Mabamba Bay Shoebill Trekking from Entebbe or Kampala
Mabamba Bay is a wetland on the edge of Lake Victoria, northwest of the Entebbe peninsula. It's one of Uganda's 33 Important Bird Areas and, since 2006, a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance.
Mabamba Bay is a wetland on the edge of Lake Victoria, northwest of the Entebbe peninsula. It is one of Uganda's 33 Important Bird Areas and, since 2006, a Ramsar-listed wetland of international importance. Key protected bird species in Mabamba are the shoebill, the blue swallow, and the papyrus gonolek. Mabamba Bay is a unique, extensive marsh stretching along a narrow bay, fringed with papyrus towards the main body of Lake Victoria.
This day excursion begins and ends in Kampala, presenting a half-day magical experience in the swamp environment on the shores of Lake Victoria, which shelters numerous birds, including the vulnerable and rare shoebill stork. The swamp-dwelling sitatunga is also present. The famous Mabamba Swamp offers an impressive birding experience by canoe.
For Mabamba birding, we shall set off after an early breakfast with a packed lunch and travel to Mabamba Swamp to spot the rare shoebill. The journey takes about an hour by road. The wetland is home to a variety of bird species, and birding will take us the whole day.
A canoe ride through the papyrus swamp will take you to the best spot for seeing the shoebill, along with other rare African birds such as the Malachite Kingfisher, Swamp Flycatchers, African Purple Swamphen, African Water Rail, Common Moorhen, Lesser Jacana, African Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White-faced whistling duck, Squacco heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, and Saddle-billed Stork, among others.
We shall return to your hotel in the late afternoon.
