2022 Uganda Forest reserve
Budongo Forest Reserve
2022 Uganda Forest reserve , Budongo forest reserve is situated in the North-western part of Uganda and its just 3 hours’ drive from Kampala via Masindi District. The reserve covers an area of about 825square kilometers of where by only 53% is forest and the remaining part is grassland forest. It has been a forest reserve since 1932. The reserve lies in the southern extension of Murchison falls National Park, which is considered the largest national park Uganda has covering over 3,840 square kilometres thrill while on Uganda Safaris Tours.
Budongo forest reserve is best known as home to a large population of chimpanzees and other 9 primates’ species, also has about 24 mammals, 300 butterflies and has mahogany trees tree species that can go grow up to about 85 meters long and 21 meters in diameter. Apart from Mahogany trees, there are over 464 other tree species. Budongo forest reserve is also a birders haven with over 350 bird species such as the African Emerald Cuckoo, African Pied, African Shrike Flycatcher, Black and White Casqued Hornbills, Black-headed Paradise Flycatcher, Blue-throated Roller, Brown Twinspot, Cameroon Sombre Greenbul, Cassin’s Hawk Eagle, Cassin’s Honeyguide, Cassin’s Spinetail, Chestnut Crowned Eremomera, Chestnut-capped Flycatcher, Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Crested Malimbe, Crowned Eagle, Dusky long-tailed Cuckoo, Forest Robin, Grey-headed Sunbird, Guinea Congo forest Biome, just to mention a few.
Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Semliki valley wildlife reserve is the oldest among other reserves in Uganda formally known as the Toro Game Reserve and it was named a Reserve in 1932. It is a 545 kilometres squared sanctuary located in Western Uganda to the northeast of the Bundibugyo road extending to Ntoroko on the southern shores of Lake Albert. The leading vegetation type is open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savannah, mixed together with patches of borassus palm forest, significant belts of riparian woodland along the main water path as well as some extensive swamps towards Lake Albert. Semliki is mainly of interest to birdwatchers and game viewing.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Katongo wildlife reserve is located in the districts of Ibanda and Kamwenge in the western Uganda along the banks of River Katonga. It covers an area of about 211sq km. It is about 200kms which is just about 4-41/2 hour’s drive from Kampala up to the reserve. The wildlife reserve was established in 1998 and is a recent addition to Uganda’s list of protected wildlife areas. The reserve can best have explored by canoe or by foot, it is a home to over 40 species of mammals and over 150 species of birds are recorded in the area. Many of these species of animals, birds and plants in the reserve are rare to the reserve’s wetland environment.
Mabira Forest
Mabira forest is located in Buyikwe District between Lugazi and Jinja just about 54 km (1 hour) from Kampala up to the forest reserve headquarters. It has been protected as a reserve since 1932. It is covering an area of about 306 square kilometres and it’s regarded as one of the last remaining rain forest and biggest in central Uganda. It is a home to very many primate species like the red tailed monkeys, Vertvets, grey-cheeked mangabeys; it is a home to over 315 bird species including the Cassinis hawk eagle, Grey long bill to mention but a few, 97 species of moths 218 species of butterflies, 312 species of trees among others species with the forest centre containing many ancient trees many of which are over 70 years old. The outer part of the forest consists of trees which are about 25 years old, a result of illegal logging and clearings from communities living outside the forest. Before Mabira forest became isolated in the late 1800’s, the forest is believed to have extended without any interruption all the way to Central Africa. Some of the animals found include; Blue duikers, fruit bats, baboons, Bush pigs, the Tree Hyrax, Red Tailed Monkeys, Squirrels, Bushbuck, Grey Cheeked Mangabey, Bush Babies, Leopards (very rare) and various species of snakes.
