Mabamba Swamp is the most popular Uganda birding site to observe the rare Shoebill which is the most sought after bird in Uganda. The wetland is located along the shores of Lake Victoria near Entebbe town. The marsh stretches through a narrow and long bay that is fringed with papyrus towards the main body of Lake Victoria. Being a Ramsar site (wetland of International Importance since 2006) and one of Uganda's 33 Important Birding Areas (IBA), Mabamba Swamp hosts over 300 bird species. The period from September to March experiences the highest bird activity at the wetland due to the arrival of many migrant birds. Large congregations of Blue Swallow, White-winged and Gull-billed Terns fill the wetlands and the shores of Lake Victoria. Spotting and observing the rare Shoebill stork is definitely one of the highlights for every bird watcher coming to Uganda. The Mabamba Swamp offers the best chances of seeing this majestic bird. The large bird with its prehistoric look fascinates many bird lovers. These solitary birds with the massive shoebill stork can grow up to 150 cm and weigh up to 14 pounds.
The wetland is also home to plenty of other bird species. These include: African Pigmy Goose, Black Crake, Black Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Wagtail, African Firefinch, African Fish Eagle, African Green Pigeon, Pink-backed Pelican among others.You will also have a chance to witness a few activities like fishing, which is done by the local people, some of which stay in the nearby village of Kasanje. Statungas, which is an antelope is also common at Mabamba as well as some rare plant species like the sand boxes.
Mabamba Swamp can be reached via Entebbe. Take the ferry crossing from Nakiwogo Landings site, wich is a 15 minutes ride that will offer sighting of the Pied Kingfishers hovering and diving for fish. Once arrived at the shore, it is then a 30 minutes drive to Mabamba Wetlands. From there motorized boats can be hired from the locals for your excursion. An early start is important to sight plenty of birds, before there is fishing activity!
Activities
Birding at Mabamba Swamp
Spotting and observing the rare Shoebill stork is definitely one of the highlights for every birder coming to Uganda. The Mabamba Swamp offers the best chances of seeing this majestic bird. The large bird with its fascinating prehistoric look fascinates many bird lovers. The solitary bird with the massive bill can grow up to 150 cm and weigh up to 14 pounds. The Shoebill's lifespan can exceed 50 years. A shoebill pair receive only 2 eggs ever after 5 years, of which only the stronger chick survives.
Besides the Shoebill there are plenty of other bird species inhabiting the swamp such as: Papyrus Gonolek, House Sparrow which is Vagrant, Mosque Swallow (monteiri race), Weyn's Weaver, White-shouldered Tit, Sand Martin, Brown Snake-Eagle, Eurasian Hobby, Grosbeak Weaver, Blue-headed Coucal, Fork-tailed Drongo, Feral Pigeon, Flappet Lark, Long-Crested Eagle, Stripped Kingfisher, Common Stonechat, Common Greenshank, Little bee-eater, Whinchat, Grey Wagtail, Great Blue Turaco, Grassland Pipit, Orange Weaver, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Black-headed weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, Black Headed Gonolek, Ruppell's Long-tailed Sterling, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Spur-winged Lapwing, Yellow Wagtail, African Pied Wagtail, Pied King Fisher, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Yellow Billed Stork, Olivaceous Warbler, Tawny Eagle, Carruther's Cisticola, Ross's Turaco, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Ashy Flycatcher, Rufous-napped Lark, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Common Squacco Heron, White-faced Whistling-duck, Fulvous Whistling-duck, Goliath Heron, Slender-billed Gull, Spur-winged Goose, Long-toed Lapwing, African Marsh Harrier, White-browed Coucal, Violet-backed Sterling, Lesser Jacana, etc.
