Mabamba Wetland, where the Shoebill is found
Overview
A popular wetland birding location in Uganda is Mabamba Bay Swamp, which is well-known for the Shoebill, the country's most sought-after bird among both nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers. Mabamba Swamp, which spans 2424 hectares and is home to dense marshes of papyrus, water lilies, and other wetland grasses, is situated on the northern bank of Lake Victoria, west of Entebbe.
Mabamba Swamp is an Important Bird Area (IBA) and Ramsar site. More than 300 bird species, including many that are internationally threatened, seven of Uganda's twelve Lake Victoria biome-restricted species (including the Papyrus gonolek), and numerous wetland specialities may be found in the wetland. Every year from October to March, the marsh is also the site of massive flocks of Palearctic migrants.
There are several paths to Mabamba Swamp. The simplest approach from Kampala or Entebbe is via the Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe, where you may drive for roughly 20 minutes to Mabamba past vast fields and cultivations that will be home to a variety of garden birds after taking a 10-minute ferry crossing to Kasanje landing.
In Mabamba Swamp, birdwatchers use a motorised wooden boat to navigate a network of trails that cut across the dense marshes.
Mabamba wetland is popular for the Shoebill which is the most sought-after bird by birdwatchers in Uganda. The Shoebill is also on the wildlife list of non-bird watching tourists that are intrigued by its peculiar looks and massive size. The rare bird is found in few places in Uganda and Mabamba Swamp is the most accessible and reliable with the best chances of seeing the Shoebill in Uganda and arguably in Africa.
The Shoebill's favourite food, lungfish, or "mamba" in the local dialect, is abundant in Mabamba Swamp. The Shoebill faces competition from the lungfish, which is also one of the most sought-after fish by local fisherman. For a long time, the fisherman believed that if they saw a Shoebill, also known as "Boolwe" in the area, their catch that day would be poor.
However, since the Shoebill eats lungfish and the fish would hide where the Shoebill is, this is not implausible. Seeing a Shoebill when fishing in the wetland was considered a bad omen by the fishermen. They killed and hunted the Shoebills, which caused their numbers to drop and nearly drove them out of the wetland. The Shoebill was given some protection in 2006 when the wetland was designated a Ramsar reserve. Nonetheless, the community and fishermen were enlightened by the wetland's bird watching. Some of the fishermen have even received training in birding and guiding, and they earn a lot of money by renting out their boats to birdwatchers. The fishermen now take care of the Shoebill, so when they go fishing and spot one, they don't approach too closely so as not to disturb it, and they are happy to tell tourists where to observe it.
The best time to see the Shoebill in Mabamba Swamp is early in the morning, around 7 a.m., before the wetland is more active. However, at this time, the Shoebill is also hunting for lunch fish, which it does by standing still for hours or even hours watching the water for fish to cross. Then, it scoops the fish with its large, powerful shoe-like bill, which instantly breaks the fish.
Other birds of the Mabamba Swamp
Black Crake, Black Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-headed Heron, Black-winged Stilt, Blue Swallow, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, African Fish Eagle, Purple Swamphen, African Green Pigeon, African Jacana, African Marsh Harrier, African Pigmy Goose, Great Cormorant, Great White Egret, Great White Pelican, Green Cuckoo, Grey Heron, Grey-crowned Crane, Common Moorhen, Common Sandpiper, Common Sqacco Heron, Double Toothed Barbet, Glossy Ibis, Goliath Heron, Little Egret, Hamerkop, Gull-billed Tern, Hadada Ibis, Little Stilt, Long-toed Lapwing, Long-tailed Cormorant, Orange Weaver, Papyrus Gonolek, Pied Kingfisher, Pied Wagtail, Pink-backed Pelican, Pin-tailed Whyda, Purple Heron, Red-eyed Dove, Red-headed Lovebird, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Marsh Harrier, Northern Brown-throated Weather, Speckled Mousebird, The Water Thicknee, Veilots' Black Weaver, Village Weaver, Swamp Flycatcher, Spur-winged Goose, and Spur-winged Lapwing White-throated Bee-eater, White-faced Whistling Duck, White-browed Cuckoo, Woodland Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Winding Cistocola, White-winged Tern, Black-headed Weaver, Yellow-billed Duck, and Yellow-billed Kite.
