Safari Overview
Experience Uganda's wild feathered wonders on this 7-day birding adventure. From the
prehistoric Shoebill gliding silently through Mabamba Swamp, to the
jewel-like sunbirds of Mabira Forest, and the acacia-studded savannas of Lake Mburo
— every day brings unforgettable sightings and photo opportunities. This safari
blends canoe rides, forest treks, game drives, and boat cruises to reveal Uganda's
richest habitats.
Trip Details
- Trip Code: UBDLSU-026-7
- Duration: 7 Days / 6 Nights
- Trip Style: Luxury, Midrange, Budget
- Safari Type: Birding & Photography Safari
- Driving Distance: ≈920 km
Key Destinations
- Entebbe Botanical
Gardens
- Lutembe Wetlands
- Mabamba Swamp
- Mabira Forest
- Lake Mburo National Park
Top Target Birds
Shoebill
Papyrus Gonolek
Nahan's Francolin
Great Blue Turaco
Red-faced Barbet
African Finfoot
Lilac-breasted
Roller
White-winged Warbler
What Makes This Safari
Special?
-
Shoebill Quest: Exclusive canoe experience in Mabamba
Swamp for Uganda's most iconic bird
-
Diverse Habitats: Wetlands, tropical forests, and
open savannas in one compact itinerary
-
Photography Paradise: Boat cruises, game drives, and
forest walks for optimal photo opportunities
-
Expert Guides: Specialized birding guides with deep
knowledge of Uganda's avifauna
Full Day-by-Day Itinerary
1
Day 1: Touchdown – Explore Entebbe's Botanical Birds
Arrival & Welcome
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, your Snap Uganda Tours guide will
welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. After check-in, enjoy refreshments
and a brief birding and photographic exercise walk in the Entebbe Botanical
Gardens to begin your Uganda adventure.
Entebbe Botanical Gardens — Birding
& Nature Introduction
Set along Lake Victoria's northern shores, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens offer a
peaceful start for birders, photographers, and nature lovers. This mix of wetland,
forest, and garden habitats hosts over 300 bird species, plus playful Vervet and
Colobus monkeys. A perfect introduction to Uganda's rich wildlife and birdlife.
Target Birds — Entebbe
Botanical Gardens
Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow
White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Yellow-billed
Duck, Glossy Ibis, Gull-billed Tern, White-winged Tern, Diederik Cuckoo, Green
Crombec, Tambourine Dove, Cameroon Olive Greenbul, Little Olive Greenbul.
Overnight: Entebbe
Meal Plan: Dinner
2
Day 2: Heritage Trail & Lutembe Wetlands → Mabamba Swamp
Activities
Morning boat excursion and walk at Lutembe Bay for wetland and migrant species.
Afternoon transfer to the Mabamba area, positioning for the early morning
Shoebill quest.
Lutembe Bay — Ramsar Wetland
Paradise
Lutembe Bay — a Ramsar Site and Important Bird Area — is a wetland
paradise just an hour from Kampala. Between September and April, Palearctic migrants
flock here, creating spectacular displays of terns, gulls, and waders. Its
papyrus-fringed lagoons, floating vegetation, and mud islands support over
280
bird species, including seven globally threatened
birds
such as Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, Shoebill, and African
Skimmer. Remarkably, Lutembe Bay hosts over half of the world's
White-winged Black Terns.
Target Birds — Lutembe Bay
Purple Starling, Papyrus Gonolek, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, White-winged Tern,
Whiskered Tern, White-winged Black Tern, Grey-headed Gull, Yellow-billed Duck,
White-faced Whistling Duck, African Jacana, Squacco Heron, Malachite Kingfisher,
Black-necked Weaver, Holub's Golden Weaver, Black Egret, Winding Cisticola.
Overnight: Entebbe
Meal Plan: Full Board
3
Day 3: Mabamba Swamp (Shoebill Focus) → Mabira Forest
Activities
Early morning canoe trip through Mabamba Swamp channels for the magnificent
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). Midday transfer across the
Kampala area to Mabira Forest.
