20 Days Hardcore Birding

20 Days Hardcore Birding: a 20-day private safari with Afrisites, starting from Entebbe. The route is Entebbe / Kampala, Mabamba Swamp, Lake Mburo National Park, Mount Elgon / Sipi Falls, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve, Kidepo Valley National Park, Murchison Falls National Park. Built around mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Uganda’s Virunga slice at Mgahinga and chimpanzee tracking in Kibale. 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$7,800 per person sharing

20 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
Mgahinga gorilla or golden monkey morning, with an honest plan if the family has crossed the border
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
Kidepo Narus Valley — usually a fly-in

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 — Lake Mburo National Park

Stay on in Lake Mburo National Park. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. 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 6 — Mount Elgon / Sipi Falls

Sipi Falls day hikes, coffee on the lower farms, and — on longer treks — the caldera trails of Mount Elgon. Overnight: Sipi Falls lodge.

Day 7 — Mount Elgon / Sipi Falls

A second loop in Mount Elgon / Sipi Falls — different sector and a later or earlier start, so this is not yesterday copied. Sipi Falls day hikes, coffee on the lower farms, and — on longer treks — the caldera trails of Mount Elgon. Overnight: Sipi Falls lodge.

Day 8 — Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve

Uganda’s largest wildlife reserve: roan, ostrich, zebra and dry-country birds on a quieter circuit than the southern parks. Overnight: Simple reserve camp or Mbale hotel.

Day 9 — Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve

Extra night at Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve so the main activity is not rushed against a transfer. Uganda’s largest wildlife reserve: roan, ostrich, zebra and dry-country birds on a quieter circuit than the southern parks. Overnight: Simple reserve camp or Mbale hotel.

Day 10 — Kidepo Valley National Park

Remote north-east Uganda. Ostrich, cheetah, large buffalo herds and night skies with almost no light pollution. Game drives in the Narus Valley. Overnight: Apoka or a Narus Valley camp — this is a fly-in for most guests.

Day 11 — Kidepo Valley National Park

Stay on in Kidepo Valley National Park. We change the track and the vehicle loop rather than pad the day with a souvenir stop. Ostrich, cheetah, large buffalo herds and night skies with almost no light pollution. Game drives in the Narus Valley. Overnight: Apoka or a Narus Valley camp — this is a fly-in for most guests.

Day 12 — 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 13 — Murchison Falls National Park

Second game-drive window in Murchison: dawn in the delta grasslands, or a Nile bank walk where permitted. Optional sport fishing or a longer boat if the first afternoon was cut short. Overnight: Same Murchison lodge.

Day 14 — 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 15 — 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 16 — 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 17 — 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 18 — 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 19 — Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Uganda’s Virunga slice: gorilla trekking when the Nyakagezi family is on this side of the border, or golden monkey tracking and the Garama Cave / Batwa trail if the gorillas have crossed to Rwanda. Overnight: Mount Gahinga Lodge or a Kisoro hotel if the gorilla family is not on the Uganda side.

Day 20 — 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)

Request a quote