Uganda is one of the most rewarding birding destinations in the world, with over 1,090 recorded species, lush biodiversity, and a unique ability to combine intimate birding trails with big wildlife encounters and rich local cultures. From wetlands teeming with life to misty montane forests echoing with rare bird calls, Uganda is a birder’s dreamland — and KAJU Community and Nature Tours Uganda Ltd is your trusted gateway into this living paradise.
Whether you’re an international ornithologist ticking lifers off your list or a local traveler just discovering the joy of birding, KAJU offers authentic, immersive, and community-conscious birding safaris across Uganda’s top hotspots.
Just a short boat ride from Entebbe, Mabamba Bay opens up into a shimmering world of swaying papyrus, still channels, and an overwhelming sense of calm. This is the best place in Uganda — and one of the best globally — to spot the legendary Shoebill, a prehistoric-looking wetland giant that feels like a dinosaur come to life. While gliding silently in a canoe, you’ll also encounter species like the Blue-breasted Bee-eater, African Jacana, Swamp Flycatcher, and Papyrus Gonolek. This peaceful water world is ideal for both first-time and seasoned birders, offering close, unforgettable encounters in a serene, natural setting — just one hour from the airport.
Tucked into Uganda’s southwest highlands, Bwindi is a sacred place for both birds and biodiversity. With over 350 bird species, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics like the African Green Broadbill and Shelley’s Crimsonwing, it’s one of Africa’s most prized birding destinations. But this forest holds more than feathers — it is home to nearly half of the world’s endangered mountain gorillas. Here, your birding trail may include encounters with red-tailed monkeys, dazzling butterflies, and perhaps a gorilla family moving through the undergrowth. It’s not just a birdwatching trip — it’s an emotional wilderness experience where every rustle in the leaves carries the thrill of discovery.
In Queen Elizabeth National Park, birding is never just about birds. With over 600 species, it’s Uganda’s richest avian region — and one of the most diverse in all of Africa. The Kazinga Channel offers spectacular sightings of African Skimmers, Yellow-billed Storks, and Great Cormorants, while the crater lakes in the north provide highland forest species like the Black Bee-eater and Grey-headed Kingfisher. The open Ishasha plains are home to tree-climbing lions, and elephants, buffalo, and kob fill the savannahs. Queen Elizabeth lets you combine serious birding with big game viewing, making it ideal for couples or families with mixed wildlife interests. You leave not only with a full bird list — but with a complete African safari.
Kibale Forest is a rainforest of sound — the echo of birdsong, rustling leaves, and the occasional whoop of a chimpanzee. With over 375 bird species, it’s best known for the elusive Green-breasted Pitta, which rewards the persistent birder with a brief but unforgettable appearance. The forest also boasts species like the African Grey Parrot, White-naped Pigeon, Black Bee-eater, and Yellow-spotted Barbet. And while the birds enchant above, below, you may share the trail with troops of red colobus monkeys or meet a family of chimpanzees on the move. Kibale offers the rare blend of forest birding with primate tracking — giving you the chance to experience Uganda’s forest life at every level.
Semuliki feels wild and unfiltered. This lowland rainforest bordering the Democratic Republic of Congo brings a taste of Central Africa into Uganda. It boasts over 440 bird species, including West and Central African specialties like the White-crested Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator, and Piping Hornbill. The park is also home to forest elephants, colorful butterflies, and bubbling hot springs that bubble dramatically out of the forest floor — some even hot enough to cook an egg. For adventurous birders seeking species you won’t find in Uganda’s more familiar parks, Semuliki is a true frontier experience.
Small but rich in beauty, Lake Mburo offers easy-access birding with stunning savannah, acacia woodlands, and other stunning wildlife species. Over 350 bird species call this park home, including African Finfoot, Red-faced Barbet, Bare-faced Go-away-bird, and Brown-chested Lapwing. What makes Mburo special is its versatility — you can bird on foot, by boat, on bicycle, or even on horseback, surrounded by zebra, impala, eland, and hippos. For those new to birding or travelers with a mix of wildlife interests, Mburo provides a laid-back yet rewarding safari experience — perfect for unwinding on your first or last day in Uganda.
