Budongo Forest

Stationed north west of the capital Kampala, the Budongo Forest Reserve is the largest mahogany tree forest in East Africa as well as one of the destinations one can find chimpanzees in Uganda. The reserve occupies the southern extension of the Murchison Falls National Park which is the largest game park in Uganda. It is a three hours away from the main city via Masindi district and covers an area of 825 square kilometres. 53% of this piece is covered by forest and the rest by grassland forest. Due to its position, a visit to the forest is usually combined with wildlife safari to the Murchison Falls Park and a rhino tracking encounter at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

A tour to Uganda lets you enjoy the thrills of Budongo that encompass Busingiro and Kaniyo Pabidi Ecotourism sites. These are the major tourism hubs that attract myriad number of visitors, located just at the border with Murchison Falls national Park. The tourism sites are dominated by mahogany and iron wood trees. However, the eco-system in forest is threatened by land encroachment and settlement. Budongo receives an annual rainfall that ranges from 1200mm to 2200mm. The area is also composed of humid semi deciduous trees with chunks of woodland and savanna.

Budongo Forest Reserve is gifted with bio-diversity of wildlife making it perfect for ecological tours in Uganda. It is a home for 9 species of primates that include 600 chimpanzees. A section of the chimps has been designated for chimpanzee habituation safaris as an initiative to promote eco-tourism. Grey cheeked mangabeys, olive baboons, blue monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys are among the other apes that thrive here. There also 360 bird species, 290 butterflies, 130 Moths and 465 trees documented in Budongo.

Most importantly, Budongo forest is a birder’s paradise that allows you to sight endemic birds found nowhere else in Africa notwithstanding other bird species like the forest robin, wood peckers, kingfishers, crowned eagle and spine tails.

Budongo forest offers soothing guided nature walks to relax your mind as you experience destination Uganda.