Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Uganda.
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of many guidebooks to African destinations, including the Bradt guide to Uganda.
Philip is a renowned Africa expert and author of the Bradt guidebook to Uganda.
Philip is the author of the Bradt guidebook to Uganda.
Budongo Forest contains two ecotourism sites: Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro. Kaniyo Pabidi (en route to Murchison Falls and part of the greater Murchison Falls Conservation Area) offers excellent chimpanzee trekking. Busingiro is home to the Royal Mile, one of the top bird-watching tracks in the country.
Many primate species are easily encountered. Aside from chimpanzees, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, black-and-white colobus and olive baboon can be seen. Nocturnal creatures include potto and several galago species. Also of interest are the high numbers of birds and butterflies recorded. Herds of buffalo and elephant visit the park from neighboring savannah reserve, Murchison Falls. Although you might see their tracks, they are seldom encountered.
This pristine forest reserve has an amazing number (465 in total) of plant species recorded. Most notable are the impressive giant mahogany trees up to 60m high. Other beautiful trees to look out for are the spiky Fagara trees, parasitic strangler figs and iron wood trees. The latter are regularly used by chimpanzees for communication by drumming on their trunks.
Weather & Climate
Throughout the year, maximum daytime temperatures in Budongo Forest hover around 31°C/88°F, thanks to its position near the equator. In the Wet season (March to November), the rain eases off a bit during June and July. The precipitation practically disappears in the Dry season (December to February), providing a welcome break from the tropical humidity.
The wildlife watching is good in Budongo year-round. However, it is at its best in the Dry season (December to March), and in the middle of the year when the Wet season rains temporarily lighten (June and July). The drier tracks at these times make chimpanzee trekking and birding that much easier.
Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.
The Forgotten Chimpanzee Reserve
3/5
The vast Budongo Forest is Uganda’s most important refuge for chimpanzees, supporting a population currently estimated at around 800, including a community that has been habituated for research purposes since the 1970s. It is also one of...
It took a while but the chimp trek was amazing. After 2hrs 45 minutes our guide heard from the tracker where the chimps were. It took us another half hour walk, then we heard an amazing racket. 30-40 chimps had cornered 3 colobus monkeys. 2...