Mabamba

Mabamba wetland is a large swamp found on the North-Western shores of Lake Victoria and is probably the easiest place in Uganda to see the shy and endangered Shoebill stork. This place is also a rich spot for papyrus endemics and other waders.

Mabamba is a short drive from kampala. After 29 km along the Kampala-Masaka highway, turn left at the "St Henry's Buyege" sign post into a dirt road for another 15.3 km afterwhich you turn right at the junction and go on until you reach the landing site which is approximately 10 km from the junction.

Birds like the White-winged Warbler, Carruthers Cisticola and the papyrus gonolek are common. You may also encounter the African Jacana, the Yellow billed stork as well as the Saddle billed stork, African Pygmy Goose, Yellow Billed-Egret, Malachite and Pied kingfishers, African Fish Eagle among so many more.

The expansive papyrus swamp interspersed by a network of channels, lagoons and floating lilly pads is an enchanting world where nature is still so pure and untouched. This is one of those places which you just can't miss.

Entebbe

Entebbe international airport is situated in the sleepy small town of entebbe that is found on the shores of lake victoria. Unlike the hustle and bustle of its larger and noisier neighbour kampala, this small, serene town is so calm and peaceful. Certainly, the gentle, rolling waves of Lake Victoria enhance this feeling.

The botanical gardens allow you to begin your journey into paradise a few minutes after you have stepped off your flight!.These magical gardens were establshed in 1909 and they are, in their own right, a wildlife reserve.

Several bird and monkey species can be spotted on the branches of the tall trees. Birds like the Lesser Jacana and Red Chested Sunbirds are the main species to be seen here, while other birds like the African Pygmy-goose, Hamerkop, Hadada Ibis, Palm-nut Vulture, Crowned Crane, Long-toed Lapwing, Grey Parrot, Ross's Turaco, Eastern Grey Plantain-eater, Blue Turaco, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Blue-breasted and White-throated Bee-eaters, African-pied and Black and White Hornbills, Double-toothed Barbet, Marsh Tchagra, Black Gonolek, Black and white Shrike Flycatcher, Splendid and Rupell's Glossy-Starlings, Swamp Flycatcher, Banded Martin, Angola Swallow, Red-Faced Cisticola, White-chinned Prinia, Greater Swamp-warbler, Black-crowned Waxbill, Slender billed, Orange, Northern Brown-throated, Vieillots Black and Black headed Weaverbirds, Fan-tailed Widow-bird, Olive-bellied Sunbird among many more can also be seen in and around Entebbe. Guereza colobus and vervet monkeys can also be seen swinging form the tall canopies.

It would be unfair not to mention the Uganda Wildlife Educational Center or UWEC (formerly entebbe zoo) which also offers a wide range of (caged) wildlife like the Nile Crocodile, Several monkey species including Chimps, and almost every animal found in Ugandan National Parks. This center merits a visit as it gives you a sneak peak of the real show waiting ahead.

For the avid birder there are several spots near entebbe that are a must most significantly Entebbe sewarage pond (which is an excellent spot for waders during the migratory period) and Kajansi fish farm which also attracts a large number of waterbirds.

Due to the superb accessibility, over the years the bird list has grown impressively and Entebbe now boasts of several rarities. These include the Great Sandplover, Great black-headed gull, Tawny Pipit, little ringed plover, common tern, European turtle dove, Eurasian nightjar, Eurasian Wryneck, Heuglin's and slender-billed gulls.

Mabira Forests, Source of the Nile, Bujagali Falls, Owen Falls Dam and Jinja's Sarroundings

The Areas aroound Jinja, to say in the very least, are fascinating. Not only are the spectacular Bujagali Falls but the source of the famous River Nile and the Owen Falls Dam are found in the locality. Its apparent that the Bujagali Falls bring out a certain disregard for safety in People. Let me explain: White water rafting?? Kayaking over those Falls?? Banjee jumping?? and the craziest, young men jumping from the top of Bujaghali with jericans as their only form of lifeguard measure and plunging into the water below?!

Crazy, But exciting!!. Tragically, one lad lost his life a couple of years ago while performing his stint. This shows you how dangerous things can get.

Despite all the crazy (forgive my lack of a better word) sports, The areas around Jinja some how manage to remain serene and charming. The Source of the Nile is a good example. The mythical River Nile starts it's long journey from here and slowly snakes it's way to Egypt and the Mediterrenian Sea while only the occasional cry of a bird or monkey can be heard in the usually quiet gardens near the source.

Mabira forest is perhaps one of the largest forests in Uganda and is only 2 hours away from the capital city, Kampala along the Kampala-Jinja highway. This extensive forest reserve hosts endangered bird and tree species and thus is a very special place. You may encounter birds like the threatened Nahan's francolin, Cassin's Hawk Eagle, Forest Wood-hoopoe, Purple-throated Cuckoo-Shrike and is one of the only places in the whole of East Africa Where you will find the Tit-Hylia.

Another special thing about this place is the fact that you can see these birds while having a meal on outside tables at the edge of the forest!

Mabira forest has one of the highest species densities of trees in the whole of East-Africa and one of the reason it was turned into a reserve was to protect some of these endangered trees. Tree species like Mahogany were being felled at very high rates by indisciplined loggers.

Budongo Forests

Budongo forest reserve lies just south of the Murchison falls National park and west of Lake Albert. This is a truly rich place to bird and is the best place to see rare and endangered birds like Nahan's Francolin, Cassin's Spinetail, Ituri Batis, Buff-spotted Flufftail, Uganda Wood-warbler, Grey-headed Sunbird and the Chestnut-capped Flycatcher among many others.

The Cassin's Hawk-Eagle, White-spotted Flufftail, Afep Pigeon, Dusky tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Narina Trogon, Chocolate-backed and Blue-breasted Kingfishers, White-throated bee eater, White-thighed hornbill, Yellow-throated tinkerbird, Yellow-throated Barbet, Willcock's Honeyguide, Golden-crowned Woodpecker, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, African-shrike Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Rufous Flycatcher-thrush, Red-tailed Ant-thrush, Narrow-tailed Sterling, African-Forest Flycatcher, Sooty and Cassin's Flycatchers, Grey-throated tit-Flycatcher, Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat, Little, Spotted and Red-tailed Greenbuls, Black-caped Apalis, Yellow-Bowed and Olive-green Camaropteras, Yellow and Grey Longbills, Green hylia, Pale-breasted Illadopsis, Grey-headed Oliveback among so many more can also be observed from Budongo forest reserve.

This spectacular forest is also home to a number of primates especially Chimps, Guereza Colubus, Red-tailed Monkey, Chequered Elephant Shrew, Tree Pangolin, Boehm's and African Giant Squirrels and Hammer bats among many more. Over 250 butterfly species have been recorded in Budongo.

To cap it all, The royal mile is a road that passes right through the forest and apart from offering the visitor a wonderful view of the magnificent forest, most of the wildlife is on display along this roadside, especially the birds.