Uganda: Lake Victoria – Mabamba Swamp

Mabamba Swamp is a wetland on the edge of the Lake Victoria, occupying vast territory. It’s an endless sea of 2500 hectares of papyrus reeds and other aquatic grasses, only occasionally interspersed by narrow man-made channels used by small boats and dugout canoes. The swamp is a world-famous birding area and home for super duper endangered shoebill (next post – find out if we managed to see them). In the early morning the swamp is basking in beautiful soft sunlight and purple water lilies open up everywhere with massive blooms. Mabamba comes from local “bamba”, which means lungfish that is plentiful in the Mabamba Swamp.