Capture the Call of the Wild
Uganda is a living field guide—where dawn explodes with birdsong and every flash of
color could be your next lifer. This 9-day birding and photography safari takes you from
Shoebills in Mabamba Swamp to sparkling sunbirds in Kibale and bee-eaters along the
Kazinga Channel. With wetlands, forests, and savannahs bursting with wings and
light—plus primates, big game, and welcoming communities—every moment is a frame worth
capturing.
Crafted for birders and photographers, it's a journey of rare species, golden hours, and
unforgettable shots covering approximately 1,225 km of cumulative
driving distance through Uganda's most photogenic landscapes.
Birding & Photography Highlights
Wetland Specials
- Shoebill Stork – legendary swamp-dweller at Mabamba
- Papyrus Gonolek – papyrus endemic
- White-winged Warbler – wetland specialist
- African Finfoot – elusive river specialist
Forest Jewels
- Green-breasted Pitta – one of Africa's most sought-after
forest birds
- Great Blue Turaco – Uganda's avian icon
- Albertine Rift endemics – rare gems like Masked Apalis
- Nahan's Francolin – elusive forest-floor species
Waterbird Spectacle
- African Skimmer – Kazinga Channel specialist
- Goliath Heron – Africa's largest heron
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater – nesting on sandy banks
- Red-throated Bee-eater – stunning aerial acrobat
Photo Opportunities
- Colorful sunbirds & bee-eaters – dazzling close-ups
- Chimpanzee tracking – primate action shots
- Uganda Kob lekking – dramatic savanna scenes
- Lions hunting – predator photography
Photography Equipment Recommendations
- DSLR/mirrorless camera with
telephoto lens (400–600mm ideal)
- Wide-angle lens (16–35mm) for
landscapes
- Tripod/monopod or beanbag for
stability
- Binoculars (8x42 or 10x42
recommended)
- Spare batteries, memory cards &
power bank
- Lightweight rain cover for gear
Itinerary Summary
| Day |
Focus |
Core Locations |
Distance (km) |
| 1 |
Arrival & Lake Victoria Birding
|
Entebbe Botanical Gardens |
10 |
| 2 |
Shoebill Search & Transfer |
Mabamba → Lake Mburo NP |
300 |
| 3 |
Savannah Game & Boat Cruise |
Lake Mburo NP |
330 |
| 4 |
Transfer to Primate Forest |
Kibale NP |
580 |
| 5 |
Chimp Trek & Wetland Pitta Hunt
|
Kibale Forest / Bigodi |
595 |
| 6 |
Transfer to Western Rift Valley
|
Queen Elizabeth NP |
755 |
| 7 |
Savannah Game & Skimmer Boat
Cruise |
Kasenyi Plains / Kazinga Channel
|
775 |
| 8 |
Return Journey |
QENP → Entebbe |
1,225 |
| 9 |
Departure |
Entebbe |
1,225 |
Note on Distances
The distances provided are cumulative and based on the most efficient routes between
destinations.
Actual distances may vary due to road conditions, detours, or birding stops. Distances
do not include
internal game drives, boat cruises, or forest walks within parks.
Detailed Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Entebbe Botanical
Gardens
Distance: 10 km | Meals:
Dinner, Breakfast
Established in 1898, these 40-hectare gardens along the shores of Lake Victoria are a
peaceful gateway into Uganda's natural wealth. The blend of woodland, lakeshore, and
open grassland habitats makes it a magnet for birdlife, primates, and butterflies.
Photographers will love the glowing colors of sunbirds and weavers framed against
tropical flowers, while kingfishers perch dramatically at the water's edge.
