Description:

Budongo Forest Reserve is located 3 hours drive, northwest of Kampala - the capital city of Uganda. The forest lies in the southern extension of Murchison falls national park, Uganda’s largest National parks covering 3,840sq km. Budongo forest includes the Kaniyo Pabidi & Busngiro eco-tourism site - an eco tourist project established in1994 for chimpanzee viewing at both sites.

Gazetted in 1932, Budongo forest reserve is habitat to thousands of tropical plants and animals including chimpanzees. According to Bradt Uganda guide, Budongo forest is one of the most varied forest faunas in East Africa, and a premier site for birdwatchers as well as the best and most affordable place to track chimpanzes in Uganda and East Africa.

This forest is recorded to harbor 24 species of small mammals- nine being primates, trees and shrubs - 465 species, birdlife – 359 species, 289 species of butterflies, and 130 species of moths (Forest Department 1996a).

To the local and distant communities, the Budongo forest is a major source of timber and non-timber forest products like charcoal and firewood.

Must do activities:

• Chimpanzee tracking at a fee of US$40 for both non-residents & East African residents
• Guided forest walk carried out in the mornings & evenings
• Camping
• Community visits
• Birding -Bird species to watch include; Shining blue kingfisher, African pied hornbill, piping hornbill, white-thighed hornbill, green-breasted pitta

Getting there:

Budongo forest is situated 43 km from Masindi town.

Accommodation:

Budongo eco Lodge – Tel: +256 (0) 772 426368