The best places to watch Shoebill Stork in East Africa.
The best places to watch Shoebill Stork in East Africa., the shoe bill stork is a large wading bird commonly found in the marshes of tropical east Africa in the swampy shores of River Nile and Lake Victoria. The shoebill stork is commonly known as the Whale-head or Balances rex and is one of the most challenging and shy birds in the East African wilderness. It is one of the most sought-after birds, impressive and extraordinary discovery for nature lovers.
This lovely bird is commonly found in Uganda, some parts of Kenya, and Rwanda. It is so unique and can’t be confused with any other bird due to its size and appearance. If it stands, it’s 4 to 5 meters tall, and its wingspan is 8 to 10 feet thus making it one of the tallest birds, and the bill occupies the largest part of its face.
This bird is a carnivore as it mainly feeds on the flesh of other animals. Its beak is shoe-shaped hence its name shoe bill. It’s this sharp bent beak that is used to tear flesh into small, digestible pieces.
A mature male shoe bill weighs approximately 5.6 kilograms and an adult female weighs 4.9 kilograms. The foot of the shoebill measures up to 18 cm and the tail is about 100 – 140 cm long.
The shoebill stork is sometimes referred to as the statue bird as it is normally seen standing still in one place for a long time mainly longing to catch its prey.
Shoebills are considered adults at three to four years old. They are mainly solitary birds, even the mated birds normally feed in separate territories. During reproduction, the breeding birds make nests that can be eight feet wide on water or floating vegetation. Females normally lay two eggs which hatch after one month. The chicks are normally cared for by both parents. In most cases, only one chick survives.
Shoebills normally feed on water mammals that dwell in swampy areas like catfish, lungfish, baby crocodiles, eels, reptiles, and amphibians including frogs, monitor lizards, snails, and water snakes. They usually feed in muddy areas and after spotting the prey, they wait patiently until they surprisingly attack and defeat.
They are normally active at night; their silence helps them to grab their prey with their shoe-like beak. However, they can communicate through gestures and sounds like head bobbing, bill-clattering, mooing, and high-pitched whining especially when greeting each other and reaching out to their mates. The young ones make the sound when begging for food.
The life span of a shoebill stork is 36 years in the wild and about 50 years in captivity.
Places where to see shoebill storks in Uganda
Uganda approximately has 1,000 shoebill storks, making it one of the best places in Africa to spot this rare bird. The most common locations of the shoebill stork in Uganda are Mabamba Swamp on Lake Victoria and the Albert Delta in Murchison Falls National Park.
Mabamba Swamp
Mabamba is a designated Ramsar site and is internationally recognized for conserving and supporting vulnerable ecosystems. Mabamba swamp is located 12km East of Entebbe on the northern shores of Lake Victoria. The swamp is covered by dense papyrus and water lilies that house several aquatic creatures.
Mabamba Swamp can be accessed from Nakiwogo landing site in Entebbe on a motorized boat ride which takes roughly 45 minutes to one hour. As you enjoy the boat ride, enjoy the scenic views of Lake Victoria and the surrounding communities. Sailing boats can also be hired from Entebbe Sailing Club. They are comfortable, in good condition and life jackets are available for everyone going for a shoebill stork birding adventure.
Nature lovers coming from Kampala can drive from the city park to Kasanje trading center. From here, you can hire a motorcycle (boda-boda) up to Mabamba which is 13.5 km away. Alternatively, travel along old Masaka road and branch off from Buyege town, then drive 22 km to Mabamba.
Once you get to Mabamba, you will find birding guides and fishermen waiting to accompany you for your adventure. So, be ready to get into small canoes that manage to traverse the swamp as the guides lead you to the best spots of the elusive shoebill stork and other bird species. with the help of your guide camera and binoculars, you will be able to spot and take photos of the birds, it’s an impressive birding adventure.
Murchison Falls National Park
Tracking the rare shoe bill stork in Murchison Falls National Park is normally carried out in the Nile Delta swamp. It is usually done in the early morning or late afternoon hours. As you sail on the peaceful waters of the Nile trying to spot the shoebill stork, you will encounter elephants, hippos, crocodiles, hippos, and other wildlife species that survive in the same ecosystem.
Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
Although Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary is particularly known for being home to the Southern White Rhinos, the Lugogo swamp in the sanctuary is a good spot for the shoebill stork. This rare bird can be spotted while on a canoe ride in the swamp. Other bird species in the area include the giant kingfisher, king eagles, white crested Turaco, Palm-nut Vulture, and many woodpecker species.
Ishasha sector in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Though this sector is popularly known for tree-climbing lions and adventurous game drives, Travellers interested in birding always visit the Lake “Edward flats”, a marsh shore at the extreme south end of Lake Edward. This place has always acted as a good spot for tracking the elusive shoe bill, especially during game drives.