🎯 Target Birds
- • Great Blue Turaco
- • Splendid Starling
- • Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
- • Weyn's Weaver
- • Orange Weaver
- • Gray Parrot
- • Ross's Turaco
- • Shikra
📸 Photo Tips
- • Capture vibrant sunbirds against tropical flowers with 200–400mm lens
- • Use wide-angle (16–35mm) for garden landscapes
- • Early morning light brings soft, warm tones and active bird behavior
- • Focus on eye-level shots of kingfishers at water edges
Accommodation: Number 5 Boutique Hotel (Luxury) /
Boma Hotel Entebbe (Midrange)
Day 2: Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Expedition
& Transfer to Lake Mburo
Distance: 290 km | Meals:
Full Board
Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar-listed wetland west of Entebbe, is one of Uganda's 33 Important
Bird Areas and one of the world's most reliable Shoebill sites. It shelters globally
threatened species like the Papyrus Yellow Warbler and migratory Blue Swallow. Birders
may log over 100 species in a morning, while photographers enjoy stunning close-ups
framed by papyrus and open sky. Canoe trips through papyrus channels offer eye-level
encounters with the legendary Shoebill Stork.
Stop en route to Lake Mburo National Park at the Equator for a classic photo
opportunity.
🎯 Target Birds - Mabamba
- • Shoebill (main target)
- • Papyrus Gonolek
- • White-winged Warbler
- • Malachite Kingfisher
- • Long-toed Lapwing
- • Blue-breasted Bee-eater
- • African Pygmy Goose
- • Lesser Jacana
📸 Photo Tips
- • Eye-level Shoebill shots from canoe using 400–600mm lens
- • Early morning mist creates dramatic silhouettes
- • Papyrus-framed compositions enhance wetland shots
- • Capture reflections of waders in calm water
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury) / Rwakobo
Rock (Midrange)
Day 3: Lake Mburo NP - Game Drive & Boat
Cruise
Distance: 30 km (internal) |
Meals: Full Board
Lake Mburo National Park is Uganda's smallest savannah park, yet it boasts 350 bird
species and unique mammals like impala (found nowhere else in Uganda). The absence of
elephants allows woodlands and wetlands to flourish, creating intimate birding
opportunities across papyrus swamps, open grasslands, rocky outcrops, and forested
gorges. The afternoon boat cruise offers eye-level encounters with African Finfoot, Pied
and Malachite Kingfishers, and wetland herons, with hippos and crocodiles adding drama.
🎯 Target Birds
- • Red-faced Barbet
- • African Finfoot
- • Papyrus Gonolek
- • White-winged Warbler
- • Bare-faced Go-away-bird
- • Bateleur
- • Tawny Eagle
- • African Fish Eagle
📸 Photo Tips
- • Golden hour light enhances savannah game drive photography
- • Boat cruise: use 400–600mm telephoto for waterbirds and hippos
- • Wide-angle for lake landscapes and habitat shots
- • Patience essential for elusive African Finfoot
Accommodation: Mihingo Lodge (Luxury) / Rwakobo
Rock (Midrange)
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale National Park
Distance: 250 km | Meals:
Full Board
Kibale National Park, often called the primate capital of the world, protects some of
Uganda's most diverse and intact tropical rainforest. It harbors 13 primate species
(including chimpanzees) and a staggering bird list of over 375 species. The tall moist
forest is interspersed with swamp, grassland, and riverine habitats—ideal for birding
and photography. En route, keep your eyes open for Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill,
Piapiac, and Crowned Hornbill in cultivated farmlands and forest edges.
🎯 Target Birds - Kibale Forest
- • Green-breasted Pitta
- • Western Crested Guineafowl
- • Blue-breasted Kingfisher
- • White-throated Greenbul
- • Brown-chested Alethe
- • Fire-crested Alethe
- • Blue Malkoha
- • Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo
📸 Photo Tips
- • Use telephoto lens for canopy birds in dappled forest light
- • Capture wide shots of forest trails with early morning mist
- • Prepare for chimpanzee photography the following day
Accommodation: Kimpundu Lodge (Luxury) / Primates
Lodge (Midrange)
Day 5: Chimpanzee Tracking & Bigodi
Wetland Birding
Distance: 15 km (internal) |
Meals: Full Board
Kibale Forest offers Africa's best chimp tracking, with habituated chimps providing
excellent photo opportunities. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary, bordering Kibale, is a
community-run wetland with boardwalk trails through papyrus and swamp forest, producing
Papyrus specials like White-winged Warbler and Papyrus Gonolek, as well as kingfishers
and other jewels like Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat.
