Ecotourism in Uganda

Eco Tours
We consider an Eco Tour to be a trip that causes minimal impact to the environment and local people. The site is usually culturally and biologically diverse and attracts tourists who have a common interest in nature, wildlife and culture.

A fundamental element of an Eco Tour is the education of environmental issues such as, the protection of natural resources or endangered species, usually relevant to the destination. This may be conducted through lectures, involvement in conservation projects or simply by learning from a knowledgeable tour guide with a special commitment to consider environmental and socio-cultural issues in all aspects of your trips.
These considerations may include working with the local community, the restriction of visitor numbers or funding conservation projects in the area.

By choosing to go on an Eco Tour you will be given a unique opportunity to learn and experience nature, to interact with the local communities in their day to day lives, and to have some impact on the lives of the locals even as they earn directly from your visit. In addition a greater awareness of environmental issues will be developed as well as learning practices that can be incorporated in to your everyday routine on your return home.

Below is a comprehensive list of Ecotourism sites in Uganda:

Budongo Central Forest Reserve
Budongo Central Forest Reserve is the largest surviving natural forest in Uganda with a total surface area of 825sq.km. It covers the districts of masindi, Hoima and Buliisa . This is a true forest! Very little illegal activity and encroachment has ensured that the forest remains as natural indeed intended it to be. Visitors seeking the serenity and calmness of being next to nature should opt for Budongo! Professionally preserved and managed by the National Forestry Authority, the forest is divided into three zones. Its strict nature reserve is the oldest in the country while its buffer zone allows Eco-Tourism and Research to prosper and its production zone caters for commercial activities.

Kaniyo-Pabidi Eco-Tourism Site 

The site is located in the North Eastern part of Budongo Forest Reserve. It is a natural habitat and a home of about 120 Chimpanzees. However only one group consisting of about 30 chimpanzees has been fully habituated for Eco-Tourism purposes. There are also other primate species such as black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, vervet monkey and baboons.

Part of Kaniyo-Pabidi is contiguous with Murchison falls national park and Bugungu wildlife reserve which are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Hence some savannah grassland species can be sighted in Kaniyo-Pabidi. These include bush bucks, red and blue duikers, bush pigs, warthogs, lions, water bucks and buffaloes.
There is prolific Birdlife especially the chocolate- backed kingfisher.

This area is home of a variety of tree species like mahogany and the Celtic family.
Some of the trees are known to posess medicinal qualities. Butterflies, moths and tropical flowers are abundant. Forest trails at this site are well developed and well maintained for tourist purposes.
Tourist activities include chimp tracking, bird watching, forest walks, conservation education and chimp habituation and camping.

Busingiro Eco-Tourism Site

Busingiro Eco-Tourism Site is located in the south western part of Budongo Forest Reserve. Like Kaniyo-Pabidi, this area is a habitat for several primate species including chimpanzees, monkeys and baboons. However the chimpanzees in Busingiro are not yet habituated for visitor tracking.

Birds, butterflies, reptiles, small mammals and other micro organisms form the eco system that makes this particular site enviable.

Activities in Busingiro include forest walks, bird watching, primate identification, conservation education, and research and butterfly identification, among others. There is a primate research station on the site of an old sawmill at Sonso. The forest trails at this site are well developed and well maintained for tourist purposes.

Bugoma Ecotourism Site

Bugoma Central Forest Reserve is located in Hoima District. It covers a total surface area of 41,144 hectares. The site is endowed with a variety of tourist attractions such as chimpanzees, monkeys, reptiles, birds and butterflies and tree species some of which endemic to Bugoma. Forest trails totaling 30 km long divided into loops of 200 meters each have been developed.

The reserve is near the oil exploration sites which has precipitated the migration of many grassland species due to habitat disturbance. Those that can occasionally be seen include Uganda kobs, buffaloes, and elephants.

The reserve is accessible through a dirt road 70 km. from Hoima Township. Hoima is approximately 200 km. from Kampala. There is also an Airstrip for light aircraft s at Kisaru Tea Estates 12 km. from Bugoma Ecotourism Site.

Mabira forest

Mabira Forest is 54km from Kampala and 20km from Jinja and trails the main from Jinja to Kampala road.  The forest center is on the boundary of Najjembe village approx 500m north of the main road. The Mabira Forest Tourism Project was set up in 1995 to facilitate sustainable revenue from the forest by creating an educational resource and recreational resource for Ugandan citizens and Non Ugandans. Mabira Forest can be discovered via an extensive trails. For the vigorous people, there is a around 25km bike trail that links the forest to the nearby sugar and tea plantations. Several activities are carried out in the forest and these include; Forest/nature walks, birding, cycle trails, mountain biking, or even relaxing and have a picnic lunch at the forest centre.

Mpanga Forest Reserve

Kibale Forest

With abundant tropical forest and interesting diversity of animals, Kibale National Park (KNP) is one of the most beautiful and stunning forest in Uganda. It is the home to the largest number of our closet living relative, the ENDANGERED CHIMPANZEE as well as the threatened red colobus monkey and the rare L’Hoest monkey .

The forest has one of the highest diversity and density of primates in Africa totaling 13 species including the black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkey and grey-checked manangabey, red tailed monkey, bush babies and pottos. The park also hosts over 325 species of birds including the yellow spotted nicator, yellow rumped tinkerbird, little greenbul, breasted pitta, the African pitta and the black bee eater.

There are number of impressive mammals including forest Elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, duikers and bats. A keen observer may also see a number of reptiles and amphibians as well as colorful variety of butterflies.
Furthermore, over 250tree species have been recorded. The most famous inhabitants of Kibale National Park are the Chimpanzees with over 1,450 individuals are protected within the park.

Bulago Area
Bulago is best visited as an extension of a trip  to Sipi Falls or Sisiyi Falls, to inspire you by paying a visit to this scenic village. To get there you turn off to Kamu’s Corner from Kaserem on Kapchorwa road, the road winds through some superb cliffs and passes through a rocky gorge before reaching Bulago, that’s if you’re not daring enough to use ladders

Kalinzu Eco tourism Site
Kalinzu forest reserve is an extension of the better known Maramagambo forest. Pitched at the top of the Albertine Escarpment the 147 sq km reserve is a natural forest teaming with 414 species of trees and shrubs, 378 species of birds such  Great Blue Turaco, Sun Birds and Black and White Casket. Six different species of primates are found here like Blue Monkey, Vervet Monkey, Black and White Colobus and Chimpanzees

Sipi falls
Located 10 KMs from Sipi Falls, in the boundaries of Mt Elgon National Park is the forest exploration center. Designed to accommodate and train children from local schools, it is now open to tourists, with 4 wood cabins, 4 tents and camping grounds.

Ssezibwa Falls
Ssezibwa waterfalls are formed when river Ssezibwa hurls its waters over a rocky surface into a natural pool at the bottom. The main draw is this falls is closest natural waterfalls to Kampala and can be visited with little time to spare. Legend has it that this river was given birth to by a woman in the years gone. Until recently this was a run down and neglected place visited only out of curiosity.  Things have moved on today and the gardens are well trimmed, hiking trails with wooden walk ways built and a restaurant to cater for visitors

Mpanga forest reserve

About 37 KMs from Kampala on Masaka road is Mpanga Forest reserve a little getaway makes for a rustic alternative to the hassle and bustle of urban life in Kampala. This young 45 sq KM forest a little older than 50 years is used as tropical research institute; the sheer size of the trees attest to progress that can be made in conservation with well managed programmes. It has an extensive network of wide footpaths initially made for researches and now opens to the public.