Mabamba Birding Safari Tour

Uganda Birding Tours!

Mabamba Birding Safari Tour adventures are the ideal Uganda birding journeys of discovery for avid bird lovers. The Mabamba wetland is an extensive swamp along Lake Victoria. It is one of the few maintained wetlands in Uganda and also an internationally recognized Ramsar site.

The wetland is a prime Uganda birding safari destination thanks it its bird diversity. Mabamba is Uganda’s most Important Birding Area though threatened by climate change and human activity.

Mabamba Birding Safari Tour adventures are done using local canoes along the different waterways of the swamp marshes. The canoe ride along these swamps is remarkable and takes you back in time to ancient travel. It also brings you up close to nature and wildlife species in the wetlands.

The swamp is traversed by many native Ugandans as they connect to the different islands in the Lake. Many travel in local motorized canoes and watching that experience alone is humbling. Mabamba Birding Safari Tour experiences are not just about birds but a generic community and wildlife experience.

Bird Species at Mabamba

Mabamba is home to over 300 Bird species. These also include the rare and prehistoric shoebill stork and many other wetland birds. Mabamba is part of the wetland system on the planet that is home to over 38% population of the Blue Swallow. Other globally threatened birds at Mabamba include the Papyrus Yellow Warbler even though the shoebill stork is most outstanding.

Notable bird species you easily spot on a Mabamba Birding Safari Tour include the Grey Crowned Cranes, egrets, papyrus Gonolek, Goliath Heron, fishing Eagles, and Egrets among others.

Mabamba has the highest Shoebill stork population in the region. It is estimated that over 20 shoebills freely room the wetland ecosystem. Their survival is boosted by the abundance of prey especially the Mudfish that the Shoebill preys on. All the different Bird species at Mabamba as easily spotted while on canoe rides. You stand a chance of seeing over 20 species in an hour which is a good number.

Best Time to Visit

Mabamba Birding Safari Tour adventures are doable throughout the year. Uganda is blessed to have a temperate climatic condition with only two seasons, the wet and dry season. The dry season starts from June to mid-October and from mid-December to March. This also doubles as the peak tourist season for all Uganda tour destinations including Mabamba. Wildlife viewing is generally great but crowds can be discouraging especially for a small destination like Mabamba.

The wet season spans from March to May and from mid-October to November. During this time rainfall is very unpredictable and can happen anytime of the day. It is however not so destructive to stop you from enjoying your Uganda safari adventures including Mabamba Birding Tours.

If you are interested in less crowds, then the wet season months are ideal. We highly recommend visiting Mabamba early morning or late evening when birds are active. This is also the best time for photography golden hour moments and the best natural light.

Other Uganda Birding Safari Destinations

Uganda has many other top birding destinations starting with Murchison Falls National Park. Murchison is currently Uganda’s largest protected National Park and it is traversed by the Nile River on its way Up North. The Nile at Murchison forms a waterfall and Nile Delta which are pretty iconic natural features. On a Boat cruise to either of the River attractions, you get to see several birds, especially fish eagles.

The Nile Delta has a mashy and wetland ecosystem that is home to many wetland birds. It is also home to the shoebill stork and probably the second best destination to see this rare bird after Mabamba. Other notable birds you can see also include the saddle-billed stork, Grey-crowned cranes, and Herons among others.

Semuliki Valley is another incredible Uganda Birding safari destination. It is located at the foothills of the Rwenzori Mountain ranges and among Uganda’s exclusive safari destinations. Semuliki has East Africa’s extension of Ituri forest and many of the birds and wildlife here are endemic to Central African Forests. Mubwindi Swamp, the Royal Mile, and Kidepo Valley are also great Birding destinations.

Uganda Birding Tour Packages

Uganda Birding Tour packages are all customized starting from a one-day excursion. Our 2-day birding tour features a visit to the Botanical gardens and Mabamba wetland. This is short and ideal for those with limited time.

For more birding chances, we recommend an extensive Birding tour of 5 days or more. This features visiting multiple birding destinations. With this, you stand a chance to see the diverse Bird species Uganda has. Our 7-day Uganda Birding Journeys features Mabamba, the Royal Mile, and the Nile Delta.

The 13-day Birding Safari covers the western circuit and also features chimpanzees and mountain gorilla trekking. Explore Uganda with us on the ultimate birding and Discovery Journeys adventures. We feature other East African destinations like Kenya and Tanzania for open savanna wildlife experiences. They are also great birding safari tour destinations with so much to offer.

Our Rwanda Journeys of Discovery feature Nyungwe Forest which is Rwanda’s most important birding area. We also have several customized safaris to Akagera National Park strictly for birding and savanna wildlife experiences. This is the best time to book your birding safari tour to any of the above safari destinations. The peak season is also setting in and there is still availability for both accommodation and permits. Contact Us now to start planning your safari.