IMG
© Isaac Kilusu

Mabamba Swamp

0.07303 , 32.34827

Uganda

Mabamba swamp is an important bird area and a Ramsar site covering an area of 2424 ha.There are over 260 recorded birds species here and 17 of the 12 lake Victoria biome restricted species occur here.located west of Entebbe town this is one of the most visited birding site in Uganda for the highly prized shoebill.Habitat is typical of reeds,marshes, water lilies and sedges.The swamp is home to globally threatened species such as blue swallow and papyrus yellow warbler

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The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) : 0.0730/32.3483 (2020-11-29 19:56:53 )

Site name was set by Mathias Ritschard (Admin) as "Mabamba Swamp" (2020-11-29 19:56:53 )

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 09:59:12
Mabamba swamp is an important bird area and a Ramsar site covering an area of 2424 ha.There are over 260 recorded birds species here and 17 of the 12 lake Victoria biome restricted species occur here.located west of Entebbe town this is one of the most visited birding site in Uganda for the highly prized shoebill.Habitat is typical of reeds,marshes, water lilies and sedges.The swamp is home to globally threatened species such as blue swallow and papyrus yellow warbler

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

African Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus auritus)
Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)
Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis)
Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex)
Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca)
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)
African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus)
Shining-blue Kingfisher (Alcedo quadribrachys)
Double-toothed Barbet (Pogonornis bidentatus)
Red-headed Lovebird (Agapornis pullarius)
Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri)
Carruthers's Cisticola (Cisticola carruthersi)
Papyrus Yellow-Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris)
Montane Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea)
Splendid Starling (Lamprotornis splendidus)
Swamp Flycatcher (Muscicapa aquatica)
Red-chested Sunbird (Cinnyris erythrocercus)
Orange Weaver (Ploceus aurantius)
Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops)
Vieillot's Black Weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus)
Weyns's Weaver (Ploceus weynsi)
Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus)
Black-crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula)
Papyrus Canary (Crithagra koliensis)

Splendid Starling (Lamprotornis splendidus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:45:14)

Black-headed Weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:44:46)

Swamp Flycatcher (Muscicapa aquatica) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:43:26)

Shining-blue Kingfisher (Alcedo quadribrachys) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:42:48)

Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:41:50)

Vieillot's Black Weaver (Ploceus nigerrimus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:41:27)

Red-headed Lovebird (Agapornis pullarius) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:40:44)

Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:40:26)

Papyrus Canary (Crithagra koliensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:39:59)

Papyrus Yellow-Warbler (Calamonastides gracilirostris) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:39:42)

Papyrus Gonolek (Laniarius mufumbiri) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:39:27)

Double-toothed Barbet (Pogonornis bidentatus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:38:39)

Orange Weaver (Ploceus aurantius) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:37:48)

Northern Brown-throated Weaver (Ploceus castanops) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:37:20)

Black-crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:36:36)

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:35:29)

Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:35:02)

Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:34:43)

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:34:08)

African Marsh Harrier (Circus ranivorus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:33:40)

African Pygmy-Goose (Nettapus auritus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:33:20)

Carruthers's Cisticola (Cisticola carruthersi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:32:43)

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) was deleted by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:32:10)

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:31:49)

Shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:30:46)

Red-chested Sunbird (Cinnyris erythrocercus) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:30:30)

Weyns's Weaver (Ploceus weynsi) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:30:07)

Montane Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea) was added by Isaac Kilusu (2021-11-23 10:29:39)

  • Timing and strategy

Mabamba swamp can be visited anytime of the year though sometimes during the rains getting access might be abit hard when the swamp grasses grows to some extra height,you will have to cat your way through using a machete.Birders will limited time can spend 1-2 hours in the site but a full day is highly recommended.The best means of locomotion at the site is by using motorized wooded boats which are sometimes pushed through the reed to make access easy.The www.villageweaverbirding.com takes a selection of birding tour to this site and other top birding destination in east africa

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 10:05
Mabamba swamp can be visited anytime of the year though sometimes during the rains getting access might be abit hard when the swamp grasses grows to some extra height,you will have to cat your way through using a machete.Birders will limited time can spend 1-2 hours in the site but a full day is highly recommended.The best means of locomotion at the site is by using motorized wooded boats which are sometimes pushed through the reed to make access easy.The www.villageweaverbirding.com takes a selection of birding tour to this site and other top birding destination in east africa
  • How to get there

The best way to get to mabamba swamp is through the nakiwogo route from entebbe taking a ferry for approximately 10-15 minutes to the other side of kisanje then drive for about 20-25 minutes to mabamba through plenty of cultivated fields and scrub patches which will offer you with plenty of birding

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 09:48
The best way to get to mabamba swamp is through the nakiwogo route from entebbe taking a ferry for approximately 10-15 minutes to the other side of kisanje then drive for about 20-25 minutes to mabamba through plenty of cultivated fields and scrub patches which will offer you with plenty of birding

The best route to get to mabamba is through the kasanje local coucil,pay your entry fee there and make sure they give you a receipt.Foreigners are charge 2500 Ugandan shillings, resident 15000 and east african nationals pays 10000 Ugandan shillings.The price of a boat which can take 4 to 5 people cost around 150 000 ugandan shillings 

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 10:13
The best route to get to mabamba is through the kasanje local coucil,pay your entry fee there and make sure they give you a receipt.Foreigners are charge 2500 Ugandan shillings, resident 15000 and east african nationals pays 10000 Ugandan shillings.The price of a boat which can take 4 to 5 people cost around 150 000 ugandan shillings 
  • Other attractions

a visit to the nearby nkima forest, taking walks in the nearby plantations, fishing and many more

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 10:14
a visit to the nearby nkima forest, taking walks in the nearby plantations, fishing and many more

The best accommodation here is  Nkima forest lodge

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 10:16
The best accommodation here is  Nkima forest lodge

be aware of crocodiles and hippos, mosquitoes are also in plenty especially at night

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Isaac Kilusu on 2021-11-23 10:16
be aware of crocodiles and hippos, mosquitoes are also in plenty especially at night
All information about this site was contributed by Orniverse users. Neither Orniverse nor the contributors accept responsibility for the completeness and accuracy of the information provided.

Gallery

Reports

Season:
to
Species:
2023-03-03 to 2023-03-24 Uganda, Albertine Rift Birding Tour Mwangi Gitau and Rick Jacobsen
Mabamba Swamp - Orniverse