Other Uganda Eco Tourism sites

Budongo Central Forest Reserve
Budongo Central Forest Reserve is the largest surviving natural forest in Uganda with a total surface area of 825sq.km. It straddles across three districts of masindi, Hoima and the newly created Buliisa district. This is a true forest! Very little illegal activity and encroachment has ensured that the forest remains as natural indeed intended it to be. Visitors seeking the serenity and calmness of being next to nature should opt for Budongo! Professionally preserved and managed by the National Forestry Authority, the forest is divided into three zones. Its strict nature reserve is the oldest in the country while its buffer zone allows Eco-Tourism and Research to prosper and its production zone caters for commercial activities.

Kaniyo-Pabidi Eco-Tourism Site 

Kaniyo-Pabidiis situated in the North Eastern part of Budongo Forest Reserve. It is a natural habitat of about 120 Chimpanzees. However only one group consisting of about 30 chimpanzees has have been fully habituated for Eco-Tourism purposes. There are also other primate species such as black and white colobus monkey, red-tailed monkey, blue monkey, vervet monkey and baboons.
Part of Kaniyo-Pabidi is contiguous with Murchison falls national park and Bugungu wildlife reserve which are managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority. Hence some savannah grassland species can be sighted in Kaniyo-Pabidi. These include bush bucks, red and blue duikers, bush pigs, warthogs, lions, water bucks and buffaloes.
There is prolific Birdlife especially the chocolate- backed kingfisher and the pruvels eladosis.
This area is home of a variety of tree species like mahogany and the Celtic family.
Some of the trees are known to posess medicinal qualities. Butterflies, moths and tropical flowers are abundant.
Forest trails at this site are well developed and well maintained for tourist purposes.
Tourist activities include chimp tracking, bird watching, forest walks, conservation education and chimp habituation and camping.

Accommodation

Accommodation at Kaniyo-Pabidi consists of mainly camping facilities.
However, the Jane Good all Institute is in the process of completing modern tourist cabins and bandas to be ready by mid-2007.
Boomu Conservation and Crafts Women’s Association operates simple accommodation bandas near the park entry gate.

Accessibility

Kaniyo-Pabidi Ecotourism site is located approximately 220 km. from Kampala via Masindi which is 29 km. away. The site is along the secondary road that connects Masindi with Paraa. It is roughly 5 km. from the Murchison Park boundary and entry gate.

Other Services
There are two local organizations involved in Eco-Tourism near Kaniyo-Pabidi: Boomu Conservation and Crafts Women’s Association and Asera Azora Women’s group. They provide handcrafts, community walks, cooking walks, simple traditional accommodation and camping.
Kaniyo-Pabidi has knowledgeable, experienced and welcoming guides who offer interpretation and guiding services.

Busingiro Eco-Tourism Site
Attractions

Busingiro Eco-Tourism Site is located in the south western part of Budongo Forest Reserve. Like Kaniyo-Pabidi, this area is a habitat for several primate species including chimpanzees, monkeys and baboons. However the chimpanzees in Busingiro are not yet habituated for visitor tracking.
Mahogany iron wood, fig trees, stranglers and a host of medicinal trees form a bulk of floral species in this seemingly untouched natural forest.
Birds, butterflies, reptiles, small mammals and other micro organisms form the eco system that makes this particular site enviable.
Visitors should not miss the proverbial royal mile. This is one of the highlights of Busingiro! The royal mile is a stretch of one mile with a collection of all the tree species in budongo forest reserve. King Kabalega, the former king of Bunyoro used to frequent this segment for relaxation with his queen. The segment derives its name from these royal visits. The segment is magnificently maintained by the National Forestry Authority, for historical, aesthetic and recreational reasons.
Activities in Busingiro include forest walks, bird watching, primate identification, conservation education, and research and butterfly identification, among others.
There is a primate research station on the site of an old sawmill at Sonso.
The forest trails at this site are well developed and well maintained for tourist purposes.

Accommodation   
Accommodation at Busingiro contains mainly of camping facilities: However, the Jane Good all Institute is in the process of renovating and refurbishing the tourist bandas to house at least ten visitors.

Accessibility
The site is located to the west of Masindi. It’s approximately 47 km. from Masindi town via Kinyara and Nyabyeya. Masindi itself is approximately 200 km. from Kampala on a good tarmac road. Busingiro is on the earth road that connects masindi with Paraa via Buliisa on the shores of Lake Albert.

Bugoma Ecotourism Site

Bugoma Central Forest Reserve is located in Hoima District. It covers a total surface area of 41,144 hectares. Eco- Tourism in the reserve is being spearheaded by African Nature Conservation Expeditions, an international private firm with vast experience in tourism development.
The firm is in advanced stages of infrastructure development at the former forest station. 10 tourist bandas to host a minimum of 10 visitors per night are nearing completion. In addition, another 10 luxury tented camps exclusively for the upper market will be ready by mid – 2007.
For reservations, please contact the operations manager on Tel: 256-41-0772361170
The site is endowed with a variety of tourist attractions such as chimpanzees, monkeys, reptiles, birds and butterflies and tree species some of which endemic to Bugoma. Forest trails totaling 30 km long divided into loops of 200 meters each have been developed.
The reserve is near the oil exploration sites which has precipitated the migration of many grassland species due to habitat disturbance. Those that can occasionally be seen include Uganda kobs, buffaloes, and elephants.
The reserve is accessible through a dirt road 70 km. from Hoima Township. Hoima is approximately 200 km. from Kampala. There is also an Airstrip for light aircraft s at Kisaru Tea Estates 12 km. from Bugoma Ecotourism Site.
Professionally trained guides are on site to provide an unforgettable experience to visitors.