Budongo Central Forest Reserve is the largest surviving natural forest in Uganda with a total surface area of 825sq.km. It straddles across three districts of Masindi, Hoima and the newly created Buliisa district. Visitors seeking the serenity and calmness of being next to nature should opt for Budongo forest professionally preserved and managed by the National Forestry Authority, the forest is divided into three zones. Its strict nature reserve is the oldest in the country while its buffer zone allows Eco-Tourism and Research to prosper and its production zone caters for commercial activities.
Attractions: Habitat of several Primate Species like Chimpanzees, Monkeys and Baboons. However, the Chimpanzees, habituated for visitor tracking. Mahogany, Iron Wood, Fig Trees, Stranglers and a host of medicinal Trees form the bulk of Floral Species, Birds, Butterflies, Reptiles, Small Mammals and other Micro Organisms.
Activities: They include Forest Walks, Bird Watching, Primate Identification, Conservation Education, Research, and Butterfly Identification among others.
Accommodation: Consists mainly of Camping Facilities. However, the Jane Goodall Institute is in the process of renovating and refurbishing the Tourist Banda's to house at least ten Visitors.
How to Experience Budongo Eco Tours and Murchison Falls National Park
Budongo Forest is situated approximately 3 hours drive northwest of the capital city Kampala on the way to the prominent Murchison Falls National Park. This is the biggest Mahogany forest found in the whole of East Africa as well as habitat to the largest number of chimpanzees throughout Uganda. The major tourist sites within this forest are: the Kaniyo Pabidi Ecotourism site, Busingiro Ecotourism site and Kaniyo Pabidi Ecotourism site which are located at boundaries to Murchison Falls National Park and dominated by Mahogany and Iron-wood trees. The 115 kilometer expanse is a remote chunck of the Budongo forest.
Its isolation once in a while offers a safe haven for the Lions, Leopards as well as Buffaloes. Early in the morning is the ideal time to set out touring because then you will have an opportunity to find a number of the forest inhabitants licking salt by the forest glades. River Waiga offers refreshment to the various wildlife species within this forest.
Chimpanzee tracking experience is the number one priority here. Starting in October up to January, the time when the fruits are shorter in supply, the chimps move a lot covering a wider area so the success of seeing them drops to about 50% rate. As you enjoy the forest walks, the forest is among the most ideal places in Uganda to have a guided bird watching Safaris in Uganda to the Royal Mile that extends from Nyabyeya Forestry College to the research station. Among the various bird species that have been recorded in this forest are more than 360 species that will certainly reward you with a very amazing birding safari experience in this great forest in Uganda. In addition there are 290 butterflies species, 130 Moths species, 465 tree species, as well as 24 mammals nine of which are actually primates.
Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda is the largest wildlife reserve in the country.
Experience the African Wild, the African Bush, Forest, Wildlife, Birds, Primates and the River Nile. You will find large herds of buffaloes and elephants here, the endangered Rothschild Giraffes in great numbers, the stealth leopard (usually alone except during mating season and of course of the king of the beasts – lions, there are many antelopes such as Jackson’s hartebeest, Bush bucks, Uganda Kob, Water bucks and Warthogs. Along the River Nile you will see enormous Nile Crocodiles and vast number of Hippos. As you drive through the park you will also come across a number of Olive Baboons, Pata's Monkeys, while in the forests of the park you can often spot black and white Colobus Monkeys, even chimpanzees can be spotted on occasion while taking a guided nature walk in Rabongo Forest. All this is brought to your desk by Nature Adventure Uganda.