Untouched Gems & Jungles
Let’s Talk and bond with the Chimpanzees and Nature
Things to do at Bugoma Forest Reserve
There are many things travelers can do at Bugoma Forest and these offer you a chance to explore the green forest, wathc many bird species, wildlife animals, primates i.e chimpanzees which are the main attraction and require you to transfer through the green forest for a period of 2 to 4 hours watching these amazing primates as they take you through their daily livelihood.
Chimpanzee Tracking
Chimpanzee Tracking is the most prominent safari activity carried out in the park with two communities that have been habituated for trekking by all travelers. This is an alternative to Kibale Forest National Park.
The trekking procedure here offers a quieter, less crowded adventure experience. There are over 500-600 chimpanzees in the forest and these are trekked as you get to be briefed on conduct around the chimpanzees, rules and regulations around the chimpanzees then later you shall trek the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours.
En-route, you watch other primates like the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda mangabeys. After you shall meet the chimpanzees and stay in their presence taking photos in an hour to keep.
Birdwatching
Bird watching in Bugoma Forest is exceptional to do as you get to watch various species of birds i.e over 200 have been recorded including the Albertine Rift endemics, such as the Nahan’s Francolin, Black-eared Ground Thrush, Grey Parrot, rare Black-eared Ground Thrush. Bird watching is awesome in the post-rainfall months as you watch species like the Green-breasted Pitta and Chocolate-backed Kingfisher.
Cultural Encounters
Cultural Encounters are amazing and exceptional to do as you interact with the local communities inhabiting the communities close to the forest to experience traditional dances, storytelling, local farming methods and craft-making. You shall get to know about the traditional customs, livelihoods, and conservation efforts. The major in ethnic groups include: Bunyoro (Banyoro people), Alur.
Guided Nature Walks
Guided Nature Walks are ideal to be done in Bugoma Forest and these offer you the best way to explore Uganda’s tropical rainforest ecosystems, flora, fauna.
You walk through 30km of developed forest trails which are divided into 200m loops with expert guides as you explore unique tree species, medicinal plants, and various monkey species like black-and-white colobus and red-tailed monkeys.
Along the way, you shall watch more than 200 tree species, around 220+ bird species and many primates i.e the chimpanzees and the rare Uganda mangabey.
About Bugoma Forest
Bugoma Forest is a 41,144-hectare tropical forest in Western Uganda (Hoima/Kikuube districts) managed by the National Forestry Authority. It was founded in 1932 protecting over 600 chimpanzees, 34 mammal species, and 260+ bird species.
Bugoma Forest includes a medium altitude with and it is largely a semi-deciduous forest with iron wood also referred to the Muhimbi. In the forest are 4 small rivers that drain the vegetation and these include; River Sonso, River Rubwa, Wake and Waisoke. These rivers flow and empty their water into Lake Albert.
Bugoma Forest is a medium-altitude, moist, semi-deciduous tropical forest shaped by moderate rainfall (about 1,200–1,800 mm annually) and elevations between 990 and 1,300 meters. The vegetation of Bugoma is highly diverse with over 220–260 species of trees and shrubs making it one of the richest forests in the region in terms of plant composition. The forest is semi-deciduous in nature i.e some trees shed leaves during dry periods, others remain evergreen creating seasonal variations in the canopy cover.
The forest is typical of tropical moist forests that experience alternating wet and dry seasons. The vegetation is of stratified structure into layers i.e the Emergent layer with Trees that exceed 40 meters and these include; large hardwood species like mahogany, canopy layer (20–30 m) with dominant tree species that control light penetration, Understorey layer with smaller trees and shrubs that adapt to low light, Forest floor which include; Herbs, ferns, seedlings, decomposing organic matter.
From Hoima city, Bugoma Forest is 70kms away and it requires you to drive to the forest reserve from Kampala through Hoima-Fort Portal route and branch off to Kabwoya sub-country then finally Bugoma Forest passing through Kasindi Forest Station.
Getting to Bugoma Forest by Road
Main route from Kampala
Kampala – Hoima (via Kampala–Hoima highway)
Hoima – Kabwoya Sub-county
Getting to Bugoma Forest by Air
Air travel is possible to Bugoma Forest as you get domestic flights which depart from Entebbe International Airport/ Kajjansi Airfield to fly to Hoima Airstrip for about 1 hour to Bugoma Forest.
Tracking is the most prominent safari activity carried out in the park with two communities that have been habituated for trekking by all travelers. This is an alternative to Kibale Forest National Park. The trekking procedure here offers a quieter, less crowded adventure experience.
There are over 500-600 chimpanzees in the forest and these are trekked as you get to be briefed on conduct around the chimpanzees, rules and regulations around the chimpanzees
then later you shall trek the chimpanzees for a period of 2 to 4 hours.
En-route, you watch other primates like the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, Uganda mangabeys. After you shall meet the chimpanzees and stay in their presence taking photos in an hour to keep.
To participate, visitors must obtain a chimpanzee tracking permit which costs US $80 per person interested and this includes; Guided nature walk trek with the chimpanzees.
Best Time to Visit
Dry Seasons in the months of June – August and December – February.
Wet Seasons
In the months of March – May and September – November.