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Budongo Forest Reserve in Uganda

Allow us to guide to Budongo Forest Reserve in Uganda, Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro eco-system and all you need to know Budongo Forest in Uganda. Budongo Forest covers an area of 793 km² of which only 53% is forest. The remaining 47% is grassland (Forest Department 1996a). The altitudinal range is 700-1270m (Reynolds & Reynolds 1965).

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This forest type is classified as medium altitude semi deciduous moist forest. Budongo has a high biodiversity with 24 species of small mammals; nine being primates; 465 species of trees and shrubs; 359 species of birds; 289 species of butterflies; and 130 species of moths (Forest Department 1996a). Budongo Forest Reserve was gazetted in 1932.

Commercial extraction of timber has been ongoing since 1915 (Chapman et al. 1999; Plumptre & Reynolds, 1994). Today, some 77% of this forest has been cut at least once. The report by Forest Department (1996a), states that Budongo is in a serious ‘state of degradation’ due to the high levels of illegal pit sawing, hunting and human encroachment.

Tourist Sites:

Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro are part of the Budongo Forest Reserve. The Jane Goodall Institute Uganda took over the management and infrastructure at both sites in 2006 which had been priviously operated by the National Forestry Authority. An eco tourist project was set up in 1993 and opened to the public in 1994 for chimpanzee viewing at both sites.

The terrain is flat allowing for good on-foot travelling conditions for the average tourist; the campsite is located on the edge of the chimpanzees’ home range, significantly diminishing the risk of long trekking excursion before contact is made with the group; the habitat consists of primary forest with medium understory vegetation-density allowing for good visibility of the canopy (and thus of the chimpanzees) and the presence of savanna and grassland areas neighbouring the primary forest present an interesting opportunity for viewing of different ecosystems. Finally there is an extensive (115km in total) and well-maintained trail system that further facilitates visitor accessibility.

As of June 2006, the Jane Goodall Institute took over management of these two sites on behalf of NFA. This is due through a management agreement between NFA and JGI. The objective of this agreement is for JGI to ensure appropriate development of these sites for ecotourism, while ensuring that the chimpanzee communities are not put at risk due to these activities.

At the same time, all profits made from the venture will be returned back into the protection of Budongo Forest Reserve. Improved law enforcement activities, monitoring, conservation education and community collaborative projects will all be funded from the profits made from these sites.

At Kaniyo Pabidi visitors can enjoy chimpanzee tracking, birding and wonderful accommodation in a beautiful natural setting while Busingiro offers birding and a bush camp. The Royal Mile is a popular birding site, also managed by the Jane Goodall Institute-Uganda, which is accessible with a guide from Busingiro.

Entrance, activity and accommodation fees

All advance bookings for activities at either of the Budongo Forest sites should be made through Lets Go Travel in Kampala details below. A surcharge of US$5- will be levied for walk-in visitors wishing to undertake an activity should they not of made an advance booking.