Budongo Forest Reserve | Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda
Budongo Forest is the second best spot for chimpanzee trekking just adjacent to Murchison Falls National Park. The forest covers about 825 sq km and home to more than 600 chimpanzees with 4 habituated chimpanzee families for a Budongo chimp trek.
Trekking chimpanzees in Budongo forest can even be on a short trip since its the closest Uganda chimp tracking habitat from kampala on about a 4 hours drive. Tracking chimpanzees at Budongo is done on the 115km long trail that offers an extensive chance to see chimps and other primates.
While tracking chimpanzees at Budongo Forest also expect to come along several other flora and fauna species. 9 primate species, 24 species of small mammals, 465 plant species and 270 butterflies are within the boundaries of the forest.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo
At this location, the chimpanzee tracking experience takes precedence. The chimpanzees cover a lot of ground and travel around a lot from October to January, when the fruit supply is low, so your chances of spotting them diminish to around 50%. Luckily, there is a wide variety of lodging options in Uganda from which to embark on excursions of the country, including chimpanzee trekking and thrilling forest hikes.
3-day Murchison Falls Safari
A 3-day Murchison Falls itinerary typically combines wildlife viewing, a boat safari on the Nile, and a visit to the powerful waterfalls. The trip usually starts and ends in Kampala or Entebbe and includes a stop at the Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.
5-Day Murchison Falls Safari
A 5-day Murchison Falls safari typically offers an immersive experience combining wildlife game drives, a scenic boat cruise on the Nile, rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, and chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest. This package often aim for visitors to see the “Big Five” and experience the diverse landscapes of Uganda’s largest national park.
Budongo Central Forest Reserve
It is about a three-hour journey northwest of Kampala, the capital city, to Budongo Forest, which is on the route to the famous Murchison Falls National Park. The greatest concentration of chimpanzees in Uganda may be found in this forest, which is also the largest mahogany forest in all of East Africa. Within this forest, the most popular tourist spots are Kaniyo Pabidi, Busingiro, and Kaniyo Pabidi Ecotourism. These spots are surrounded by Mahogany and Iron-wood trees and are on the outskirts of Murchison Falls National Park.
This secluded section of the Budongo forest spans 115 kilometres. On occasion, the secluded area provides a refuge for animals such as buffalo, leopards, and lions. The best time to go touring in the forest is first thing in the morning because that’s when you’re more likely to see the locals licking salt near the glades. The River Waiga provides a source of water for the many species of forest-dwelling wildlife that can be seen on Uganda safaris.
Birding in Budongo Forest
As you make your way from Nyabyeya Forestry College to the research station along the Royal Mile, you’ll pass some of Uganda’s most picturesque spots, perfect for a guided birdwatching trip. An incredible birding tour in this magnificent Ugandan woodland will undoubtedly be rewarded by the more than 360 species of birds that have been reported here. Beyond that, there are 465 species of trees, 290 species of butterflies, 130 species of moths, and 24 species of animals, nine of which are primates.
Situated on an elevation to the northeast of the breathtaking Lake Albert, the Budongo Forest reserve is one of the most important birding locations in Uganda. On 42,800 ha, you’ll find a green, medium-altitude, wet, semi-deciduous forest with savanna and woodland areas. Kthis forest reserve is situated on a rather undulating terrain, with a broad north-northwest slope that extends towards the vast Rift Valley. Four small rivers—Waisoke, Sonso, Bubwa, and Wake—empty into Lake Albert from this forest. Swamp-forest, mixed, Cynometra-mixed, colonising, and cynometra are the five main forest types found in the Budongo. Communities of tropical high-forest provide shade for the majority of this forest reserve. While the Combretum savanna covers a large portion of the drier parts of the land, the Mid altitude semi-deciduous Cynometra-celtis forest makes up over half of the estate. At Kaniyo Pabidi plus Busingiro, you can find a variety of ecotourism spots.
The rich variety of plant and animal life in Murchison Falls National Park makes it an ideal destination for safaris in Uganda and ecotourism getaways of a weekend or longer.
Two bird species unique to the Budongo woodland are found nowhere else in East Africa. In terms of the importance of this forest to Uganda’s biodiversity, it is second only to Semliki National Park in terms of the Guinea Congo forest-Biome species. Once plentiful in mature forests, the Yellow-footed Flycatcher—or Budongo in Ugandan) is now incredibly rare. A different location in East Africa does not have the newly-added Illadopsis puveli. In addition to the aforementioned species, Budongo is home to Ceratogymna fistulator, Smithornis rufolateralis, Sylvietta denti, Ixonotus guttatus, Neafrapus cassini, Batis ituriensis, and Smithornis rufolateralis. Even fewer woodlands in Uganda are home to these distinct species. Rare forest birds, such as the Pitta reichenowi and Parmoptila woodhousei, have been seen in the forest on multiple occasions recently. A well-maintained vehicle system spanning 115 kilometres provides ample opportunities for bird observation within this forest.