How to Reach Mabamba Swamp and Wetland
Mabamba bay swamp can be accessed from both Kampala and Entebbe. Those coming from Entebbe can follow the old Entebbe- Kampala road and branch off from Kisubi. From Kisubi, one drives to Nakawuka then Kasanje before reaching Mabamba. Those coming from Kampala have two options. The first is to take a taxi from the new taxi park to Kasanje trading centre. After reaching Kasenje trading centre, one can hire a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) up to Mabamba which is 13.5 km away. Alternatively one can use the Masaka road and branch off after about 30 kilometers to Buyege. The distance from Buyege to Mabamba is about 22 kilomeres.
Instead of using the road as described above, a more convenient and easy way to reach the swamp from Entebbe town is by taking a speed boat through Lake Victoria. Using the lake route is more adventurous and allows one to marvel at the beautiful Lake Victoria while bypassing Entebbe town and the airport. Using a speed boat to the starting point in Mabamba takes between 45 to 50 minutes. The speedboats can be hired from some hotels in Entebbe town or at the Entebbe sailing club. The boats are in great condition, comfortable and with life jackets. However these large speed boats are not suitable for navigating through the papyrus swamps. Once you get near the Mabamba wetland, you need to prepare to board smaller canoes that are used to navigate through the papayrus swamps.
On arrival at the starting point, expect to find many birding Guides and fishermen waiting to escort you deep into the wetland to spot the birds. The boatmen and bird guides are well organized. They have a leader who speaks on their behalf. It is this spokesperson who assigns a boatman and guide to visitors. The canoes can only take three birders (excluding the guide and boat driver). You need to first pay a community charge of about $7 at their small office. The boat and Guide together cost about $35. You need to move with a life Jacket or request for one because many of the boats do not have them. The owners of these boats and birding guides are locals from the nearby communities. By paying for their services, you are giving back to the community and helping save the birds and other creatures in the wetland. People are less inclined to destroy something that is of a benefit to them.
As soon as the boat starts moving into the reeds, pay attention on both sides of the narrow pathways and in the air. Your guide and boatman will help you get close to the birds by navigating through the papyrus and lily pads. After rowing for a few minutes, the narrow papyrus reeds open up to reveal flat grassy swamps. Have your binoculars and camera ready. The number of birds here will surprise you if you are not prepared. Watch out for the bee-eaters, kingfishers and other species. Don’t miss the beautiful butterflies and lotus flowers. The best time to find the Shoebills is during the morning hours when they go out to feed. Talking photos of the Storks is easier compared to many of the other bird species. This is because they stay still for long periods as they observe the movement of fish, frogs and other prey before making a lightning strike. They support themselves by standing on floating reeds.
The chances of seeing the Shoebills in Mabamba are very high. One of the reasons for the high success rate is the great corporation and teamwork among the Birding guides. When there are several visitors at the bay, the guides spread out and head to different sections of the swamp. They are in constant communication and any who spots the Shoebills first alerts the others about their presence. Within no time all the boats gather at the same place stealthily to allow birders spot the birds. After locating the Shoebill and spotting enough of the birds, you should head back to the lake and find the larger boat waiting to take you back to your hotel. As you leave the Mabamba wetland, you might get lucky to spot more shoebills along the swampy shores of the lake or nearby lagoons.
2 thoughts on “How to Reach Mabamba Swamp and Wetland”
Add a Comment Cancel reply
Recent Posts
httpmabamba0 Comments
Mabamba swamp journey from Entebbe
httpmabamba0 Comments
Mabamba swamp [ A HIDDEN GEM OF BIODIVERSITY]
httpmabamba28 Comments
About the Shoebill Stork and Birding Tours in Mabamba Swamp
+256775311333
info@mabambashoebillwatching.com
Nice article
Nice article