Awesome African Adventure. Day 6 -April 14, 2025

Entebbe

Breakfast at Boma – served by Anna who served us tea last night. Then ready for Wilson to pick us up at 7:30. 

We had some final finances to finalise with Wilson so he could bank it before leaving Entebbe. 

Wilson, our guide was born and grew up in a small village near the Chimpanzees that we visit later in the Safari. More on Wilson later. 

Driving to the lake we drove past a market and a number of schools , lots of kids in varying uniform all neatly dressed down school. Wilson indicated these kids would be late. 

Today’s activities are broken into three parts and I apologise now for photo overload coming your way. Today was a doozie.

1. Lake Victoria/Mabamba swamp. PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO.
2. Entebbe Botanical Gardens
3. Sunset cruise to Equator line with sundowners. 

#1. Mabamba swamp.

This morning we were off to Lake Victoria to cross the lake in a speedboat to transfer to a motorised longboat in search of the endangered Shoebill Stork. 

Going across the lake Phil lost his hat so we circled back to collect it – luckily it hadn’t sunk. 

We saw several different birds on the ride across the lake. Attempted some photos but it was going at speed and a little bumpy. 

We met our guide Ishmail and Captain of the longboat Robert. Then we left Wilson and our first driver with the speedboat. 

We motored off into the weeds, reeds and lotus pads and flowers. 

We meandered along the channels on the weeds and up narrower channels. 

We saw several different birds including heron, jacana, ducks, lapwings (plovers) kingfishers, moorhens, and others I’m sure. I will try and name them when I get to my camera shots. It was fun just motoring through the swamp. 

It’s actually the Mabamba Swamp named after the Mabamba fish – the major diet of the Shoebill Stork we are pursuing today. The Mabamba is a lungfish. 

After probably 30-45 minutes of travel and taking bird pics. Ishmail spotted a Shoebill. A huge grey prehistoric looking dodo like bird. About a metre tall and just standing like a statue. We cut the motor and sat and watched and waited. 

Ishmael shared that the Shoebill has to wait for the  Mabamba to swim past as the Shoebill can’t swim. So the shoebill waits and watches and we wait and watch cameras trained on the slightest movement. We wait and wait and the Shoebill stands like a statue. 

We waited for the slightest movement and occasionally he would turn its head (unable to determine male or female) or shift its eyes or lean slightly forward.

There were some other birds who flew or wandered in the vicinity. I was taking insects and flowers to pass the time. All the while

Expectantly waiting in case something happened. 

We were ecstatic when it yawned, then it actually walked forward and flew a short distance. 

In the new position we started all over again to watch and waited with cameras trained intently. We now have beautiful water lily’s in the picture.

We were also unaware, as the day warmed up and the sun streamed down,  just what the plan was. Do we wait until something happens or is there a time we just go back. 

Then it leaned in again and we were so fortunate to actually see the Shoebill launch its head into the shallow water. It came up with something – at first we thought it was a large insect but our Captain had my binoculars and said it was a small tortoise. Whatever it was the bird seemed to struggle to get it down.  (Suzie has researched since and this is usual behaviour) We were all hopeful of getting a good shot. I tried a video. We won’t really know till we get home to computers. 

Then after eating it climbed up onto higher ground and cleaned and preened and drank some water.  

The final act was to watch it fly off. We watched that for a long time. 

Then it was time to turn around and search for more birds on the way back to meet Wilson and Edward. 

A brilliant trip across the lake and a real treat to be in the long boat amongst the swamp vegetation. 

The birds and Shoebill were a bonus. 

Met Wilson and Edward and sped back across the lake. Then back to the Hotel to put some things onto charge, before our welcome lunch on Wilson at Victoria Mall at CJ’s. Huge meal portions. We are avoiding salad so as not to have the water. 

Our vehicle is a Toyota Troopy modified for African Safari. Seats six so we all have plenty of room. 

Each of us have good windows which we can open and the roof pops up too – we haven’t seen that feature yet. 

#2. Entebbe Botanical Gardens.

At the Botanical Gardens we met Patrick our guide who walked us around with commentary. Here’s a summary and the captions will tell the story. 

The Entebbe Botanical gardens established in 1898. 40 acres. By the British colonisers. 

Our guide is a volunteer guide, relies on tips. 

Critters we saw: 

• Hadada Ibis
• Velvet monkeys
• Cattle egret
• Egyptian goose
• Red tailed colobus
• Black and white colobus
• Spiders 

Trees. 

• Banyan
• Mango
• Lychee
• Umbrella tree
• Cannon ball tree. 
• Fire lily
• Birds
• Little egret
• African Sea Eagle
• Marabou stalk
• Bronze manikins 
• Turaco
• Hornbill

The gardens were the location for shooting of the original for Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movie. 

Home for a quick break. I chose a swim in the pool and it was refreshing. 

#3. Sunset equatorial cruise.

Then we were off back to the Lake for our Sunset cruise to the equatorial line, once again with Edward and his speedboat. 

This time we headed left and around the airport past lots of fishing boats out to some small islands with heaps of birds and people fishing. 

Then we came to the Equatorial marker. This sits on a rock that used to be above the waterline but is no longer and not with wave action. So shots from the boat were taken. 

Wilson was very organised with a bag of goodies containing beers for Phil, and our new fave Gin (Uganda Wagami) and tonic for us. There was also popcorn, ground nuts and cashews. We’ve learnt that Wilson doesn’t drink and can be a bit heavy handed with the pour. My triple Gin, needed several tonic refills. 

A lovely sundowner on the equator watching the sunset. 

We cruised back at a much more sedate pace with our drinks and chatter and views of building storm clouds in the sunset, bird life and lots of locals fishing in boats of all shapes and sizes and from the land. Some with poles, some netting. 

From there it was home to Boma for dinner and an early night. 

A little more about Wilson. Wilson adopted his son Nicholas, now 22, as a single man in 2002 after witnessing a car and bike accident involving a family of three on the bike, Wilson and two of his Austrian guests picked up the baby and took him to hospital. Wilson left his number and a few weeks later the hospital contacted him indicating that the parents were killed. Wilson felt compelled to adopt Nicholas at age 1.  Nicholas is now studying to be a doctor and Wilson is justifiably proud of his adopted son. He has two biological sons Lincoln aged 12 and  Ian 16 and a daughter Lizzie, aged 6.