Mabamba Bay Ecotourism site is one of the Important Bird Areas (RAMSER sites) in the world popularly known for being home for shoebill stork. It’s an extensive marsh stretching through a narrow and long bay fringed with papyrus towards the main body of Lake Victoria – the only swamp close to Kampala and Entebbe where one can easily find the globally-threatened Shoebill stork (Balaeniceps rex).

The wetland supports close to 300 bird species and is part of the wetland system which hosts approximately 38% of the global population of the Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), as well as the globally-threatened Papyrus Yellow Warbler and other birds of global conservation concern.

While at the swamp, you have high chances of spotting the swamp flycatcher, African purple swamp hen, African water rail, Pallid Harrier, Papyrus Gonolek, White-winged Warbler and the Blue Swallow Common moorhen, lesser jacana, African jacana, African pygym Goose, White-faced whistling duck, Squacco heron, Blue Breasted Bee-eater, Winding cisticola, Goliath Heron and many others.
Depending on guest convenient time, the excursion can be done in the morning setting off from Entebbe by 9am (latest – the earlier the better!) or 1pm (latest).

Adventure Consults’ Birding guide will pick you from the airport/residence/hotel, take a drive to the lake, drop off at the pier in time for your speedboat ride to Mabamba swamp. The ride will take about an hour, before changing boats on to the traditional motorized canoe/s. The canoes can easily maneuver through papyrus swamps for a close encounter, giving you the best opp. for photography Sometimes the shoebill can be far or close, but you will have an amazing birding experience as the swamp hosts so many other rare bird species.

Spending time with the Birders’ ‘Gentle Shoebill stork’ is an amazing experience. You will later return to Entebbe in the afternoon or evening, drop off at the hotel/resident/airport.

Mabamba Swamp can be accessed by road from Entebbe or Kampala which is about 2hrs drive. If in Kampala, a road drive is more convenient.

PS – Just like any wildlife viewing, Adventure Consults cannot guarantee quality of shoebill viewing. They can sometimes be elusive but chances of seeing the shoebill are very high. Get in touch.