Budongo Wildlife Reserve

Budongo Forest Reserve is a scenic tropical forest, home to the biggest mahogany trees and diverse primate species. Budongo is a typical example of a moist and semi-deciduous tropical forest. It is among Uganda’s spectacular Central Forest Reserves and is part of the National Forestry Authority management.

Budongo Forest Reserve is about a 4 to 5-hour drive from Kampala City. This forest is located on the Albertine Rift escarpment near the Murchison Falls National Park. Budongo Forest Reserve boundaries extend to the districts of Masindi, Hoima, and Kikuube. The overall area coverage of Budongo Forest is 825 sq. km. It was officially declared a Forest Reserve in 1932 and straddles an altitude of 1100m.

Budongo Forest is composed of three zones, that is, the Strict Nature Reserve. The Strict Nature Reserve is the oldest forest zone. The Production zone is where several commercial activities are conducted. The Buffer zone largely offers eco-tourism and research activities. The main areas of focus include the Kaniyo-Pabidi and Busingiro Forest Reserves. This rainforest holds the highest concentration of mahogany and contains 6 blocks, including Biiso, Siba, Wabira, Nyakafunjo, and Kaniyo-Pabidi blocks.

Within Budongo Forest, there are about 4 scenic streams worth exploring, including Siba Stream, Waisoke, Sonsa, and Kamirambwa. These river empty their water into Lake Albert. This lush natural forest features an exceptional landscape largely characterized by the semi-deciduous trees, moist, woodland forest, and savanna forest. It also features gently rolling landscapes with a section of it sloping downward to the East African Rift Valley region.

Budongo’s unique attractions

Budongo is a rich rainforest with over 30 mammal species, 370 bird species, 130 moths, 465 tree species, 20 amphibian species, and about 300 colorful butterfly species.

The Wildlife

Budongo’s diverse wildlife to see ranges from primates and other mammal species. The composition of wildlife in this reserve includes olive baboons, red-tailed monkeys, pottos, vervet monkeys, galagos, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, blue monkeys, mangabeys. The reserve also inhabits Uganda Kobs, elephants, buffaloes, Jackals, forest giant squirrels, and tree pangolins.

The Birds

Approximately 370 bird species make Budongo an Important Bird Area in Uganda. The majority of the avifauna in Budongo Forest concentrates in the Kaniyo-Pabidi zone, Sonso, and Royal Mile, which also feature as the forest’s iconic birding sites. The diverse birds that have been recorded in Budongo Forest alone include tambourine doves, helmeted guineafowl, western crested guineafowl, Latham francolins, vinaceous dove, laughing dove, common swift, black-headed paradise flycatchers, Puvel’s illadopsis, lemon-bellied crombec, dusky long-tailed cuckoos, chestnut crowned eremomera, western black headed oriole, yellow-mantled weaver bird, African pygmy kingfisher, white-thighed hornbill, grey longbill, Klaas’s cuckoos, black coucals, blue-spotted wood-doves, African marsh harriers, bronze-napped pigeon, and mottled spine-tail.

Budongo’s bird checklist also encompasses birds such as palm-nut vultures, Ross’s turacos, alpine swift, Eastern chanting-goshawks, hooded vultures, Cassin’s hawk-eagle, magpie manikin, red-winged prinia, red-shouldered cuckoo shrikes, Abyssinian ground hornbill, tawny-flanked prinia, winding cisticola, garden warblers, green-backed twin spot, singing cisticola, black-throated apalis, piping hornbill, Levaillant’s cuckoos, bateleur, olive-long-tailed cuckoos, pennant-winged nightjars, and many others.

Budongo’s flora

Budongo Forest features unique floral species, including ironwood trees, mahogany trees, swamp forest, fruit trees, and more. Part of this forest features some patches of the savanna vegetation cover.

The major tourism Activities

Chimpanzee tracking/trekking

Budongo Forest Reserve is primarily visited for chimpanzee encounters. The forest reserve holds over 800 chimpanzees, with already habituated communities available in the Busingiro and Kaniyo-Pabidi zones. Visitors can assemble at Budongo Eco-Lodge to begin their day with briefing and allocation of experienced guides. Trekking with Budongo’s chimpanzees can take between 2 and 4 hours but this covers a maximum of 1 hour with chimps in Budongo’s jungle.

Bird-watching

When it comes to birding excursions in Uganda, Budongo never misses on the top list. This is a special birding site with diverse species, including yellow-footed flycatchers, Puvel’s illadopsis, Guinea-Congo forest biome species, Wahlberg’s eagle, Chocolate-backed kingfishers, Lemon bellied crombec, Grey Long bill, Grey-headed sunbird, Zebra waxbills, Bronze-napped pigeons, black-billed turacos, dusky tit, Nahan’s partridge, African cuckoos, Mosque swallow, red-cheeked cordonbleu, and more.

Chimpanzee Habituation

A section of the Budongo chimpanzees is still being habituated. Participating in the Budongo chimpanzee habituation experience presents an amazing opportunity for you to learn more about these primates’ behaviors from the time they get up till sunset. Following chimpanzees from morning up to evening allows you to have long day exploration of these unique primates and take pictures.

Guided forest/nature walking

It takes visitors about 2-3 hours to experience the best of nature walking expedition in Budongo Forest. Nature walks introduce you to different spots in Budongo where you can explore variety of flora, mammals, and birds. Nature walks are done with the company of a professional guide at the site.

Budongo primate adventures & game safaris in Murchison

It is possible to have a combination of chimpanzee treks in Budongo and game drives/boat tours in the Northern section of Murchison Falls Wildlife Safari Park. The savanna wildlife tours in Murchison offer incredible sightings, including elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hartebeests, and more.

The best season to visit Budongo

With an average annual rainfall record of 1200-2200mm, Budongo is best visited during the peak dry season. On the travel calendar, this can fall in June, July, August, December, January, and February. These are the best months in the dry season when you can enjoy chimpanzee trekking. The remaining months define the wet season in Budongo and extend from March to May, then from October to November.

Accommodation choices

Expect to have a night stay at Budongo Eco Lodge or the lodges and bandas near Kichumbanyobo gate in the southern end.

Access to Budongo –both by road and air.

Using the road, Budongo can be reached in just 4-5 hours’ drive starting from Kampala and you access it via Kichumbanyobo gate. From Masindi town, expect to drive a distance of only 30km. Visitors can also book a scheduled/chartered flight to Pakuba Airstrip, where you connect to the forest in just an hour’s drive. En route to Budongo may include rhino trekking at the Ziwa Sanctuary.

In conclusion, Budongo Forest is a premier natural forest in Uganda with abundant attractions and experiences awaiting you to enjoy. Book now your Uganda safari to explore the lush Budongo Forest Reserve with an expert.