Busitema forest reserve : Busitema forest is one of those rainforest forests in Uganda that is less explored. Among some of the known forest reserves in Uganda include Budongo forest, Mpanga forest, Mabira forest Kyambura forest gorge, Kalinzu Forest Reserve to mention a few. Busitema forest is hardly talked about yet a very interesting forest reserve with a ray of features to explore during Uganda safaris tours. Busitema forest reserve is located in Eastern Uganda and it is shared among 3 districts including Tororo, Busia and Bugiri and it is easily seen along the Tororo – Busia road towards Tororo district making it easier for visitors to access the forest. The forest reserve stretches for approximately 25 square kilometres. Visiting Busitema forest reserve will completely amaze you by the beauty nature provides. The forest receive is said to receive about 300 tourists every year according the information provided by one of the local guides in the area who are available to take all visitors for a nature walk in the forest. These guides are well informed about what attractions are in that forest and how to find them simply because they are natives of the area and have also guided tourists for a long time within the forest. When you visit, you will be amazed by the beauty that nature can provide.
Primates in Busitema forest reserve
Important information to notice is that there are no chimpanzees in Busitema forest. Busitema forest reserve is majorly known as home to some of the primates’ species, most remarkably, Busitema forest reserve is a sanctuary to one of the largest numbers of Olive baboons that are seen alongside the highway of Tororo-Busia road. There are plenty of monkeys in Busitema forest making them the main tourist attraction for visitors. A forest walk will get you a closer look at the baboons and take some pictures of these amazing animals. Some of the other primate species found in Busitema forest reserve include; the Vervet monkeys, and black and white Colobus monkeys. The local trained guides are always available to walk with you in the forest to help you find the baboons and the monkeys. Busitema forest reserve is also a home to so many endemic animals such as the fox’s weaver and different rat species.
Bird watching in Busitema forest reserve
Busitema forest is a home to a great number of bird species that makes it a birders paradise. Some of birds to be spotted in Busitema forest include the Ross Turaco, the Kingfishers, Long-tailed cuckoos, Hammerkops and the sunbirds among bird species; these bird species make bird watching in this forest one of the most interesting tourist activities to do while on a Uganda Safari. Therefore for bird lover, Busitema forest serve should one of the Uganda destinations on your bucket-list to Uganda.
Nature walk tours
Taking nature walk within this jungle of Busitema forest allows visitors to widely explore the forest’s attractions including the different primates, butterfly species, tree species and some of the rare animals in the forest. When you reach the forest, you will meet with a local trained guide to escort and guide you through the forest during your day excursion. The guides are well informed about the different attractions in the forest and the trails to take while searching for the primates.
When visiting the forest, there are no accommodations to stay so visitors drive to the nearest towns of Busia or Tororo or Bugiri to find where to stay while in their Uganda safari journey. So visiting the forest offers visitors can be blended with other Uganda tourist attractions such as the Tororo Rock that offers fantastic hiking opportunities, Mount Elgon with numerous tourist attractions and activities, the magnificent Sipi falls in Kapchorwa and cultural tour experience of the Imbalu tradition-public circumcision ceremony in Mbale. All these attractions are found in the Eastern side of Uganda and can be explored during safari in Uganda. Therefore, Busitema forest reserve is one of the wonderful destinations tourists can visit in Uganda to see A visit to the site means you will have the entire forest to yourself.
In conclusion, Busitema forest reserve is an important tourist destination in Uganda for primate tours well as birdwatching and nature walks. It also offers an authentic wildlife viewing experience. What makes wildlife viewing unforgettable is because you get the chance to have the local guide attend to only your group on that day.
