12-Day African Birding Expedition: Uganda's Shoebill & South Africa's Endemic Birds

This 12 day African birding expedition pairs Uganda's wetlands and forests with South Africa's southern coast. You search for the shoebill by canoe at Mabamba Swamp near Entebbe, spend a day with a specialist guide in another Ugandan habitat, fly to Cape Town, and bird the Cape wetlands, the Overberg and the Garden Route with a specialist guide. The exact route and target species are agreed with the guide, and we never promise a sighting.

The two halves are very different. Uganda's birds are the wetland and forest birds of the Albertine Rift and the lake basin, and the shoebill is the signature, a very large bird that stands in papyrus and is best searched for early from a canoe. The second Ugandan day depends on the species you want, and the guide advises on the region and the habitat. Read whether you can see shoebills at Mabamba Swamp and the best bird-watching spots in Uganda.

South Africa's part is about endemics. The Cape has a plant community that is found nowhere else, and some of its birds live only in it. You bird wetlands and coast around Cape Town, farmland and wetlands in the Overberg, and forests and estuaries on the Garden Route. Read the best bird-watching spots in South Africa. The route and species are finalised with a specialist before the trip, because birding depends on the season. Browse the Uganda and South Africa destination pages and the game drives page for the wildlife days.

Moderate. Birding days begin before dawn, and involve standing, patient watching and short walks, often on wet or uneven ground. You sit in a canoe at Mabamba for a few hours. The main strain is travel: an international flight, several transfers and a long final day. Tell us your fitness and any health needs, and we will plan accordingly. Malaria precautions apply in Uganda, so please speak to a doctor.

Uganda is good for birds all year, and the drier months make roads easier. South Africa's southern coast is good in spring and summer for breeding and migrants, roughly September to March, while winter can be wet. The shoebill can be seen in every month, though not guaranteed. The specialist advises on the best month for your target species, and we agree the dates before you book.

This tour suits keen birders and photographers who want one trip with two very different regions. It is not for travellers who want big game. For a short Uganda option, see the 4-day Uganda shoebill safari. For South Africa alone, see the 8-day South Africa birding safari.

Tell us your target species and what you have already seen, and we will set the route with a specialist before you book. We advise on visas for both countries free of charge and confirm accommodation after booking. Read the best bird-watching spots in Tanzania if you want a third region.

For a journey with community and conservation links, see our Signature Journey, the 8-day Rwanda cultural experience and birding with heritage.