11 Days Birding Trip

11 Days Birding Trip: a 11-day private safari with Afrisites, starting from Entebbe. The route is Entebbe / Kampala, Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo National Park, Murchison Falls National Park, Kibale National Park, Semuliki National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park. Built around mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and the Nile boat to Murchison Falls. Road days are the real west-Uganda or Rwanda distances, not padded shopping stops. Lodge class is mid-range unless you ask us to go simpler or higher. Gorilla and chimpanzee permits are collected in your name before you fly.

From US$4,300 per person sharing

11 days · Uganda · private safari

Indicative for two people sharing, mid-range lodges (or the luxury tier if this trip is sold as luxury), current gorilla and chimpanzee permit rates. Your invoice names the lodges, the permit numbers and the season. Permit tariffs are set by the parks and can change.

At a glance

Uganda gorilla permit held in your name; sector matched to the lodge, not a two-hour transfer
Kibale chimpanzee tracking and Bigodi wetland
Murchison game drives plus the Nile boat to the Falls
Ishasha woodland for tree-climbing lions — habitat, not a guarantee
Lake Mburo walking safari and lake boat
Mabamba swamp canoe for shoebill

Day by day

Day 1 — Entebbe / Kampala

Meet at Entebbe International Airport. Depending on your landing time we transfer to a lakeside lodge in Entebbe or continue toward the first park. Briefing on permits, packing and the next morning’s start. Overnight: Protea or Lake Victoria View in Entebbe.

Day 2 — Mabamba Swamp

Canoe birding for shoebill and wetland specialists, usually as a day trip from Entebbe. Best in the morning before the wind comes up. Overnight: Entebbe lakeside lodge — Mabamba is a morning canoe from here.

Day 3 — Mabamba Swamp

Extra night at Mabamba Swamp so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Best in the morning before the wind comes up. Overnight: Entebbe lakeside lodge — Mabamba is a morning canoe from here.

Day 4 — Lake Mburo National Park

The savannah closest to Kampala. Zebra, eland, impala, a walking safari without lions, and a boat on the lakes for hippo and birds. Overnight: Mihingo or Rwakobo Rock, walking distance of the zebra valleys.

Day 5 — Murchison Falls National Park

Game drive the northern savannah for elephant, Rothschild’s giraffe, lion and Uganda kob. Afternoon boat on the Nile to the base of the Falls, then the short hike to the top if the group wants it. Overnight: Nile safari lodge on the north or south bank, packed lunch on boat days.

Day 6 — Kibale National Park

Chimpanzee tracking in Uganda’s primate capital. Afternoon Bigodi wetland walk for colobus, turacos and village birding, or crater-lake views around Fort Portal. Overnight: Primate Lodge Kibale or a Fort Portal crater-lake lodge.

Day 7 — Semuliki National Park

Ituri forest birds, the hot springs, and Central African species that barely reach East Africa. A specialist stop, usually paired with Kibale or the Rwenzori foothills. Overnight: Semliki Safari Lodge or Fort Portal.

Day 8 — Queen Elizabeth National Park

Game drives on the Kasenyi plains and a Kazinga Channel boat safari: hippo, buffalo, elephant and one of East Africa’s densest water-bird lists. Overnight: Mweya or Kasenyi savannah lodge; Ishasha Wilderness Camp when we use the south.

Day 9 — Ishasha, Queen Elizabeth National Park

Southern Queen for the tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. Fig trees, open woodland and a quieter game-drive than the northern circuit. This sector sits on the road to Bwindi. Overnight: Ishasha Wilderness Camp or similar, on the Bwindi road.

Day 10 — Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Mountain gorilla trekking. Briefing at the sector headquarters (Buhoma, Ruhija, Rushaga or Nkuringo — whichever permit we hold). Up to a several-hour hike, then one hour with the family. Porter recommended. Overnight: Buhoma Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Camp or similar (we match the sector of your permit).

Day 11 — Return to Entebbe

Drive or fly back to Entebbe. Airport drop timed to your outgoing flight. If you fly after 8 p.m. we keep a day-room option so you are not sitting at the terminal all afternoon.

Included

Private 4×4 safari vehicle and English-speaking driver-guide (or light aircraft plus transfers on fly-in days)
Lodge or camp as named in the day-by-day, full board except on arrival/departure city nights (bed and breakfast)
Park fees for the reserves in this itinerary
Bottled water in the vehicle
Airport meet-and-greet

Not included

International flights
Uganda or Rwanda visa
Drinks, laundry and tips
Travel insurance (mandatory — you buy this yourself)
Optional activities not named in the day-by-day (second gorilla permit, golden monkeys, extra boat)

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