Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest
Budongo Chimpanzee Tracking – The Budongo Forest sits in the north-western part of Uganda, en route to the renowned Murchison Falls National Park. Positioned on the escarpment northeast of Lake Albert, this forest spans an impressive area of over 825 square kilometers. It’s widely recognized as a haven for the largest population of chimpanzees, drawing visitors to its rich biodiversity. Notably, the forest boasts an abundant supply of East African mahogany trees, some reaching towering heights of over 80 meters and girths of 20 meters. These magnificent trees serve as an additional allure for those embarking on a safari to Murchison Falls National Park.
Numerous sites within the Budongo Forest in Murchison Falls National Park, such as Kaniyo Pabidi and Busingiro, boast a rich abundance of Mahogany and Ironwood trees. These locations serve as prime spots for engaging in early morning game drives, presenting an exceptional opportunity to observe various wildlife species like lions, leopards, buffaloes, warthogs, and more. The early hours offer an ideal window for tourism activities, as it increases the chances of spotting animals congregating around the forest glades, particularly for salt licking—an intriguing sight to behold. Overall, the forest presents a myriad of activities for visitors exploring Murchison Falls National Park.
Acquiring a Chimpanzee Permit for Budongo Forest
The Budongo Eco Lodge oversees the issuance of chimpanzee trekking permits, granting access to explore the forest in pursuit of encountering chimpanzees. Priced at $90 per person per day, these permits enable visitors to trek and observe these fascinating primates within Budongo. During peak seasons, permit prices typically rise, while they tend to decrease during the off-peak periods. Additionally, there’s a slightly higher cost for chimpanzee habituation permits, which are exclusively available during the quieter seasons of the year.
Birding in Budongo Forest
The Budongo Forest stands as a prime location for guided bird watching tours, offering a captivating experience from Nyabyeya Forest College to the research station. This forest hosts an impressive diversity with over 360 recorded bird species, more than 290 butterfly species, 465 tree species, and a rich array of 24 mammal species, including nine primate species. Exploring this habitat during your Uganda safari promises a remarkable adventure.
Ranked as Uganda’s second-largest forest after Semuliki National Park, Budongo is a key birding destination situated to the northeast of Lake Albert’s escarpment. Managed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA), this medium altitude, moist, semi-deciduous tropical rainforest spans 42,800 hectares. Historically, its protection was under the authority of the King of Bunyoro, permitting hunting only with his consent. The forest encompasses a blend of Savannah and woodland trees.
Notably, Budongo Forest harbors two endemic bird species exclusive to this area, making them unobservable elsewhere in Africa. This diverse habitat hosts bird species from the Guinea Congo Forest-Biome. While the once-common Yellow-footed Flycatcher is now a rare sight, the Illadopsis Puveli remains unique to East Africa. Additionally, species like Zoothers camaronensis, Ceratogymna fistulator, Neafrapus Cassini, Batis ituriensis, Smithornis rufolateralis, Sylvietta denti, and Ixonotus guttatus are part of the rich avian population in Budongo. These species can be observed during guided nature walks within the forest, contributing to its status as one of Uganda’s premier birding destinations.