The 4 Best Birdwatching Tours in Uganda

1.Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Tracking Boat Tour

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

From Nakiwogo Landing Site, you’ll cross Lake Victoria by motorized canoe with an English-speaking guide, then follow narrow papyrus channels through Mabamba Swamp. The 3-hour trip focuses on shoebill tracking, with time for African jacanas, kingfishers, bee-eaters, and other wetland birds. Guides Paul and Lilian have helped make this outing especially personal.

“Tour was fun and informative. It is a bit difficult to find the boat but didn't take us long. The boat ride was interesting as well as seeing the birds.”

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2.1-Day Mabamba Shoebill Birding Tour in Lake Victoria Entebbe

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

Meet Agnes, Barbie, or Amos in Entebbe for an early transfer to Nakiwogo Landing Site, then cross Lake Victoria before switching to a small canoe through Mabamba Swamp. Your English-speaking guide helps you look for the shoebill and more than 260 wetland bird species. Hotel pickup, entry, boat transport, and water are included.

“Excellent - the only issue is we only sighted one shoebill and it’s quite far away from us and there was already a big crowds surrounded the bird.”

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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 visit to Mabamba Swamp. Travel by road to Nakiwongo landing site, then search the papyrus channels by wooden boat for shoebills, Papyrus Gonoleks, jacanas, kingfishers, and other wetland birds. Beautiful Safaris Uganda provides transport, fees, and water.

“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”

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4.1 Day Best Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Birding Tour, Lake Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · from $150

Leave Entebbe at 8:00 am for Mabamba Swamp, a Ramsar wetland on Lake Victoria. Your private group travels by boat through papyrus and water lilies while searching for the rare shoebill and more than 300 bird species. Musah is one guide named in tour feedback, though guide assignment should be confirmed when booking.

“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”

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