1 Day Mabamba Swamp Birding Tour
The 1-Day Mabamba Swamp Birding Tour takes you to Mabamba swamps, one of the best and most accessible birding spots from Kampala to Entebbe. The extensive 165oo swamp is situated on the northern shores of Lake Victoria, which is Africa’s largest lake. its a listed wetland of International importance and an Important Bird Area with over 300 recorded bird species.
Mabamba has proved to be the most reliable and convenient place in the world to catch a rare glimpse of rare Shoebill in its natural habitat. The Shoebill is Uganda’s most famous avian resident and the prime attraction to the country for most birders and nature lovers.
Highlights
- Bird watching of over 300 species
- Spotting the rare shoebill stork in its natural habitat
- Photography
- Boat ride along the papyrus-fringed channels of Mabamba Swamp
- scenic view of Africa’s largest lake and Mabamba Swamp
Detailed Itinerary
Transfer From Kampala Or Entebbe
You will set off early in the morning, around 6.00 am. Your drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Mabamba Swamp will take approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Boat Tour In Search Of Shoebills
Upon reaching the swamp, you will embark on a birding adventure in search of a very special bird. The birding tour will be done on a wooden engine-powered fishing boat.
You will be accompanied by a local birding guide who has expertise in paddling through the narrow water channels surrounded by dense swamp vegetation.
The prime target is the legendary Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex). This scarily prehistoric-looking Uganda bird captures the imagination because it does look like a dinosaur. The shoebill is huge, measuring up to 1.5 meters and with a wingspan of 2.5meters wide. its named after its massive bill, which some say looks like a shoe and can grow up to 24 cm long.
If you are exceptionally fortunate, you may also see the rare Sitatunga, a shy swamp-dwelling antelope with splayed hooves.
Birding the Surroundings
Thereafter, you will bird the surrounding grasslands, papyrus swamps, and farmland. Here you might expect to see the funky-looking Long-crested Eagle perched atop telephone poles, Wahlberg’s Eagle;
Moreover, you might spot the Palm-nut Vulture and hovering Black-winged Kite. Also look for the African Harrier-Hawk, Lizard Buzzard, and the truly impressive Great Blue Turaco.
In addition, listen to the raucous Eastern Plantain-eater, seemingly awkward Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, and floppy-flighted Crowned and African Pied Hornbills, dazzling-blue Woodland Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, Brown throated Wattle-eye, Angola and endangered blue swallows Ruppell’s Starlings, African Thrush, Northern Black Flycatcher, Sooty Chat, gregarious Grey-backed Fiscal, Scarlet-chested, Superb and Red-chested Sunbirds as well as the comical Pin-tailed Whydah. Should you have missed it in the swamps, we have another chance to find the scarred and nomadic Weyn’s Weaver.
Lunch at Nkima Forest Lodge
After the birding adventure, you will enjoy lunch at the nearby Nkima Forest Lodge. The lodge is named in Luganda after the many red-tailed monkeys which leap about in the trees. After lunch, you’ll return to Entebbe or Kampala for your onward travels.