Maramagambo Forest Reserve is a central natural tropical rain forest located in Bushenyi District, Western Uganda. The extensive Maramagambo Forest is part of the vast Queen Elizabeth National Park. This natural rainforest is one of East Africa’s biggest forests, stretching from the Kichwamba escarpment to Lake Edward. The name “Maramagambo” was derived from the folk lore of the area.
Legends put it that, years back 2 young boys went into the forest and never returned to the village. They lived inside the forest for many days, and this left the villagers in shock hence Maramagambo Forest. When they returned home, they couldn’t say a word, they were dumb hence the name Maramagambo denoting to someone who speechless.
Two Crater Lakes border Maramagambo Forest, and they include Lake Nyamasingiri and Lake Kyasanduka. Other than the lush Maramagambo Central Forest Reserve, other key forest reserves worthy visiting on Uganda safaris includes Kibale, Bwindi, Budongo, Kalinzu and many others.
Where is Maramagambo Forest
Maramagambo Forest Reserve is understandably Uganda’s natural tropical forest with a diverse eco system, which runs west from the Katunguru- Ishaka Road located in Bushenyi District in the western region of Uganda. The forest starts from an Escarpment in Kichwamba all the way to Lake Edward.
The bio-diversity of Maramagambo Forest Reserve
This natural wonder land is a place of safety to numerous bird species including black -collared lovebirds, cuckoo, yellow throated thinker bird, napped pigeon, Congo spente, eagles’ chestnut, little greenbul, brown chested alethe, wahlbergs eagles, African palm swift, grey crowned crane among others
Many primate’s species call this forest a home including chimpanzee, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys Red- tailed monkeys L’hoest monkeys among others as well as a haven for bats and its surrounded primarily with medium altitude moist parinaric and cynometra -celtis trees with Albizia and Acacia tree species in the south
Primates of Maramagambo Forest
Maramagambo Forest is most famous not only for its bat caves, but also as home to a number of other distinct attractions. Maramagambo shelters a good number of primate species. At Maramagambo Forest, there are over 7 special species of primates to see and they include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, black & white colobus monkeys, nocturnal primates especially pottos, bush babies- these can be spotted during a night walk.
Birds of Maramagambo
Diversity of bird species also exist within Maramagambo Forest, making it one of the special birding destinations in East Africa. The birds of interest in Maramagambo Forest Reserve include the African skimmers, papyrus canary, Rwenzori turacos, martial eagle, lesser & greater flamingos, white tailed lark, black headed batis, chapin’s flycatchers, African green pigeon and more.
Activities to do in Maramagambo Forest, Uganda
Being that the forest is less visited, so visiting Maramagambo is an excellent choice for those who wish to visit the forest with less crowds. It offers a variety of activities namely guided nature walks, birdwatching, visiting the bat caves among others as analyzed below;
Primate Watching
A visit to Maramagambo Forest Reserve enriches nature lovers with thrilling primate experience. A variety of interesting primates can be watched on a guided primate walk through this spectacular forest, and they include vervet monkeys, l’hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, chimpanzees, bush babies, pottos, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, etc.
Birding Tours
Maramagambo Forest also offers remarkable birding experiences, and it is an ideal spot for nature lovers who are interested in identifying forest birds. The likely birds to be spotted on birding tour in Maramagambo Forest include African green pigeon, Rwenzori turacos, black headed batis, white napped pigeons, dark-capped yellow warblers, forest flycatchers, Sulphur-breasted bush shrike, red-tailed bristle bill, Ross’s turacos, fawn breasted waxbill, bat hawk to mention but a few.
Guided Nature Walks
Maramagambo Forest is one of the rewarding sites when it comes to nature walking tours in Uganda. The beauty about forest/nature walks in Maramagambo is that you immerse yourself into the jungles through different trails each leading you into unique attractions. A normal nature walk in Maramagambo Forest takes 2-4 hours, and the key nature walking trails include the palm trail, water fall trail, etc.
Bat Cave Tour
Maramagambo Forest’s bat cave is where you can find countless bats. In 2008, this area was sighted to be the cause of Marburg virus, and as a result Queen Elizabeth National Park was forced to corporate with the American Center for disease control to build a safe viewing platform. The existing viewing point allows guests to clearly watch even African rock pythons while they are feeding on bats.
Threats Facing Maramagambo Forest
During covid 19 period this faced a lot of challenges and human beings destroyed the reserve engaged in to cutting down of trees for timber production for both home consumption and commercial use clearing of the land for agriculture, settlement, grazing of cattle.
Other human beings engaging in to bush burning illegal logging which resulted in to the destruction of natural habitats for species reduction in the amount of tree species.
When to visit Maramagambo Forest Reserve, Uganda trip
Visits to Maramagambo Forest are done at any time of the year, although the most favorite time is during the dry season. This is a special time for nature lovers to enjoy primate walking or forest walks through the forest and this is from June to September, December to February. Being an all-year-round destination, you can also organize a tour during the wet or rainy season although the challenge is that heavy rains are received during this season.
The dry season of the year is the best timing for paying a visit to this destination that typically happens in the months of June to September and from December to February.
Dry season is associated with rainfall received, less fog, mist, and the trail heads are less muddy and slippery this period rewards guests with clear photography moments and there are high chances of wildlife viewing and bird watching sighting in the wilderness.
Where to Stay on a tour in Maramagambo
Below are the accommodation facilities that can be used by visitors since they are close to the mighty Queen Elizabeth National Park ranging from luxury to budget ones as listed below;
- Katara Lodge
- Jacana Safari Lodge
- Kyambura Gorge Lodge
How to get there
By road: Driving from Kampala to Maramagambo Forest takes about 6 hours in a comfortable 4×4 tourist vehicle. You can arrange your travel with a reliable tour operator on ground, and this guarantees you a rental car, accommodation booked prior your visit and all necessary permits secured to ensure that you have a smooth holiday.
By air: Fly in safaris can also be arranged by your tour operator, starting from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi and you land at Mweya Airstrip. From Mweya, you can drive to Maramagambo or first engage in a number of activities around Mweya including game drives, launch cruise on Kazinga channel, cultural encounters, bird watching, night game drives to see nocturnal species etc.