14 Days Uganda Butterfly & Birding Safari

Arrival in Entebbe – Welcome to the Pearl of Africa

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by your professional guide from Butterfly and Birding Safaris and transferred to Kisubi Forest Cottages, located just a few minutes from the renowned Zika Forest. The day is designed for relaxation after your international flight, with an optional light walk through the forest’s fringes depending on your arrival time.

Zika Forest is a tropical lowland gem, harboring an astonishing diversity of butterfly species that thrive among the towering fig trees and undergrowth. The soft hum of insects and distant bird calls form a serene prelude to your adventure ahead. Here, you may catch your first glimpses of species like Cynandra opis, Hypolycaena philippus philippus, and Charaxes zingha a perfect introduction to Uganda’s butterfly abundance.

This first evening offers a gentle immersion into Uganda’s climate and forest rhythm. The forest air is warm and fragrant, carrying the scent of blooming herbs and damp soil ideal conditions for butterflies. Your guide will brief you on the days ahead, explaining how light conditions and weather patterns influence butterfly activity and photography techniques.

Enjoy a relaxed dinner at Kisubi Forest Cottages, surrounded by the sounds of the night forest. As the day closes, you’ll feel the transition from travel fatigue to the excitement of being immersed in one of Africa’s most biologically rich regions the perfect start to your Butterfly & Birding Tour.

• Overnight: Kisubi Forest Cottages

Full-Day Butterfly Watching in Zika Forest

After an early breakfast, the day begins at 09:40 AM, when the sun has warmed the air the prime time for butterfly activity. You will spend the full day exploring Zika Forest, renowned for both lowland and savannah-edge species. This area is ideal for close-up photography thanks to its well-lit clearings and abundant flowering plants.

Expect to encounter both forest and open-area species, including Liptena congoensis, Leptena xanthostola xantha, Euphaedra eurytus, Charaxes eurinome, and Forest Mother of Pearl. The diversity is overwhelming; at times, dozens of species may share the same puddling spot or fruiting log, allowing for remarkable macro-opportunities.

Zika is also a sanctuary for several swallowtails, such as the Green-banded Swallowtail and Mocker Swallowtail, whose vibrant wing patterns provide exceptional photographic contrast. Your guide will help identify butterfly families and explain their life cycles, host plants, and behavioral cues essential insights for any photographer or naturalist.

Lunch will be enjoyed under the forest canopy, with soft sunlight filtering through the leaves. Afternoon light offers new angles for photography as butterflies move to different perches. Species like Ugandan Hairstreak, Mountain Pearl Charaxes, and Neave’s Judy become more active as temperatures peak.

Return to Kisubi in the evening, your memory cards filled with iridescent wings and your mind with vivid impressions of Uganda’s natural splendor a perfect day of Butterfly Watching Safari exploration.

• Overnight: Kisubi Forest Cottages

Transfer to Kibale National Park – Journey into the Primates’ Realm

After breakfast, begin your scenic transfer to Kibale National Park, a journey of about 7–8 hours through Uganda’s ever-changing landscapes. The drive is rich in visual contrast from rolling farmlands and banana groves to distant views of crater lakes and tea plantations. En route, your guide will point out occasional butterflies along the roadside, including swift-flying Belenois and Acraea species that thrive in open countryside habitats.

Arrive at Guereza Canopy Lodge, nestled near the edges of Kibale Forest. The cooler climate and lush environment signal your transition into one of Africa’s most biologically diverse rainforests. Known primarily for its primate population including the chimpanzee Kibale also holds more than 450 butterfly species, making it one of the top butterfly and birding destinations in East Africa.

Spend the evening relaxing and preparing for the next day’s full butterfly session. The lodge offers panoramic views of the forest canopy, where evening light sometimes catches fluttering wings among the treetops.

Your Butterfly & Birding Safari guide will review the following day’s route and discuss key species you might target at the famous Turaco Trails. Expect an exhilarating mix of forest specialists and rare endemics awaiting your lens.

• Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge

Butterflies of Turaco Trails – Jewel Wings of Kibale

After an early breakfast, you’ll set out for a full-day Butterfly Watching Safari in the renowned Turaco Trails of Kibale Forest. These trails, named after the vibrantly colored turacos that inhabit the forest, are also among Uganda’s richest zones for butterfly diversity. The humid morning air carries the scent of wildflowers and decomposing leaves an irresistible attraction for nectar feeders and puddling groups.

Expect to photograph species like Euphaedra ugandae (endemic), Euphaedra medon, Euptera eberti, Telipna sheffieldii, and Elymniopsis bammako. Other highlights include the Glassy-winged Acraea, Blood-red Glider, and Orange Forester, each displaying brilliant tones that contrast beautifully with the forest’s emerald backdrop.

