14 Days Uganda Butterfly, Birding, & Photography Safari

This 14 Days Uganda Butterfly, Birding, & Photography Safari, designed and operated by Butterfly and Birding Safaris, is an enthralling expedition crafted for naturalists, photographers, and butterfly enthusiasts who wish to immerse themselves in the breathtaking world of Uganda’s butterflies and forest insects. Known as The Pearl of Africa, Uganda’s vast ecological tapestry ranging from lush lowland rainforests and fertile wetlands to montane forests and savanna grasslands hosts an astonishing diversity of butterfly life, making it one of Africa’s top destinations for Butterfly Watching Safaris and Butterfly & Birding Tours.

Over the course of 14 Days Uganda Butterfly, Birding, & Photography Safari, you’ll traverse Uganda’s most productive butterfly ecosystems Zika Forest, Kibale Forest, Bigodi Wetland, Kanyawala, Sunbird Hill, Kalinzu Forest, and Mpanga Forest, capturing species in their natural habitats and photographing their vivid forms, patterns, and behaviors. Each forest represents a unique ecological zone, providing a gradient of species diversity unmatched elsewhere in East Africa.

Every morning begins around 08:40 hrs, when the warmth of the day awakens the butterflies, their wings shimmering with dew under soft tropical sunlight. Days unfold between forest-edge walks, savanna crossings, and canopy glades, each moment offering new photographic opportunities. As evening descends, you return to cozy forest lodges where the chorus of tree frogs, cicadas, and distant bird calls frame the day’s memories.

Adventure Beyond Photographic Experience

This 14 Days Uganda Butterfly, Birding, & Safari goes beyond photography it’s an exploration of balance and beauty in the natural world. You’ll learn about butterfly ecology, host plants, and habitat behaviors from expert guides, while also enjoying Uganda’s rich birdlife and cultural encounters. For those passionate about both butterflies and birds, this is the ultimate Butterfly & Birding Safari experience where science meets art, and patience yields discovery.

Whether you are a dedicated macro photographer or a casual nature observer, this safari invites you to slow down, observe, and capture the world’s most delicate masterpieces. Prepare your lenses, your curiosity, and your heart for Uganda’s forests are alive with color, motion, and wonder.

Detailed 14 Days Uganda Butterfly, Birding, & Photography Safari

Day 1: Arrival in Entebbe – Transfer to Kisubi Forest Cottages near Zika Forest

Arrival in Entebbe – Transfer to Kisubi Forest Cottages near Zika Forest

Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you’ll be warmly welcomed by your professional field guide from Butterfly and Birding Safaris. After a short briefing, you will transfer to Kisubi Forest Cottages, a serene retreat located near the legendary Zika Forest one of Uganda’s most historic natural research sites.

Depending on your arrival time, you’ll enjoy a gentle evening walk around the forest edge. As the sun lowers, the first hints of Uganda’s butterfly life may appear species like Forest Mother of Pearl, African Emigrant, and Green-banded Swallowtail flutter gracefully in the evening light. The forest hums with bird calls and insect songs, marking a gentle introduction to the rhythm of tropical biodiversity.

Dinner will be served at the lodge, followed by a welcome briefing where your guide will outline the 14 Days Uganda Butterfly, Birding, & Photography Safari program, emphasizing best photographic practices and ethical field conduct.

Overnight: Kisubi Forest Cottages
Meal Plan: Dinner

Day 2: Full-Day Butterfly Exploration in Zika Forest

Full-Day Butterfly Exploration in Zika Forest

After breakfast, you embark on your first full day of Butterfly Photography Safari in Zika Forest. This small yet ecologically rich forest reserve combines tropical woodland and savanna habitats, creating an ideal environment for a wide range of butterfly species.

Expect to encounter a dazzling spectrum including Cynandra opis, Liptena congoensis, Leptotes xanthostola xantha, Pseudacraea eurytus, Hypolycaena philippus philippus, Cacyreus lingeus, Anthene levis, Mocker Swallowtail, Immaculate Wood White, and Neave’s Judy. Watch for the rare Mountain Pearl Charaxes and Cambridge Vagrant two prized sightings for collectors and photographers alike.

Guided by your expert naturalist, you’ll learn how forest edge microclimates influence species distribution. Zika’s dense understorey, open glades, and puddling spots allow excellent macro-opportunities, where butterflies gather in groups, absorbing minerals from moist soil.

Return to the lodge in the late afternoon to relax and review your images before dinner.

Overnight: Kisubi Forest Cottages
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Transfer to Bigodi – Gateway to Kibale Forest

Transfer to Bigodi – Gateway to Kibale Forest

After breakfast, depart for Bigodi, located near Kibale National Park. The journey takes about 7–8 hours, winding through lush countryside, tea plantations, and crater lakes. En route, your guide may stop for spontaneous butterfly sightings, as roadside flora often attracts species such as African Migrant, Common Leopard, and Mocker Swallowtail.

Upon arrival at Guereza Canopy Lodge, you’ll check in, rest, and enjoy dinner as the sounds of Kibale’s nocturnal creatures fill the air.

Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Butterfly Safari Adventure in Kibale Forest

Butterfly Safari Adventure in Kibale Forest

After an early breakfast, venture into Turaco Trails within Kibale Forest an exceptional butterfly zone surrounded by towering trees and thick canopy. The forest breathes with color: Euphaedra ugandae (endemic to Uganda), Euphaedra medon, Glassy-winged Acraea, Telipna sheffieldii, Blood-red Glider, Elymniopsis bammako, Orange Forester, and Ornipholidotos ugandae among others.

