Exciting 1 Day Mabamba Birding Tour: Best Shoebill Safari Uganda
This 1 Day Mabamba Birding Tour itinerary is a short Uganda safari ideal for birders who are short on time. It will interest you to know that more than 50 bird species will be spotted during this one-day birding tour, ensuring you the best Uganda birding experience. Mabamba Bay swamp is a 2424-hectare area on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake.
The Mabamba wetland sanctuary sits in two districts, namely Wakiso and Mpigi, and is one of the ideal spots for birdwatching in Uganda.
Mabamba Swamp sprawls through the narrow and long bay fringed by papyrus wetland towards the main body of Lake Victoria, and this strategic location makes it the only wetland area that is close to the capital city, hence making it a perfect place for Kampala birding tours, specifically for birders that are short on time.
Interestingly, this wetland is home to about 120 species, with about 190,000 birds in total inclusive of the rare bird species. It also supports about 40% of the World’s Blue swallow population and other globally threatened species including the great blue turaco, papyrus yellow warbler, and Papyrus gonolek. In just one day, you will see what you wouldn’t have seen in other places in days.
Detailed Itinerary for the 1 Day Mabamba Birding Tour
Day 1: Birding Safari: Road trip from Kampala to Mabamba Bay Wetland
Start the day early with a briefing at the Hotel from your private safari driver, followed by driving to the wetland. For visitors residing in Kampala, be prepared to drive 35 miles/1.5 hours to the site.
Your Mabamba bird-watching adventure will be undertaken via a canoe ride because it’s the only way many birds calling the wetland home can be spotted. The start of the show at Mabamba Wetland Sanctuary is the globally threatened “shoebill storks.”
However, there are chances of seeing other globally threatened birds like the great blue turaco, Papyrus yellow warblers, and Papyrus canary, among others.
This Uganda birding tour will also introduce you to a variety of Mabamba bird species, including Pied kingfishers, African water Rails, Eurasian hobbies, Black-headed herons, black-capped waxbills, Black Crakes, Orange weavers, White-faced whistling ducks, lesser jacana, Yellow white-eye waxbills, Slender-billed weavers, Striped Kingfishers, Common Squacco herons, Cattle egrets, Goliath herons, tropical boubous, African marsh harrier, Black-faced Rufous warblers, Brown snake eagles, long-toed plovers, Purple herons, Weyn’s weavers, African jacanas, grassland pipits, common waxbills, Northern brown-throated weavers, Klass’s cuckoo, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, Spur-winged lapwing, rufous-naped larks, violet-backed sterling, Long-crested eagles, Black-headed gonolek, and many others.
Lunch will be at Faze 3 Restaurant or 2 Friends Restaurant in Entebbe Town, then proceed to the hotel or airport for an international flight back home (if scheduled for this evening).
End of 1 Day Mabamba Birding Tour
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions for 1 Day Mabamba Birding Tour
Tour includes;
- · Private transfer from the Hotel to Mabamba Wetland.
- · Canoe ride.
- · Services of a full-time driver.
- · Bottled water.
- · Lunch in Entebbe.
- · Relevant Government taxes where applicable.
Excludes;
- · Accommodation.
- · Ugandan visa.
- · Insurance.
- · Souvenirs.
What to pack for the 1 day Mabamba Birding Tour
- · Rainproof backpack.
- · A pair of binoculars.
- · Lightweight rain jacket.
- · A good camera with enough memory space.
- · Bird guidebook.
- · Bottled water.
- · Safari hat.
- · Closed shoes.
- · Short-sleeved shirt.
- · Tripods.
- · Snacks
Best time for Birding in Mabamba Swamp
The best time for birding in Mabamba Swamp is during Uganda’s dry seasons, which range from December to February and June to August. These come with less vegetation, offering optimal visibility, and making it easier to spot the elusive mabamba bird species, the iconic shoebill stork.
The dry season also comes with fewer flooded water channels, offering easy access to most parts of the swamp and ensuring efficient birding activities.
About Mabamba Birding Experience
The Mabamba Birding Experience offers an unforgettable adventure in Mabamba Swamp, a 2,424-hectare wetland on Lake Victoria’s northern shore, just 40 km from Kampala.
Renowned as Uganda’s top birding site, it hosts over 300 bird species, including the elusive Shoebill stork, a prehistoric-looking bird best spotted early morning (7 AM) via motorized canoes guided by local experts.
Other highlights include the Papyrus Gonolek, Blue Swallow, Malachite Kingfisher, and African Jacana, with migratory birds from Europe adding vibrancy from September to March.
The swamp, a Ramsar site, teems with lungfish, butterflies, and sitatunga antelopes, enhancing the eco-tourism experience.
Best Time to Go:
Visit during dry seasons (June-August, December-February) for easier canoe navigation and optimal bird activity, though September-March is ideal for migratory species.
Preparation:
Bring binoculars, a camera, insect repellent, waterproof boots, and a life jacket. Book through a local operator for a guided tour ($35-$500, including canoe fees).
Mabamba Birding Map:
Access a detailed map via BirdLife International showing key birding trails and canoe routes through papyrus channels.
This serene, biodiverse haven, accessible by a 1-hour drive from Kampala or a 45-minute speedboat from Entebbe, promises a rewarding birding adventure.