Things to do in Budongo forest Uganda: Budongo forest is one of the tropical rainforests of Uganda which is located in the north western part of the country.
The forest is part of Budongo forest reserve where different wildlife and bird species can be seen during tours. Budongo forest is also among the places to visit during safaris around Murchison falls national park which is the oldest national park in Uganda.
There are over 460 tree species, 300 butterfly species and 24 animal species and 360 bird species which can be seen around Budongo forest reserve which covers an area of about 826 square kilometers. Different rivers also flow through the forest such as River Sonso.
Budongo forest has different sections which can be visited during safaris at the destination and they include the Kaniyo Pabidi area, Sonso area and also the Busingiro area. Tourists engage in various activities around Budongo forest and they include the following;
- Chimpanzee tracking
The Budongo forest is among the destinations in Uganda which can be visited for a chance to spend time with chimpanzees in their natural habitat.
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest is done in two sessions with the first session taking place in the morning and another session in the afternoon. Tourists undergo a briefing at the Kaniyo Pabidi center before engaging in the chimpanzee tracking experience at the destination.
Tourists engage in chimpanzee tracking in the southern part of Budongo forest where there are different trails that are followed in search for the chimpanzees. Ranger guides move with tourists during the activity and lead the way n the forest and provide information about its inhabitants including the chimpanzees.
A period of 1 hour is spent in the presence of the chimpanzees giving the tourists the opportunity to watch the primates closely and record photos and videos during the chimpanzee tracking experience in Budongo forest.
The search for the chimpanzees can take between 3 to 5 hours depending on their location in the forest and other primates like black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons among others can also be spotted around the Budongo forest.
A permit for chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest costs about 130 USD per person and is issued to individuals above the age of 12 years.
- Chimpanzee habituation
When visiting the Budongo forest, tourists can also engage in chimpanzee habituation experiences which involve spending more time in the presence of the chimpanzees.
Chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo forest is an activity during which the chimpanzees are gradually introduced to the presence of humans in their natural habitat. This activity is done with researchers and trackers and can take over 2 years.
Tourists are also briefed about the safety guidelines and different rules to follow before taking part in the chimpanzee habituation tour around Budongo forest.
The low season is a time when the chimpanzee habituation experience is done around Budongo forest and it is a full day experience.
- Bird watching
Budongo forest is among the best destinations to engage in bird watching throughout the year and there are over 360 bird species found at the destination.
Bird watching in Budongo forest is done in different parts of the forest such as the Royal Mile trail where variety of bird species can be seen. Other trails followed during the bird watching experience around Budongo forest include the Budongo eco trail.
The Royal Mile is located in the Busingiro area in Budongo forest where numerous bird species and wildlife can be seen during tours. The bird watching experience can be done for a half day or a full day during tours around the forest.
Some of the bird species in Budongo forest include African Dwarf Kingfisher, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, African Green Broadbill, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow mantled weavers, Lemon Bellied Crombec, Western Black headed Oriole, Yellow Billed Barbet, Blue winged goose among others.
- Guided forest walks
Tourists visiting the Budongo forest can also engage in guided forest walks and get closer to the natural surroundings at the destination.
Different trails are also followed during the forest walks around Budongo forest during which tourists are accompanied by ranger guides. Around the forest, these walks are the perfect opportunity to learn more about the different tree species and primates.
Primates which can be spotted around Budongo forest during the forest walks include vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys among others which live in the trees.
The forest walks can be done in the morning or in the afternoon and take about 2 to 3 hours of exploring the surroundings of Budongo forest. Tourists also enjoy an immersive experience of listening to the sounds ad enjoying sights in the forest during these nature walks.
- Photography
Budongo forest is also a scenic destination with many beautiful spots for photography which is another experience that tourists can engage in.
Photography in Budongo forest is the perfect way to capture the beauty of the forest vegetation and its different wildlife and bird species as well as the numerous tree species which act as habitat for the wildlife.
Best time to visit Budongo forest
Tours in Budongo forest can be done at anytime of the year with the dry season considered the best time to visit the park.
The dry season occurs from June to October and is also experienced during the months of December, January and February. During this time, many tourists visit the Budongo forest to engage in activities like chimpanzee tracking among others. The dry season is also a good time for wildlife viewing around the forest and also in Murchison falls national park.
How to get to Budongo forest
The Budongo forest can be accessed by driving from Kampala to Masindi and continuing to the Kichumbanyobo gate of Murchison falls national park which takes about 6 hours.
Flights can also be booked to airstrips in Murchison falls national park like Pakuba airstrip, Bugungu airstrip and Chobe airstrip and from there tourists are picked up and proceed to Budongo forest for their tours.
