Lake Opeta

Lake Opeta is a famous host to stunning wildlife especially the remarkable birdlife due to the vast wetland system that favors a diversity of impressive wildlife. Lake Opeta is situated in Soroti district in the Eastern region of Uganda. It is a protected site housing extensive swamps and wetlands that harbors abundant birdlife such as; Rare shoebill stork, the Fox’s weaver and Uganda’s Endemic fox’s.
Lake Opeta is one of the great attractions that is located south of Pian Upe Wildlife reserve that hosts amazing wildlife as well as domestic cattle that belong to the Pokot and Karamojong famously known as nomadic pastoralist in the north Eastern Uganda. Lake Opeta strains its water from Mt Elgon and it connects to Lake Bisina flowing through the wetland and they get drained into Lake Kyoga. In rainy season, the areas around the lake do flood there accessing the lake becomes very difficult.
A tour to this place grantees you an opportunity to sight impressive numbers of the Rare shoebill stork that may not be found elsewhere in Africa. The wetlands and swamps close to Opeta Lake consist of distinct types of plants such as; the Papyrus plant which offers a conducive environment for breeding the Fox’s weaver which is getting extinct due to the fact that its habitat is being threatened by human activities.
Lake Opeta is one of the great ideal destination for bird watching experience and in 2006, it was ranked among the Ramsar wetlands recognized internationally. Besides the Rare shoebill stork and the Fox’s Weaver, Lake Opeta is a great home to the papyrus Gonolek that is running extinct, the Rufous-bellied Heron plus other bird species over 150 birdlife.
The best time to take tour to Lake Opeta is during the dry season in the months of December and February when the water levels of the lake have reduced. When visiting the lake, it is important to note that you need to carry strong waterproof gum boots to ease movement around the areas due the muddy and slippery parts of the lake as well as the poor drainage system.
The lake comprises of tidal water ways that take you via marshes that take you to incredible hideout for impressive unique and colorful bird species. After traversing through the marshes, you get to the point where you have an insight to sight the Fox’s Weaver. There are numerous activities done round Lake Opeta besides birding such as fishing.
How to get there
From Kampala to Lake Opeta by road, it takes about 5 hours drive. The Lake is located in a remote area away from Kampala capital city of Uganda although it’s a picturesque place that has been loved by numerous visitors. A tour to the place allows an opportunity to enjoy the tranquility, serene and cool breeze of the green swamps that make the site extremely thrilling.
Being a bird watching site, it is highly supported and recognized by the ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. It is also important to note the population of the Fox’s weaver has ran extinct and sighting these colorful birds has become difficulty. On this note the site is being back up the funds from the Uganda birding club that is allocated to carry out continuous inspection of all areas around the Lake Opeta.
Birding tour at Lake Opeta gives you a chance to learn more about the characteristics and population of the weavers. One of the amazing characteristics of Lake Opeta is that it is one of the Solitary birds. This character in manifested during the breeding periods. The nests of this bird are spread allover and about three nests can be seen per square Kilometer. The Fox’s Weaver does its breeding during the wet season in the months of September and few of them do their breeding the month of November. The bird can defined by its age, size length and color.
In short, Uganda has a wide range of birding sites about 33 gazetted areas but its only at Lake Opeta that you can spot the Fox’s weaver that is rare and difficulty to spot in other bird watching destination. For more information about visiting this wonderful site, feel free to contact our reservation team to include it on your Uganda birding Safari. Reach us by send an inquiry at info@gorillaugandasafaribookings.com or call us directly on +256-775630809 or +256-701343598 to speak directly to our reservations team.