Bar Lyec safari lodge
April 20, 2026
Buligi Game Tracks
July 2, 2026
Budongo Forest Reserve
Budongo Forest Reserve is Uganda’s largest mahogany forest and the biggest tropical rainforest in East Africa, covering just over 825 square kilometers on the escarpment northeast of Lake Albert. It sits at the edge of Murchison Falls National Park, making it easy to include in a northern Uganda safari.
Budongo Forest is a home to over 800 wild chimpanzees. It protects over 360 bird species, including two that are found nowhere else in East Africa.
The forest is divided into three main tourism areas: Kaniyo Pabidi in the south, Busingiro in the center (home to the famous Royal Mile birding trail), and the Sonso sector further north. Each has its own experience and unique wildlife.
What to See in Budongo Forest Reserve
Chimpanzees
Budongo is one of the best places in Uganda to see wild chimpanzees. Tracking chimps in Budongo is less compared to Kibale National Park, which is the world’s primate capital.
Chimpanzee Tracking in Budongo Forest
The terrain in Budongo is relatively flat compared to some other chimpanzee trekking destinations in Uganda, which makes the walking manageable for most visitors regardless of fitness level. The trails are well maintained and marked, and rangers know the forest and the chimpanzee movements well.
Other Primates
Budongo Forest has a total of about 9 primate species. After the chimpanzees, the most notable primates include the black and white colobus monkeys, which move in large groups through the upper canopy and are almost always present along the main trails. Red-tailed monkeys and blue monkeys are common in the mid-levels of the forest. Olive baboons patrol the forest edge and the tracks near Budongo Eco Lodge. Pottos and bush babies are present but nocturnal, so you need a guided night walk for any realistic chance of seeing them. Vervet monkeys are common near the forest margins.
The Royal Mile and Birdlife
The Royal Mile is a 1.6-kilometer forest road at the Busingiro section of Budongo, and it is widely considered one of the best birding trails in Uganda.
The Budongo birding list stands at over 360 species, including around 60 West and Central African species that are rare species in other Ugandan birding sites.
Two species are found nowhere else in East Africa: Puvel’s illadopsis and the yellow-footed flycatcher.
The Black-eared Ground Thrush, found only in Budongo among all Ugandan forests, is another species that draws serious birders here specifically.
Other bird species at the Royal Mile include the chocolate-backed kingfisher, the African dwarf kingfisher, the white-thighed hornbill, the piping hornbill, the African pitta (present November to April), the chestnut-capped flycatcher, the rufous-crowned eremomela, and Sabine’s spinetail. The Kaniyo Pabidi section also has well-developed birding trails and offers a different set of sightings to the Royal Mile.
Trees & Vegetation
The dominant trees in Budongo Forest include the East African mahogany, ironwood, Uganda ironwood, and African teak. Over 464 tree species have been recorded in the reserve.
Other Wildlife
Other than primates, Budongo Forest holds 24 mammal species. Forest elephants and buffaloes are present and occasionally seen on forest walks, particularly near the salt licks and river banks. Bushbucks, duikers, and forest hogs move through the understory. The forest also holds 300 butterfly species, making it one of Uganda’s better sites for butterfly observation. Red-tailed squirrels and various mongoose species are commonly spotted along the trails.
What to Do in Budongo Forest Reserve
Chimpanzee Trekking
Chimpanzee trekking is the most popular activity in Budongo and it is done twice a day, with morning treks departing at 8:00 AM and afternoon treks at 2:00 PM from both the Kaniyo Pabidi and Sonso sites.
Treks are led by Uganda Wildlife Authority rangers and typically last between two and four hours depending on where the chimps are ranging that day. Once the group is located, you spend one hour with them.
Permits should be booked in advance, particularly during peak season months of June to August and December to February.
Chimpanzee Habituation Experience
The Chimpanzee Habituation Experience (CHEX) at Budongo Forest allows visitors to spend four hours with a semi-habituated chimpanzee group, joining researchers and guides from the Budongo Conservation Field Station as they work through the slow process of getting a new community comfortable with human presence.