The Rwenzori Mountains, also called the “Mountains of the Moon,” rise in misty layers over western Uganda. In this cool alpine zone, you’ll find 19 Albertine Rift endemics — such as the striking Rwenzori Turaco, Rwenzori Batis, and Dusky Crimsonwing — along with montane forests, waterfalls, and glacial valleys that feel untouched by time. Trekking through this UNESCO World Heritage Site is more than birding — it’s a climb into one of Africa’s most mystical mountain ecosystems. And it’s not uncommon to hear blue monkeys calling or stumble across giant lobelias taller than a person. For birders who also love hiking and mountain solitude, the Rwenzoris are an unforgettable escape.
At KAJU Community and Nature Tours Uganda Ltd, we offer more than just logistics — we offer local insight, conservation integrity, and unforgettable experience.
✅ Our guides are not just trained — they are born here, raised on these trails, and know every call in the forest and every seasonal rhythm of the birds.
✅ Your Visit Supports Local Conservation
KAJU is a grassroots tour company rooted in community. Your booking supports youth birding training, local employment, and eco-conservation projects. When you bird with us, your money stays in the region and helps protect the very ecosystems you come to enjoy.
✅ Customized Birding Safaris
Whether you’re here for 7 days or 3 weeks, whether you’re a hardcore birder or a curious traveler, we tailor your safari to your interests. From lodge selection to walking pace, we build the experience around you.
✅ Birding + Culture + Wildlife
We blend birding with chimp tracking, gorilla trekking, lion sightings, village visits, and mountain hikes — so every day brings something new. You don’t have to choose between birds and other attractions — with KAJU, you can have both.
✅ Ethical, Responsible, and Professional
We are fully registered, insured, and committed to ethical tourism. Our guides practice responsible fieldwork, support habitat protection, and will always put your safety and satisfaction first.
🌱 Travel with Purpose: Support Education in Western Uganda
When you book a birding or wildlife safari with KAJU Community and Nature Tours Uganda Ltd, you’re not just exploring Uganda’s natural wonders — you’re also changing lives.
A portion of the proceeds from every tour goes directly to the Kazenga Foundation, our partner nonprofit organization committed to providing quality education to underprivileged children in Western Uganda, with a special focus on orphans and vulnerable youth.
Through your support, we help fund school fees, provide learning materials, build classrooms, and empower local communities to create a brighter future through education.
By choosing KAJU, you’re not only discovering rare birds and unforgettable landscapes — you’re also leaving a legacy of hope, opportunity, and transformation.
🙏 You’re welcome to donate or visit one of our supported schools during your safari!
Let the birds of Uganda change the way you see the world.
📧 Email: contact@kajutours.com
🌐 Website: www.kajutours.com
📞 Call/WhatsApp: +256767936081
📍 Location: Buloba HB complex room 14, Uganda
10-Day Ultimate Uganda Birding Safari Package
Operated by: KAJU Community and Nature Tours Uganda Ltd
Start/End: Entebbe International Airport
Type: Guided Birding Safari with Wildlife, Primates & Cultural Experiences
Group Size: Private or Small Group (2–10 pax)
Best Time to Visit: December–March & June–August
Level: Moderate birding & walking; customizable to your pace
Over 800+ bird species possible, including Albertine Rift endemics
Bird the papyrus wetlands, tropical forests, lakes, and savannah
Spot the Shoebill Stork, Green-breasted Pitta, and African Finfoot
Combine birding with chimpanzee and gorilla tracking
Explore iconic national parks: Mabamba, Kibale, Queen Elizabeth, Bwindi, and Lake Mburo
Cultural visits, nature walks, and scenic photography
Comfortable accommodation and local guides who are passionate ornithologists
Pick-up from Entebbe International Airport
