Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The wetlands are surrounded by small villages living mainly by subsistence fishing and
hunting. The running of the Game Management Area (GMA) was passed to the African
Parks Network (www.african-parks.org) in 2008, though Shoebill Island Camp is still
managed by the Kasanka Trust.
THE SHOEBILL STORK
One of the rarest birds in Africa, the shoebill stork (
Balaeniceps rex
) is found only in the Bangweulu Wetlands,
in some parts of Uganda, and possibly in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaïre). This
bird has a body pretty much like that of any other large stork (about 1m high), but its bill (or beak), as its name
implies, is bizarrely shaped like a shoe, more like a clog in fact. Another name for this species is the whale-
headed stork and that's even nearer the mark. Technically, it's not even a stork, as it's nearest relative is thought to
be the pelican. Whatever, for ornithologists it's a big tick on the list. These weird birds can usually be seen
perched high on palm trees or wading through the reeds searching for fish. They are extremely shy, and fly sur-
prisingly well for such top-heavy giants, so seeking them out takes silence and patience.
Sleeping
Nsobe Camp $
(
www.african-parks.org
;
campsite per person US$10)
This is a basic campsite with
braai
area, bucket showers, long-drop toilets and a couple of thatched cooking shelters. It is
now under the management of African Parks.
CAMPGROUND
Shoebill Island Camp $$$
(
www.kasanka.com
;
tents per person US$50, tents incl meals & activities per person
US$360)
This camp rests in the heart of the wetlands and is splendidly positioned on a
tiny permanent island with only birds, hippos, lechwes and the occasional passing fisher-
men for company. Booking is essential. Guests stay in safari tents and there's a dining
area and lookout point. Most activities revolve around dugout canoes, but drives are also
on offer in the drier areas and in the surrounding woodlands.
When there's not enough water for the canoes, it is possible to take a guided walk over
the spongy floating reed beds. The camp aims to stay open year round but is sometimes
inaccessible from January to April.
CAMPGROUND
