Location: Bushenyi district
Distance from capital: 418Kms approx 7 hours
Telephone numbers 0485442365/ 0414230365
Website: www.ugandawildlife.org
Top Attraction: Chimpanzees and several bird species
Transport facilities: Mweya Airstrip, Road transport
Maramagambo Forest is an extensive rain forest which lies in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in the far west of Uganda. Maramagambo Forest is rich in fauna & biodiversity and its potential is compared to no other forests in East Africa region. The forest also houses the largest population of Chimpanzees in East Africa.
The forest harbors numerous small caves like Bat Cave and Hunters Cave. The Bat Caves are popularly home to hundreds of fruit bats and pythons, which are often observed in the gap of the cave floor. The pythons feed on the bats as their source of food.
The Maramagambo forest is bordered by two beautiful crater lakes – Kyasanduka crater & the Nyamasingiri and within the forest is the Jacana Lodge- an exclusive lodge belonging to the Geolodges Africa Ltd.
Top Attractions:
Mammals like; Chimpanzees, red-tailed monkey, giant forest hog, potto, pygmy antelope, yellow-backed duiker, giant elephant shrew and L’Hotse’s monkey.
Bird species include; Dark capped yellow wabler, fawn breasted waxbill, black headed batis, sulphur breasted bush shrike, bat hawk, red tailed bristle bill African green pigeon and Ross’s turaco.
Activities:
- Kayaking at the Kyasanduka Crater Lake.
- Guide & unguided walks
- Chimpanzee tracking
Getting there:
Buses can be found at the Baganda bus park (Qualicell bus terminal) and the new bus station located close to Nakivubo stadium in Kampala. Buses travel in two directions. The nearest route is the Kampala – Mbarara –Bushenyi route. However, you can also take the Kampala- Fort-Portal – Kasese –Bushenyi route. The Mweya airstrip is situated within Queen Elizabeth National Park and private charter flights can be arranged at Entebbe airport.
The best access to the forest is through the QENP gate close to Jacana Lodge, 12 kms off the main road from Katunguru to Mbarara.