The 4 Best Shoebill and Birding Tours in Uganda

1.Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tracking Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 8 reviews · 3 hours · from $115Our pick

Meet guides such as Paul and Lilian at Nakiwogo Landing Site, then cross Lake Victoria by motorized canoe to Mabamba Swamp. Spend about three hours tracking the prehistoric-looking Shoebill and spotting African Jacanas, Malachite Kingfishers, and Blue-breasted Bee-eaters. The group is limited to 10, and the tour can run longer when bird activity is good.

“Guides were very friendly and knowledgeable, the swamp is beautiful with a huge variety of beautiful birds and the shoebill is truly a sight to behold. Worth every penny”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.1-Day Mabamba Shoebill Birding Tour in Lake Victoria Entebbe

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 7 reviews · 6 hours · from $165

Meet your English-speaking guide in Entebbe, reach Nakiwogo Landing Site by 7 am, then take a boat and smaller canoe through Mabamba Swamp. You will search for the shoebill stork while watching papyrus wetland birds. Guides such as Agnes, Barbie, and Amos provide bird facts and help position the canoe for better views.

“Super skøn tur, så træskonæb storken, samt mange andre fugle alt i et stille tempo i kano og tæt på naturen. Guiden fortalte mange spændende ting”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.1/2 Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 7 reviews · from $130Top rated

Meet at Entebbe Airport at 8:00 am for a private half-day trip to Mabamba Swamp. Travel by road to Nakiwongo landing site, then by wooden boat through papyrus channels in search of shoebills, papyrus Gonoleks, jacanas, kingfishers, and other wetland birds. The boat portion lasts about two hours.

“A 10/10 half day trip to see Shoebills! Early pick up, smooth transfer, and we even managed to find a shoebill almost right after we changed to a smaller boat! The team are the friendliest people l've ever met and you can see that they really enjRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $150

Start with an 8:00 am pickup in Entebbe and travel to Mabamba Swamp for about five hours on the water. Your private group searches papyrus channels for the rare shoebill, while guides point out wetland birds and explain this protected Ramsar site. Musah is one guide associated with the shoebill trips.

“Great experience. Beautiful swamps and amazing bird life. A half day boat trip through the swamps, guided by experts with knowledge, enthusiasm and a willingness to give us the best possible experience”

Check availability →Read our full review