Mabira central Forest reserve

Mabira central Forest reserve is Uganda’s largest natural forest covering an area of 306 sq kms and a habitat of 312 species of trees including the endangered Mililia Exclesa, Cordia Millenii, warbhugia Ugandanese that has medicinal properties that cure prostate cancer and boosts the Human immune system.

The forest is home to 315 species of birds like the red headed blue bill, tit  Hylia, shining blue kingfisher, black bellied seed cracker, blue headed crested Monarc, Francolin, Nahan;s, forest wood hoope, cassin Hawk Eagle, purple throated cuckoo and some of these species can only be found in Mabira. The other rare features that you can watch in the forest include; 218 butterfly species, 97 moth species, 23 small mammal species especially primates like the monkeys and the Griffin falls. Some of the major activities carried out include; bird watching, environmental Education and research, primate watching, camping and picnics, butterfly identification, the forest as well as forest adventuring.

Mabira Forest is one of the few surviving natural rainforests in Uganda that was gazetted in 1932 and in 1996. The Forest is found along the Kampala-Jinja highway within Buikwe District, Eastern Uganda. From Kampala to Mabira Forest the journey takes a period of 1-2 hours’ drive depending on the traffic and about half an hour’s drive from Jinja city. It is an ideal stopover for visitors on Uganda safari as they are transferring to the Eastern part of Uganda.

Mabira Forest covers an area of about 120 kms dominated by a secondary forest that has been in existence for over 100 years with less disturbance. There are many floral and faunal species including 312 tree species & shrubs, 316 species of birds, 35 small mammal species, 97 species of moths, 219 butterfly species. The mammal species you watch include; red-tailed monkeys, Uganda Mangabeys, bushbucks, duikers, squirrels, bush pigs, baboons, fruit bats, grey cheeked mangabeys, plus reptiles.

Birds of Mabira Forest

The Forest inhabits many bird species i.e 316 recorded species which include; papyrus gonoleks, Nahan’s francolins, hooded vulture, black headed heron, reed cormorant, African harrier hawk, Ayres’s hawk eagle, yellow-billed kite, hadada ibis, white-spotted flufftail, ring-necked dove, helmeted guineafowl, red eyed dove, grey parrot, great blue turacos, blue breasted kingfishers, forest wood-hoopoe, Narina trogon, African palm swift.

Other bird species in the forest include striped kingfishers, little swift, Klaas’s cuckoo, Diederik cuckoo, Eastern grey plantain-eaters, Angola swallow, white-headed saw-wing, lesser striped swallow, sand martin, yellow-billed barbet, double-toothed barbet, hairy-breasted barbet, white-browed robin chat, forest robin, fire-crested alethe, red-tailed greenbul, green-tailed bristle bill, Cameroon sombre greenbul, slender billed greenbul, honeyguide greenbul, African thrush, rufous-fly catcher thrush, grey-backed camaroptera, green crombec, African dusky flycatcher, pale flycatcher, black-throated apalis, Northern black flycatcher, grey capped warblers, red faced cisticola.

Green sunbird, olive bellied sunbird, white shouldered tit, scaly breasted, illadopsis, African blue-flycatchers, red-billed paradise flycatchers, Jameson wattle eye, chestnut wattle eye, brown throated wattle eye, black and white shrike flycatchers, olive bellied sunbird, coppery sunbird, fawn breasted waxbill, red head blue bill, village indigo bird, etc.

Top Activities to do in Mabira Forest Reserve

Mabira Forest is amazing to explore and perfect for eco-tourism lovers as they engage in various activities like bird watching, nature/forest walks, cycling, zip lining, Monkey tracking/Uganda Mangabey tracking.

Monkey tracking/Uganda Mangabey tracking

Mabira Forest Reserve is ideal for guided Uganda mangabey monkey tracking which can be done at anytime of the year You shall get up close with other primates such as vervet monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys.

Guided nature walks

Mabira Forest is ideal for guided nature walks as nature lovers transfer deep and around the forest exploring the hidden treasures following trails like the yellow trail 12kms, red trail 33kms, white trail and others. On a guided nature walk, you watch many bird species, flora, butterflies.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is done in the forest as you rent bikes at Griffin Falls camp where you leave from as you follow varying trails watching many bird species and other small wildlife animals.

Bird watching

Bird watching is amazing to do in the forest as more than 316 bird species have been recorded. These inhabit the lush forest and some of the bird species you watch include; the dusky long-tailed cuckoo, black and white casqued hornbill, African pied hornbill, Cassin’s hawk-eagle, African dwarf-kingfishers, grey parrot, Sabine’s spinetail, yellow spotted barbet, yellow throated tinkerbird, forest woodhoopoe, black shouldered nightjars, white spotted flufftail, hairy breasted barbet, blue throated rollers, African shrike throated.

Zip lining

Mabira Forest is ideal for Zip lining as you traverse from one point to another. The zip-line passes on top of trees guaranteeing you remarkable view of Mabira Forest canopy. This adventure is scheduled for the morning, afternoon zip-lining session.