Mabamba Swamp – Shoebill
Expedition
After breakfast, head to Mabamba Bay, a Ramsar Site and Uganda's best spot for the
Shoebill Stork. Glide through papyrus channels in a canoe with
expert guides who know the bird's haunts. The wetland teems with herons, jacanas,
kingfishers, and other papyrus specialists — a must-visit for birders and
photographers alike.
Target Birds — Mabamba
Wetland
Shoebill, Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfisher, African Purple Swamp hen,
Lesser Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Great Egret, Black Crake, Allen's Gallinule.
Transfer: Mabamba → Mabira Forest
Overnight: Mabira Forest
Meal Plan: Full Board
4
Day 4: Mabira Forest Birding → Lake Mburo NP
Activities
Full morning of specialized forest birding in Mabira, targeting canopy and
undergrowth species. After an early lunch, commence the long scenic transfer
south-west to Lake Mburo National Park.
Target Birds — Mabira
Forest
- Nahan's Partridge (Francolinus nahani) – IUCN
Red List
- Lowland Sooty Boubou (Laniarius
leucorhynchus)
- Buff-spotted Woodpecker (Campethera nivosa)
- Golden-crowned Woodpecker (Dendropicos
xantholophus)
- Jameson's Wattle-eye (Platysteira jamesoni)
- Red-capped Robin-Chat (Cossypha natalensis)
- Uganda Woodland Warbler (Phylloscopus
budongoensis)
- Lesser Bristlebill (Bleda notatus)
Transfer: Mabira Forest → Lake Mburo NP (280 km)
Overnight: Lake Mburo
Meal Plan: Full Board
5
Day 5: Lake Mburo National Park — Savanna Exploration
Activities
Early morning guided nature walk to appreciate the savanna specialties on foot.
After lunch, enjoy a late afternoon game/bird drive along the Zebra Track and
other loops in the acacia woodlands.
About Lake Mburo National
Park
Lake Mburo National Park, located in western Uganda, is a small but diverse park
of about 370 km², famed for its rolling savannah, acacia woodlands, lakes, and
papyrus swamps. The park hosts over 300 bird species and is home to zebra,
impala, hippos, crocodiles, and a healthy population of leopards and lions.
Overnight: Lake Mburo
Meal Plan: Full Board
6
Day 6: Lake Mburo Game Drive & Boat Cruise
Activities
Morning game drive along the Kigambira Loop. Mid-morning boat cruise on Lake
Mburo, ideal for aquatic birds, hippos, and crocodiles. Focus on the shores for
specific wetland warblers.
Target Birds — Lake Mburo
National Park
Barbets & Flycatchers:
- Red-faced Barbet
- Black-collared Barbet
- Crested Barbet
- Spot-flanked Barbet
- Southern Black Flycatcher
- African Blue Flycatcher
Raptors:
- Bateleur
- Tawny Eagle
- Wahlberg's Eagle
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- African Fish Eagle
Wetland Species:
- African Finfoot
- White-backed Night Heron
- Water Thick-knee
- Papyrus Gonolek
- White-winged Warbler
- Papyrus Yellow Warbler
Others:
- Arrow-marked Babbler
- Red-headed Weaver
- Golden-breasted Bunting
- African Scops Owl
- Coqui Francolin
Overnight: Lake Mburo
Meal Plan: Full Board
7
Day 7: Lake Mburo → Kampala/EBB (Departure)
Activities
Final short game drive/birding opportunity along the Lakeside Track. Early lunch
followed by the transfer back to Kampala/Entebbe International Airport (EBB) for
your international departure.
Target Birds — En Route to
Kampala
Lilac-breasted Roller, Wahlberg's Eagle, Long-crested Eagle, Eurasian Kestrel,
Gray-backed Fiscal, Bare-faced Go-away-bird.
Transfer: Lake Mburo → Kampala/EBB (250 km)
Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch
End Note
This 7-day birding safari showcases Uganda's top wetland, forest, and savanna
habitats—from Shoebills in Mabamba to Albertine Rift
endemics in Mabira and Lake Mburo. Designed for maximum birding
and photography opportunities, it's a compact journey through Uganda's
finest birding sites.