🎯 Target Birds - Bigodi Swamp
- • White-spotted Flufftail
- • Yellow-spotted Barbet
- • Blue-throated Roller
- • Shining-blue Kingfisher
- • Black-and-white Shrike-Flycatcher
- • Joyful Greenbul
- • White-collared Oliveback
🐵 Primate Species
- • Chimpanzees
- • Uganda Red Colobus
- • Uganda Mangabey
- • L'Hoest's Monkey
- • Blue Monkey
- • Olive Baboon
📸 Photo Tips
- • High ISO, fast shutter for chimps in low light
- • Telephoto 400–600mm for canopy birds
- • Boardwalk allows low-angle reflections of wetland birds
Accommodation: Kimpundu Lodge (Luxury) / Primates
Lodge (Midrange)
Day 6: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth
National Park
Distance: 160 km | Meals:
Full Board
Queen Elizabeth National Park spans 1,978 km² with habitats including acacia savannah,
crater lakes, Kazinga Channel, and Maramagambo Forest. It is home to 600+ bird
species—one of the highest tallies of any African park. The route offers rich birding
through forest edge, woodland, and open savannah. Stop at the scenic Rwenzori Mountains
viewpoint for iconic landscape photography.
🎯 Target Birds - En Route
- • Martial Eagle
- • Black-bellied Bustard
- • Grey-headed Kingfisher
- • Red-necked Spurfowl
- • Bateleur
📸 Photo Tips
- • Early morning savannah light for raptors
- • Long lens 400–600mm for eagle and bustard action
- • Wide-angle for Rwenzori landscapes
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury) /
Enganzi Lodge (Midrange)
Day 7: Kasenyi Plains Game Drive &
Kazinga Channel Boat Cruise
Distance: 20 km (internal) |
Meals: Full Board
Start early with a packed breakfast, heading to Kasenyi Plains—Queen Elizabeth's golden
savanna east of Lake George. At sunrise, Uganda kob gather for their lekking rituals
while lions linger nearby. For photographers, Kasenyi is a dream: soft golden light,
wide horizons, and gentle dust adding drama to every frame.
In the afternoon, cruise the Kazinga Channel, a 40 km wildlife corridor between Lakes
George and Edward. The banks brim with hippos, elephants, buffalo, and dazzling water
birds—African Skimmer, Goliath Heron, Grey Crowned Crane, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater. As the
day fades, the reflections and warm tones along the channel offer perfect closing
frames.
🎯 Target Birds - Kasenyi Plains
- • Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
- • Rufous-napped Lark
- • White-tailed Lark
- • Yellow-throated Longclaw
- • Temminck's Courser
- • White-backed Vulture
🎯 Target Birds - Kazinga Channel
- • African Skimmer
- • Goliath Heron
- • Red-throated Bee-eater
- • Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
- • Great White Pelican
- • Pink-backed Pelican
- • African Spoonbill
- • Grey-headed Gull
📸 Photo Tips
- • Shoot at golden hour for warm tones and dramatic shadows
- • Use 400–600mm lens for raptors, cranes, and skimmers
- • Boat cruises give perfect eye-level shots of waterbirds
- • Go wide-angle for elephants, kob herds, and lions in landscape context
- • Keep shutter fast (1/2000+) for birds in flight
- • Watch for reflections in calm afternoon water
Accommodation: Mweya Safari Lodge (Luxury) /
Enganzi Lodge (Midrange)
Day 8: Return to Entebbe
Distance: 450 km | Meals:
Dinner, Breakfast
Return journey with optional stops at Mpanga Forest Reserve for forest birding or craft
markets. Last birding opportunities along the way.
🎯 Optional Target Birds - Mpanga Forest
- • Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher
- • Yellow-billed Barbet
- • African Pied Hornbill
- • Blue-spotted Wood-Dove
Accommodation: Number 5 Boutique Hotel (Luxury) /
Boma Hotel Entebbe (Midrange)
Day 9: Shopping and Departure
Meals: Breakfast
Optional craft markets, lunch overlooking Lake Victoria, then transfer to airport for
your departure flight.
