1 Day Mabamba Shoebill Tours – Mabamba Bird Watching Safari

The 1-Day Mabamba Shoebill Tours is a thrilling bird-watching safari ideal for nature enthusiasts and bird lovers. This tour focuses on visiting the Mabamba Swamp, a renowned birding destination in Uganda located near Lake Victoria, and is especially famous for its iconic Shoebill Stork sightings. When you are in Uganda for a holiday tour, and you love birding safaris, spare time and take a 1 day Shoebill bird watching tour to Mabamba Bay Wetland in Wakiso district. The Shoebill stork and a variety of several bird species characterize the wetland.

Highlights of the Mabamba Shoebill Tour:

1. Shoebill Stork Spotting: The primary attraction is the elusive and prehistoric-looking Shoebill Stork, one of the most sought-after birds by birders globally.
2. Guided Canoe Ride: Navigate through the papyrus-lined channels of Mabamba Swamp in a traditional canoe, offering excellent views of the wetlands and its diverse bird species.
3. Diverse Bird life: Over 260 bird species can be spotted, including:
   • Malachite Kingfishers
   • African Jacanas
   • Pied Kingfishers
   • Blue Swallows
   • Papyrus Gonoleks
4. Community Interaction: Engage with the local guides, often community members, who share insights about the swamp and its biodiversity.

Typical Itinerary:

• Morning Departure: Pickup from Kampala or Entebbe, followed by a scenic drive to Mabamba Bay (approximately 1 hour).
• Canoe Birding Experience: Spend a few hours exploring the swamp, with expert guides helping you spot and identify various bird species.
• Lunch Break: Enjoy a meal at a nearby restaurant or picnic.
• Return Journey: Drive back to Kampala or Entebbe, concluding the tour by late afternoon or early evening.

Full Itinerary for Mabamba Shoebill Tours 

The 1 day Mabamba birding tour begins in the morning with by a guide picking you from the hotel in Kampala or Entebbe area for a bird watching expedition in the watery swamp that connect to Lake Victoria.

Mabamba Swamp is found in Kasanje Sub-county in Wakiso District about 50 kilometres southwest of Kampala and north of Entebbe peninsula. This Uganda tourist site is the most ideal for spotting the wild species of Shoebill Stork in the whole world. The Birding excursion is done on the engine canoe boats in the swamp’s water channels. These hefty marshlands are a home to an ecological unit of birds, animals, bugs, fish, that are not found elsewhere. The Shoebill is part of that ecology and prefers a solitary life in the large marshland. Additionally, there are gazelles specifically adapted to the hovering flora.

While on a Bird watching tour, you will sail on the calm waters of the swamp.  An engine canoe voyage through papyrus swamp will take you to the unscathed attractiveness of the wetland. You will have the chance to see the Shoebill and other papyrus specialist birds like the Saddle-billed Stork. The Malachite Kingfisher, African Jacana and other swamp specialties also exist there. Mabamba wetland tour makes you acquainted with one of Uganda’s stunning swamps.

The marshland is a newly discovered home for the most wanted bird the shoe bill that you look out for in the skies and down on the swamp. The White-winged Warbler, Papyrus Gonolek, yellow-backed weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Blue-headed Coucal and other swamp specialties are some of the bird species at the bay. In the afternoon, drive back to the Hotel in Kampala or Entebbe for a rest.

The Wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site as a wetland of international importance in 2006. the wetland because it is home to rare and globally threatened bird species like the Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex), the Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) and Papyrus Yellow Warbler plus other birds of global preservation concern.

Where else to Find the Shoebill in Uganda?

Apart from Mabamba Wetland and Murchison Falls National Park, below are additional locations in Uganda where you can find the elusive shoebill:

1. Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary: Located along the Kampala-Gulu highway, Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is not only a rhino-tracking destination but also a great spot to observe shoebills, especially during guided swamp walks.

2. Semuliki Wildlife Reserve: Situated in western Uganda, Semuliki Wildlife Reserve offers a variety of habitats, including wetlands where the shoebill can occasionally be spotted. It’s also a great place for general birding.

