Mabira central Forest reserve; this is Uganda’s largest surviving Natural forest that covers an area of 306 sq km in Mabira central forest reserve. The forest is a natural habitamt of 312 species of trees including the endangered Mililia Exclesa, the Cordia Millenii, warbhugia Ugandanese that has medicinal properties that is famed to cure about forty ailments and the Vurnerable Prunus Africana that cures prostate cancer and boosts the Human immune system.
The forest is home to 315 species of birds like the red headed blue bill, the tit Hylia, the shining blue kingfisher, the black bellied seed cracker, the blue headed crested Monarc, Francolin, Nahan;s , the forest wood hoope, cassin Hawk Eagle, the purple throated cuckoo and some of these species can only be found in Mabira.
The other rare features to be seen here 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 from this reserve include; bird watching, environmental Education and research, primate watching, camping and picnics, butterfly identification, the forest as well as forest adventuring.
Tourism in Mabira Forest
Mabira Forest is one of the few surviving natural rainforests in Uganda. Mabira Forest Reserve was gazetted in 1932 and in 1996, government of Uganda established a substantial ecotourism development and community ecotourism in an effort to ensure it is well-protected.
Location
Mabira Forest Reserve, a natural tropical forest lies along the Kampala-Jinja highway within Buikwe District, Eastern Uganda. From Kampala to Mabira Forest, it is 1-2 hours’ drive depending on the traffic and about half an hour’s drive from Jinja city. It is a perfect stopover spot for visitors on Uganda safari along the Eastern circuit.
Mabira Forest occupies the land area that measures about 120sq.mi. This is largely dominated by a secondary forest and it has been in existence for over 100 years with less disturbance.
Key Attractions
- An attractive forest visitor complex in a beautiful tranquil forest edge setting offering comfortable facilities for a weekend break. and a relaxing environment to unwind and get back to nature.
- Easy access between Uganda’s two largest urban centres Kampala and Jinja, the forest is one hours drive from the capital and just half an hours drive from Jinja. Mabira offers visitors with tight time schedules a tropical forest experience on their doorstep and for visitors without their own transport an easily accessed and reasonably priced public transport link.
- A huge and beautiful forest to explore via an extensive trail network. The forest trails cater for people of all time schedules and abilities and give visitors fantastic views into the forest canopy. and opportunities to discover close up a fascinating array of forest life. Both guided and unguided trails are available. For the energetic a circular 25 km bike trail links the forest to the surrounding sugar and tea plantations (mountain bikes are advised).
Floral and fauna Species
At Mabira Forest Reserve, there are lots of 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 of visitor interest on guided Uganda safari in Mabira Forest include red-tailed monkeys, Uganda Mangabeys, bushbucks, duikers, squirrels, bush pigs, baboons, fruit bats, grey cheeked mangabeys, plus reptiles.
Birds of Mabira Forest
A total of about 316 bird species live in Mabira Forest. They include unique birds such as 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 birds of Mabira Forest Reserve 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 a fully developed destination, perfect for eco-tourism lovers. There are plenty of exciting experiences/activities to engage in while at Mabira Forest Reserve on a tour. The main activities of interest for tourists visiting Mabira include bird watching, nature/forest walks, cycling, zip lining, etc.
Monkey tracking/Uganda Mangabey tracking
There are many primate safari destinations in Uganda, and East Africa, but what is unique about Mabira Forest Reserve is that it is only spot for tourists to engage in a guided Uganda mangabey monkey tracking. Visiting Mabira Forest for mangabey tracking can be done at anytime of the year, and along the way, there is a chance to get up close with other primates such as vervet monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkeys.
Guided nature walks
Mabira Forest features some of the best forest walking trails that introduce nature lovers deep and around it to explore its hidden treasures. With the lead of an experienced local guide, expect to hit amazing trails such as the yellow trail 12kms, red trail 33kms, white trail and others. On a guided nature walk, you get to see lots of birds, flora, butterflies and more.
Mountain biking
For guests who love biking, then Mabira Forest has you sorted. Bikes are available for hire at Griffin Falls camp. Biking experience is enjoyable along the developed trails, offering a memorable adventure with higher chance for you to encounter birds and other species.