Lunch is taken at Turaco Tree Tops Lodge, followed by an afternoon session focused on forest clearings where butterflies bask in filtered light. With over 1,000 recorded butterfly species, Kibale ranks among Africa’s richest Butterfly & Birding Safari sites.

As dusk falls, the air fills with moths and fireflies a magical close to a fulfilling day.

Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Exploring Kanyawala – Special Butterfly Encounters

Exploring Kanyawala – Special Butterfly Encounters

After breakfast, transfer to Kanyawala, a remote butterfly hotspot famed for its rare species. Today’s focus includes Acraea althoffi, Zaddachi’s Mimic Forester, Acraea lycoa, Epitolina melissa, Kallimoides rumia, and Cymothoe lurida.

The area lacks restaurants, so a packed field lunch will be provided, allowing you to maximize time photographing butterflies in situ. Kanyawala’s natural beauty dense foliage interspersed with open glades offers dynamic backgrounds for close-up photography.

Return to your lodge in the evening for rest and dinner.

Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Butterflies of Sunbird Hill – Where Forest Meets Sky

Butterflies of Sunbird Hill – Where Forest Meets Sky

After breakfast, head to Sunbird Hill, located at the edge of Kibale National Park. This unique site combines montane vegetation with open ridges, providing excellent conditions for both butterfly and bird watching.

Sunbird Hill offers sightings of forest-edge butterflies such as Acraea lycoa, Blue Diadem, Little Commodore, and Blue Sailor. Bird enthusiasts may spot the Green-breasted Pitta, a highly sought-after species for birders visiting Uganda.

This day merges the best of Butterfly & Birding Safaris, showcasing the delicate relationship between flora, insects, and avian species in the tropical forest system.

Overnight: Guereza Canopy Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Transfer to Kalinzu Forest Reserve via Queen Elizabeth National Park

Transfer to Kalinzu Forest Reserve via Queen Elizabeth National Park

After breakfast, embark on a scenic drive through Queen Elizabeth National Park toward Kalinzu Forest. The journey (approximately 6–7 hours) is filled with photographic opportunities, including roadside butterflies and sightings of elephants, kob, and waterbucks grazing in the savanna.

Arrive at Ankole Tea Guesthouse the closest accommodation to Kalinzu and settle in for the evening.

Overnight: Ankole Tea Guesthouse
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Days 8–11: Kalinzu Forest Butterfly Expedition

Kalinzu Forest Butterfly Expedition

Over the next four days, immerse yourself in the vibrant world of Kalinzu Forest, one of Uganda’s most productive butterfly habitats.

Each day, you’ll explore a different trail the Main Trail, 300 Loop, and Forest Trail each offering diverse microhabitats. Kalinzu is a hotspot for endemic Acraea species and Papilio swallowtails. Species highlights include Papilio hesperus, Central Emperor Swallowtail, Noble Swallowtail, Blue Monarch, Angolan White Lady, Charaxes paphianus, Giant Charaxes, Blue Mother of Pearl, Lilac Beauty, Euphaedra imitans, and Neave’s Banded Judy.

These trails also reveal the forest’s “living jewels” Blue Spot Pansy, Golden Pansy, Brown Pansy, Variable Diadem, and Forest Glade Nymph. Each walk is a masterpiece of light and movement, ideal for macro and motion photography.

Evenings at the guesthouse are calm, allowing time for photo reviews and species identification with your guide.

Overnight: Ankole Tea Guesthouse
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 12: Transfer to Nkima Forest Lodge – Stop at the Equator

Transfer to Nkima Forest Lodge – Stop at the Equator

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic transfer (7–8 hours) to Nkima Forest Lodge, located near Mpigi. En route, stop at the Ugandan Equator for photos and a delicious lunch.

Nkima Lodge, overlooking Lake Victoria, offers an enchanting forest-edge setting, perfect for your final butterfly excursions.

Overnight: Nkima Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13: Butterfly Watching in Mpanga Forest

Butterfly Watching in Mpanga Forest

Today’s focus is the Mpanga Forest, home to Uganda’s endemic butterfly Telipna sheffieldii. Other highlights include Charaxes eupale latimargo, Acraea peneleos, Aterica galene, Bebearia absolon, and Bematistes macarista.

Mpanga’s winding trails provide superb light and variety for photography. Birders can spot the African Paradise Flycatcher, Forest Robin, and Great Blue Turaco, enriching the Butterfly & Birding Safari experience.

Return to Nkima Lodge for an evening of relaxation, surrounded by nature’s nocturnal chorus.

Overnight: Nkima Forest Lodge
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 14: Nkima Forest Morning – Departure via Entebbe

Nkima Forest Morning – Departure via Entebbe

Enjoy a final morning walk in Nkima Forest, where species like Blue Diadem, Forest Mother of Pearl, and African Map offer last photographic opportunities.

If time permits, visit Mabamba Wetlands for a glimpse of the iconic Shoebill Stork before transferring to Entebbe International Airport for your outbound flight.

Your 14 Days Uganda Butterfly & Bug Photography Safari ends with treasured memories, vibrant photographs, and a deeper connection to Uganda’s winged wonders.