The 300 sq km Mabira Forest Reserve is the largest tropical forest in central Uganda located about 50 km east of the capital Kampala. The vast semi-deciduous forest of Mabira is a protected reserve and an important biodiversity hotspot protecting a wide variety of primates, birdlife and plant life attracting naturalists and enthusiasts alike.
Mabira Forest great location along the main Kampala -Jinja highway makes it a popular destination to explore on a day-tour. Excellent trails traverse this moist forest where guided nature walks, cycling expereince take place connecting you to the serene natural world.
Mabira Forest Biodiversity
Mabira Forest lies at altitudes between 1070m-1340m comprising of a diversity of habitats from open grasslands, extensive papyrus swamps and moist semi-deciduous forest sections supporting a unique biodiversity of flora and fauna. This diversity includes over 200 species of trees notably the Uganda specimens of Diphasia angolensis. Primates include the Uganda Mangabey, a national endemic recognised in 2007 but other smaller primates occur. Mabira Forest is an Important Bird Area supporting over 310 species of birds among a quality list of the Guinea-congo biome restricted species.
Beyond this natural biodiversity, Mabira Forest is a water catchment area and an important climate regulator in the midst of rapidly growing urbanisation in central Uganda.
Activities and Attractions to do at Mabira Forest
Mabira Forest offers a wide range of activities from sky-walk and ziplining, birding, pimates walking tours, full-day guided walking tours, nite walks, cycling tour, community demonstrative activities among other. The closeness of Mabira Forest to Kampala and Jinja makes it a popular destination to explore on day-tour. Mabira Forest is served by two main eco-tourism offices of Najjembe Centre and Griffin Falls Camp where main trailheads start and guides obtained.
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Ziplining and Canopy Super Skyway
Apparently the most popular activity at Mabira Forest, the Canopy super Skyway is a thrill 250m canopy zipline that connects up to 5 platforms elevated up to 40m above the forest floor and across Musamya river. A team of highly safety guides lead the expereince that offers you superb canopy views of this vast rainforest and a test of adrenaline thrill. The experiences duration varies from your available time but day excursion run between 2-4 hrs.
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Bird Watching Tours in Mabira Forest
Mabira Forest Reserve is top birding hotspot that offers rewarding birding forest expereince to explore the forests over 310 bird species including a selection of the Guinea-congo specialists and a quality of tropical species. This vast forest is an Important Birding Area (IBA) where years of isolation and agricultural pressure from farmers and fast-growing urbanisation has made it an island of bird biodiversity.
Special Bird Highlights at Mabira Forest
Highlights include; White-headed Woodhoopoe, White-bellied Kingfisher, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Narina Trogon, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Weyn’s Weaver, Yellow-mantled Malimbe, Green-throated Sunbird, Green Twinspot and Grey Parrot. Forest floor specialists include Forest Robin, Brown-chested Alethe, Fire-crested Alethe and Red-capped Robin Chat that usually follow ant swarms. Crested Guineafowl, Yellow-browed and Olive Green Camaroptera, Red-tailed Bristlebill, Yellow-eyed Bristle bill, Red-tailed Greenbul, Green Hylia, Blue-shouldered Robin Chat and Snow-crowned Robin Chat occur.
Africa Pitta is a seasonal migrant through these forests but Nahan’s Partridge, White Spotted Flufftail occur in the riverine sections. Raptors include, Crowned Eagle, Black Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk Shikra and Lizard Buzzard that patrols the forest edges
Other special highlights include; African Wood Owl, Western Nicator, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Brown-eared and Buff-spotted Woodpeckers, Least Honeyguide, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Congo Pied Hornbill, Western Black-headed Oriole, Purple-headed starling, Red-headed Bluebill etc.
Birding trails and guides at Mabira Forest
Excellent birding trails begin from the forests eco-tourism offices of Najembe and Griffin Falls Camp where guides can be picked.
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Mangabey Tracking Experience at Mabira Forest
Mangabey tracking expereince is a guided nature walk that leads you to observe upclose a localised troop of Uganda Mangabey, a national endemic primate recognised in 2007. Mangabeys are closely related to baboons and share similar traits from massive incisors, to sexual swelling in females during oestrus. Mangabeys are the most vociferous primates whose whoop-gobble spacing calls by adult males is the most distinct across across this vast rainforest.
Mangabey trekking expereince duration begins early and lasts up to 4 hrs daily.
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Guided Forest Walks at Mabira Forest
Mabira forest maintain an excellent network of trails that explores various vegetational types across this vast rainforests. The walks are classified between specialised and non-specialised excursions to care for individual interest. Specialised walks includes night walks, birding, butterfly and primates expereince whereas non-specialised are general walks just to expose to the serene time in nature.
Griffin Falls Guided Walk is a popular guided nature walk that sets off the Griffin Falls camp leading onto a pretty waterfalls formed along river Musamya.
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Cycling Tours in Mabira Forest
Cycling tours in Mabira Forest are tailored to your interests, fitness levels and available time from short 4 hrs to full-day experiences. The expereince follows large trails through varied vegetational forest sections to enjoy a serene adventure in a natural forest, extending along the forest edge, to nearby villages where you enjoy and interact with ordinary citizens and learn of diverse culture. Beyond here, cycling tours extend through farmlands and large sugar estates.
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Community Tours in and around Mabira Forest
While in and around Mabira Forest enjoy a immersive community guided tour to explore the diverse Kiganda culture as you visit homes, participate in cooking classes and taste traditional cuisines, enjoy storytelling and folklore. Activities include, coffee expereince, tea farm visits and farms to learn rural lifestyle.