Shoebill filming locations in Uganda

Uganda is home to the highest population of shoebill storks, which are usually found in swampy areas or among the shores and banks of rivers and lakes. The shoebill stork, also known as the Balaeniceps rex or whale head, is one of the most endangered and sought-after bird species in Uganda and the African continent. It can be described using its unique features, which are the blue-grey feathers, the tail, which is of the same colour as the wings and how it flies with its legs extending straight to the back past its tail and its head drawn backwards. The large beak is one of the unique features that describe the stork, as it is shaped like a shoe with a bent beak that is sharp.

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Uganda is home to the highest population of shoebill storks, which are usually found in swampy areas or among the shores and banks of rivers and lakes. It is estimated that Uganda has less than 1000 shoebill storks, and this is due to the many factors affecting the increase in the population of shoebill storks. The other factor is the fishermen found along the shores who kill the shoebill, believing that it will bring them bad luck. Their natural habitat has also been encroached on by humans, converting it to farm land used for grazing, and climate change affects the shoebill as well.

Shoebills are mainly found along the shores of Lakes and swamps and usually feed on frogs, monitor lizards, turtles, snails, tilapia fish, catfish, water snakes, rodents, baby crocodiles and small waterfowl, among others. The shoebill hunts for food in muddy waters and has a sharp vision for spotting its prey. The shoebill filming locations in Uganda include:

Mabamba Swamp

Located on the shores of the largest lake in Uganda, Lake Victoria, Mabamba Swamp is one of the best places for shoebill filming in Uganda. Lake Victoria, where the Mabamba Swamp is found, is a habitat for the endangered shoebill stork and several bird species, including migratory birds. The Mabamba swamp can easily be accessed using a traditional canoe, motorised or not, from Entebbe, but for the case of filming, you might need to hire out more boats to help you carry your equipment safely and the crew. The best time to spot and film the shoebill storks at Mabamba Swamp is early in the morning when they are close to the swamp in search of food. However, any time of the day is good as long as you visit the Mabamba Swamp/wetland.

Mabamba Swamp is also home to other bird species besides the Shoebill, and these include the Goliath herons, Whiskered Terns, brown-throated weavers, Northern Brwon-throated weavers, Grey-headed Gulls, Malachite Kingfishers, Spur-winged White Warbler, shoebill, papyrus yellow warbler, Blue swallow, papyrus Gonolek, Carruthers’s Cisticola and Pallid Harrier among others. These can be filmed when filming the Shoebill Stork.

How to access the Mabamba Swamp:

• By driving: Take the Nakawuka Kawuku road, and this drive takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes or more, depending on the traffic and the weather for the day. It will take longer during the rainy season because of the slippery and muddy roads. There is no option of flying to the swamp, but you can still brave the rains because the reward of seeing the shoebill is worth it
• By boat: Compared to the drive, this is a more scenic route to the Mabamba swamp, and it is from the Nakiwogo Landing site in Entebbe, where you will get a motorised canoe (a traditional one) to take you to the swamp for filming. The ride is between 45 minutes and an hour, and you might need to hire more boats for the safe travel of the crew and filming equipment.

Murchison Falls National Park

Murchison Falls National Park is one of the filming destinations for shoebill storks, especially along Delta Point. Shoebill stork filming in Murchison is done during the dry months of December to March and June to September, as these months offer the best shoebill sightings in the country, by taking a boat ride along the Nile Delta. The advantage of filming shoebill storks along the Delta is that you get to see other wildlife species, which include buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, crocodiles, lions, and numerous bird species, among others.

Encounter Africa Safaris conducts guided Filming shoebill trips to Mabamba swamp with experienced local birder guides. The morning and evening sessions are the best times to film the Shoebill Stork.

The Ishasha Sector

The Ishasha sector know for tree climbing lions is a recommended shoebill filming destination in Uganda. Queen Elizabeth National Park has the highest recorded number of bird species in Uganda, amounting to over 612 bird species. Its location and different habitat are home to both the local and migratory bird species, including the Shoebill stork. Although Ishasha is commonly known for the tree-climbing lions, it is also home to the shoebill, making it a good shoebill filming location. Tourists planning on filming shoebills in the Ishasha sector can also complement it by filming the tree-climbing lions.

Lake Mburo National Park

Lake Mburo National Park is one of the best safari destinations for shoebill filming in Uganda. It is also home to numerous other bird species, which are best seen during the months of March to May, and these include the African grey Hornbill, blue kingfishers, Goliath Heron, Egrets, African fish eagle, Grey woodpeckers, Black-winged Bishop and Rufous-chested swallow, among others. Located in the Mbarara district, Lake Mburo National Park has several sightings of the Shoebill Stork, and while filming this rare bird species, you get to see other wildlife and bird species, including migratory birds that are in the national park.

