1 Day Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Safari (The Best Birding Tour)

Tour Overview

For clients who are only interested in seeing the Shoebill, this is a speedy voyage to the Mabamba Wetlands however for the birders who have an interest in seeing the Shoebill in addition to checking off several wetland species and other Ugandan bird species that can be found in this area.

Because of the fascination of this vast, primitive-looking bird, both safari-goers and business travelers are interested in seeing it in Uganda. The Shoebill is an exceptional sighting for birders and is regularly at the top of their lists of Ugandan birds to see and photograph.

Mabamba Wetland is the best location in Uganda to provide you with the best opportunity to see the shoebill. Being located on the shoreline of Lake Victoria and a few minutes drive from either situated on Lake Victoria’s shoreline and a few minutes drive from either Entebbe or Kampala, it is also very easy to access. More than 300 bird species can be sighted at Mabamba, a RAMSAR wetland and paramount birding area including 7 of Uganda’s 12 Lake Victoria Basin restricted species.

We cater to all ages, budgets, interests, and fitness levels. Our team can assist with queries about Tours, Accommodation, Bookings, and Destinations. We will respond to your Inquiry as soon as possible.

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Detailed Itinerary: 1-Day Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Safari

After breakfast, you will be picked up either from Entebbe or Kampala and transferred to Mabamba in Buwaya which takes approximately an hour; it might take longer than an hour if we get a stopover to see birds along the way. Along the way, we might get a glimpse of some birds in the fields, gardens, marshes, and bushlands.

We shall straight away board the motorized wooden boats or canoes and begin touring the water channels to find the Shoebill as a high priority when we get there, where our boatman and site guide will be waiting. Finding the Shoebill might take longer than an hour of searching. If they saw the Shoebill, local fishermen who venture out at dusk might be able to aid with information.

The Shoebill is most vigorous in the morning hours when it is looking for lungfish hence is the most appropriate time to look for it. It hunts by staying stationary for extended periods while waiting for fish to cross then catching it with its huge, powerful beak which looks like a shoe! The Shoebill offers outstanding visibility and exhibit since you may get close to it without getting bothered because it is distracted with catching fish.

After spending some time with the Shoebill, you will be transferred back to either Kampala City or Entebbe.