Budongo Forest is one of East Africa’s largest and ecologically diverse rain forests. The Forest’s reserve covers an area of 435 km2 which is encompassed by Masindi District, the Albertine rift Escarpment and Murchison Falls Conservation Area. Previously known to be the Omukama of Bunyoro’s hunting grounds and subsequently in the colonial area a source of sawmilled hardwood timber, today, Bundongo Forest is known for harboring the second largest population of chimpanzees in Uganda and a key site for those keen on studying birds.
Budongo Forest has 2 ecotourism sites: Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro. Kaniyo Pabidi which is on your way to Murchison Falls offers exceptional chimpanzee trekking and habituation. Busingiro on the other hand is home to the Royal Mile, one of the top bird watching tracks in the country.
Flora and Fauna
The forest is classified as a moist semi – deciduous medium altitude forest and is known to have at least 450 species of trees especially giant buttressed mahogany trees that stand at 60m tall. The forest is known to have 360 species of birds, 60 of which are west or central African bird species that are not common in other parts of East Africa. One bird endemic to this forest is the yellow footed fly catcher. However, other birds, found in only one other East African forest include: the white thighed hornbill, black eared ground thrush, chest nut capped flycatcher, the lemon – bellied crombec and the Ituri batis. More than 250 buttery fly species are also found in this area.
At Kaniyo Pabidi, an estimated chimpanzee population of 600 -700 individuals can be found. These chimpanzees have been subjects of research and study since 1962. Other primates found in Budongo forest include, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus, olive baboons, pottos, various forest galago species and the elusive tree pangolin, the checkered elephant shrew and the forest giant squirrel. The forest is also occasionally visited by large mammals from the Murchison Falls Conservation Area.
Attractions and Activities
Budongo Forest offers a number of attractions and activities that cater to a wide range of interests, from nature walks and birdwatching to chimpanzee trekking and cultural experiences. Some of the highlights include:
- Chimpanzee Trekking and Habituation. Tracking a habituated troop of Chimpanzees along the forest trails at Kaniyo Pabidi is Bodongo’s main attraction. The chimps could be feeding, resting, grooming or on the move.Other primates such as black and white colobus, red tailed monkeys are also a delight to spot during the trek. Here, expect to pay lower fees for chimp trekking than in the popular Kibale National Park.
Trekking chimpanzees is best done in the drier months from December to March, and June to July seeing as during the rainy seasons the trails might be difficult to travail.
- Nature/Forest Walks: This is an opportunity to encounter a variety of plant and animal species, trees colorful butterflies, and elusive forest birds. Knowledgeable guides offer insights into the forest’s ecology, medicinal plants, and cultural significance, enhancing the overall experience for visitors.
- Birdwatching: Guided birdwatching tours offer the chance to spot rare and endemic species such as the Puvel’s Illadopsis and the yellow footed fly catcher which are found nowhere else in East Africa. Budongo forest is the second forest after Semuliki National Park where migratory bird species of the Guinea-Congo Forest region are found. The best place for bird watching in Budongo is on the Royal Mile at Busingiro. But a number of birds can also be seen in the Kaniyo Pabidi forest which is easier to explore.
The Royal Mile
The Royal mile is one of Uganda’s most satisfying birding hotspots and was named the Royal Mile because of Omukama Kabalega’s frequent visits there. The Royal Mile is a 2.5 Km dirt road stretch that runs north from Nyabyeya Forestry College to Budongo Conservation Field Station. In this place, localized species such as the Blue – Breasted King fisher, the Chocolate – Backed King fisher and the African Dwarf can be found. Other special birds found in this area include Nahan’s francolin, yellow-billed barbet, lemon-billed combec, black-capped apalis, forest flycatcher, yellow-footed flycatcher, Jameson’s wattle eye among others. A number of Animals are also expected to be seen in this area including
Busingiro
Taking a guided walk along the main road to Busingiro gives a keen bird watcher another occasion to spot other bird species. Birds frequently seen here include brown crowned eremomela, Ituri batis, Chestnut capped flycatcher, Cassin’s Sabine’s spine tails and grey and yellow long bills.
- Cultural Experiences: Meet Boomu Women’s group, a group brought together when farms hard low yield, and and little produce to sell. The group began by making African craft artifacts but has since become an immersive community tourism project. Located between Budongo and Murchison Falls National Park, the group gives you a sense of Ugandan culture as you engage with in in learning how to cook traditional dishes, basket weaving and village walks.
How to Get There
Budongo Forest is located in western Uganda, approximately 4-5 hours’ drive from the capital city of Kampala. The forest is accessible via both public and private transportation, with well-maintained roads leading to the main entrance gates. The journey from Kampala to the Forest by car takes about 5 – 6 hours.
Budongo Forest is also accessible by air transport. The closest air strip to this reserve is Bugungu Airstrip. Other air strips in the area include Pakuba and Chobe airstrips which are serviced by chartered or scheduled domestic flights with Aerolink Uganda at Entebbe Intenational airport. The final leg of the journey from the airstrip is done by car to the forest.
Prices of Chimp Permits and Other Activities
Upon arrival, visitors are required to pay entrance fees of 10/5 USD for foreign nonresidents and foreign residents respectively. This fee is only valid for 24hours. Charges for chimpanzee trekking are 130/120 USD while in Kibale it costs 250/200USD. Other activities such as nature walks cost 25/20 USD, birdwatching tours 25/20. Fees for cultural experiences are dependent on which group you have chosen to visit but normally doesn’t exceed 20 USD. Proceeds from the afore mentioned charges often contribute to conservation efforts and community development projects in the area.
Conservation Efforts
Budongo Forest is managed and protected by the Ugandan government through the National Forestry Authority (NFA), in collaboration with local communities and conservation organizations. Conservation efforts in Budongo Forest focus on sustainable forest management, habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring, and community-based conservation initiatives aimed at safeguarding the forest’s biodiversity and ecological integrity. These efforts are spear headed by the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS) with help from The Jane Goodall Institute and Edinburgh Zoo.
Efforts to mitigate threats such as illegal logging, encroachment, and poaching are ongoing, with increased emphasis on community engagement, education, and promotion of alternative livelihoods.
