Budongo Forest Reserve
Budongo Forest is notable as the largest mahogany forest in the entire East African region, also featuring as an environment for the biggest percentage (over 800) of all chimpanzees in Uganda. The forest also features as a good spot to view other primates like the red-tailed monkey and the black and white colobus. At the edges of Murchison Falls National Park are the Busingiro and Kaniyo Pabidi ecotourism sites. These ecotourism sites are amazing tourist spots that are overlooked by the beautiful mahogany and ironwood trees.
Besides its amazing mahogany and ironwood trees, Budongo Forest has a very rich biodiversity of wildlife, harboring over 9 species of primates. Being an environment to over 800 chimpanzees, a small percentage of the chimps have been preserved for ecotourism motives. The preserved percentage comprises over 80 chimpanzees, which gives tourists a perfect chance to view these amazing chimpanzees in their natural location.
Other primate species that are habituated in the Budongo Forest Reserve include the black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, grey-cheeked Mangabeys and blue monkeys. Besides harboring the primates, Budongo Forest Reserve is also a habitat for over twenty-six species of mammals, over 300 species of butterflies and 470 species of trees.
Budongo Forest Reserve is located in the northwestern part of Uganda, approximately 3 hours away from Kampala City through Masindi District by road. The Budongo Forest Reserve sits on an area estimated to be approximately 830 square kilometers but unfortunately only 55% is forest cover, with the remaining percentage being grassland forest. The Budongo Forest Reserve has been in existence since 1932. The reserve is situated south of Uganda’s biggest national park, Murchison Falls National Park.
Map of Budongo Forest Reserve
Activities
A lot of awesome activities can be carried out in the Budongo Forest game reserve. Some of these activities include chimpanzee tracking, forest walks, Birding, Chimp Habituation Experience and wildlife safaris.
Out of these activities, chimpanzee tracking and the chimp habituation experience are the most common of all. The fact that it’s located right next to Murchison Falls National Park makes it easy to catch up with more activities in Murchison Falls National Park.
Accommodation
Accommodation can be accessible but several kilometers away from Budongo Forest. The most common places of accommodation are Budongo Eco Lodge, Kabalega Resort, Hotel Victory Bijja and Masindi Hotel. More accommodation can be found in Murchison Falls National Park.
Want to visit the Budongo Forest game reserve? Simply book a Uganda safari with us today and we shall arrange for you a lifetime experience to the spectacular forest reserve that is decorated by mahogany and ironwood trees.
