Shoebill at Mabamba Swamp

 

When we last lived in Uganda we were on a pretty serious budget and after stretching our personal finances to go to Kidepo National Park and Murchison National Park so by the time we knew about the Shoebill excursion we just couldn't make it work. Big mistake. Fast forward to now and we've been eagerly awaiting this trip to Uganda with the Shoebill and Mabamba Swamp being high on our list of things to do. 

Mabamba Swamp is a known spot with high chances to see the Shoebill. It is also somewhat convenient in that it is close to Entebbe and Kampala so it can be an easy morning or evening trip for those arriving or traveling on. Most undisturbed papyrus swamps (the Shoebill's preferred habitat) are remote and difficult to access unlike Mabamba Swamp. 

To reach Mabamba we arranged with one of the many known bird guides in the area. We met in Entebbe at Nakiwogo port and climbed into a nicely sized boat. The lake was extremely calm and the overcast morning was comfortable and serene. Unfortunately the overcast led to some rain and although not heavy, we did get a bit wet even with the assistance of a tarpaulin from our guide.

It was about a 45 minute ride out across a channel and when we reached the swamp we transferred to a smaller boat with a smaller engine and a kind of quant pole in the front to assist in areas with too much vegetation to use the engine. We then immediately began to weave our way through the swamp in what seemed like an absolute maze to me. I was happy to have the guides both for their navigational skills and assistance in identifying birds. The area was extremely rich with birds and although we did eventually see a Shoebill, the actual journey and search for the bird was nearly as exciting! 

The Shoebill in itself was a fantastic experience and I really believe this is a trip that even a non-birdwatcher would appreciate. It's a fun way to get on Lake Victoria, it offers a unique experience floating through the papyrus swamp with high reeds and grasses, and the Shoebill is a unique enough bird that even if you don't care about birds at all, you'll at least enjoy the pre-historic odd features!