The Tooro- Semliki reserve
The best places to watch Shoebill Stork in East Africa., Tooro-Semliki game reserve is in western Uganda near Fort Portal and is one of the best birding areas in Uganda. this place is also a convenient spot for watching the shoe bill stork. River Semliki that runs through the reserve helps to provide food for the shoe bill and other bird species that find refuge in the reserve. Over 400 bird species reside in the reserve and the most appropriate time to visit this reserve is March when there is little rainfall and it is the breeding season for most birds.
Lwera Swamp and Kyabakuza Swamp
These two swamps are found along the Kampala- Masaka- Mbarara highway. The two places are also good spots for the shoebill stork. Though very rare due to human encroachment on the wetlands, the local guides in the area can help you spot the shoebill.
Lake Mburo National Park
Lake Mburo National Park
This is Uganda’s smallest savanna park located approximately 240 km from Kampala and is easily accessed after 3 hours drive from Kampala. The park offers several tourism activities for adventure lovers. This park offers birding activities in which one can spot the elusive shoe bill stork and several bird species including the African fin foot, Nubian woodpecker, African fish eagle, grey-crowned cranes, white-headed barbet, hairy-breasted barbet, and the brown parrot among others.
Makanaga swamp
Makanaga is a wetland on Lake Victoria, that is considered a part of the Mabamba Ramsar site & Important Bird Area (IBA). It is another place to see the famous Shoebill in Uganda though not so popular due to its remote location. This place is located in Mpigi district along Kampala -Masaka highway. From Kampala branch off from Kammengo at Butoolo and drive for 15- 20 minutes on a dirt road to Namubogo landing site. From the site, take a motorized wooden canoe to Makanaga wetland for shoebill stork viewing. In this wetland, you will also find huge flocks of birds like the papyrus gonolek, terns, gulls, cormorants, egrets, ducks, geese, etc…
The Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC)
This place was previously referred to as Entebbe Zoo. This place is a rehabilitation center for rescued wildlife creatures, animals, birds, and insects from poachers and traffickers. The zoo is an option if you fail to see the shoebill in any of the above locations. The shoebill stork here is tamed and can be seen by all visitors who come to this place
Places to sport the shoe bill stork in Rwanda
Akagera national park
Shoebill stork tracking in Rwanda can only be done in Akagera National Park, a vast savanna park located in the northeastern part of the country. The elusive shoe bill stork in Akagera National Park can be spotted in the swampy areas around Lake Ihema. This can be while on a game drive or boat cruise on the lake. Visiting Akagera National Park for shoebill tracking allows you to see both resident and migratory birds like endangered papyrus gonolek, Armot chat, red-faced barbets, great snipes, swamp flycatchers, and many others.
Places to see shoe bill storks in Kenya
Lake Baringo
Lake Baringo is a freshwater lake in the Great Rift Valley. this lake attracts different travelers especially those interested in birding. Both seasonal and water birds can be seen when you visit the lake. As you take a boat tour of the lake allows you to see many bird species including the elusive shoebill stork. The shoe bill storks can be spotted in the shallow waters stalking its prey.
In Tanzania, shoebill storks are found in the west and northwestern part of the country in the Malagarasi river swamp. It is the world’s third largest Ramsar Site that not only protects shoe bill storks but also other wildlife creatures like the African bush elephants, slender-snouted crocodiles, waterbucks, sitatungas, and hippos.
Best time to visit the shoe bill storks' homes for watching, photographing, and filming.
The best places to watch Shoebill Stork in East Africa, Visiting the above places for viewing the shoe bill storks is done all year round.
However, the traditional best times of the year should be during the wet season. This is when several resident and migratory bird species can also be spotted, and it is the breeding period for most birds. The wet season in the East African countries doesn’t vary so much because they are close to the equator and experience almost the same climatic conditions. It is always in March to May and October to November. However, there is a high possibility of conducting a shoebill safari in the dry season- from June to September, December to February and they can be easily spotted because the vegetation is not fully grown.
As you plan your journey to East Africa for any wildlife adventures, include shoebill stork tracking on your itinerary, and remember to prioritize ethical birdwatching practices and respect the natural environment. The destinations mentioned in this post offer excellent opportunities to observe these magnificent birds in their natural habitats. Whether you choose Uganda Kenya, or any other option, each location promises a unique and unforgettable experience for birdwatchers eager to catch a glimpse of the elusive shoebill. So, pack your binoculars, cameras, and other necessary travel equipment and set off on an adventure. Immerse yourself in a memorable adventure to meet the shoe bill in their natural habitat. As you plan, contact Active African Vacations to prepare for you a well-tailored itinerary for the East African wilderness.
