Pick-up from Hotel / Entebbe or Kampala

Your professional birding guide will meet you at your accommodation with a pair of binoculars and field guides in hand. After a brief briefing, you’ll set off towards Mabamba Wetlands via Entebbe or the ferry crossing (depending on your location and route choice).

Arrival at Mabamba Wetlands & Birding in Mabamba Swamp

Upon arrival, meet your local canoe captain who will expertly navigate the channels of the swamp in a traditional wooden canoe. This area is a designated Ramsar site and is a birder’s paradise. You’ll spend the morning gliding silently through narrow papyrus-lined channels in search of the Shoebill Stork. Sightings are common in the early morning when these elusive birds are hunting lungfish in shallow waters. More Key Species to Look out for include Shoebill Stork (main target), African Jacana, Papyrus Gonolek, African Pygmy Goose, Malachite Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Lesser Jacana, Swamp Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, Black Crake.  Your guide will help identify bird calls and assist with photography or eBird checklists.

Depart Mabamba and Head for Lunch in Entebbe 

After the canoe trip, enjoy a short refreshment stop before beginning the scenic drive back to Entebbe. Enjoy a relaxing lunch at a recommended lakeside restaurant. You can take in views of Lake Victoria while discussing your morning bird list with your guide.

Entebbe Botanical Gardens Bird Walk

In the afternoon, enter the Entebbe Botanical Gardens for a guided birding walk. Established in 1898, these gardens offer a mix of indigenous forest, cultivated lawns, and lakeshore habitat, making it a perfect spot to expand your bird checklist. The Target Species at Botanical will include the Great Blue Turaco, Black-and-white Casqued Hornbill, African Paradise Flycatcher, Red-chested Sunbird, Palm-nut Vulture, African Grey Parrot, Ross’s Turaco, Orange Weaver, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Little Greenbul. You may also spot vervet monkeys, black-and-white colobus, and enjoy views of the lake shore, all while walking under the cool shade of ancient trees.

Wrap up the Bird List & Return Transfer 

Find a peaceful spot in the gardens to sit with your guide and review your full day’s sightings. Compare notes, fill in your checklists, and enjoy the satisfaction of a rewarding day in nature. Begin your transfer back to your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. Your guide will make sure you're safely dropped off, with plenty of memories, photos, and species to add to your life list.

End of 1-Day Birding Mabamba Swamp & Botanical