Tourist activities in Budongo forest
Tourist activities in Budongo forest : Budongo forest reserve is the largest natural forest reserve in Uganda located in Masindi District closely part of the Murchison Falls National Park covering an area of about 826 square kilometres with 4 rivers flowing through the forest and into the Lake Albert, these include River Kamirambwa, Waisoke, Siba and Sonso and Budongo forest is divided into 3 main tourism sites namely; Kaniyo Pabidi, Busingiro and Sonso sections. Budongo forest experiences two rainy and dry seasons. Budongo forest is one of the few remaining homes for chimpanzees in Uganda and needs close attention for conservation. The rainy season is between March to May and September to November. The main dry season is between December to February and June to August.
Budongo forest reserve is home to a variety of tree species and has about 460 tree species but commonly found are the mahogany trees. Mahogany trees in Budongo forest reserve grows up to about 85 meters long and 21 meters in diameter. The forest reserve also hosts about 24 mammals, about 300 butterfly species and about 9 primates’ species including the chimpanzees which are the main attraction in the forest. Budongo forest reserve is also a birding destination and birdwatching is the second biggest activity of the forest. The forest reserve has over 360 species to be seen and some of the birds do include; the African Emerald Cuckoo, African Pied, African Shrike Flycatcher, Black and White Casqued Hornbills, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, Blue-throated Roller, Brown Twinspot, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Cassin’s Spinetail, Chestnut Crowned Eremomera, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Crested Malimbe, Crowned Eagle, Dusky long-tailed Cuckoo, Forest Robin, Grey-headed Sunbird, Guinea Congo forest Biome, illadopsis puveli, Ituri Batis, Jameson’s Wattle-eye, Kingfishers, Lemon-bellied Crombec, Little Green Sunbird, Olive Green Camaroptera, parmoptila woodhousei, Piping, pitta reichenowi, Puvell’s Illadopsis, Pygmy Crakes, Sabine’s Spinetail, Slender-billed Greenbul, Speckled Tinkerbird, Western Black-headed Oriole, White-spotted Flufftail, Yellow and Grey Longbill, yellow footed fly catcher. Yellow-browned Camaroptera, Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Yellow-manted Weaver and Yellow-spotted Barbet.
Below are some of the main tourists’ attractions in Budongo forest.
Chimpanzee tracking in Budongo forest
Chimpanzee tracking is the most popular activity in the reserve with forest nature walks. The forest has registered to have over 600 chimpanzees and groups have been habituated and opened to tourism and others are still under the process of habituation. Visitors can spot the chimpanzees, other primates and birds by following a long trail within the forest. The other primates include Olive baboons, Blue Monkeys, Black-and-White Colobus Monkeys, Red-tailed Monkeys, Grey-cheeked Mangabeys and Blue Monkeys.
Just like the mountain gorillas, the Chimpanzees also have a close relation to human beings with a shared 98% DNA with similar characteristics like being very intelligent creatures with similar feeding habits of variety of foods including plants and fruits. Chimpanzees also consume meat whenever an opportunity arises. A fully grown male chimpanzee can weigh up to 70 kilograms while females may reach 50 Kilograms. Chimpanzees can live up to 60 years. Unlike males, female chimpanzee usually leave the group they were born in once they reach adolescence. Like humans, chimpanzees easily adapt to different environments and learn to use new tools. Because of this, chimpanzee communities differ in overall behavior depending on where they live.
In history, the first person to study the chimpanzees in Budongo was Vernon Reynolds, along with Adriaan Kortlandt and Jane Goodall the first primatologists to do extensive studies of chimpanzees in their natural habitat. As Uganda entered a period of political uncertainty and civil wars between 1972 and 1986, Vermon left Uganda and when he returned in 1990, he found that the chimpanzee population severely disseminated due to uncontrolled poaching, the infant chimpanzees were often sold to collectors outside Africa after their mothers had been shot dead. The chimpanzee population decreased so much that by 1995, less than 55 individuals were recorded in the Budongo forest reserve.
