Name: Budongo Central Forest Reserve
Address: Uganda

Overview

The Budongo Forest is a moist, semi-deciduous tropical rainforest located at the top of the Albertine Rift. Travellers can visit Budongo Eco-lodge at Kaniyo Pabidi (for chimpanzee tracking), Busingiro, and the Royal mile for bird watching all of which are designated for tourism.

High Season

June to September

Best Time to Go

Dec to March and June to July

Pros & Cons

Chimpanzee trekking permits are cheaper as compare to Kibale
Chimpanzee trekking and full day habituation experience
Accommodation is available at Kaniyo Pabidi or nearby Murchison Falls Park
Best park for a birding experience
Untouched forest

There is no accommodation facility in Busingiro

Map in Uganda

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Gallery Images

Explore the stunning beauty of Budongo Central Forest Reserve through our curated collection of photographs showcasing its landscapes, wildlife, and natural wonders.

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Wildlife & Animals

Budongo is astonishingly bio-diverse, with 24 mammal species, over 360 birds, 289 butterflies and 465 plants. Budongo is also known for its primate population which includes around 800 chimpanzees. Well-developed forest trails give you the perfect opportunity to explore the beauty of the tropical rainforest on foot.

Wildlife Highlights

Recorded from Budongo are more than 24 mammals, of which 9 are primates. Chimpanzee tracking is very popular in this park. Apart from chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, black-and-white colobus and olive baboons can be spotted occasionally.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

The park can be visited all year round for chimpanzees trekking. The best time for wildlife viewing is in the Dry seasons from December to March and June to July. During the rainy season, Roads are slippery hence difficult to travel at that time.

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Birds

Bird watching is one of the activities done in Budongo forest near Murchison falls national park where a number several bird species over 366 of which 60 are central African bird species with other two key species which can’t be found elsewhere in East Africa which is; Pavel’s illadoposis and Yellow-footed Flycatcher. Other species such as Ceratogymna fistulator, Smithornis rufolateralis, Ixonotus guttatus, Neafrapus cassini, Sylvietta denti, Batis ituriensis and Zoothera camaronensis Other rare species in Budongo Forest include Pitta reichenowi and Parmoptila woodhousei, both with multiple recent records.

Best Time for Birding

Birding can be done all year round in Budongo Forest but the best time will be from February to April and in September. The fruiting season starts from June to September, so there is plenty of food available and birds are breeding plumage.

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Best Time to Visit – Budongo Central Forest Reserve

High Season

June to September

Low Season

Seasonal rains can affect access in some areas

Best Weather

Typically during dry months; check local patterns

Worst Weather

Peak of Wet season; very hot months vary by region

May to October (Dry Season)

Less vegetation and animals concentrate around water, making them easier to spot
The skies are clear, rain is rare, and there are fewer mosquitoes
Even though most tourists visit during the Dry season, the parks still feel uncrowded, except for the bustling Chobe riverfront area