Overview of the 2 Days Uganda birding safari in Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical gardens
The 2 days Uganda birding safari in Mabamba and Entebbe botanical gardens is a short birding excursion for birders on a bird watching safari in Uganda just within Entebbe town. This short birding safari in Uganda offers 2 whole days of beautiful bird sightings including elusive bird species. The 2 days Uganda bird watching tour in Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical gardens starts and ends in Entebbe town or any other place close to Entebbe.
The beautiful Mabamba bay is an expanse wetland marsh at the edge of Lake Victoria (the world’s largest continental lake) that stretches through along narrow bay fringed with papyrus. The swamp is dominated by Cyperus papyrus and Miscanthus species though there is a narrow channel of open water and a patch of Nymphea caerulea water lily.
Mabamba wetland is noted as an Important Bird Area and the closest spot to sight the elusive shoebill stork (which is confined to the permanent and undisturbed swamps) when you set foot in to Uganda. The area covered by the wetland is a habitat to over 300 bird species including elusive, migratory and water birds.
Several sightings are often done by tourists on Uganda birding safaris, and inclusive bird species are; the Swamp Flycatcher, African Water Rail, African Purple Swamp-hen, Common Moorhen, Malachite and Pied Kingfishers, Yellow-billed Duck, Common Waxbill, Blue-headed Cuckoo, Intermediate Egret, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Long-toed Lapwing, Osprey, Red-billed Fire-finch, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy Goose, White-faced Whistling-duck, Rufous bellied Heron, Winding Cisticola, Blue-breasted Bee-eater, Goliath Heron, Black Crake, African Marsh Harrier, and African Pied Wagtail.
There migrant bird species also sighted at Mabamba wetland and these include the Blue Swallow, Gull-billed Tern and White-winged Tern. The Papyrus Gonolek and Papyrus Yellow Warbler are the papyrus restricted species seen in Mabamba wetland.
In Entebbe Botanical gardens, you will have the chance to see several water and woodland bird species. Birding in a beautiful floral garden is just more than a fairy tale, it’s amazing.
2 Days Uganda birding safari in Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical gardens safari highlights
Day 1: Your professional Uganda birding safari guide will pick you up from your hotel, lodge or airport and drive you to Entebbe Botanical gardens for your birding excursion.
Day 2: You will do a full day birding tour in Mabamba wetland marshes and return to your hotel, place of residence or depart.
Detailed Itinerary of the 2 Days Uganda birding safari in Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical gardens
Day 1 of your 2 Days Uganda birding safari in Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical gardens
Your professional Uganda birding safari guide will start your safari by picking you up from your hotel or lodge then drive to Entebbe Botanical gardens for birding. The botanical gardens in Entebbe hosts a variety of water, open country and woodland bird species. A must tick from your bird list include; the Pink-backed Pelican, Malachite Kingfisher, Yellow-billed Stork, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Yellow White-eye, Purple-banded Sunbird, African Jacana, Lesser Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Green Sandpiper, Long-tailed Cormorant, Crowned Hornbill, Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Black-and-white-Casqued Hornbill and many more. After a long use of your binoculars, you will drive to your hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 2 of your 2 Days Uganda birding safari in Mabamba and Entebbe Botanical gardens
Early morning, your professional driver guide picks you up from your hotel after an early morning breakfast. The journey to Mabamba starts in the morning 26km from Entebbe with a drive time of about 1h 12min. The perfect route you should take is the Kasenje route which includes a ferry crossing, the 23 minutes spent on the ferry offers the best time for water bird sightings. For a full day you will be on a canoe with an experienced paddler and your professional bird watching guide through the narrow channels in search of the beautiful feathered birds. Don’t miss seeing the shoebill stork in the morning when it’s trying to find its prey (mudfish). Lunch is taken during the excursion since your guide will ensure you carry packed lunch.
Uganda is blessed with over 1,070 bird species and 24 Albertine rift endemics. Bwindi impenetrable national park that is popular for Uganda gorilla trekking safaris or gorilla tours in Uganda, is home to 23 of the 24Albertine rift endemics.
It’s just a matter of choice on which destination you love to go for birding in Uganda, the birds are almost everywhere, just choose well for the best sightings.