Birding
With over 316 bird species all residing in Mabira Forest, birding tour in this lush forest never disappoints. There are lots of forest bird dwellers to be spotted at Mabira and the likely birds to keep an eye on your birding expedition 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 and more.
Zip lining
Mabira is one of the few places in East Africa where you can go Zip-lining. The zip-line passes on top of trees guaranteeing you remarkable view of Mabira Forest canopy. The zip-line at Mabira was set up by a group of volunteers from the Peace Corps and a group of Ugandans were trained on how the equipment can be maintained in its better state. You can opt for the morning or afternoon zip-lining session.
Facilities
The visitor center
Discover more about Mabira with a visit to the forest interpretation center. Find out about the rare and wonderful creatures that inhabit the forest, learn about the importance of the trees and plants and find out what we can all do to help conserve our forest resources.
On sale at the visitor center are craft items made by local groups, postcards, tourist maps, bird books and souvenier Mabira Forest T- shirts.
Picnic site and viewing platform
Enjoy a soda, snack or picnic in the tranquil picnic site surrounding the visitor center. Flowering trees and good views into the forest make it an excellent place for watching exotic sun birds and playful red tailed monkeys. The raised viewing platform elevates you into the forest canopy where you can relax in shady comfort.
Banda Accomodation
The forest center has three traditional styled African Banda’s offering visitors private and comfortable accomodation set in beautiful forest glades. Each Banda has it’s own balcony with views into the forest, a perfect spot to relax after a forest walk.
There are two double Banda’s and one family Banda sleeping 6 people. Each Banda has its own latrine and bathing facilities.
Water and firewood can be provided for self catering visitors or meals can be arranged in advance with the caretaker.
Camp site
The camp site is set in a idyllic forest glade. It can cater for up to 12 tents. A camp fire area and picnic tables make it ideal for self catering groups. A spacious thatched camp shelter adjacent to the campsite offers additional comfort to campers. The camp site has its own latrine and bathing facilties.
The Forest Trails
An excellent trail system allows visitors easy access to both undisturbed primary forest or good secondary forest. The trails have been designed to suit all ages and abilities.
Picnic Trail
Leading from the picnic site this short 15 – 20 minute self guided trail journeys into the forest meandering through regenerating forest along the valley of one of Mabira’s many forest streams.
It is ideal for children and visitors on a tight time schedule.
Grassland Trail
Keen bird watchers will enjoy the Grassland Trail loop which offers good views into the broken canopy which, together with an abundance of fruiting trees, make sightings of large numbers of forest birds a real possibility.
It is a 3km trail which can take anywhere between 1 and 3 hours depending on bird sightings. It is well waymarked so visitors can walk alone or with a guide who will help interpretate the sights and sounds of the forest. The trail travels through regenerating secondary forest flanking the sides of the Najjembe stream valley. It is possible to link with other trails to extend your walk.
The Radio Hill Trial Network
For visitors wanting a more ‘jungle like’ experience and views over the forest canopy a number of trail circuits link to Radio Hill where a steep climb is rewarded by panoramic view north over the forest reserve.
The Primary forest trails are across the main road from the forest center. Visitors enter a cool tropical shadowdy environment characterised by gurgling forest streams, giant tree trunks , twisted stems of strangler figs and the chattering of tribes of monkeys high above in the forest canopy.
This is intact tropical forest and rich in plant and animal life. Visitors will enjoy walking in this cool environment and wonder at the amazing natural formations in this artists paradise.
All walks in the primary forest must be lead by a trained guide. They will chose a trial to suit your time schedule and fitness level. All walks are on looped circuits with resting points.
The Market Loop
This trail links two impressive fig trees and is a common area for monkeys which feed on the fruit. You may meet Red Tailed monkeys or Black and Grey Cheeked Manabeys which often raid people’s gardens on the forest boundaries. The market loop takes approximately one hour from the Forest Center.
