Activities in Mabamba swamp in Uganda-The name Mabamba swamp was derived from the lungfish which is the local word means “Mamba”, the one of the best food for the shoebill stork. The Mabamba swamp is among the commonly known areas for bird watching in Uganda and mostly for shoebill tracking. Mabamba is found on the northern parts of Lake Victoria in Entebbe which is just 1 hour by boat from Nakiwogo landing site to Entebbe.

Even though Mabamba is commonly known as the home of shoebill but there are also other bird species which is good for bird lovers and these include the Papyrus gonolek, Northern brown-throated weaver, Pallid harrier, Caruthers’s cisticola, Swamp flycatcher, Grosbeak Weaver, Blue swallow,  White-winged Warbler, Black-headed Weaver, Palm-nut vulturePigmy goose, Viellot’s weaver,clarke’s weaver, lesser jacana and among others.

Tourist Activities in Mabamba swamp in Uganda.

There are a number of tourist activities that can be done in Mabamba swamp; below is a list of things to do in the swamp

Spot fishing

Sport fishing was the most main activity carried out in this place before Mabamba become popular. Fishing is still considered as the major economic activity in the area and it is a popular sight to see a lot of various fish species for example lungfish, tilapia, mudfish and huge Nile perch. On your trip to Mabamba swamp, you will see a lot of local fishermen on the site fishing but feel free with them, you can also join them if you wish and see how they fish.

Butterfly Watching

Most tourists visit Mabamba swamp for shoebill tracking but the area is also home to over 200 different species of butterflies that have attracted many tourists from different parts of the world. For visitors who are interested in butterfly watching, Mabamba swamp in Uganda is a good option for you where you will have an opportunity to spot a lot of butterfly species for example   Abisaraneavei, Acraea aganice, Bicyclus sebetus, Achaea aurivilli, Acraea consanguine and among others.

Shoebill tracking in Mabamba swamp

Mabamba Swamp is the best place for bird lovers where you can watch shoebill species from a closer point of view. The best time to see shoebill in Mabamba swamp is in the morning time when there are in its prey on the lungfish, mudfish and frogs. You can also watch other bird species on your trip and our expert guide will be around to interpret and identifying these bird species.

Local fishermen interaction

You can meet the changed local fishermen who were used to kill and hunt the shoebill storks in the past, this is was because the shoebills are feeding on the lungfish and at the same time it is also among the best food for local members so that is why the locals were killing these bird species, but since the locals have been trained and changed into local site guides are now struggle to reserve both Mabamba swamp and the shoebills.

Best time to visit Mabamba Swamp in Uganda

You can visit Mabamba swamp throughout the year and it is best during the morning hours mostly for the bird lovers as the bird in the morning time are always in their prey on the lungfish, mudfish, or frog so this will allow you to view a lot of bird species. When you’re coming for this trip, do not forget to carry a rain jacket in case it rains, insect repellent, sun protection cream and sunglasses. The climate on Mabamba swamp is the same as other areas on Lake Victoria, of which it has a maximum temperature of 26 degrees plus an average of 17 degrees.

How to get to Mabamba Swamp in Uganda?

By road

Using a drive from Entebbe town to the Mabamba swamp bay through Kasanje trading center which will take you 1 hour to swamp areas where you will meet the local canoe boat and then take to the best spot areas for watching different bird species like the shoebill.

By water

You can hire a speed boat from Entebbe which will take you 45 minutes to 1hour to reach the swamp entrances where you will meet the motorized canoe boat to take you deep into the swamp and start searching for the shoebill stork.