or 2-hour drive takes us into the semi-arid plains of Karamoja. Pian Upe is one of the most untouched wildernesses in East Africa. We will pass through the homesteads (Manyattas) of the nomadic Karamojong pastoralists.
• Birds: Ostrich, Karamoja Apalis, Fox’s Weaver, Secretary Bird, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Superb Starling, Jackson’s Hornbill, Clapperton’s Francolin, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
• Wildlife: Cheetah (rare), Roan Antelope, and Eland.
• Accommodation: Karamoja Overland Camp.
Day 7
Pian Upe final bird tour, and later travel to moroto town for overnight
After morning birding, we drive 3 hours to Moroto. A stop at the missionary catholic grounds provides an oasis for specialized species. This area offers a look at the history of missionary influence in this remote region.
• Birds: Amethyst Sunbird, Parasitic Weaver, Rufous Chatterer, Pyapiac, White-bellied Go-away-bird, D’Arnaud’s Barbet, Red-fronted Barbet, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Beautiful Sunbird, and Fan-tailed Raven.
• Accommodation: Kara-Tunga Camp.
Day 8
Morning birding at matheniko game reserve and afternoon travel to kidepo valley national park
We bird the Matheniko Game Reserve before a 5-hour drive to Kidepo Valley, Uganda’s most isolated park. The rugged scenery here is punctuated by the Morungole Mountains, home to the Ik people, and Karamajong
Birds: Egyptian Vulture, Verreaux’s Eagle,Pygmy Falcon, Black-headed Plover, Ethiopian Swallow, Golden Pipit, Fox’s Cisticola, Rufous-crowned Roller, and Kori Bustard.
• Accommodation: Kidepo Savanna Lodge.
Day 9
Morning and afternoon exploring Kidepo valley national park
A full day in Kidepo’s vast savannahs. This park feels like Africa 100 years ago. We bird the Narus Valley, where water sources attract high concentrations of wildlife and unique birds.
• Birds: Rose-ringed Parakeet, Clapperton’s Francolin, Greater Kestrel, Silverbird, Black-breasted Barbet, Nubian Woodpecker, Brubru, and Red-billed Oxpecker.
• Wildlife: Burchell’s Zebra, Rothschild’s Giraffe, and Buffalo.
• Accommodation: Kidepo Savanna Lodge.
Day 10
Transfer to Masindi town for Budongo Central Forest Reserve
A long 7-8 hour transit today toward the agricultural hub of Masindi. We stop at Nyabyeya farm lands to search for specialized finches, interacting with the local farming communities who cultivate tobacco and sugarcane.
• Birds: Brown Twinspot, Black-belliedFirefinch, Cabanis’s Bunting, Yellow-shouldered Widowbird, Marsh Widowbird, Compact Weaver, Red-headed Weaver, Whistling Cisticola, and Brown-backed Scrub-Robin.
• Wildlife: Olive Baboon.
• Accommodation: Masindi Hotel.
Day 11
Morning and afternoon birding at The Royal Mile – Budongo Central Forest Reserve
Today we bird the Royal Mile, arguably the best forest birding in Uganda. This historic road was used by the Omukama (King) of Bunyoro for leisure. The towering mahogany trees create a cathedral-like atmosphere.
• Birds: Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, African Dwarf Kingfisher, African Crowned Eagle, White-thighed Hornbill, Blue-throated Roller, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Ituri Batis, and Lemon-bellied Crombec.
• Wildlife: Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, Chimpanzee
Accommodation: Masindi Hotel.
Day 12
From Masindi to Kibale Chimpanzee Forest and add Bigodi Swamp
A 5-hour drive south brings us to the primate capital of the world. We can visit the Bigodi Swamp, a community-run sanctuary that showcases how local tea-growing communities protect the wetlands.
• Birds: Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler, White-collared Oliveback, Great Blue Turaco, Yellow-billed Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Nicator, Little Greenbul, Grey-winged Robin-Chat, and Brown-throated Wattle-eye.
• Wildlife: Chimpanzee, Red Colobus, and Grey-cheeked Mangabey.
• Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge
Day 13
African Green-breasted Pitta Experience and afternoon relaxed birding around the lodge
We spend the morning in the interior of Kibale searching for the elusive African Green-breasted Pitta. The afternoon is for relaxation, enjoying the views of the Ndali-Kasenda crater lakes.
• Birds: African Green-breasted Pitta, Black Bee-eater, Masked Apalis, Dusky Crimsonwing, Purple-breasted Sunbird, Abyssinian Ground Thrush, Crowned Eagle, and Black-eared Ground Thrush.
• Wildlife: L’Hoest’s Monkey.
• Accommodation: Chimpanzee Forest Lodge.
Day 14
Birding at semuliki valley natonal park in the morning and afternoon
A 2-hour drive leads us to the hot springs of Semuliki, an extension of the Congo Basin’s Ituri Forest. The Sempaya hot springs are culturally significant to the Bamaga people, who believe the waters have healing powers. You will be joined by the site ranger guide for a walking adventure.
• Birds: Nkulengu Rail, Piping Hornbill, Red-billed Dwarf Hornbill, Black Dwarf Hornbill, White-crested Hornbill, Black-casqued Wattled Hornbill, Zenker’s Honeyguide, Lyre-tailed Honeyguide, African Piculet, and Gabon Woodpecker.
• Wildlife: De Brazza’s Monkey and Dent’s Mona Monkey.
• Accommodation: Mountains of the Moon Hotel.
Day 15
Transfer back to Entebbe birding en-route
A 5-6 hour drive back to Entebbe for your return home. We conclude our tour with a final appreciation of the central Ugandan landscape.
• Birds: Lesser Striped Swallow, Long-crested Eagle, Lizard Buzzard, Grey-backed Fiscal, Ruppell’s Long-tailed Starling, Black-headed Weaver, Vieillot’s Black Weaver, Marabou Stork, Hadada Ibis, and Cattle Egret.
• Wildlife: Olive Baboon.
Accommodation:No accommodation (End of tour)Meals & Drinks:
- Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
- Drinking water (Other drinks not included)
End of tour
- Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
- You’ll be dropped off at the airport.
Important to Know
- Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
Rates Per Person
Jan 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026
Per person
Solo traveler (1 room)
$9,735
2 people (1 room)
$5,922
3 people (2 rooms)
$4,860
4 people (2 rooms)
$4,329
Included
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
- All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
- A professional driver/guide
- All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
- All Taxes/VAT
- Roundtrip airport transfer
- Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
- Drinks (As specified in the day-by-day section)
Excluded
- International flights (From/to home)
- Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
- Government imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Some meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)