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary

Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, which is on your way to Murchison Falls National Park, is famous for being home to the endangered Rhinos in Uganda. It is home to the shoebill stork. The best place to do shoebill filming is Lugogo Swamp, which can be reached by boat. Besides shoebill filming, visitors also get to see other bird species like the Emerald-spotted wood dove, Black-winged Bishop, curlew sandpiper, Blue-naped Mousebird and Grey-backed Fiscal Shrike, take guided nature walks and track rhinos, among others.

Semuliki Wildlife Reserve

Semuliki Wildlife Reserve, located in the Toro region, is a good spot for shoebill filming in Uganda. The filming of shoebills in Semuliki is done while on a boat cruise along Lake Albert, where you will also get to see other wildlife species and bird species, including the Standard-winged nightjar, Red-necked falcon, Broad-billed roller, Red-throated bee-eaters, Abyssinian ground Thrush and Blue-breasted bee-eater, among others.

Bigodi wetland sanctuary

The wetland is home to over 138 bird species, including the Shoebill Stork, Grey-winged Robin-chat, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Western Nicator, and the yellow-spotted barbet, among others. It is also home to other wildlife species, some of which include bush pigs, red colobus monkeys, bushbucks, L’Hoest monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys and mongoose, among others. Filming of the shoebill stork at Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary can be done by taking a guided nature walk around the wetland.

Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Entebbe (UWEC)

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre, Entebbe (UWEC), which is also the Zoo, is another great destination for filming shoebills in Uganda. It is the best destination for filming Shoebill storks who tourists who have limited time on their safari to Uganda. The zoo is strategically located a few kilometres from Entebbe International Airport, and you can easily plan to film the shoebill storks as you come in or exit the country. Tourists also have the chance to see other wildlife species that are kept in the zoo for educational purposes.

Characteristics of the Shoebill

• The shoebill has a large beak that looks like a shoe, and this is where it gets its name. The beak for the shoebill is like five inches wide and one foot long, and it helps the birds to perfectly pick up their prey using their hooked end beaks and sharp edges.
• Shoebills avoid making a lot of noise because this would scare away their prey. They are known to be silent and deadly, and the only noise that they make is the clutter noise, which is a form of greeting to other shoebills in their nests, and when hungry, they make a hiccup sound.
• The female shoebill usually lays numerous eggs. However, they normally choose the strongest chicks, which hatch after a month. The chicks then have to compete with each other to be chosen as the best.
• The shoebill chicks fly at 16 weeks butt they still depend on the females for a few weeks before they start hunting on their own.

Requirements needed to film shoebills in Uganda

One needs a filming permit to be able to participate in shoebill filming and this can be obtained from the Uganda Wildlife Authority, you also need to pay for the filming fees that is 40% of the total cost of the activity fees, apply for the media cards from the Uganda Media Council and also pay monitoring fees (15% of the cost of the filming fees).

The filming crew have to clear with the customs officers all the filming equipment. You also need to think about the transportation of your crew and equipment, and accommodation. Encounter Africa Safaris can help you with all the above for you to have a successful filming shoebill safari in Uganda.

Factors affecting the shoebill stork population in Uganda

Several factors have negatively affected the population of the Shoebill Stork in Uganda, and many of these come from human activities. The different factors that affect the Shoebill population include the following:

Habitat loss: Habitat loss is the main factor affecting the Shoebill Stork in Uganda. With the population increase in Uganda, the cities and towns are increasing, and many people are encroaching on the swamps that are the habitat for the shoebill. Many swamps have been filled with soil to pave the way for new infrastructure for both commercial and private purposes, and this has led to a reduced number of shoebills in the area.

Hunting: Sometimes the shoebill stork in Uganda is hunted down for food as per some traditions in the country. Although this is not done in the entire country, there are areas where it is being carried out, and this has left the number of shoebills less than what it was supposed to be. Some fishermen also believe that the shoebill is bad luck when sighted and, as a result, many of them are killed off.

Illegal trading: The shoebill stork is one of the most targeted illegal birds in Uganda. The adult shoebills, their eggs and chicks are all vulnerable to poaching from all corners of the world, which has greatly affected the population of the shoebill stork in the country.

Climate change: Climate change has a great effect on the population of the shoebill storks. The dry weather leads to a reduction in the water levels, and this tends to create a great impact on the food for the shoebill stork.

Pollution: pollution in the wetlands and other safari park habitats, especially from humans, hurts the shoebill storks.

Note that shoebills can be seen and filmed in other countries and destinations, some of which include Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, Rwanda, Botswana, Malawi, Eastern Congo and Northern Cameroon, among others.

Apart from filming Shoebills in Uganda, there are other unique activities that you can engage in, and these include Gorilla trekking and habituation, game drives, bird watching, guided nature walks, boat rides, golden monkey trekking and mountain climbing, among others.

Shoebill Stork filming can be carried out throughout the year, but the dry season is the most recommended time because, during this period, many of the filming locations are easily accessible, unlike during the rainy season when they are sometimes unreachable. Contact us at Encounter Safaris for more information about the shoebill stork and filming. We offer the best packages during your filming experience in Uganda.