Mpanga Forest Reserve

Mpanga Central Forest Reserve – Uganda Safaris

Mpanga Forest Reserve features not only as one of Uganda’s most beautiful forests but also the most significant tourist sites. It consists of stunning forest species like the celtis family species with huge buttress, Ficus family plus Mahogany. Mpanga forest offers refuge to most of the forest birdlife like the black and white casqued hornbills, weaver birds, cuckoos, owls, grey parrot and many more. It also protects a number of primates like the bush babies, red tailed monkeys and many others.

The forest also offers refuge to butterflies and the popular dragon flies. The Mpanga Eco Tourism Site provides a wide range of tourist activities especially forest exploration, hiking, butterfly identification, primate adventures, birding and others. There are also a number of forest trails that lead to various parts of the forest and most of them include the hornbill trail, butterfly trail and baseline trail. The Eco tourism site lies 37 kilometers approximately one and half hours’ drive southwestern Kampala via Masaka route.

From Mpigi town, you will take on a 6 kilometer drive to Mpanga Eco Tourism Site sign post and from the signpost you will branch off from the main route, and you will drive through one kilometer to the site. The Eco site can be reached by public means of transportation. Visitors can use a taxi from Kampala Taxi Park which carries about 14 people and you stop at Buwama.

Make sure that you inform the conductor on where you will get out from. Mpambire is the nearest taxi stage and you will have a chance to sight the locals doing craft work. The notable accommodation for you to retire for the night includes Mpanga Eco Tourism Campsite. It features two double rooms, two twin rooms, eight bedded dormitory and space for campers. There are bandas campsite and picnic site at the edge of the forest and there are red tailed monkeys that come to play in the trees within the camp site and you will certainly have enjoyable vacation. The picnic site is located about 100 meters into the forest in the stunning shady glade and you can follow the path to the forest and the site lies on the left hand just at the beginning of the base line trail.

The forest has existed as a scientific research site right from 1953 and it is crossed with expansive network of paths that offer clear views of its birds that thrive within the forest.

The forest trails offer opportunity for one to embark on nature walks through the forest. You can also engage in night walks using spotlights and you will have a chance to spot out most of the bush babies which call this forest their home. The forest connects up to the rural area that offers a chance for one to engage in walks via the traditional villages and farmlands. You will find some trails that are marked for solo travelers.

However, there are local guides to take you through the forest and the remotest areas around the forest. The base line trail is 3 kilometer straight and it is wide and features a papyrus swamp at the end point of it west of the forest. The area rewards travelers with spectacular butterflies that converge in the area. The trail is also used for mountain biking and offers stunning views of the surrounding villages.

The butterfly loop is 1 km stretching to the forest and it is the best trail for tourists who need short adventures. Visitors can spend about 25 minutes and have a chance to explore the forest tree species and interestingly do not miss out to visit the puzzling tree and primates. The hornbill trail, this is a 5km trail that takes visitors deep to the centre of the jungle.

It provides life changing adventures and it comes with streams on its side and gentle hills. You will have opportunity to spot out the tree root arch half way while on the trail. The walk along this loop lasts for three hours but can be less when you take short cuts to the baseline trail. For visitors who wish to explore more about root structures and buttress, fungi, butterflies, primates, birdlife and many more, this is the best trail that you shouldn’t miss to take a walk through while on Uganda safari to Mpanga Forest Reserve. There are also snakes species that include the sleepy python.

In conclusion, Mpanga Forest Reserve is an incredible tourist site of a kind. If you love forest exploration then consider this forest a must to include in your travel itinerary and you won’t regret in life. There is a lot more waiting to thrill you and at the end of day, you will have a memorable safari in Uganda.