This is a full morning or afternoon in the company of chimps, watching behavior that standard one-hour trekking does not allow time for. The chimpanzee trekking experience is open to adults aged 18 and above, and numbers are strictly limited.
Birdwatching on the Royal Mile
A full or half-day birding session on the Royal Mile at Busingiro is one of the best birdwatching experiences available anywhere in Uganda. Guides here know the target species and the locations where they are most reliably seen.
Morning sessions from 6:30 AM to 10:00 AM are the most productive, when forest birds are active and calling. A full-day visit to the Royal Mile and the surrounding Busingiro trails gives you the best chance of seeing the rare species.
Night Walks
Guided night walks in Budongo offer the chance to encounter the forest’s nocturnal residents. Pottos, bush babies, various owl species, including the African wood owl and the spotted eagle owl, and nightjars are the main targets. The sounds of the forest at night, frogs, insects, and the occasional distant call of a leopard, are worth the experience on their own.
Park Fees for Budongo Forest Reserve
The fees below are set by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forestry Authority. All fees are subject to change, so confirm current rates with your tour operator or the UWA directly before travel. Chimpanzee trekking permits should be booked in advance through a registered tour operator or directly with the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
| Activity / Permit | Foreign Non-Residents | Foreign Residents | EAC Citizens |
| Chimpanzee Tracking (1 hr) | USD 130 | USD 120 | USD 85 |
| Chimp Habituation Experience (4 hrs) | USD 230 | USD 230 | USD 115 |
| Park Entry Fee (per day) | USD 40 | USD 30 | UGX 10,000 |
| Nature Walk (guided) | USD 20 | USD 20 | UGX 30,000 |
| Birdwatching Guide (half day) | USD 20 | USD 20 | UGX 30,000 |
| Birdwatching Guide (full day) | USD 30 | USD 30 | UGX 50,000 |
| Commercial Photography (per day) | USD 150 | USD 150 | UGX 150,000 |
Best Time to Visit Budongo Forest Reserve
Dry Season: December to February and June to August
The two dry seasons are the most popular times to visit Budongo, and for good practical reasons. The forest trails are dry and easy to walk through, access roads are in better condition, and chimpanzee movement is somewhat more predictable since the animals tend to stay closer to their sleeping sites in drier months rather than ranging widely in search of fruit. June to August is Uganda’s peak tourist season; therefore, permits and accommodations book out faster during these months. If you are visiting in peak season, book at least two to three months in advance.
December through February is the hottest period in northern Uganda, with temperatures at Murchison Falls sometimes reaching 29 degrees Celsius. The heat can make long walks uncomfortable, particularly during midday. Plan forest activities for the early morning when the temperature is lower and wildlife is more active.
Wet Season: March to May and September to November
The wet seasons bring heavy rain that makes some trails slippery and access roads muddy, particularly for the Sonso section, which lies further from the main tarmac highway.
A 4WD vehicle is necessary during these periods. The trade-off is significant for birdwatchers. Migratory species are present from November through April; the African pitta is at Budongo during this window, and the forest is at its most alive and visually impressive when the rains are running. Accommodation prices are lower during the wet season, and permits are easier to get at short notice.
Africa Pygym Kingfisher
Year-Round Access
Budongo Forest is accessible and worth visiting all year round. Outside of the peak months, you are likely to have the trails more to yourself, which makes for a quieter and often better experience overall.
Whether you visit in the wet or dry season, bring rain gear. Tropical forest weather can change fast regardless of the time of year.
How to Get to Budongo Forest Reserve
Budongo Forest Reserve is approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Kampala, a drive of around four to five hours depending on traffic and road conditions.
The standard route from Kampala goes north through Luwero and Nakasongola, with an optional stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary en route, before reaching Masindi town. From Masindi, the Busingiro section of Budongo is about 35 kilometers north, roughly 30 minutes on a murram road. The Kaniyo Pabidi section, which lies within Murchison Falls National Park, is accessed through the Kichumbanyobo Gate further north.
