Best Time to Go to Mabamba Swamp
The Best Time to go to Mabamba Swamp is during the dry season, when water levels are low and calm with waning winds. This makes it easier to glide through the papyrus swamp in search of several bird species, especially the famous shoebill and other bird species. Nonetheless, Mabamba Wetland is a premier birdwatching site that is open to visitors throughout the year. Since these bird species typically show up from the deeper reaches of the marsh in search of food and other supplies, the dry season is advantageous for the fauna.
Additionally, travelers should be aware that the best times of day to see the elusive Shoebill are sunrise and sunset, or morning and evening, when fishing activity is lower and bird species are more active in quest of food. The months of June through September and December through February are always considered the dry season. Photographers can also take the best pictures during the dry season when the weather is clear.
Best time to go to Mabamba Swamp
All year round, people can visit the marsh, especially birdwatchers who come here to track shoebills. Nonetheless, the boatmen always provide visitors with covered boats and other equipment in the swamp during the wet season.
Despite the fact that birding in Mabamba is carried out throughout the year, some months receive heavy rainfall, especially during the rainy season, which runs from March to May and October to November. However, during the rainy season, there is always an alternative shelter near the swamp, and afterwards, you continue with your search for the shoebills. The best time of day to search for a variety of bird species is at sunrise, when the weather is still calm and the waters are decreasing, when Mabamba Swamp offers a 95% chance of witnessing the elusive Shoebill.
Following the best time to go to Mabamba Swamp, there are fewer chances of spotting birds when the sun is out, with a success rate of 40%, as birds are frequently flying, escaping from the blazing sun in search of the shade.
Birdwatching tours in Mabamba Swamp are always carried out during morning and evening hours. However, this birding experience can be combined with other adventure activities such as canoeing, fishing, and beach life experiences along the shores of Lake Victoria, among others.
Sport fishing, canoeing, boat trips, and visiting nearby fishing communities and community events are some other things to do. As a result, the dry season is the ideal time to explore Mabamba Swamp, and mornings—especially before sunrise—are the greatest times to go.
Location of Mabamba Swamp
Following the best time to go to Mabamba Swamp, the largest lake in Africa and the third-largest freshwater lake globally, after Lake Michigan in the United States and Lake Huron in Canada, is Mabamba Wetland, which is situated along the shores of Lake Victoria, west of Entebbe town in the northern portion of the lake. Being one of the best places to see the famous shoebill, the expansive wetland is an amazing place to visit. With its distinctive characteristics, this prehistoric bird from the Mesozoic era is a must-see for any birdwatcher on the birding safari.
Bird species
Bird species include the Northern Brown-throated Weaver, Grey Woodpecker, Shoebill, Grey Crowned Crane, Rufous-naped Lark, African Firefinch, Black Crake, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Grey-rumped Sparrow, Red-headed Lovebird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, Black-faced Rufous Warbler, Double-toothed Barbet, Grey Parrot, Glossy Ibis, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow Wagtail, Black-headed Heron, Intermediate Egret, Angola Swallows, Yellow-billed Kite, African Hoopoe, Rufous-bellied Heron, Black-crowned Waxbill, Flappet Lark, African Green Pigeon, Cattle Egret, Great Blue Turaco, Little Egret, Ruppell’s Long-tailed Sterling, Common Bulbul, White-shouldered Tit, Feral Pigeon, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Carruthers’s Cisticola,
Following the best time to go to Mabamba Swamp, other bird species to see in Mabamba wetland include Grey Wagtail, Grey Heron, Slender-billed Gull, Green Cuckoo, Sand Martin, Crowned Hornbill, Ross’s Turaco, Black-headed Gonolek, African Common Moorhen, Banded Martin, White-faced Whistling Duck, Olivaceous Warbler, Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-winged Stilt, Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Pied Kingfishers, Ashy Flycatcher, Pallid Harrier, and Papyrus Gonolek. Pink-tailed Whydah, Red-billed Firefinch, Black-crowned Night Heron, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Wagtail, Cormorants, White-winged Tern, White-browed Cuckoo, Black-headed Woodland Kingfisher, Malachite Kingfisher, Orange Weaver, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Yellow Warbler, Common Squacco Heron, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Brown Parrot, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-billed Stork, Common Waxbill, Spur-winged Lapwing, White-throated Bee-eater, Village Weaver, Swamp Flycatcher, Fork-tailed Drongo, Great Cormorant, Saddle-billed Stork, Mosque Swallow, Red-eyed Dove, Long-toed Lapwing, African Purple, and the Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Common Stonechat, White-browed Cuckoo, Yellow-backed Weaver, Slender-billed Weaver, Swamp-hen, Winding Cisticola, Long-crested Eagle, Yellow-billed Duck, Great White Egret, Grassland Pipit, Long-tailed Cormorant, Purple Heron, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Red-chested Cuckoo, Marsh Harrier, Great White Pelican, Goliath Heron, White-winged Warbler, and other birds.
Getting to Mabamba Wetland
Due to its proximity to Entebbe town, along the shores of Lake Victoria, the marsh is considerably easier for travelers arriving from Kampala and Entebbe to reach. Take a boat from Entebbe to the landing site at Nakiwogo, and then take a ferry to the landing site at Kasanje. From there, drive for about 20 minutes to Mabamba Swamp, where you can take in the stunning views of Lake Victoria. Depending on the traffic and time of day, it takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes for people from Kampala to travel to Mabamba via Nakawuka-Kasanje Road.