Midday, enjoy lunch at Turaco Tree Tops, a lodge perfectly situated amidst the forest canopy. You may even spot butterflies drifting past as you dine a reminder that in Kibale, nature surrounds you at every turn.

Afternoon exploration focuses on shaded gullies and sunlit forest clearings, ideal for capturing the intricate wing patterns of species like Ornipholidotos ugandae and Eagris tigris. The forest vibrates with life birds calling overhead, monkeys rustling through branches, and butterflies gliding through shafts of light.

As the day ends, return to your lodge with stunning photographic captures and renewed appreciation for Uganda’s ecological richness. This day exemplifies what Butterfly and Birding Safaris stands for immersive, educational, and visually captivating experiences in Africa’s wildest corners.

• Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge

Kanyawara Trails Discovering Kibale’s Hidden Forest Jewels

After breakfast, embark on a full-day Butterfly & Birding Safari in the renowned Kanyawara sector of Kibale National Park. Known for its intricate network of trails that weave between tall mahoganies and wild fig trees, this area offers excellent light for butterfly photography and a diverse mix of habitats ranging from dense forest to sunlit glades.

With your packed lunch, venture deep into the forest trails in search of some of Kibale’s rare and exquisite species. Butterflies to expect include Acraea althoffi, Cymothoe lurida, Acraea lycoa, Epitolina melissa, and Zaddachi’s Mimic Forester. Look closely for Hewitsonia intermedia, a delicate species known for its subtle blue iridescence, as well as Kallimoides rumia, whose cryptic underside resembles a dead leaf a perfect example of natural camouflage.

Midday brings a magical calm to the forest. Rays of sunlight filter through the canopy, illuminating butterflies puddling along muddy patches and the occasional forest stream. Your guide from Butterfly and Birding Safaris will assist in setting up macro shots that capture fine wing textures and natural behaviors.

In the afternoon, continue exploring until around 4:30 PM before returning to the lodge. As the forest transitions into evening, you might notice the last flickers of the Blood-red Glider or hear the calls of turacos echoing through the trees a fitting close to another rewarding day of Butterfly Watching Safari exploration.

• Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge

Butterflies and Birds of Sunbird Hill – The Forest Edge Experience

This morning, enjoy a relaxed breakfast before heading toward Sunbird Hill, located at the edge of Kibale National Park. The area’s open woodlands and forest margins create a habitat mosaic that attracts both butterflies and birds. For those with broader naturalist interests, Sunbird Hill is also famous for sightings of the elusive Green-breasted Pitta, making it an essential stop for Butterfly & Birding Tours.

As sunlight intensifies around 10:00 AM, butterflies begin to appear in great numbers. The trails here yield species like Acraea lycoa, Euphaedra medon, and Cymothoe lurida. Look out for metallic-winged Lycaenidae species that dart between blossoms, and the occasional Papilio jacksoni gliding majestically along forest clearings.

Photographers will appreciate the interplay of open light and soft backgrounds, perfect for isolating butterfly subjects against natural bokeh. Your expert guide will also highlight host plants and behavioral differences between species valuable insights for those documenting life histories.

The gentle calls of sunbirds, coupled with the rhythmic flutter of wings, make this day a tranquil, immersive experience. Afternoon photography continues along flower-lined trails and forest fringes, where species diversity remains high.

Return to your lodge in the late afternoon, filled with new images and a deeper appreciation for how Uganda’s forests nurture such intricate ecological communities.

• Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge

Transfer to Kalinzu Forest Reserve – Through the Heart of Queen Elizabeth National Park

After an early breakfast, depart Kibale for the scenic drive to Kalinzu Forest Reserve, located on the rim of the rift valley near Queen Elizabeth National Park. This 6–7 hour journey offers remarkable photographic stops and panoramic views. As you pass through Queen Elizabeth National Park, you may encounter elephants, kob, and buffalo grazing along the roadside, creating wonderful moments for nature photography.

Lunch will be enjoyed en route before proceeding toward Kalinzu. The approach to the forest reveals sweeping tea plantations and the lush Ankole countryside. Kalinzu’s landscape transitions from open savanna woodland to dense rainforest, signaling a fresh habitat and new butterfly communities.

Arrive at Ankole Tea Guest House, your comfortable base near the forest. The evening is reserved for rest and equipment preparation for the next three intensive butterfly photography days. As the sun sets behind the rift escarpment, you may notice fluttering silhouettes of butterflies settling to roost the forest quietly preparing for another day of brilliance.

Your guide from Butterfly and Birding Safaris will review the next day’s trails and discuss the species that make Kalinzu such an extraordinary site for butterfly diversity, from Euphaedra species to rare swallowtails found nowhere else.

