Budongo Forest is located on an escarpment along Lake Albert in the northwestern part of Uganda. The forest became known in 1990 when Professor Vernon Reynolds read a newspaper article about chimpanzees being captured in Budongo and sent to Entebbe International Airport to be smuggled abroad as pets. This led him to take action to protect them.
You can book chimpanzee trekking in Budongo Forest, which is part of Murchison Falls National Park, or check online for permit prices and availability.
Some of the oldest tropical rainforest study plots in the world are found in Budongo Forest. These sample plots were set up in the 1930s and have helped researchers understand how tropical forests grow and change over time.
Budongo Forest covers about 435 square kilometers and is home to around 800 wild chimpanzees, making it the largest chimpanzee population in Uganda. The forest is made up mostly of semi-deciduous trees.
Chimpanzee Trekking in Budongo Forest Reserve
Chimpanzee trekking is one of the main activities in Budongo Forest. The trek can take between 2 to 4 hours, depending on where the chimpanzees are. Once they are found, visitors are given one hour to observe them.
Birding in Budongo Forest
Budongo Forest is also a good place for bird-watching. It has around 360 bird species, with about 60 of them being native to central and eastern Africa. Some birds you might see include the paradise flycatcher, chocolate-backed kingfisher, yellow-footed flycatcher, Puvel’s illadopsis, African pied wagtail, black kite, olive-breasted greenbul, fork-tailed drongo, crested guinea fowl, black-eared ground thrush, crowned eagle, grey-headed sunbird, Sabine’s spinetail, yellow-crested woodpecker, white-thighed hornbill, chestnut-capped flycatcher, plain greenbul, lemon-bellied crombec, African dwarf kingfisher, Ituri batis, and Cassin’s hawk eagle. The best time to visit for birding is April to May and November, when migratory birds from North Africa and Europe are present.
Wildlife Safaris
Budongo Forest lies in the southwestern part of Murchison Falls National Park, one of Uganda’s top safari destinations. Visitors can combine chimpanzee trekking in Budongo with a wildlife safari in the park. Besides chimpanzees, Budongo Forest is also home to red-tailed monkeys, black-and-white colobus monkeys, olive baboons, tree pangolins, forest galagos, pottos, forest giant squirrels, and other small animals.
Budongo Forest is about 30 minutes’ drive from the Kichumbanyobo Gate of Murchison Falls National Park. The park can be reached by road from Kampala in about 5 to 6 hours. Budongo Forest is open all year and can be visited at any time.