The River Mabugwe Loop
This trail leads through intact rainforest along the path of the River Mabugwe which is one of the permanent rivers in Mabia Forest. A huge strangler fig is a prominent feature on the trail and the trail opens up in places to provide excellent sites for butterfly and bird viewing. This trail takes approximately 2 hours from the forest center.
Gangu Ridge Trail
This is the longest trail and leads into shaded thick forest far away from the main highway. It takes approximately 3 –4 hours and involves a trek through primary forest across three valleys including the Gangu valley. The trail has two resting points from which you can view birds, forest primates or you may spot signs of the elusive bush pig. This trail links to the Butterfly loop and Radio Hill Circuit.
The Fig Junction Trail
Another trail through thick primary forest. The main feature of this trail is an impressive fig tree junction which provides an excellent bird watching area. Watch out for the Black Billed Turaco, Yellow Billed Barbet or Dusky Long Tailed Cuckoo. This trail takes approximately 2 to 3 hours from the forest center.
Radio Hill Loop Circuit
A trip straight to the viewpoint at the top the radio tower on Radio Hill will take approximately 45 minutes. It is well worth the climb to witness a marvellous panoramic view over the forest, from here you can start to appreciate the sheer scale of the forest which is the largest in Central Uganda.
Butterfly Viewing Trail
This trail is much more open and sunny. It is characterised by many flowering plants such as Lantana Camara, whose pink and yellow flowers attract clouds of butterflies. Birds such as White Throated Bee Eaters and Pied Kingfishers enjoy this forest edge environment. This trail takes approximately 2 hours from the forest center.
Macaranga Loop Trail
This trail is characterised by the Macaranga species of trees with their amazing thorny stems. Discover how these trees protect themselves against forest predators. This trail takes approximately 1½ hours from the forest center.
Cycling routes
From the visitor center visitors with their own mountain bikes can follow a specially designed cycling circuit which offers a challenging trail to the top of Namusa Hill for experienced cyclists and an alternative route along the Wagala ridge pylon clearing for less experienced cyclists.
The trail follows a quiet forest road for 8km into the heart of the forest, at Ssese village visitors can chose to follow the 5km loop up to Namusa Hill or turn left to follow the pylon clearing. The two trails meet and continue towards Lugazi. The more adventurous may like to search for the Griffin WaterFalls, simply ask directions at the houses half way up the hill when you have crossed a bridge over the river.
The trial eventually leads out of the forest into Lugazi passing through the tea and sugar cane plantations which surround the forest.
Prices for 1999 (1USD => Ushs1,450.00)
| Forest fees | Ugandan resident | Foreign Resident | Foreign Tourist |
| Entry permit | 1,000 | 5,000 | 6,000 |
| Two day permit | 1,500 | 8,000 | 10,000 |
| Camping | 1,000 | 2,300 | 2,300 |
| Banda Accomodation | |||
| Single | 7,000 | 10,000 | 10,000 |
| Double | 10,000 | 15,000 | 15,000 |
| Quadruple | 14,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
All prices in Ugandan Shillings (1USD => Ushs1,450.00)
Entry permit includes guide service if required
Children half price. Under 6 free.
How to get there
Mabira Forest straggles the main Jinja to Kampala highway, it is 54km from Kampala and 20km from Jinja. The forest center is on the edge of Najjembe village approximately 500m north of the main road. Coming from Kampala it is signposted to your left just before you reach the roadside market at Najjembe.
A short walk or drive down this murram road will bring you to the forest center where parking is available.
The site is readily accessed by public transport. From Kampala take a taxi from the old taxi park heading towards Jinja and get off at Najjembe market. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and costs 1,500 U.sh From Jinja take a taxi from the taxi park heading towards Lugazi or Kampala get off just pass Najjembe market, the forest center is on the road to your right. The journey takes approximately half an hour and costs 1,500 U sh.
Where to stay
The available accommodation choices at Mabira Forest include Griffin Falls Camp/Mabira Forest Camp, located at the edge of the Griffins Falls trail, 10kms from the Kampala-Jinja highway. Mabira Rainforest Lodge, this was opened in 2007 and it has 24 beds.