Located 40 kilometres from Entebbe and Kampala, Mabamba Bay Swamp and Wetland is one of Lake Victoria’s enormous swamps.
One of Lake Victoria’s enormous swamps is The Mabamba Bay Swamp and Wetland. It is situated in a little community in Kasanje, 40 kilometres from the towns of Entebbe and Kampala.
Hunting, fishing, and mining are the main economic activities in the villages that surround the area. Visit the Mabamba Bay Swamp and Wetland if you want to appreciate the beauty of Uganda.
The natural environment in there is spectacular. Uganda is one of the world’s top bird-watching destinations despite being a small country.
Amazingly, there are a staggering number of different bird species. One of the numerous crucial birding habitats in Uganda is the Mabamba Bay Swamp.
Birders can see many of Uganda’s well-known birds without having to go to the more remote parks thanks to the Mabamba (Lungfish Swamp in Luganda dialect).
It has attractive bird species like the Papyrus Yellow Warbler, Shoebill Stork (Balaeniceps rex), Blue Swallow (Hirundo atrocaerulea), and Sitatunga (swamp antelope).
Most people prefer visiting the swamp because it is close to Kampala and Entebbe towns.
And, because it has unique and beautiful bird species, the swamp was selected as a Ramsar Site and wetland of international significance in 2006.
An international treaty on wetlands known as the Ramsar Convention promotes the preservation, responsible exploitation, and protection of wetlands and their valuable resources. In the city of Ramsar, the treaty became operative in 1971. (Iran).
This helped the Mabamba to gain international fame hence being designated an Important Bird Area (IBA). In turn, it has helped Uganda draw many birdwatchers in. It is among Uganda’s top locations for birding safaris.
Tourists can start by visiting this swamp especially if one is interested in an extended safari in Uganda. It’s the ideal place due to its proximity to the Entebbe international airport.
Tourist Attractions at The Mabamba Bay Swamp and Wetland
The Shoebill Stork is the main attraction. In Uganda, the Mabamba Swamp and Murchison Falls National Park are the two greatest places to see Shoebill Storks.
Shoebill storks can be seen all day long as they move about hunting for food.
The Wetland is also home to four vulnerable species, including the Papyrus Gonolek, Blue Swallow, and Pallid Harrier. Tourists may also see the White-Winged Warbler, together with Shoebill Storks.
About The Mabamba Swamp Shoebill Stork
The Shoebill Stork also referred to as “Bbulwe” locally, gets its name from its enormous shoe-shaped bill. In Uganda, the Shoebill stork is the most sought-after bird. It is a quiet, captivating bird with an enigmatic physical look.
Its enormous, irregular, big, yellow-coloured bill is the most prominent characteristic. Some people think Shoebill Storks are ugly birds that appear as if they belong in the Jurassic period.
Despite what some may assume, both experienced and new birders find them to be incredibly intriguing. Tourists flood the swamp every day to admire these birds.
They tend to prefer lungfish. However, shoebill Storks will also eat smaller water birds, water snakes, frogs, lizards, turtles, baby crocodiles, snails, and rodents.
Also because so many Baganda people do not consume fish, the fish flourish in this area. The lungfish inspired the name of one of the Baganda clans.
The Shoebill Stork is a lone bird. Only during the breeding season do two pairs get together. Typically, the breeding season takes place during the dry season, maybe to protect the nests from being seriously flooded.
One to three eggs can be laid by a female. Up until the chicks hatch, both the male and female share incubation responsibilities.
Following hatching, the two must feed their young until they are old enough to find food on their own. The young don’t begin reproducing for three to four years after they are born.
Only one usually makes it to adulthood (the strongest one). The average adult Shoebill weighs 14 pounds and has a lifespan of more than 50 years.
Activities to do when visiting The Mabamba Bay Swamp and Wetland
Spot fishing
Fishing used to be the main activity in Mabamba before tourism took over. The area’s primary source of income is still fishing, and the Tilapia, mudfish, lungfish, and huge Nile perch are the most sought-after species.
There are many fishermen in the region too. You can take part in one of them or simply observe them. If you want to join them, you should bring your gear or use some locally produced hooks and rods.
Looking at Butterflies
The Wetland is home to numerous butterfly species, but birdwatching is a major attraction there. Over 200 different butterfly species can be seen in the Mabamba marsh.
The Bicyclus sebetus, Acraea consanquine, Acraea aganice, Achaea aurivilli, and Abisaraneavei species are the most prevalent.
Watching the Sitatunga antelope
Here, the swamp serves as a crucial haven for the Sitatunga. These elusive antelopes may be seen when on a birdwatching excursion in the extensive swamp. Recent years have seen a decline in their population due to unchecked poaching.
By setting fire to the marshes, where the poachers had been hiding, they are exposed and captured. The government and other wildlife conservationists work to safeguard them by raising community awareness.
Taking village walks
The village walks provide you with the chance to interact with the locals while learning about how they live and get by. Subsistence farming is a common activity among the locals that live near the swamp.
Besides this, you can visit one or two of the craft stores to see the exquisitely made cottages, mats, purses, and other items on display.
Most of these things are constructed from reeds that are harvested from swamps. Additionally, the swamp supports local huts with building materials and herbs.
Canoeing
Longer canoe trips can be organized to see extra birds, go fishing, and explore the Lake Victoria islands nearby.
Life jackets must be worn when getting into the canoe. Do not enter boats that don’t offer any safety equipment because it is risky.
Conclusion
Each year, hundreds of people travel to the Mabamba Swamp in Uganda with the hope and intent of seeing the Shoebill Stork.
This has contributed to raising awareness of their declining populations and the requirement for their general conservation. This is being done not just in Mabamba Bay Wetland, but also in other similar areas of Uganda.
The Shoebill Stork faces more danger from habitat degradation than from the unchecked poaching that threatens the swamp antelopes. Humans are still draining the marsh as they advance upon it to build homes and other infrastructure.
Proceeds from tourists are what has elevated the Shoebills to highly esteemed species that merit preservation.
So, the next time you’re in Entebbe on safari, please ensure to visit the Mabamba Swamp. You will be saving the famous Shoebill Stork and other animals.
