Budongo Forest forest type is classified as medium altitude semi-deciduous moist. Budongo has a high biodiversity with 24 species of small mammals, nine of which are primates; 465 species of trees and shrubs; 359 species of birds; 289 species of butterflies; and 130 species of moths. Budongo Forest Reserve was gazetted in 1932. Commercial extraction of timber has been ongoing since 1915; some 77% of this forest has been cut at least once. The report by the Forest Department (1996a) states that Budongo is in a serious ‘state of degradation’ due to the high levels of illegal pit sawing, hunting, and human encroachment.

Size

Covers an area of 793 km2, of which only 53% is forest. The remaining 47% is grassland

(Forest Department 1996a): 42,800 hectares

Getting There

3 hours’ drive northwest of the capital city of Kampala on the way to the prominent Murchison Falls National Park.

What to do

Forest walks (day and night), bird watching, environmental education (study tours), camping, and sightseeing