Later a group of researchers started working in the forest with funding from the Edinburgh Zoo, RZSS and other sources. The researchers initiated a project (The Budongo Forest Project) which was later renamed Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS). BCFS combines conservation and research while also ensuring sustainable management of the forest reserve. BCFS encountered many challenges once work started. Like many of the other forest reserves in Uganda, Budongo forest had been encroached on by communities surrounding it and the forest margins were being used for farming while poachers put snares to trap forest antelopes and small rodents. Several chimpanzees had their hands and limbs severally mutilated by snares left behind by poachers. The population of Mahagony trees which are hideouts for the chimpanzees had reduced greatly as individuals cut them down for timber. In order to address many of the challenges mentioned above, the project embarked on several activities which include monitoring the health of the chimpanzees and observing their behavioural data on a daily basis. The project has also helped habituate over 300 chimpanzees while also working with communities living close to the forest to discourage them from setting dangerous snares in the forest. The project ensures that the proceeds from Eco-tourism are shared with the local community. To stop poaching for forest creatures, hunters are given goats as an alternative source of income and livelihood. These ex-poachers voluntarily help the BCFS team identity where they laid their last snares. Because of the good work of the project, the overall population of chimpanzees have increased dramatically. This improvement has facilitated chimpanzee tracking experience for visitors to the forest.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest takes place at Kaniyo Pabidi which is located south of the Murchison Falls National Park. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo usually starts in the morning with a briefing from the information Centre at the Budongo Eco Lodge although there are 2 shifts available for morning and afternoon depending bookings. The forest has well established trails to allow visitors spot the chimpanzees as well as other smaller primates and birds. The available different Chimpanzee groups roam very close to the Budongo Eco lodge on some days during certain periods of the year while searching of fruits and water. During periods of food scarcity, finding the chimpanzees is not always guaranteed therefore the best possible chance of spotting the chimpanzees in Budongo forest is during the months between October and January otherwise we recommend Kibale national park as it has 99% chances of spotting the chimpanzees at any time of the year.
Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo lasts for an average of about 3-5 hours in search of the chimpanzees and after locating them, visitors are only allowed one hour with them. In order to participate in the chimpanzee trekking exercise, one needs to be in good health and free from diseases like flue or Tuberculosis. Chimpanzees easily contract human diseases. One also needs to be at least 15 years of age to track chimpanzees. The cost of chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is US $130.
Chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo forest
Chimpanzee habituation is the process of enabling chimpanzees to get used to human presence around them. The habituation process takes about 2 years to complete however, during the habituation process of a new group of chimpanzees, visitors are also offered an opportunity to take part in the chimpanzee habituation process. Chimpanzee habituation in Budongo forest only takes place only in the low seasons when there are fewer visitors to the forest.
The Budongo chimpanzee habituation experience involves following a group of chimpanzees while learning their behaviour under the guidance of researchers and trackers. Habituation differs from chimpanzee trekking because it’s a full day activity and visitor are allowed more atime with the chimpanzees. For the best chimpanzee habituation experience, one need good hiking boots, hand gloves, long sleeved shits/pants, sun glasses and a hat. The chimpanzee habituation experience in Budongo forest cost $230.
Birdwatching experience in Budongo forest
Budongo forest reserve is a birders paradise given that it has most of the birds in Uganda making it one of the top 10 birding destinations in Uganda. With the help of experienced Guides, birders can choose to go for a full or half day of birdwatching. The Royal Mile found within the Busingiro area is arguably the best place to go if you want to see most of the species in a day. The Royal mile extends from the main research station up to a forestry college nearby. The rare species to look out for are the Guinea Congo Forest-Biome, Pitta reichenowi, Yellow-footed Flycatcher, Illadopsis puveli and Parmoptila woodhousei. At the end of the day you should have spotted at least half of the about 360 species found in the forest area.
Forest nature Walks
Taking forest nature walks in the Budongo forest is one of the accepted activities however, visitors must be in company of armed rangers to be able to access the deep ends of the forest. Visiting the beautiful Kaniyo pabidi eco-tourism Centre is highly recommended because the Centre has tall Mahogany trees that are over 70 years of age. During the nature walks, you will encounter a variety of wild creatures that come to lick salt from fallen trees. After seeing enough of the forest, you can also venture out to the savannah plains and woodlands that connect to the plains of Murchison Falls National Park.
Game drives and boat cruise in the Murchison Falls National Park:
Given that Budongo forest is part of the Murchison falls national park conservation area, visitors have a chance of spotting large mammals, visit the powerful Murchison falls and the boat cruise along the River Nile. Budongo forest reserve is part of the Murchison Falls National Park and offers opportunities to do activities like visiting the top of the falls, going for game drives, boat cruises and a cultural visit to the Boomu Women’s Group to see how life goes by in a rural African village. By the end of your tour of Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo forest and the nearby Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary, you would have spotted all the big 5 mammals and other animals like leopards, giraffes, hippos and different antelope species. In fact, these large mammals visit the forest itself frequently. You will always be in the company of armed rangers for your protection. Do not forget to carry drinking water or packed lunch. Chimpanzee tracking is combined with game drives in the park in a 4 days Murchison falls national park.
How to access Budongo forest reserve
Budongo forest is found in the North-western part of Uganda and can be accessed from Kampala the capital city of Uganda and Entebbe international airport for foreigners. Visitors need to start their journey to Budongo forest reserve early in the morning because it is a 6-7 hours’ drive from Kampala via Masindi district. To access Budongo forest, one must pay Murchison falls national park entry fees of $40 per person.
