Mabira Forest Uganda
Mabira Forest is located in central Uganda just 40 to 60 minutes’ drive from Kampala and a short distance to reach Jinja. The jungle is the best place to get in touch with nature in an African Rain forest in Central Uganda.
Mabira Forest is a best place for an energising nature walk, mountain bike through the trails in the forest and beyond, one can easily spend a half day here or even a full day while watching birds, there are neighbour Mabira forest lodge and Griff camp where visitors normally break off for lunch or spend nights, this rain forest is indeed so interesting.
Mabira Forest, one of the forest reserves in Uganda has got 200 kinds of species of trees. At times you come across patches of grasslands, and in the valleys of Mabira Rain forest you will come across various papyrus swamps; there are streams and a peaceful waterfalls.
The convenience Mabira Forest makes it the perfect place for one or two days trip, a lot of activities are being performed here, there is birding, the forest is home to more than 300 species of mostly forest birds. With an widespread network of trails Mabira Forest can easily be explored, mainly when your escorted by a guide who knows the forest better and have knowledge of all the creatures in the forest such as the mammals, the birds, plants and trees and even the butterflies, medicinal plants that are found here in the rain forest of Mabira.
Mabira Forest is home to a number of wild life such as the bush-pigs, blue duikers, red tailed monkeys, Grey-Cheeked Mangabeys ( a smaller species of Mangabeys has been discovered here). There is also the rare leopard you will most likely not see here.
Activities carried out in Mabira Forest
Canopy Walk
This interesting activity involves moving on a suspended zip line that is hanged above the tree-tops in East Africa and you can do so in Mabira Forest at a most reasonable price.
Adrenaline pumping adventures in the tranquil Mabira Rain forest. The equipment meets all safety standard and was brought in from the USA by a Peace Corps Volunteer who put the program together and trained Ugandans in safety as visitors zip-line above the tree-tops in the Rain forest.
Primate Trekking
Mabira forest is a home to these rare species of monkeys known as Mangabey Monkeys. They are found in few different parts of the country and Mabira is commonest habitat for this rare primate. Some of these monkeys can be found in few parts of Tanzania.
The forest consists of three habituated groups and they can easily be tracked with guides who were a part of the habituation Process. You will see monkeys here like the red-tailed monkeys, birds, butterflies, flowering plants, and ancient trees that have been here for centuries.
The forest is also a home to about 315 different Bird Species. Birding is commonly done very early in the morning when most birds are out of their nests, Visitors will be accompanied by the guides to give them better directions where birds can be easily viewed, expect to see a number of birds such as the Nahan’s Francolin, Cassin’s Hawk-eagle, White-spotted Fluff tail, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Night-jar, Sabine’s Spine tail, Cassin’s Spine tail, Blue-throated Roller, African Dwarf-kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Forest Wood hoopoe, African Pied Horn bill, Black-and-white-casqued Horn bill, Speckled Tinker bird, Yellow-throated Tinker bird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Green-breasted Pitta, African Shrike-flycatcher to name a few.
You can spot 46% of Uganda’s forest birds in the rain forest, that is lot more than any other forest in Uganda. The remarkable thing about Birding in Mabira Forest is that you do not have a large area to cover on foot, meaning that the birds of Mabira Forest are concentrated in a relative small area.
Nature Walks in Mabira Forest
Nature walks are the best way one can explore the forest, it involves walking through the forest while following the trails that are created within the forest, during this walk you have the great chance to spot out a number of birds, few primates such as monkeys, you will have a chance to know the different tree species in the forest. With the help of the guides the nature will encounter the greatest nature life experience.
Forest walks for any fitness level can be done here including children on a family safari with us, from a long and adventurous trek into the back country to a gentle meandering stroll through our well maintained trails.
Mountain Biking
The forest has got the well-maintained trails for mountain bikers to flash through the Forest. One can even venture beyond the forest into the communities while on your bike.
Mountain Bikes can be hired at Griffin Falls camp, outside the forest at a National Forestry Department facility and the best bikes can be hired from Jinja.