Uganda Budget Birding tour

Our 6-day Uganda Budget Birding Tour takes you to some of the country’s top birding hotspots, offering an unforgettable experience with Uganda’s finest female local bird guides.”

Despite its small size, Uganda is Africa’s richest country for birding tours; over a thousand bird species have been recorded. Nestled in East Africa, Uganda is a spectacular country of misty mountains, lush forests, and immense papyrus-fringed lakes. From the source of the River Nile on the huge papyrus-adorned Lake Victoria to the snow-capped Rwenzori mountain, and the luxuriant montane forests of the Virunga volcanoes; Uganda is an equatorial country of significant diversity. No other country in Africa can match Uganda’s amazingly diverse range of habitats, reflected in a staggering bird list of over one thousand species. Optional budget birding tour  extensions  to the Semliki National Park, Kibale Forest,  Budongo Forest, or Bwindi National Park for the Mountain Gorillas

Uganda, with its very rich avifauna, has expeditiously emerged as a top birding destination in the Africa.  Ease of exploration is key in the budget birding tour in Uganda. The country’s excellent infrastructure makes traversing the many birding hotspots a breeze ensuring maximum time engrossed in the magical world of birds. In our budget Uganda birding trip prepare to be fascinated by the sightings of the elusive Shoebill searching for its favorite Lungfish in Mabamba Swamp, marvel at the vibrant plumage of the Ross’s Turaco, and enjoy elegant views of the Red-faced Barbet and African Finfoot in Lake Mburo National Park. The Uganda budget birding tour offers excellent  bird photography opportunities with two delightful boat rides that give us outstanding views of exciting birds and mammals with minimum effort, an important part of the birding safari

Our Uganda short birding tour can be combined with a 22-day Uganda Birding tour. Read our latest Uganda Birding tour report

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe

Our exciting and exclusive Uganda Budget Birding Tour begins at Entebbe International Airport, where many of Uganda’s birding adventures take off. If time allows, we’ll make our first stop at the nearby Entebbe Botanical Gardens. Just a few minutes’ drive from the airport, these gardens offer an excellent introduction to Uganda’s rich birdlife, with birding conducted entirely on foot.

Here, we hope to encounter a variety of species, including the striking Papyrus Gonolek, Southern White-faced Scops-Owl, African Wood-Owl, Grey Kestrel, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Orange Weaver, Bat Hawk, Plain Greenbul, Lesser Jacana, Green-throated Sunbird, Green-headed Sunbird, and Weyns’s Weaver.

Day 2: Mabamba Swamp- Shoebill Birding

Early in the morning, we continue our Uganda Budget Birding Tour with a visit to the renowned Mabamba Swamp, one of Uganda’s most popular birding sites. Birding here is done aboard a small wooden canoe, which comfortably accommodates four birders and a local community guide. The swamp is an extensive papyrus wetland, crisscrossed by channels and lagoons, and is famous as the best place in Uganda to search for the legendary Shoebill—our main target of the day

Mabamba is a must-visit hotspot for any birder, offering an impressive list of species. Other notable birds we may encounter include Purple Starling, Blue-headed Coucal, Lesser Jacana, Grey-rumped Swallow, Weyns’s Weaver, Goliath Heron, Hooded Vulture, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Slender-billed Weaver, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Splendid Starling, Red-chested Sunbird, Blue Malkoha, White-winged Swamp Warbler, Carruthers’s Cisticola, Allen’s Gallinule, and Western Citril. The swamp is also a breeding ground for the rare Blue Swallow, an intra-African migrant.

In addition to waterbirds, the surrounding edges offer opportunities for open-country and woodland species such as the Eastern Plantain-eater, Crowned Hornbill, Rufous-chested Swallow, and African Green Pigeon. After an unforgettable morning in Mabamba, we transfer in the afternoon to Mabira Forest, ready for the next chapter of our birding adventure.

Day 3: Mabira Forest

On this day, we devote the better part of our time to exploring the well-established nature trails of Mabira Forest—such as the Buttress, Red-tailed Monkey, and Turaco trails. Covering around 300 square kilometers, Mabira is one of Uganda’s most productive rainforest birding sites, conveniently located near Kampala.

The forest boasts more than 300 bird species, and walking the trails provides fresh air, gentle exercise, and immersive encounters with the forest’s diverse ecosystem. Among the rare and sought-after species here are the skulking Nahan’s Francolin, the impressive Cassin’s Hawk-Eagle, the diminutive Tit Hylia, and the elusive Grey Longbill.

