Mabamba is a large papyrus wetland on the edge of Lake Victoria, west of Entebbe, and a Ramsar site of international importance. It is one of the most reliable places in Uganda to see the shoebill, a tall, prehistoric-looking bird that stands motionless in the swamp waiting for lungfish.
You explore by wooden canoe with a local guide, slipping along channels through the papyrus in the early morning. It is a lovely first or last morning in Uganda, close to the airport.
The shoebill is the star, but the swamp also holds papyrus gonolek, African jacana, lesser jacana, pygmy goose, malachite kingfisher, various herons and weavers, and seasonal migrants. Sitatunga, the swamp antelope, live here but are hard to see.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Flat, open wetland of papyrus and water lilies, with narrow channels opening into lagoons and the wider waters of Lake Victoria beyond.
Activities here
Warm all year, around 22 to 28°C, with mist on some early mornings. The main rains are March to May and October to November, often as afternoon storms.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27 | 17 | 70 |
| Feb | 27 | 17 | 95 |
| Mar | 27 | 18 | 165 |
| Apr | 26 | 18 | 255 |
| May | 25 | 18 | 235 |
| Jun | 25 | 17 | 105 |
| Jul | 25 | 16 | 75 |
| Aug | 25 | 16 | 80 |
| Sep | 26 | 17 | 80 |
| Oct | 26 | 17 | 125 |
| Nov | 26 | 17 | 160 |
| Dec | 26 | 17 | 115 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
June to September and December to February bring calmer, sunnier mornings. Water levels drop a little and the guides may need to push further into the swamp, but the canoe trips run as normal.
The main rains fall from March to May, with a shorter season in October and November. Storms usually come in the afternoon, so early morning trips are rarely affected. Higher water opens more channels through the papyrus.
Shoebills are resident, so Mabamba works all year. Go early in the morning in any season, when the water is calm and birds are most active.
Best time to visit Jan to Feb, Jun to Sep
Mabamba is about 1 to 1.5 hours from Entebbe by road, or partly by ferry across the bay. From Kampala allow about 1.5 to 2 hours.
A visa is needed for Uganda and can be applied for online before you travel. The East Africa Tourist Visa covers Uganda, Rwanda and Kenya. Please see the Uganda page for details.
Mabamba is a low, humid swamp close to Lake Victoria. A yellow fever certificate is needed to enter Uganda, so please carry it with your passport. Malaria is present, so antimalarials are advised, along with repellent and sun protection. The boat trip is in a small canoe, so keep seated and follow the guide.
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“Patience pays off”
Our local guides at Mabamba keep in touch with the fishermen, who often know where a shoebill was feeding the day before. We like to be on the water early, when the light is soft and the birds are active. Once you find one, take your time: a shoebill can stand still for a long time and then strike very suddenly.
Safaris from
US$226 per person
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