This birding safari takes you to a place called Mabamba bay wetland Located in Wakiso district. It is a small village of Kasanje just 40 kilometers away from Uganda’s capital Kampala, Mabamba wetland has become a prominent destination for birding safaris among local and international travelers. Birding safaris in Uganda are carried out in different places in Uganda and mamba has proven to be one of the top birding destinations for birders. It features over 260 species of birds that are currently recorded and because of it its great potential as a tourist attraction, it was declared as the Ramser Site way back in 2006.

Mabamba bay wetland attracts a lot of rare and amazing bird species that you will enjoy watching during your Mabamba birding safaris and some of these popular bird species you can watch on your birding tours or adventure include the rare shoebill stork (Balaeniceps rex), the yellow warbler and the blue Swallow, the swamp also harbors the sitatunga which is referred to as the Swamp antelope.

After its declaration as to the Ramser Site, the Mamamba wetland became an International birding area which has helped to attract birders to Uganda. Your one-day Mabamba birding safari will not disappoint provided the various birds with a couple of other attractions you will see in this birding safari.

Top bird species to see on your one-day Mabamba birding safari

The major bird species to see here is the shoebill which is frequently sighted during bird-watching safaris. It’s only in Mabamba bay wetland and Murchison falls National Park where shoebills are commonly spotted. Visitors for bird watching safaris in Mabamba will also encounter other bird species which include among other; Woodland Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, White-winged Warbler, Wood Sandpiper, White-throated Bee-eater, Yellow-Billed Stork, White-winged Warbler, Red-billed Fire-finch, Village Weaver, Spur-winged, Red-eyed Dove, Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Saddle-billed Stork, Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Veilots’ Black Weaver, Rufous-napped Lark, Whiskered Terns, African Fish Eagle, African Pied Wagtail,  Angola Swallows, Black Headed Gonolek, Ashy Flycatcher, African common Moorhen, Black Headed Gonolek, African Green Pigeon, African Pied Wagtail, Carruther’s Cisticola, Grey Woodpecker, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black-headed Weavers, African Marsh Harrier,  Mosque Swallow, Orange Weaver, Intermediate Egret, Hamerkop, Grey-Headed Sparrow among others.

Other attraction

Apart from the bird’s species above, you will also sight other attractions as you enjoy a variety of birding species.  Mabamba wetland offers a lot given the fact that it is adjacent to Lake Victoria, come and enjoy the birder’s haven with our professional guides and drivers.

Mabamba bay wetland harbors several butterfly species, fishing on Lake Victoria, sightings of Sitatunga, general tour of Entebbe, village walks among others.

All about the The Amazing One Day Birding Safari in Mabamba Bay Swamp of Uganda.

The Mabamba swamp is located on the fringes of Lake Victoria towards western Uganda and is common for sighting the most sought Shoe bill stock.

Day 1: Birding in Mabamba Wetland

The Mabamba swamp or Mabamba wetland or Mabamba bay is located on the fringes of Lake Victoria towards western Uganda. The Shoebill is known to occur in mainly four countries i.e. Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and Zambia but it is best seen at Mabamba swamp. You can access Mabamba wetland from either Kampala by car or Entebbe by boat. The drive to Mabamba from Entebbe or Kampala takes approximately one hour depending on the number of stops birding. You need to leave your hotel really early to beat the traffic and also before the heat from the sun is too much which reduces bird activity. You can access the swamp by boat on from Entebbe, once you arrive you leave the speed boat and join the canoe to access the possible location of the shoebill.

This one birding tour will mostly be in a motorized traditional canoe as we search for the Shoebill wading through the overgrown papyrus. A site guide from Mabamba area will join the team to advise on the possible location of the different special bird species in this area.

For a seasoned birder you have opportunities for many other bird species in the community and at the swamp. There are numerous water birds including migratory birds from Europe. Some of the bird species to look out for in addition to the Shoebill include; Angola Swallow, Swamp Flycatcher, Olive bellied Sunbird, Grey-rumped Swallow, Blue breasted Bee-eater, African Jacana, African Fish Eagle, Long tailed Cormorant, Yellow billed Duck, Malachite Kingfisher, Glossy Ibis, White-winged Tern, Hamerkop, White-faced Whistling-Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Little Stint, Great Cormorant, Grey-headed Gull, Spur-winged Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, Madagascar Bee-eater, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Sooty Chat, Weyns’s weaver, Grosbeak weaver, Crowned Horn bill, African Pied , Common Squacco Heron, Red-billed fire finch etc.

After the experience of sighting the most sought after bird in Uganda, you will bird your way back to your hotel stopping at various points of interests for more species you could have missed on your way to Mabamba swamp.