1 Day Mabamba Shoebill Tours – 1 Day Mabamba Bird Watching Safari

A 1 Day Mabamba Shoebill Tours are done along the water ridges of Mabamba Swamp on the outskirts of Lake Victoria. 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.

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?

Murchison Falls National Park is another tourist destination in Uganda to see the shoebill. However, Mabamba Wetland is the only tourist site in Uganda where the elusive Shoebill is spotted instantly. Mabamba Swamp is globally recognized and protected under the Ramsar Convention and its among the Ramsar Sites in Uganda. In 1971, the Convention on wetlands was signed in Ramsar, Iran as an intergovernmental treaty. This treaty entails the agenda for national action and global cooperation for the protection and wise use of wetlands and their possessions. Apart from this swamp, there are many destinations in Uganda where visitors can go bird watching. In case you take up a longer Uganda birding safari, you will be able to spot more bird species in the various National parks found in the country.

 

 

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)

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.