Uganda Tour Attractions | Mpanga Forest Reserve

Mpanga Forest Reserve
The Mpanga forest lies near the small town of Mpigi roughly 36 km from Kampala along Masaka road. It is a a fabulous rustic alternative to staying in the Capital city. The reserve protects an extensive patch of medium-altitude rainforest, characteristic of the vegetation that once extended over much of the northern Lake Victoria hinterland, but has largely been cleared over the past century due to human activity. The forest reserve was gazetted in the 1950s and is criss-crossed by an extensive network of wide footpaths, initially made by researchers, but now opens to the public.

The forest harbours a less diverse fauna than the larger forests in the far west of Uganda, but there is still plenty to see, and its accessibility and proximity to Kampala provide more than enough justification for a visit. The most readily observed mammal is the red-tailed monkey though bush pig, bushbucks and flying squirrels are also present. Birds like Blue breasted Kingfisher black-and-white casqued hornbill, African pied hornbill Africa grey parrot and great blue turaco are among the most common. The ecotourism centre offers accommodation and forest walks.