Trip overview
This is a quick trip to Mabamba wetlands to look for the Shoebill for those that just want to see the Shoebill, but it will also be a full day birding excursion for birdwatchers who want to see the Shoebill and tick off a number of wetland specials and other birds of Uganda one can find in this area. This large pre-historic looking bird is such a marvel that wildlife lovers want to see it on their safaris or during a business visit in Uganda. For birdwatchers the Shoebill is a special sighting that is often number one on their wish lists of birds to see and photograph in Uganda.
Few places in Uganda can give you sighting of the Shoebill and Mabamba wetlands is by far the best that will give you the highest chances. It is also the most accessible, being located on the shores of Lake Victoria, an hour’s drive from either Entebbe or Kampala. Mabamba is a RAMSAR wetland and Important Bird Area (IBA) hosting more than 300 bird species of which include 7 of Uganda’s 12 Lake Victoria Basin restricted species.
Trip itinerary
Early birding at Mabamba – Looking for the Shoebill and papyrus specialities
You shall set off as early as 6 am. The drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Mabamba is about 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes, but you will take a little bit more time as you shall go birding along the road which goes along cultivated lands, bushlands, small swamps, and settlements. Hence by the time you get to Mabamba wetlands, you will have recorded quite several birds along the way.
On arrival at the Mabamba you start by birding the fringes of the wetland before getting into a motorized dugout canoe/boat and going out into the dense papyrus to look for the Shoebill and other papyrus specialists such as the Papyrus Gonolek, Swamp Flycatcher, and White-winged Swamp Warbler. 2 to 3 hours of birding at Mabamba Swamp can produce over 50 bird species. The swamp is even more productive from September to May when it hosts large colonies of Palearctic migrants.
Birding at Mpanga Forest – looking for forest species
You shall then drive away to the nearby Mpanga Forest, situated along the highway Masaka highway. You shall bird the forest edge and the vicinity of the visitors information centre before getting onto the main trail which runs through the forest and offers great views into the different parts of the forest from the canopy to the undergrowth or ground.
Notable birds to look for at Mpanga Forest include Black-and-white, Crowned, and African Pied Hornbills, Little Green, Yellow-whiskered, and Slender-billed Greenbuls, Blue-throated Roller, Red-tailed Alethe, Black Cuckoo, Fire-crested Alethe, Narina Trogon, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher, African Grey Parrots, Weyns’s Weaver, and Superb Sunbird among others. Other inhabitants of the forest that you will see include the Red-tailed Monkeys and plenty of beautiful butterflies. You shall also continue out of the forest spend some time in the cultivation around the forest and will be rewarded with a good portion of garden species.
Boasting a bird list of over 100 species, wetland, forest and garden, we shall take the Masaka highway back to Kampala, a journey of at least one hour.
What to carry for trip
- Hat and sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Camera and batteries
- A rain jacket or poncho incase of a downpour while in the swamp
- Walking boots or sneakers
- A pair of binoculars
- ebird app on the phone
What this 1 day birdwatching tour includes/excludes:
- Pick up and drop at your hotel in Kampala or Entebbe
- A driver guide
- A professional birding guide
- Access fees
- A boat trip at Mabamba swamp
- Bottled drinking water and lunch
- Optional/extra activities
- Binoculars
- Personal insurance
- Tips
- All personal expenses such as laundry, phone bills, curio purchases
Related trips
1 day Mabamba swamp shoebill tour
2 days Sipi fall hike and Jinja day tour
3 days Chimpanzee trip Kibale National Park
4 days chimpanzee tracking in Kibale and safari in Queen Elizabeth Park
4 days Bwindi gorilla tracking and Lake Bunyonyi tour
5 days safari trip to Kidepo Valley National Park
8 days Uganda birding and gorilla tour (Lake Mburo & Bwindi forest parks)
8 days Masai Mara safari and Uganda gorilla trekking
