The shoebill
In the papyrus.
Sjoerdug — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ludu57 — CC BY 4.0 · annikaml — CC BY 4.0 · annikaml — CC BY 4.0
Mabamba is a wide swamp of papyrus and water lilies on the shore of Lake Victoria near Entebbe. Calm channels wind between tall papyrus, purple lilies float on the water, birds stand among the plants and long wooden canoes cut through the reeds. The swamp covers 2,424 ha and is home to more than 300 bird species. It is one of Uganda's 33 Important Bird Areas and has been a Ramsar wetland since 2006. Its star is the shoebill, along with the blue swallow and the papyrus gonolek. Its name comes from the lungfish, called «mamba» locally. You take a wooden canoe with a local guide through the papyrus channels, looking for the shoebill and watching the other birds and the lilies. The swamp is about 14 km in a straight line west of Entebbe. Early morning is best for birds, so bring binoculars and sunscreen, and sit quietly in the boat.
In the papyrus.
By canoe.
Purple.
Kasanje village, northwest of the Entebbe peninsula, on Lake Victoria
Often; early morning is best.
By car from Entebbe, then by canoe.