Transfer to a nearby hotel
Optional evening birding at Entebbe Botanical Gardens or along Lake Victoria shores
Target birds: African Grey Parrot, Palm-nut Vulture, Splendid Starling
Overnight: 2 Friends Guesthouse / Hotel No.5 (Luxury)
Morning birding at Mabamba Bay Wetland in a canoe
Seek the elusive Shoebill Stork, plus Papyrus Gonolek, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Bee-eater
After lunch, drive west to Kibale Forest
En route birding stopovers in swampy and forest-edge areas
Overnight: Turaco Treetops / Primate Lodge
Day 3: Kibale Forest – Birding & Chimpanzee Tracking
Morning bird walk in Kibale Forest
Look for the Green-breasted Pitta, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Blue-throated Roller
Afternoon: Chimpanzee tracking in Kibale – a primate-packed adventure
Optional Bigodi Swamp Walk for wetland birds
Overnight: Turaco Treetops / Primate Lodge
Day 4: Transfer to Semuliki National Park – Central African Bird Specialties
Drive to Semuliki through the scenic Rwenzori foothills
Birding in Semuliki Forest – one of Uganda’s richest birding areas
Seek rare West African species: White-crested Hornbill, Piping Hornbill, Yellow-throated Nicator
Visit Sempaya Hot Springs and meet local Batwa guides
Overnight: Ntoroko Game Lodge / Semuliki Safari Lodge
Day 5: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park – Birds & Big Game
Morning birding en route to Queen Elizabeth NP
Game drive in Kasenyi Plains – spot lions, elephants, and savannah birds
Afternoon boat cruise on the Kazinga Channel – pelicans, fish eagles, kingfishers
Over 600 bird species recorded here
Overnight: Enganzi Lodge / Elephant Plains Lodge
Day 6: Full Day in Queen Elizabeth – Ishasha Tree-Climbing Lions
Optional early bird walk or game drive
Visit Ishasha Sector – home of the tree-climbing lions and open woodland birds
Look for Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Broad-billed Roller, Grey-headed Kingfisher
Scenic crater lakes and cultural stopovers possible
Overnight: Ishasha Jungle Lodge / Elephant Plains
Day 7: Transfer to Bwindi – Birding the Ruhija Sector
Scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
Afternoon birding in Ruhija – a hotspot for Albertine Rift endemics
Target: Regal Sunbird, Strange Weaver, Handsome Francolin, Shelley’s Crimsonwing
Prepare for gorilla trekking next day
Overnight: Trekkers Tavern / Gorilla Mist Camp
Day 8: Gorilla Tracking & Forest Birding
Early breakfast and transfer to park headquarters
Mountain Gorilla tracking – an emotional, once-in-a-lifetime experience
Afternoon birding around the forest edge and Ruhija trails
Optional cultural village experience with the Batwa
Overnight: Same lodge as Day 7
Day 9: Transfer to Lake Mburo National Park – Bird & Ride
Drive to Lake Mburo NP
Afternoon birding and game viewing on horseback or boat
Spot African Finfoot, Papyrus Gonolek, Red-faced Barbet
Optional night walk for nocturnal birds: Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Nightjars
Overnight: Rwakobo Rock / Mihingo Lodge
Day 10: Lake Mburo Birding & Return to Entebbe
Morning bird walk or bike ride through acacia woodland
Seek out Nubian Woodpecker, Brown Parrot, White-winged Tit
Return to Entebbe with lunch en route
Drop-off for international flight or hotel
🏕️ Accommodation Options
We offer:
Luxury: Mihingo Lodge, Gorilla Forest Camp, Primate Lodge
Mid-range: Turaco Treetops, Enganzi Lodge, Rwakobo Rock
Budget: Traveler’s Rest Kisoro, Kibale Forest Camp, Entebbe Guesthouses
💰 Package Inclusions
✔️ Professional English-speaking bird guide
✔️ All park entrance & birding fees
✔️ Gorilla & Chimp permits (optional add-on)
✔️ Accommodation (Full board)
✔️ Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
✔️ Bottled water on safari
✔️ Cultural experiences & community walk
✔️ Boat trips, walking safaris, & night walks as per itinerary
✔️ All airport transfers
❌ Exclusions
✖️ International flights
✖️ Visas & travel insurance
✖️ Tips and personal expenses
✖️ Alcoholic beverages
