Budongo Forest hails within the western realm of Uganda, covering an area of 318.5mi2. . It is the biggest natural forest in the country. It also lies on the north eastern escarpment of another popular attraction, Lake Albert; it is known to be a magical forest because of the diligent efforts by the area’s traditional leaders to protect it over generations. The Budongo forest is only 3 hours’ drive away from Kampala on road via Masindi and is very famous for chimpanzee trekking tours in Uganda.
To visitors on wildlife safari in Uganda to Murchison Falls National Park, Budongo offers an en route Chimpanzee trekking experience gaining an opportunity to spend time with habituated chimpanzees that rise to a collection of up to 80 members.
The trek in Budongo is such a rewarding experience, with high chances of incredibly getting up close to the chimps, gazing at their interactions and watching infants play together will leave one feeling contented. The lasting one on one with the Chimpanzees is limited to one hour for purposes of conservation but the entire trek lasts between 2 – 5 hours. Chimpanzee trekking in Budongo is carried out both in the morning at 8am and in the afternoon starting at 2pm.
For the Uganda safari undertakers interested in spending an overnight in the forest, Budongo Eco Lodge and nominee for the ‘2011, Tourism for Tomorrow Conservation Awards!’ is well positioned to serve this purpose. The Lodge presents pocket friendly accommodation, surrounded by beautiful natural environment characterized with untouched, calm and thrilling eco sounds of birds and primates, and definitely splendid sights at nature; chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, birds and vegetation. How wonderful!
Besides Chimpanzee trekking, Budongo Forest Reserve is one of the notable Uganda birding safari destinations with two endemics namely; Puveli illadopsis and the yellow footed flycatcher. Other exciting encounters include rewarding nature walks and the cultural tour to the surrounding community.