Your 2-Day Mabamba Shoebill, Reptile Village and Lake Victoria Safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Entebbe or Kampala. After meeting your Tarec Gorilla Safaris driver-guide, you travel towards Mabamba Bay on the northern shores of Lake Victoria.

Mabamba is a Ramsar wetland and an important birding destination, particularly known for the Shoebill Stork. The wetland contains extensive papyrus vegetation, shallow water and narrow channels that provide habitat for numerous wetland birds.

Mabamba Swamp Canoe Experience: On arrival, you meet your local wetland guide and board a canoe or local boat to begin your Shoebill search. The canoe moves slowly through the papyrus channels while your guide searches for the Shoebill and identifies other birds along the way.

The quiet nature of the excursion gives you time to appreciate the wetland environment and photograph the birds and surrounding landscape. The Shoebill is the main target, but possible sightings can include African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, jacanas, egrets and other wetland species.

Shoebill Viewing: Finding a Shoebill requires patience because this is a wild bird. Your local guide will search areas where Shoebills are known to occur, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. When a Shoebill is located, the canoe approaches carefully so that visitors can observe and photograph the bird without unnecessarily disturbing it.

After the birdwatching excursion, you return towards Entebbe. Enjoy lunch before continuing to your hotel in Entebbe. The rest of the afternoon is free to relax at the hotel or explore the surrounding area at your own pace.

After breakfast, your guide takes you to the Uganda Reptile Village in Entebbe. The attraction is located a short distance from the main Kampala–Entebbe road and serves as a conservation and educational centre focused on reptiles. Information available about the centre lists species including snakes, tortoises, chameleons, Nile monitors and other reptiles.

Visit Uganda Reptile Village: During the guided visit, you learn about Uganda's reptiles and the importance of conserving species that are often feared or misunderstood. Depending on what is available during your visit, you may see:

African rock pythons · Cobras · Mambas · Vipers · Nile monitor lizards · Chameleons · Tortoises · Crocodiles · Other native reptiles.

The visit is educational rather than simply a wildlife viewing experience. The centre was established to promote awareness and conservation of reptiles and to provide a place where rescued reptiles can be cared for.

Lake Victoria Boat Experience: After visiting the Reptile Village, continue towards the Lake Victoria waterfront for a scenic boat experience. Board your boat and enjoy views across Lake Victoria while your guide introduces you to the lakeside environment.

The boat ride can include views of: Lake Victoria shoreline · Fishing communities · Local fishing boats · Islands and lake scenery · Waterbirds · Entebbe's lakeside landscape.

The exact boat route and duration can be adjusted depending on weather, lake conditions and the type of boat selected. For travelers who simply want a relaxed experience, a scenic cruise is suitable. A longer private boat excursion can also be arranged where available.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch in Entebbe before your final transfer. After lunch, your driver-guide can drop you at your hotel, Entebbe International Airport or another agreed location.

This marks the end of your 2-Day Mabamba Shoebill, Reptile Village and Lake Victoria Safari.