Visit Bugoma central forest Reserve
Visit Bugoma central forest Reserve – En-route to Kibale Forest and Murchison falls National Parks
Visit Bugoma central forest reserve – Uganda is a home to several Forest Reserves, one of which is Bugoma Forest Reserve. This Tropical rainforest is located in Western Uganda in the South-western side of Hoima district, North-eastern side of Kyenjojo Town and eastern side of Lake Albert found in Hoima District and is managed by the National Forestry Authority. Bugoma Forest Reserve covers an area of 401 square kilometers (155 square miles/40,100 hectares), was established into a Forest Reserve in 1932 and is managed by the National Forestry Authority since 2003. This Forest Reserve is specifically located on the top of an escarpment, East of Lake Albert on the fringe of the Western Rift Valley which offers breathtaking views of the countryside and other surrounding areas.
The Landscape of Bugoma Forest Reserve is characterized by medium altitude semi-deciduous Forest and around half of the forested section of the Forest Reserve is dominated by Iron wood (scientifically known as Cynometra alexandri and locally known as the Muhimbi). This Forest Reserve is drained by four small rivers that include River Bubwa, River Wake, River Sonso and River Waisoke that pour their water into Lake Albert.
Bugoma Forest Reserve is a real biodiversity hotspot that is worth exploring by tourists due to its astonishing diversity of floral and faunal species. This Reserve is a central Conservation Forest which is the 12th top places of importance out of the 65 forests studied for biodiversity. It is also amazingly the 17th among forests with exceptional species. Lake Albert and River Nkusi cannot miss on the list of important attractions within Bugoma Forest Reserve. However, this Forest reserve is threatened by human encroachment, poaching/hunting, political interference-from greedy politicians, illegal harvesting of local herbs, logging and timber cutting among others. Even the permanent rivers that sued to flow within the Reserve-River Rwemiseke and River Hohwa are now seasonal due to the high rate of deforestation. Currently, the Forest is supplied by water from streams that drain to the Rivers and later to Lake Albert.
Visit Bugoma forest Reserve wildlife
There are currently over 34 species of mammals including 4 globally threatened mammal species, 9 mammal species listed under IUCN’s Red List within the Bugoma Forest Reserve that include primates such as over 600 estimated chimpanzees, the Grey cheeked Mangabeys, the Black and white Colobus monkeys, the Blue monkeys, the Red tailed monkeys and the Vervet monkeys. Other mammals that call the Reserve home include Buffaloes, Bush Elephants, Uganda Kobs, Golden Cats and Side-stripped Jackals among others.
Birds of Bugoma forest reserve.
There are over 225 bird species including several Guinea-Congo Biome bird species. Two of the noteworthy globally threatened bird species within the Forest Reserve include the Black-eared ground thrush (also known as Zoothera camaronensis) and Nahan’s francolin (Francolinus nahani)
How to get to Bugoma Forest Reserve?
This magnificent Forest Reserve is found at 70 kilometers away from Hoima district, and can be accessed using road transport through a dusty road. You will use the H Kampala-Hoima-Fortportal road, then to Kabwoya to access Bugoma via the Kasindi Forest Station.
Best time to visit Bugoma forest reserve.
Being a forest reserve the best time to visit is usually in the dry season from Dec-Feb and From June-early September but you can visit the reserve any time of the year.
Where to stay in Bugoma forest reserve?
Bugoma Jungle lodge
Bugoma Jungle Lodge is located 5 km off Kabwoya trading center, along Hoima Kagadi Road, 40 km South of Hoima. The lodge is a perfect stop over for lunch or accommodation on route between Murchison Falls National Park and Kibale National Park / Fort Portal. Found in Bugoma Forest protected reserve, you can enjoy nature walks to see the endemic Ugandan Mangabeys and hear the sounds of Chimpanzees, it is a wonderful birding destination and many other primates are seen from the lodge.
Bugoma Jungle Lodge is a small eco-friendly Tented Camp, with raised en-suite wooden deck cottages, grass thatched roof and spacious tents.
Hoima accommodation.
There are many accommodation facilities in Hoima including Hoima cultural lodge, kontik Hoima lodge, and kolping hotel