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Shoebill Birding Tour

1 Day Mabamba Swamp

DESTINATION

Uganda

DURATION

1 Day

PRICE

$140+

SPEAK TO AN EXPERT

Overview:

Mabamba Bay is a home to over 300 bird species including the globally threatened Shoebills,Mabamba Bay is a major breeding site for the Shoebill and is one of the places with the highest concentration in the whole world.

This is a quick trip to see the shoebills but it can be a full day birding excursion for birdwatchers who want to see the shoebill and tick off a number of wetlands specials and other bird, it is also most accessible since its at the shores of Lake Victoria.

Itinerary

Day 1: Your Mabamba Shoebill Tour

You will be picked up at 7am or earlier depending on where you are staying in Kampala or Entebbe. Drive to Mabamba in Buwaya which is approximately 1 hour ,longer if we go birding along the way.Cultivations,gardens,marshes and bushlands that we drive past can provide some good bird sightings.

 

On arrival our boat man and site guide shall be waiting ,we will immediately get into motorized wooden boats/canoes and begin exploring the water channels to find the shoebills as first priority, the search may not last an hour before finding the shoebill. Local fishermen who go out at dusk may help provide information if they spotted the shoebills.

 

Early morning is the best time to look for the Shoebill because at this time it is hunting for the lungfish, it hunts by standing still in one place for long periods waiting for fish waiting to catch it with its big powerful shoe-shaped beak. This way the Shoebill gives great display/views as you can get within a couple of meters of it and it won’t mind as its attention is focused on getting fish.

Additional Information

Included
Not Included
Airport transfers
International flights
Full board meals
Visa fees
Game Parks Entry
Additional Accom.
Professional guides
Tips & Gratuity

Optional: Birding Walk in Nkima Forest

After birding in Mabamba swamp where you will spend 3 or so hours, you can do some forest birding in the nearby Nkima forest .Its a small forest patch on a hill overlooking Mabamba wetlands ,about 2kms away(20 minutes walk or 3 minutes drive).Not a massive forest but its rich with some forest specials and being small means it is easy to cover .White-tailed Flufftail is one of the species to look out .It responds to the call and will give you quick views before disappearing back into the undergrowth.

 

Other than birds Nkima forest has other wildlife including monkeys.

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