7-Day Murchison Falls, Uganda Birding Safari

Day 1: Arrival and Entebbe Birding

Entebbe, on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, is a mosaic of wetlands, gardens, and forest fragments. The Botanical Gardens offer excellent birding in both canopy and understory habitats, while the lakeshore attracts a variety of waterbirds.

Birding Experience

🎯 Target species: Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Red-chested Cuckoo, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Diederik Cuckoo, Great Reed Warbler, Grey-capped Warbler, Sedge Warbler, Greater Swamp Warbler, Faint-tailed Widowbird, Striped, Malachite, Giant, Woodland, and Pygmy Kingfishers, Black Bishop, Grey Woodpecker, Olive-bellied Sunbirds, Orange and Yellow-backed Weavers, Lizard Buzzard, Grey Kestrel, Black Kite, Gabar Goshawk, African Paradise Flycatcher, Red-bellied Paradise Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher.

Special Sighting: Bat Hawk in the evening.

👉 Click here to view the Full Bird List of Entebbe Botanical Gardens

Next Destination: Drive to Masindi en route to Murchison Falls National Park.

Dinner and overnight at Sophie’s Hotel or Green Valley Inn (BB).

Day 2: Drive to Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls, Uganda’s largest national park (3,840 km²), is a mosaic of savanna, woodland, and riparian forest. The Victoria Nile flows through a narrow gorge, creating a spectacular backdrop for birding. The park supports a rich mix of savannah birds, large raptors, and Albertine Rift endemics.

Birding Experience

En route to Masindi

 🎯 White-crested Turaco. Continue to the top of Murchison Falls.

🎯 Target species: Pel’s Fishing Owl, Rock Pratincoles, Bat Hawk, various Nightjars.

👉 Click here to view the Full Bird List of Murchison Falls Top

Next Destination: Sambiya River Lodge for forest birding.

Dinner and overnight at Kaniyo Pabidi Lodge (FB).

Day 3: Forest Birding at Sambiya River Lodge

Background

Sambiya River Lodge sits within the Albertine Rift ecosystem, famed for endemics and near-endemic forest species. Dense canopy, secondary forest, and riverine vegetation offer ideal birding opportunities.

Birding Experience

Early morning forest birding.
🎯 Target species: Puvell’s Illadopsis, Grey and Yellow Longbill, Fire-crested Alethe, Narina Trogon, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Xavier’s, Ictrine, Plain and Little Greenbul, Yellow-billed and Yellow-spotted Barbet, Green, Olive-bellied and Olive Sunbird, Crested Guineafowl, Speckled, Yellow-rumped, and Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Brown-eared and Yellow-crested Woodpecker.

Next Destination: Northern park and Delta of the Victoria Nile.

Dinner and overnight at Sambiya River Lodge.

Day 4: Northern Park Drive and Delta Boat Cruise

The Delta of the Victoria Nile is rich in wetlands and papyrus channels supporting waterbirds, while the northern savanna and woodlands harbor iconic African species. Boat rides at the delta provide close encounters with wetland birds, hippos, and crocodiles.

Birding & Wildlife Experience

Morning drive across the ferry to the Delta.

🎯 Target species: Shoebill Stork, White-fronted Black Chat, African Quailfinch, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Red-throated Bee-eater, Silver Bird, Stanley’s Bustard, Black-billed Barbet, Rufous-crowned and Abyssinian Roller, White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Speckle-fronted Sparrow Weaver, Rufous Sparrow, Vitelline Masked and Little Weaver.

Afternoon boat cruise to the bottom of Murchison Falls.

Wildlife highlights: Lions, Leopards (rare), Giraffes, Oribis, Hartebeests, Elephants, Cape Buffalo.

👉 Click here to view the Full Bird List of Murchison Delta

Next Destination: Return to Sambiya River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge.

Dinner and overnight at Sambiya River Lodge or Paraa Safari Lodge (FB).

Day 5: Birding the Albertine Escarpment En Route to Masindi

The Albertine Escarpment features exceptional habitat diversity and endemism, from rocky outcrops to wetlands and forest patches, harboring rare montane and lowland species.

Birding Experience

Bird along the escarpment en route to Masindi.

🎯 Target species: Black-billed and Spot-flanked Barbet, Foxy Cisticola, Striped Kingfisher, Red-chested Cuckoo, Red-winged Grey Warbler, Black-headed Batis, Cliff Chat, Green-backed Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Green-headed Sunbird, Red-winged Pytilia, Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Sabine’s and Cassin’s Spinetail.

Next Destination: Overnight in Masindi at Masindi Hotel or New Court View Hotel.

Day 6: Birding the Royal Mile and Busingiro Sector

Background

The Royal Mile forest corridor and Busingiro sector are rich in Albertine Rift endemics and montane forest species, with trails giving excellent canopy and understory access.

Birding Experience

Morning birding along the Royal Mile.
🎯 Target species: Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Nahan’s Francolin, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Dwarf Kingfisher, White-thighed Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Tinkerbirds, Barbets, Yellow-crested and Brown-eared Woodpecker, Forest Flycatcher, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Fraser’s and Red-tailed Ant Thrush, Western Black-headed Oriole, Purple-headed Starling.

Afternoon transfer to Busingiro sector.
🎯 Target species: Ituri Batis, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Tit Hylia, Uganda Woodland Warbler, Jameson’s Wattle-eye.

Next Destination: Overnight at lodge.

Dinner and overnight at lodge.

Day 7: Transfer to Kampala and En Route Grassland Birding

The drive to Kampala passes through open savanna and farmland, providing sightings of grassland specialists and endemics.

Birding Experience

🎯 Target species: Variety of grassland birds en route.

Next Destination: Arrival in Kampala; end of safari.