The Mabamba Swamp is by far the most convenient place in Uganda to see the elusive shoebill stork. This protected Ramsar wetland on the edge of Lake Victoria is reached by boat transfer from the Entebbe pier, and the half-day trip takes about 3–4 hours – perfect at the start or end of any safari.

Finding the shoebill

The shoebill – a remarkable mixture of stork and pelican – is easiest to see in the morning as it stalks its main prey of mudfish and frogs, though it may be spotted at any time of day. These extraordinary birds can stand absolutely still for long periods awaiting the movement of their prey, then suddenly strike with marvellous speed.

What else you’ll see at Mabamba

The swamp’s papyrus channels teem with birdlife: malachite kingfishers are everywhere and easily approachable, blue-headed coucals lurk in the wetland fringes, and long-toed lapwings share the lily pads with African jacanas – including the rarely seen lesser jacana. Squacco herons, yellow-billed ducks, and the northern brown-throated weaver, which nests only in papyrus and reedbeds, round out a superb morning list, with huge cloudscapes over nearby Lake Victoria as your backdrop. Even a rainstorm here is beautiful in its own way.

Trust us to take you on a Mabamba shoebill excursion – explore our Uganda birding safaris or plan your trip.