Other highlights we hope to encounter include Forest Scimitarbill, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Western Nicator, Green Crombec, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Grey Greenbul, Scaly-breasted Illadopsis, Grey-headed Sunbird, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, Lowland Sooty Boubou, Green Hylia, Yellow-breasted Forest Robin, Black-crowned Waxbill, Congo Pied Hornbill, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Sabine’s Spinetail, and the striking Black-bellied Seedcracker.

Mabira’s mix of trails, towering trees, and abundant birdlife ensures a rewarding day of rainforest birding, making it one of the finest day birding destinations in Uganda.

Day 4: Birding at Lake Mburo National Park

After an early breakfast, we set off for Lake Mburo National Park, Uganda’s smallest national park yet one of its finest birding destinations. The park covers about 260 square kilometers and is rich in both bird and mammal life.

We’ll arrive at our lodge in time for a hot lunch, after which we’ll begin our afternoon birding within the lodge grounds and surrounding area. Here we hope to encounter species such as the clattering Trilling Cisticola, the tiny and dazzling African Pygmy Kingfisher, Red-necked Spurfowl, African Green Pigeon feeding in fruiting figs, Senegal Lapwing, Mosque Swallow, Southern Red Bishop, Black Bishop, Red-headed Lovebird, and Brown-throated Wattle-eye.

In the evening, as we settle in the dining area, the forest comes alive with night sounds. We’ll keep an eye out for Fiery-necked, Freckled, Swamp, Pennant-winged, and Slender-tailed Nightjars swooping around the lodge lights. With luck, even the unusual Egyptian Toad may be seen wandering across the restaurant floor, adding a unique twist to the experience.

Day 5 – Lake Mburo National Park

We’ll start the day with an early morning drive into Lake Mburo National Park, a compact but rewarding birding destination that harbors more than 300 bird species. Birding here is mainly conducted from the vehicle, allowing us to cover a variety of habitats efficiently.

Some of the most productive birding spots include the swampy valleys of Warukiri and Miriti, where papyrus and acacia woodlands create a rich environment for both resident and migratory species.

Key birds to look out for include:

• Wattled Lapwing

• Bare-faced Go-away-bird

• Black-headed Gonolek

• Moustached Grass-Warbler

• Crested Barbet

• White-winged Black-Tit

• Scaly-throated Honeyguide

• Lowland Sooty Boubou

• Flappet Lark

• African Crake

• Red-faced Barbet – a regional specialty often high on birders’ wish lists.

With its mix of acacia savanna, woodland, and wetland, Lake Mburo offers a diverse and exciting day of birding, with plenty of opportunities to spot Uganda’s unique species.

Afternoon – Boat Ride on Lake Mburo

In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a scenic boat ride on Lake Mburo, an excellent way to explore the park’s aquatic habitats and get close views of a variety of bird species. Our main targets here will be two of the park’s most sought-after specialties: the elusive African Finfoot and the shy White-backed Night Heron.

Along the lake’s edges, we’ll also look out for:

• African Fish Eagle – numerous pairs perched majestically on lakeside trees

• Water Thick-knee

• Striated Heron

• Rufous-bellied Heron

• Brown-chested Lapwing

• Lesser Masked Weaver

• White-headed Saw-wing

• Green Woodhoopoe

• Red-faced Cisticola

• Green-capped Eremomela

The combination of open water, papyrus fringes, and wooded shoreline makes this boat ride a highlight of birding in Lake Mburo National Park—a relaxing yet rewarding way to add more exciting species to our checklist.

Day 6: Lake Mburo- Entebbe Airport

End of the budget birding tour in Uganda will do the transfer to the Airport for your flight back home

Tour Highlights

• Expert Guidance: Led by Uganda’s top English-speaking female bird guide, Prossy Nanyombi

• Tour Focus: Birds, mammals, plants, and butterflies

• Photography: Medium-level opportunities throughout the tour

• Special Activities: Boat rides in Mabamba Swamp (Shoebill hotspot) and Lake Mburo National Park

• Birding Pace: High-quality birding in relatively easy conditions, with excellent chances for diverse sightings

• Diversity: Exceptionally rich birdlife and wildlife in a compact area of protected habitats

• Physical Difficulty: Easy walking in Mabira Forest, Lake Mburo, and Entebbe Botanical Gardens, allowing for relaxed yet rewarding birdwatching experiences

• Transport: Comfortable Land Cruiser Jeep (capacity: 6 people), designed for birding safaris

• Daily Routine: Expect early starts, as is standard for birding and wildlife tours in East Africa

• Health Requirement:

  • Uganda requires a valid Yellow Fever vaccination certificate for all visitors (age 1+).

  • The vaccine must be administered at least 10 days before travel and at an approved vaccination center.

• What to Pack: Insect repellent, sunscreen, binoculars, and a sense of adventure!