• Overnight: Ankole Tea Guest House

Three Full Days of Butterfly Watching in Kalinzu Forest

Over the next three days, you’ll explore Kalinzu Forest one of Uganda’s most enchanting butterfly habitats. These sessions, typically from 09:40 AM to 04:40 PM, take you along the Main Trail, 300 Trail, and Loop Trail, each offering a unique combination of light, flora, and species composition.

Kalinzu Forest is known for its high concentration of Papilio and Euphaedra species. Among the key highlights are Papilio hesperus, Papilio charopus, Papilio nireus, and Central Emperor Swallowtail. The forest’s numerous puddling sites are frequented by Euphaedra christyi, Euphaedra edwardsii, and Euphaedra imitans, often joined by dozens of Acraea and Bebearia species forming vibrant mosaics on the ground.

Photographers can expect a mesmerizing array of colors: the metallic blues of Charaxes paphianus, the golden edges of Charaxes eupale latimargo, and the subtle browns of the African Map butterfly. The occasional flash of Blue Mother of Pearl or Lilac Beauty adds a touch of surreal elegance to your captures.

Afternoons bring opportunities to photograph open-area species like Migratory Gliders, Common Yellow Gliders, and Blue Diadems. Guided by your specialist from Butterfly and Birding Safaris, you’ll learn how to predict flight paths and approach puddling groups for close-range macro work.

Each day concludes with a relaxed evening at your guesthouse, reviewing photographs, identifying species, and enjoying stories of the day’s discoveries under the warm Ankole night sky.

• Overnight: Ankole Tea Guest House

Transfer to Nkima Forest Lodge – Across the Equator

After breakfast, embark on your journey north toward Nkima Forest Lodge, located near Entebbe. This 7–8 hour drive crosses the equator, providing a chance to stop for photos at the iconic monument and enjoy lunch at one of the equator cafés.

The landscape shifts from the highland forests of Kalinzu to open farmland, papyrus swamps, and patches of tropical woodland. Butterflies frequently appear even along the roadside, their bright wings catching the sunlight as they flutter among wildflowers.

Upon arrival at Nkima Forest Lodge, settle into your room overlooking Lake Victoria’s shimmering expanse. The lodge’s proximity to Mpanga Forest and the Mabamba Wetlands makes it a perfect final base for your last days of Butterfly & Birding Tours. The forest edge attracts an array of butterflies in the late afternoon species like Charaxes eupale latimargo and Acraea peneleos often rest on the lodge’s surrounding trees.

Dinner is served in the tranquil ambiance of the forest, where night sounds of frogs and cicadas accompany the evening breeze.

• Overnight: Nkima Forest Lodge

Butterflies of Mpanga Forest – Home of the Telipna sheffieldii

These two days are dedicated to exploring the renowned Mpanga Forest, a small but biologically rich forest near Mpigi. The forest is famous for harboring Uganda’s special butterfly, Telipna sheffieldii, along with numerous other forest endemics.

The days begin at 09:40 AM, when sunlight penetrates the canopy, awakening a flurry of winged activity. Expect to photograph species such as Charaxes eupale latimargo, Acraea lycoa, Aterica galene, Bebearia absolon, Bebearia carshena, Ariadne enotrea, and Bematistes macarista. The diversity of Lycaenidae and Nymphalidae here is remarkable, and with patience, you can capture both resting and flight shots in dappled light.

Mpanga’s trails are gentle and shaded, offering a peaceful photography environment. The forest edge near the research station provides consistent activity, with butterflies puddling on damp soil or sipping from fallen fruit.

These days also provide optional opportunities for short birding walks. Forest species like the Great Blue Turaco, Woodland Kingfisher, and Black-and-white Shrike Flycatcher often accompany your journey, adding a harmonious soundtrack to your Butterfly Watching Safari.

Evenings at Nkima Forest Lodge are ideal for reviewing your photographic collection, identifying new species, and enjoying your final nights in Uganda’s lush wilderness.

• Overnight: Nkima Forest Lodge

Butterflies of Nkima Forest & Departure via Entebbe

On your final morning, take a gentle walk around Nkima Forest Lodge’s trails, where the morning sun brings life to the forest once again. Look out for lingering species such as Cymothoe herminia johnstoni, Neptis melicerta, and Harma theobene superna. The lodge’s open gardens attract both butterflies and birds, making it a relaxing final session before your return journey.

Depending on your flight schedule, you may also visit the nearby Mabamba Swamp to look for the iconic Shoebill a symbolic end to your Butterfly & Birding Safari in Uganda.

After lunch, transfer to Entebbe International Airport for your departure, your memory cards filled with thousands of exquisite butterfly photographs and your mind enriched by Uganda’s ecological treasures.

This marks the end of your unforgettable 14-Day Uganda Butterfly Photography Safari an expedition that perfectly blends nature photography, scientific curiosity, and the serene joy of observing one of Earth’s most beautiful creatures.