The lungfish in a local language Luganda is called e’ ‘Mamba’ where the wetland derives the name Mabamba. Mabamba Bay Wetland is a special spot designated for birders hangouts. Uganda is named among the birders destinations in Africa hosting one of the highest population of birds on the continent. Some of these birders are endemic other migratory birds. Birds in Uganda reside at any point of view, and for bird enthusiasts Mabamba Bay Swamp is that point with interesting birding stories. Special bird encounters like the shoebill stork are among the bird rewards at this amazing swamp.
Mabamba Bay Swamp is located on Lake Victoria, south of Kampala, in Wakiso district. This Swamp is a significant birding spot in Uganda and Africa hosting a number of unique birds. Mabamba has broad marshland through a narrow, long bay enclosed with papyrus. It’s among the tourists spot to visit when in Entebbe and Kampala. It’s a full day activity to visit mabamba Swamp.
In 2006, Mabamba Wetland Bay was named a Ramsa site and was documented number 1638. Mabamba was certain for being a major home to rare bird species like the Papyrus yellow warbler, shoebill stork, blue swallow, and sitatunga, among others. It’s thought to accommodate about 190,000 birds, with a total of about 300 bird species. The Swamp is an international important bird areas (IBA).
Birding activities at the swamp bay has significantly influenced all has activities at the bay. These activities include; fishing, hunting, farming, and mining.
Mabamba is a significant habitats for shoebill storks in Uganda, can as well be seen at Murchison Falls National Park, and Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
Bird Collections at Mabamba Bay Wetland
The wetland hosts an ambiance that is favorable to several bird species. Among the other bird species to encounter here are: Papyrus gonolek, blue swallow, pallid harrier, and white-winged warbler are threatened species in the wetland. Other species include the Yellow-throated Greenbul, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Tinkerbird, Yellow-billed Ducks, Yellow-backed Weaver, Yellow Warble, Yellow Wagtail, Yellow-Billed Stork, Yellow-billed Duck, Yello-billed Kite, Woodland Kingfisher, Wood Sandpiper, Winding Cistocola, White-winged Warbler, White-winged Black Terns, White-throated Bee-eater, and White-shouldered Tit.
White-faced Whistling Duck, White-browed Cuckoo, Birding in Mabamba Swamp White-browed Coucal, Whiskered Terns, Whinchat, Weyn’s Weaver, Weaver birds, Water Thicknee, Violet-backed Sterling, Village Weaver, Veilots’ Black Weaver, the Blue Swallow, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Tawny Eagle, Tambourine Dove, Swamp Flycatcher, Stripped Kingfisher, Squacco Heron, Spur-winged Lapwing, Spur-winged Geese, Speckled Mousebird, Slender-billed Weaver, Slender-billed Gull, Shining Blue Kingfisher, Sand Martin, Saddle-billed Stork, Ruppell’s Long-tailed Sterling, Rufous-napped Lark, Rufous-bellied Herons, Ross’ Turaco, Red-shouldered Cuckoo Shrike, Red-headed Lovebird, Red-eyed Dove, and Red-chested Cucko.
Red-billed Fire-finch, Pygmy Geese, Purple bird watching in Mabamba Swamp Heron, Pint-tailed Whyda, Pink-backed Pelican, Pied Wagtail, Pied Kingfishers, Papyrus yellow warbler, Papyrus gonolek, Papyrus canary, Pallid Harrier, Orange Weaver, Olivaceous Warbler, Northern Brown-throated Weather, Mosque Swallow, Marsh Harrier, Malachite Kingfisher, Long-toed Lapwings, Long-tailed Cormorants, Long-Crested Eagles, Long-toed Lapwing Blovers, Little Stilt, Little Egret, Little Bee-Eater, Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Lesser Jacana, Intermediate Egret, Harmerkop, Hadada Ibis, Gull-billed Terns, Grosbeak Weavers, Grey-rumped, Grey-Headed Sparrow, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Grey-headed Gulls, Grey-crowned Crane, Grey Woodpecker, Grey Wagtail, Grey Parrot, Grey Heron, Green Cuckoo, Great White Pelican, Great White Egret, Great Cormorant, Great Blue Turaco, Grassland Pipit, and Goliath Herons.
Glossy Ibis, Fulvous Whistling-duck, Fork-tailed Drongo, Flycatcher, Flappet Lark, Feral Pigeon, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Eurasian Hobby: Bird Watching in Mabamba Swamp and Wetland: Eastern Grey Plantain Eater, Double-toothed Barbet, Crowned Hornbill, Comrants, Common Waxbill, Common Stonechat, Common Sqacco Heron, Common Sandpiper, Common Moorhens, Common Greenshank, Common Bulbul, Cattle Egret, Carruther’s Cisticola, Brown Snake-Eagle, Brown Parrot, Blue-headed Cuckoo, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Blue Swallow, Blue-headed Coucal, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Black-winged Stilt, Black-headed Weavers, Black-headed Heron, Black-faced Rufous Warbler.
Black-crowned Waxbill, Black-crowned Night Heron, Black-headed Weavers, Black-Headed Gonolek, Black Egret, Black Crake, Banded Martin, Ashy Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, Angola Swallows, Afrikan Jakana, African Water Rail, Pallid Harrier, African Water Rail, African Pygmy Goose, African Purple Swamphen, African Pigmy Goose, African Pied Wagtail, African Marsh Harrier, African Jacana, African Hoopoe, African Green Pigeon, African Fish Eagle, African Firefinch, and African Common Moorhen
Things to do at Mabamba Bay Swamp
Birding watching Mabamba Bay Swamp
The shoebill stork tops the birding show at wetland, this kind of bird has a greater contribution on the birding business in Uganda. Larger numbers of birding enthusiasts have occasionally visited the wetland for particularly watching the shoebill stork which is fascinated by a number of bird species alongside. The species is structurally a huge, massive, and uneven bird species that showcases a yellowish bill, which adds to its ugliness.
Mabamba birding is designed through various birding trails; one of the trail goes through Mabamba landing site. This trail displays all kinds of bird species, including water birds, land birds, and forest birds, which are watched. The other trail is birding on water, which takes you to search for both water species and the famous shoebill stork. This trail is done on either motorized wooden boats or locally made canoes. And the last trail goes up into gardens and bushland along the edge of Mabamba wetland.
Birding tours are arranged daily, and according to the trail taken, the wetland birding arrangements are the most rewarding. When you want to take a full-day birding session, it’s well possible on request. A bird tour of Mabamba wetland costs $400 per person, and if you want the experience, you have to book in advance.
Fishing
Fishing is the main economic activity done by locals; this is a larger opening for travelers to engage in the fishing as another tourist activity. The sport fishing at Mabamba is catch and release where you can take your fish at your hotel/lodge and smoke it for bite. On the fishing expect to have the following catches of tilapia, mudfish, lungfish, and large Nile perch. For fishing excusions, you join the local fishers; go with your modern fishing gears or use the local ones.
Canoeing
Longtime canoeing can be arranged to spot more of the birds, go fishing, and tour the nearby islands of Lake Victoria. It is important to board the canoe with life jackets. If you don’t have one, choose a boat that can provide one.
Watching Butterflies
Whereas bird watching is the main highlight of a tour of the Mabamba wetland, the countless butterfly species also catch the eye. The Mabamba swamp has over 200 species of butterflies. The most common species are Bicyclus sebetus, Acraea consanquine, Acraea aganice, Achaea aurivilli, and Abisaraneavei.
