Mabamba shoe bill Birding Experience

For those who only want to view the Shoebill, this is a quick journey to the Mabamba Wetlands, but for birdwatchers who want to see the Shoebill as well as check off a number of wetland specialties and other Ugandan birds that can be found in this area, it will be a full day birding adventure. Because of the wonder of this enormous, prehistoric-looking bird, safari goers and business travelers both want to see it in Uganda. The Shoebill is a special sighting for birdwatchers and is frequently near the top of their lists of Ugandan birds to see and photograph.

The Shoebill and Mabamba wetlands are by far the best locations in Uganda to provide you the best possibilities of seeing one. Being situated on Lake Victoria’s shoreline and only an hour’s drive from either Entebbe or Kampala, it is also the most easily accessible. More than 300 bird species can be found in Mabamba, a RAMSAR wetland and Important Bird Area (IBA), including 7 of Uganda’s 12 Lake Victoria Basin restricted species.

Tour Highlights

Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Mabamba Bay

1 Day Mabamba Shoebill Birding Tour: Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer from Kampala to Mabamba Bay

Depending on where you are staying in Entebbe or Kampala, you will be picked up by 7 am or sooner. Driving to Mabamba in Buwaya takes about an hour; it may take longer if we stop to watch birds along the way. As we travel, we may see some birds in the fields, gardens, marshes, and bushlands.

We will immediately hop into the motorized wooden boats or canoes and start exploring the water channels to discover the Shoebill as a top priority when we arrive, where our boat man and site guide will be waiting. Finding the Shoebill might not take 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 active in the early morning hours, when it is searching for lungfish, thus this is the best time to look for it. It hunts by staying stationary for extended periods of time while waiting for fish to cross, then catching it with its large, powerful beak in the style of a shoe! The Shoebill provides excellent views and displays since you may approach close to it without bothering it because it is preoccupied with catching fish.

After spending some time with the Shoebill, we might continue to investigate various waterways and spend a few hours identifying various wetland species.

From there, you can have lunch and immediately your guide will pick you and transfer you back to Kampala or Entebbe for your flight. This will mark the end of your tour.