3. Lake Albert Delta (Murchison Falls National Park)

• Within Murchison Falls, the Lake Albert Delta is a specific area where the shoebill is commonly seen during boat cruises. This region is rich in birdlife and provides an ideal environment for spotting shoebills.

4. Lugogo Swamp (Queen Elizabeth National Park)

• This swamp in Queen Elizabeth National Park occasionally offers sightings of the shoebill, especially during the dry season when they are easier to locate.

5. Nkusi Delta (Lake Albert)

• The Nkusi Delta, located along the shores of Lake Albert, is a serene and less crowded location where the shoebill can sometimes be observed.

6. Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

• Near Kibale National Park, Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is a haven for birdwatchers. While the shoebill is less common here, the sanctuary’s diversity of bird species makes it worth visiting.

Tips for Spotting Shoebills:

• Opt for early morning or late afternoon guided birding tours for the best chances of seeing the shoebill.
• Bring binoculars and cameras with a good zoom lens for an enhanced experience.
• Engage local guides, who are knowledgeable about shoebill habitats and behaviors.

If you’re planning an extended birding safari in Uganda, combining visits to these locations will increase your chances of spotting the shoebill and discovering the country’s incredible avian diversity.

 

 

Mabamba Swamp Bird Species to Watch

• Shoebill Stork 
• Long Tailed Cormorant 
• African Fish Eagle 
• African Jacana 
• Marsch Sand Piper
• Yellow Billed Duck 
• Common Sand Piper
• Wood sand Piper
• Purple Heron
• Common Moorhen
• Common Squacco Heron
• Black Headed Heron
• White Winged Black tern
• Northern Brown Throated Weaver bird
• Black Headed Weaver bird
• Grey Headed Kingfisher
• Yellow Backed Weaver bird
• Vieilliots Black Weave bird
• Pied kingfisher
• Malachite Kingfisher
• Purple Swamphen
• Carruther’s Cisticola
• Winding Cisticola
• Swamp Fly Catcher
• Blue Breasted Bee-eater
• Long Toed lapwing
• African Marsh harrier
• Papyrus Gonolek

1 Day Mabamba tour includes

• Lunch and bottled drinking water
• Photographing and touring
• Pick up from Kampala or Entebbe and drop off at a preferred venue
• Boat cruises into the swamp at any time of the time
• Services of an English-speaking or any language speaking tour guide
• Bird watching

The tour excludes

• Tips
• Visas
• Laundry services
• Hotel charges
• Airfares
• Beverages of personal nature
• Cigarettes
• Telephone or internet bills
• Any optional Activities

What to carry on 1-day Mabamba bird-Shoebill tour

• • Camera with extra battery, charger or power bank
  • Binoculars for distant bird watching
  • Good shoes
  • Bag for carrying personal items (water proof one is preferred)
  • Birding pack
  • Field guide book
  • Safari hat for sunshine protection
  • Insect repellent
  • A rain jacket for unpredictable weather
  • A life jacket is a must during the boat ride (this is provided by boat operators)

Tour Suitability:

This tour is perfect for all ages, including beginners and seasoned bird watchers. It’s a great way to experience Uganda’s unique biodiversity in just one day.

Would you like assistance planning or booking this tour? Get in touch with us and we help you.

The Shoebill Stork in Uganda

Other 1 Day Tours in Uganda, mainly from Kampala City

This Mabamba Swamp birding adventure is one of the several 1 day tours in Uganda that usually begin from Kampala. Day trips in Uganda include 1 day Ngamba Island chimps tour, 1 day Lake Mburo safari and a day excursion to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino trekking in Uganda. Others entail a climbing tour of Kagulu rock in Buyende district, Kampala City tour, Zip Lining adventure in Mabira forest plus a variety of outdoor recreation activities in Uganda. There are also day trips to Jinja from Kampala that involve many tour activities around Jinja City. Samuka Island in Lake Victoria near Jinja is another birding destination for bird lovers.