The greatest of wetland/swamp birding!
In addition to birding on the water, experienced birders who wish to make the most of their time in Mabamba and record a large number of birds can also explore additional habitats and locations close to the wetlands. The following is your birding track in Mabamba:
Observing the Mabamba parking lot and landing site
Before venturing into the swamp, you can enjoy some pleasant birdwatching at the Mabamba landing site and parking area. Numerous birds can be seen among the towering trees, shrubs, and thickets, and you may be surprised by a unique or life-changing sighting. Therefore, before embarking on the boat excursion to investigate the water channels of the Mabamba wetland, you can spend a few minutes or an hour examining the ecosystems.
Here, the impressive Superb Sunbird is frequently spotted in short trees and shrubs, where it feeds on insects on tree branches before encountering the ferocious Red-chested Sunbird (endemic to the Lake Victoria habitat), which is ubiquitous.
Wein’s Weaver, Village Weaver, Vieillot's Black Weaver, Grey-capped Warbler, Yellow-throated Greenbul, Splendid Starling, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Lesser Striped Swallow, Swamp Flycatcher, and Yellow-breasted Apalis are among the other birds that are frequently seen.
Searching for the Shoebill and wetland specialities while birdwatching on the water.
A motorised wooden canoe or boat is used for birdwatching on Mabamba Wetland. Local riders are glad to take you to view the Shoebill, and there are plenty of boats available. As soon as you board the boat, the Shoebill will be the first bird you should search for. Information about the Shoebill's sighting can occasionally be obtained from fishermen who venture out early in the morning to check their nets for prey. If not, it will be a game of searching in the familiar grasses that the Shoebill enjoys hunting in.
The Shoebill is most visible in the morning when it is stalking lungfish, which involves it staying motionless for hours on end until an unfortunate fish happens to cross its path. The Shoebill may be difficult to locate since it spreads its wings and squats amid the grass to rest later in the day when it gets hot. It can also be seen cooling by flying high in the sky.
Following the Shoebill's observation, the birders proceeded with their regular activities, wading through dense grasses and papyrus as they explored the many water systems leading to Lake Victoria.
Purple Swamphen, African Marsh Harrier, African Darter, Common Squacco Heron, Purple Heron, Long-tailed Cormorant, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Yellow-billed Duck, and Malachite Kingfisher are a few water birds that are difficult to overlook.
Bushland and birding farms along The Mabamba wetland's edge
You can enhance your checklist with field species and conclude your birding adventure at Mabamba with the pleasant route (a footpath) that runs along the wetland.
You can follow this path, which begins on your left right before the exit, after returning from the boat ride on Mabamba Swamp. The trail follows the wetland, passes through bushland and farms, and then continues past a plantation of eucalyptus trees, which is not very rich but can yield some unexpected woodland species. The route is fairly extensive, so you can walk for a few hours until you feel like you've had enough.
The Rufous-napped Lark, Sooty Chat, Grassland Pipit, Red-bellied Paradise-Flycatcher, Lizard Buzzard, cuckoos, weavers, scrub-robins, sunbirds, and others are among the common birds.
Accommodations at Mabamba
Nkima Forest Lodge
Right now, the only good option to stay in or close to Mabamba is Nkima Forest Lodge. In the centre of the Nkima forest, this pleasant midrange (3 star) lodge offers a view of the Mabamba marsh and Lake Victoria in the distance.
On top of the hill is the main house, which has a bar, café, and library. It's a great spot to relax and take in the view of the forest.
The lodge features eight cabins, each perfectly positioned in a separate area of the interior forest, down the hill. The cottages are self-contained, have bathrooms inside, and are large and exquisitely furnished. They feature a deck where you can sit and take in views of the forest. From the luxury of your lodge, you can see birds, squirrels, monkeys, and other woodland creatures swinging by.
The resort also features a platform that is high up near the forest canopy, where you may sit and unwind while enjoying views of birds and monkeys that are almost eye level, as well as distant views of Lake Victoria through trees.
This is a pleasant retreat close to Entebbe for those who enjoy the outdoors. For those beginning their Ugandan birdwatching adventure, this is an excellent resort to stay close to Entebbe and begin your birdwatching