A shoebill is one of the world's largest and most unusual birds, often described as a "relic from the dinosaur age" due to its prehistoric appearance. Shoebills are massive creatures, standing nearly 5 feet tall and boasting an enormous beak.

Where did the shoebill encounter take place?

The rare and extraordinary encounter between the shoebill and tourists took place in Mabamba Bay, a popular birdwatching hotspot in Uganda.

How did the tourists react to the shoebill landing on their boat?

The tourists were left gobsmacked when the towering shoebill landed directly on their boat, with one tourist even attempting to take a selfie with the unflinching bird.

Home / Environment / Rare Shoebill Bird Lands on Tourist Boat in Uganda

Rare Shoebill Bird Lands on Tourist Boat in Uganda

13 Nov, 2025

•

Summary

Towering shoebill bird lands on tourist boat in Uganda
Shoebill described as a "relic from the dinosaur age"
Tourists capture close encounter on camera

Rare Shoebill Bird Lands on Tourist Boat in Uganda

On 2025-11-13, a group of tourists in Uganda experienced an extraordinary encounter with one of the world's most unique birds. A towering shoebill, a species often described as a "relic from the dinosaur age," landed directly on their boat while they were exploring the Mabamba Bay, a popular birdwatching destination.

The massive shoebill, standing nearly 5 feet tall and boasting an enormous beak, perched on the small wooden vessel, leaving the tourists gobsmacked. In the now-viral footage, one tourist can be seen attempting to take a selfie with the unflinching bird, which remained perfectly still just inches away.

Despite their intimidating appearance, with wingspans reaching 8 feet and beaks up to 24cm long and 9cm wide, shoebills are generally calm around humans. Thankfully, the shoebill in Mabamba Bay showed no aggression, simply standing on the boat and staring intently with its huge eyes before eventually taking flight again.