Mabamba wetland sanctuary - Gorilla Uganda Safaris

Visit Mabamba wetland sanctuary

Mabamba wetland sanctuary commonly known as Mabamba bay swamp offers the best and most outstanding birding experience. It is an excellent place for bird lovers located in Entebbe on the shores of Lake Victoria. This is approximately 40 km from Kampala the capital city. The variety of different bird species in this place is so thrilling that you can’t go without spotting your favorite species.

This wetland is home to over 260 different bird species hosting the rare shoebill that tourists always look for during their birding safaris. This place was chosen as the Ramsar site because of the rare bird species like the shoebill, papyrus yellow warbler, blue swallow, and shoebill stork.

Mabamba Wetland is regarded as the number one birding site because of its proximity to the airport. It is one of the top-notch places to enjoy birding safaris. The wetland does not only harbor the shoebill but also other various bird species.

Mabamba is the only place second to Murchison Falls national park where you are able to see the shoebill at any time.

The shoebill is the main highlight of all birding safaris to Mabamba wetland. This bird species is rare and can be spotted only here and a few other places in Uganda. The bird gets its name from the long shoe-shaped bill. The shoebill has a rare and outstanding physical appearance.

Some of the visitors call this bird ugly and old but some find these features interesting causing thousands to fill this place and look at it. These shoebills are usually found in swampy areas. Uganda hosts about 100 shoebill storks in places like Queen Elizabeth national park, lake Kyoga, lake Mburo national park, Semliki, Murchison Falls, Ziwa rhino sanctuary, and Nabajuzi Swamp.

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This bird is solitary and moves in pairs and usually breeds during the dry season. It is believed that these birds do this to prevent their nests from being destroyed by heavy floods.

When you visit this place, you will be able to learn more interesting facts about this bird.

The other bird species that can be spotted at this place is the yellow-billed stork, yellow-billed duck, violet backed sterling, striped kingfisher, swamp flycatcher, tambourine dove, black weaver, white-browed cuckoo, wood sandpiper, yellow-rumped tinkerbird, white-throated bee-eater, weaver birds, shining blue kingfisher, red-headed lovebird, red-eyed dove, sand martin, saddle billed stork, purple heron, pint tailed whydah, tawny eagle, whinchat, orange weaver, pallid harrier, pied kingfisher, papyrus gonolek, rufous naped lark, brown snake eagle, common waxbill, flycatcher, fork-tailed drongo, black-headed weavers, water rail, African jacana, and African pied wagtail.

Other activities to do at Mabamba swamp sanctuary.

Butterfly watching

Alongside bird watching, another interesting activity to do is butterfly watching. Some of the beautiful butterfly species that can be spotted are Sebetis, Aganice, and Achae.

Tracking shoebill stork

You can choose to track this bird at Mabamba Wetland. The best trekking time is in the morning when it is reaching out for its prey like frogs, mud and lungfish. An experienced guide will walk with you during this activity to help you easily identify these birds.

Interaction with fishermen

While at Mabamba wetland, feel free to interact with the local fishermen who used to kill the shoebill due to competition for the same prey.

Fishing is the major economic activity here and you can accompany them on their fishing trips. During fishing, you are able to see different fish species like tilapia, mudfish, and Nile perch.

How to get to Mabamba swamp sanctuary?

You can access this site by hiring a speed boat from Entebbe that will take you about 45 minutes to reach this wetland.

You can as well choose to use the road either via Kampala – Mpigi or via Kisubi, Nakawuka, Kasanje then Mabamba at a distance of 13. 5km.

How much is a gorilla permit per visitor?

There is no standard price for Uganda, Rwanda or Congo gorilla permit –each country has its rates. In Uganda, the charges vary depending on the visitor category. The foreign non-residents are charged USD 700 to have their gorilla permits booked, USD 600 for foreign residents and Ugandans (East Africa citizens) pay shs. 250,000 per person. To have a gorilla permit secured/booked, you need USD 1500 for Rwanda and this is most ideal for luxury/high-end travelers interested in visiting the endangered mountain gorillas.

Which are the best Gorilla safari destinations?

When booking a gorilla permit, it is also a good thing to have a destination of your desire in mind. The key places to consider a must-visit on gorilla tour include Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Mgahinga Gorilla National Park –these are gorilla trekking destinations for tourists on a tour in Uganda. In Rwanda, Volcanoes National Park is where you can locate habituated mountain gorilla families and crossing the D.R. Congo, you can explore Virunga National Park.

When is the best time to book your gorilla permit?

It is a good thing to also understand when best to book your gorilla permits to avoid having issues on actual date of gorilla trekking. Considering our experience, we always recommend our clients to have their permits booked early enough at least 2-4 months. This can save you from last minute stress, especially if you plan to travel during the dry season also considered to be the peak season. The peak months of the year fall around June, July, August to September, and December, January to February.

How can I book a gorilla Permit?

Gorilla permits are among the relevant documents visitors must have to be allowed to track gorillas in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Not any gorilla permit should be presented on actual gorilla trekking adventure but a valid one. Booking gorilla permits is part of making the entire gorilla trip complete and should be done early enough before the actual visit to see mountain gorillas or eastern lowland gorillas.

To have your gorilla permit booked, there is a process one should undergo through and is generally tedious. Considering your tight schedule back home, you may wonder how easier you can have your permit booked in advance to avoid last minute stress.

The easiest way to secure your gorilla permit in Uganda or Rwanda is by dealing with a recognized tour operator/company on the ground. This is where our reservation team comes in. As part of your gorilla safari requirement, our team being on ground will ensure that your permit is booked early enough and everything else that is needed for gorilla trekking is put together.

The beauty about dealing with local safari company such as ours is that we have knowledge on the different gorilla groups and surrounding communities plus various accommodation facilities for your night stay. This is in addition to making the entire gorilla permit booking process easier on behalf of our clients.

There is also an option of booking the permit directly through the reservation team of respective park authorities. But the challenge is that you must undergo through the long process to have your permit booked and this may not favor you depending on your schedule. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is an organ in charge not only for conservation of wildlife in the Pearl of Africa but also sets prices for tourism activities in the parks including gorilla permits. In Rwanda, you can contact Rwanda Tourism Board/Rwanda Development Board to have your permit booked.

What is the East African tourist visa?

The East African tourist visa is a joint visa that permits one to travel to specific countries within East Africa, namely Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda only. A joint tourist visa can be used several times for various purposes as long as it’s not overdue.

Tourists should therefore find it important to always remember that the tourist visa lasts for only 90 days. Processing the tourist visa takes a maximum period of two working days. It is also important to note that the tourist visa prohibits employment.

How to apply for an East African Tourist Visa?

The process of applying for a tourist visa has been made easier since it can be done with the help of a tour operator or by the individual themselves online through the Ministry of Internal Affairs immigration portal. Visitors are required to log in to the portal, go ahead and accept the terms and conditions for the tourist visa, select the Visa / permit type, the subcategory and category, complete the application form and upload the required documents.

A reference number will be generated and sent to you through your email, submit it and proceed to payment. It’s important to note that the payment can be made using Visa cards. An approval letter will be sent to your email after the above process.

Report at the immigration office or border post for the biometric capture with all the necessary documents, receipt of payment, approval letter and your passport. Visitors should regard it as important to enter through the home country issuing the visa.

How much does the East African tourist visa cost?

The East African tourist visa costs a fee of $100 only, meaning that it can be obtained by all travelers ranging from the budget to luxurious ones.

What are some of the Gorilla trekking rules and regulations