Tour Information
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May to August & December to February
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Lunch
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Your place of stay in Kampala/Entebbe
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Available throughout the year
Tour Overview
This 1-day Mabamba Shoebills birdwatching tour takes you to Mabamba Swamp, one of Africa’s most accessible sites for viewing the Shoebill, a bird that resembles a dinosaur.
The swamp is a Ramsar Important Bird Area, located on the edge of Africa’s largest lake, approximately 57 km from Kampala and just an hour’s drive from Entebbe. The name “Mabamba” comes from “emamba,” the local word for a type of lungfish. In the past, local communities viewed shoebills and other fishing birds as competition for fish, but today, many locals have been trained as tour guides and are dedicated to preserving both the birds and the swamp. Mabamba is a vast marshland, crisscrossed by numerous channels that provide an ideal habitat for a variety of stunning birds. Besides shoebills, other marsh species such as the swamp flycatcher, malachite kingfisher, yellow-billed duck, long-toed lapwing, African jacana, blue-headed coucal, African pygmy goose and fan-tailed widowbird are commonly found.
On this 1-day Mabamba birdwatching tour, you will venture into the wetland on a wooden boat, paddled by an experienced local guide who knows the best spots for finding shoebills. The top highlight of the tour will be the chance to quietly observe this magnificent bird in its natural habitat.
Tour Highlights
- Observing over 300 bird species
- Catching sight of the rare shoebill stork in its natural environment
- Photography
- Boat ride through the papyrus-lined channels of Mabamba Swamp
- Breathtaking views of Africa’s largest lake and Mabamba Swamp
