A one-day birding excursion to Mabamba Swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens offers an intensive experience of Uganda’s birds. Located on the shores of Lake Victoria, Mabamba Swamp is among the best places in Uganda to see the elusive Shoebill Stork. Meanwhile, the Entebbe Botanical Gardens form a lush home for both forest and water birds, making the two an ideal schedule for time-strapped but bird-starved visitors who want to see numerous species in diverse habitats.

The morning will begin with an early visit to Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar-declared wetland west of Entebbe. The swamp is explored by small wooden canoes, which navigate through a labyrinth of water channels edged by papyrus and lily pads. The quiet navigation through the wetland offers intimate interaction with the avifauna of this superb habitat such as the exclusive Shoebill Stork (the tour’s main attraction), African Jacana, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Malachite Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Papyrus Gonolek, Lesser Jacana, White-winged Tern, Goliath Heron, and the African Pygmy Goose. Mabamba is most famous for its Shoebill Stork population. This prehistoric-looking bird can often be seen motionless or making sharp dives into the water to catch fish. Several other water birds, herons, ducks, and a range of kingfishers make the swamp their home. Birds of prey such as the African Fish Eagle and Western Banded Snake Eagle can sometimes be seen flying over the wetland.

After an exciting birding experience in the swamp, the return journey to Entebbe for lunch and then head to the Botanical Gardens where you will spend your afternoon. The Entebbe Botanical Gardens, established in 1898, are a haven for birders, with a mix of forest, open grassland, and lakeshore habitats. The gardens are also home to naughty velvet monkeys and colobus monkeys, adding to the experience. Birding is on foot along the paths under the giant trees and along the shores of Lake Victoria. Some of the common bird species to look out for include Great Blue Turaco, Ross’s Turaco, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, African Grey Parrot, Woodland Kingfisher, Eastern Plantain-eater, Crowned Hornbill, Orange Weaver, Yellow-backed Weaver, and White-throated Bee-eater. The lakeshore offers the opportunity to spot waders and water birds like Little Egrets and Long-tailed Cormorants.

This one-day birding excursion to Mabamba Swamp and Entebbe Botanical Gardens provides a rewarding experience, showcasing Uganda’s remarkable bird diversity within different ecosystems. From the serene wetlands of Mabamba, home to the iconic Shoebill Stork, to the lush forests of the Botanical Gardens, the trip offers an exciting mix of rare, endemic, and colorful bird species. For the veteran birder or enthusiast, this day trip offers memories for a lifetime and a higher appreciation for Uganda’s avian gems.

Meal plan:  lunch.

Package includes

Transportation

Entry fees

Activities

Meals

Packed drinking water

An English speaking guide.

Pick-ups and drop offs.

Airport pickup and drop offs.

Package excludes

Accommodation.

Air tickets

Visa.