The overview

This two-day tour takes you birding in Entebbe and Mabamba Wetland in Uganda. The Mabamba wetland is noted for holding the endangered Shoebill Stork and for being home to a diversity of bird species. Mabamba Island has become among the most intriguing and stunning birding tourism destinations. Aside from Murchison Falls National Park, Mabamba is the only area in Africa or the globe in which the rare shoebill may be sighted at any time of day. There are plenty of other bird species to view on this adventure, in addition to the uncommon shoebill!

DAY 1: Birding in Entebbe’s Botanical Gardens

Have a leisurely breakfast before visiting the Entebbe Botanical Gardens. On Kampala’s best routes, where there are more than 150 different species of birds, you can spend hours birding. Search for the Bare-faced Go Away Bird, Great Blue and Ross’s Turacos, Red Chested, Klaus’s, and Diederik Cuckoo, Great Reed Warbler, Fain Tailed Widow Bird, Striped, Malachite, Giant, Woodland, and Pygmy Kingfishers, Black Bishop, Grey Woodpecker, Olive, Olive Bellied, Red Chested, superb, Copper, and other Sunbirds, among many others. Have a picnic lunch on the grounds, and have some time to relax and watch birds before going back to your hotel for dinner and the night.

Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner

Day 2: Transfer to Mabamba Island and the Search for Shorbills

After an early breakfast, you will be driven to Mabamba Swamp, which is 50 kilometers west of Kampala. On the way to the marsh, keep an eye out for the Papyrus Gonolek, White Shouldered Tit, Red Cap, Western Banded Snake Eagle, White Winged Warbler, White Spotted Fluftail, and Weyns Weaver. This Swamp is a great area to see the elusive Shoebill Stork. Many additional species are also prevalent here, including the Allen’s and Purple Gallinules, Grey herons, Jacanas, Ruffaus Bellied Heron, Squacco, Purple, and Goliath Heron, the worldwide endangered Pallid Harrier, and Blue Swallow a migrant bird, several kinds of egrets, ducks. The most enjoyable way to take in the abundant birdlife is by boat, and if you’re lucky, you might even see the elusive Sitatunga Antelope, which is accustomed to swampy environments. Drive back to the hotel for supper and overnight accommodation later in the afternoon while birdwatching the end route.

Meal plan: All meals are included