Mabira forest is an important water catchment area serving many streams and other water bodies like River Nile, Lake Kyoga, River Ssezibwa and Lake Victoria. The Buganda people who are the dominant tribe around Mabira forest consider the forest to be of great cultural and historical significance that is the Buganda gods of food and rain are believed to live in Mabira forest. The forest has always provided medicine/herbs that are used to treat all kinds of ailment among the people living in the area and beyond.
Mabira forest is one of the best destination for Eco-tourism and some tourist come to Uganda primarily to visit forests for its eco-diversity system. Mabira forest is also a perfect place to learn about how natural resources and threatened species can be protected. The forest reserve can be explored using an extensive trail by foot, motorcycle or bicycle.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
Kalinzu forest is located in Bushenyi district in the south-western part of Uganda and it covers an area of 147 square kilometres. The forest is situated in Queen Elizabeth national park and closer to Maramagambo forest. While other forest reserves and the 10 Uganda national parks managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority, Kalinzu forest reserve is managed National Forestry Authority (NFA) which is the steward of more than 500 central forest reserves in Uganda including the Kalinzu central forest reserve. It is approximately 375 kilometres which is just about 6 hours’ drive up to the reserve headquarters. The Kalinzu forest reserve is an essential ecological forest containing over 400 species of trees, more than 350 species of birds, over 200 butterflies and 6 different primates’ species such as the Chimpanzees, Colobus monkeys, Olive baboons, and Red-tailed monkeys. The Chimpanzees are the most famously visited attraction by visitors in the park and forest for chimpanzee trekking.
In terms of the best park to see chimpanzees, Kibale Forest National Park is at the top of the list with 99 percentage chances to see the wild chimpanzees compared to any other chimpanzee trekking destination including Kalinzu forest at 50% – 70% of spending time with the chimpanzees. Kalinzu forests reserve is the second best chimpanzee trekking destination after Kibale forest national park which is the best in the whole of East Africa. Chimpanzees are found in about 21 African countries and are regarded to be the close relative to human beings because of sharing 98% of their DNA with human beings just the mountain gorillas.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe wildlife reserve is a conservation area in the Karamojong sub region of northeaster Uganda and it’s regarded as the second largest conservation protected area in Uganda after Murchison Falls National Park. The reserve covers an area of about 2788 square kilometres to the north of mountain Elgon and it is now under the management of mountain Elgon conversation area, it lies in a semi-arid county which usually receives rainfall in April and more considerable light rainfall from June to early September although in some years the rain fall is complete. Most of the Reserve is covered by undisturbed grassland and wooded grassland as one of 2022 Uganda Forest reserve.
Bugoma Forest Reserve
Bugoma forest reserve is among the most popular and endangered rainforests in Uganda. Bugoma forest Reserve is a tropical rainforest located in the south-western part of Uganda – Kikuube district, Hoima district in the south, Kyenjojo district in the west, and at the eastern side of Lake Albert, however, Kikuube district covers the greatest parts of the forest. The forest is managed by the National Forestry Authority (NFA), a governmental parastal mandated to manage all Central Forest reserves in Uganda. Bugoma Forest Reserve covers an area of about 401 square kilometres (155 square miles/40,100 hectares). It was established into a Forest Reserve in 1932 and it has since been managed by the National Forestry Authority till date.
Bugoma Forest Reserve is specifically situated on the top of an escarpment, east of Lake Albert on the fringe of the Western Rift Valley which offers breath-taking views of the countryside and other surrounding areas. Bugoma forest reserve landscape is characterized by medium altitude semi-deciduous Forest whereby about half of the forested section of the Forest Reserve is dominated by Iron wood which scientifically is known as Cynometra alexandri and locally is known as the Muhimbi and one of the 2022 Uganda Forest reserve. Bugoma Forest Reserve is drained by four small rivers that include River Bubwa, River Wake, River Sonso and River Waisoke that pour their water into Lake Albert. Bugoma Forest Reserve is a one of the biologically important reserve in the Albertine region of Uganda with a conservation value in terms of specie resources as well as providing functional forest blocks of certain species that require maintenance viable populations
