Entrance fees for Mabira forest : The Mabira forest is among the tropical rainforests in Uganda which is located in the eastern part of the country. When visiting the Mabira forest, tourists are charged different fees to engage in the activities around the forest such as guided forest walks, zip lining and bird watching experiences. There are also various bird species and primates found in the forest.
Tourists are accompanied by guides during the different activities done around the Mabira forest which take place throughout the year. The fees are charged differently for Ugandans and non Ugandans and children and adults also pay a different price.
Ugandans visiting the Mabira forest are charged entrance fee of 5,000 Uganda shillings. Non Ugandans visiting the forest pay a fee of 20,000 Uganda shillings as entrance fee. Residents visiting the Mabira forest are charged a fee of 10,000 Uganda shillings.
Nature walks in Mabira forest are at a fee of 5,000 Uganda shillings for Ugandan adults. Non Ugandans are charged a fee of 30,000 Uganda shillings to engage in nature walks around the forest during their tours. Residents are charged 15,000 Uganda shillings for nature walks in Mabira forest.
During bird watching tours around the Mabira forest, tourists can take part in half day tours and also full day tours around the destination. This activity costs between 100,000 to 150,000 Uganda shillings for the bird watching experience.
Mangabey tracking is another experience which is done during tours in Mabira forest and Ugandans are charged a fee of 50,000 Uganda shillings. Non Ugandans pay a fee of 100,000 Uganda shillings for the mangabey tracking at the forest.
For zip lining experiences around Mabira forest, Ugandans are charged a fee of 60,000 Uganda shillings and 50 USD for non Ugandans visiting the forest which is also the same charge for residents visiting Uganda.
Activities to do around Mabira forest
There are different activities which are done during tours around the Mabira forest and they include the following;
- Zip lining
During tours around the Mabira forest, tourists can engage in zip-lining experiences which are popular at the destination.
Zip lining in the Mabira forest takes place in the morning and also in the afternoon during tours around Uganda. In different parts of the forest, tourists can explore the forest canopy which can be done in the morning around 08:00 am and 01: 00 pm in the afternoon.
Tourists can engage in the zip lining tour in Mabira forest as groups or as individuals. The zip lining tour starts with a briefing during which tourists are told of what to expect during the activity and also safety measures.
There are different platforms in the forest where tourists can stop during their zip lining experience in Mabira forest.
- Nature walks
Nature walks are among the activities done in the Mabira forest and involve following different trails through the forest.
Tourists are accompanied by guides during the nature walks through the Mabira forest. This activity brings tourists closer to nature and can enjoy seeing various bird species and also encounter primates and various tree species at the destination.
The nature walking experience can be a half day tour or full day during tours around the Mabira forest. Tourists take about 2 to 3 hours and there are different trails in the forest including a 33 kilometer trail and 12 kilometer trail and also a 5 kilometer trail in the forest.
The forest trails found in the Mabira forest include the red trail, the yellow trail and also the white trail.
- Bird watching
Bird watching is another activity which is done during tours around the Mabira forest which is home to numerous bird species.
There are different spots in the Mabira forest where bird species can be seen when visiting the forest which is home to over 315 bird species. Tourists can enjoy half day tours or full day bird watching experience around the destination.
Some of the bird species found in the Mabira forest include the Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Green-breasted Pitta, Blue-Throated Roller, Buff-spotted Woodpecker, Honey guide Greenbul, Hairy-breasted Barbet, White-spotted Flufftail, Grey Parrot, Yellow-crested Woodpeckers, Red-capped Robin Chat, Nathan’s Francolin, Speckled Tinkerbird, African Shrike Flycatcher, Black shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spinetail among others.
Throughout the year, tourists can enjoy seeing various bird species around the Mabira forest which is a popular birding spot in Uganda. Some of the trails found in the forest include the grassland trail where many bird species can be spotted during tours around the destination.
- Cycling
Cycling in the Mabira forest is another activity which can be done during tours around the tropical rainforest.
Tours can be done around the local communities around the Mabira forest during the cycling experience. The cycling tour also takes place around the different trails in the forest and tourists can also engage in interactions with the locals during this activity.
Tourists can interact with the locals such as the Baganda and Basoga during the cycling tours around the Mabira forest. The bikes can be hired by the tourists who can also bring their own bicycles during the cycling experience.
- Primate watching
Primate watching is another activity which is done during tours around the Mabira forest and can be done throughout the year.
The Mabira forest is home to grey cheeked mangabeys which can be encountered during mangabey tracking experiences. There are many other primates such as baboons, red tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons among others found in the forest which is also home to a variety of bird species.
Tourists are accompanied by ranger guides during the primate watching experience around the Mabira forest.
Another activity which is done around the Mabira forest is community tours during which tourists can enjoy traditional dances and visiting the homesteads of the local communities. Picnics can also be arranged when visiting the forest.
Throughout the year, tourists can engage in these activities around the Mabira forest and the best time to visit the destination is the dry season from June to October and also around December to February.
