Mabira forest in one of the most strategically located forests for anyone visiting Uganda, the forest is located 40 kilometers away from Kampala and 40 kilometers from Jinja. Because of its strategic location, it receives about 62% of all the tourists who come to visit forest reserves in Uganda.
The forest is gifted with numerous butterfly and bird species that are eye catching to whoever visits this place. The forest cover provides a freshness that you cannot found anywhere in the region. This freshness is accompanied by the flowing streams of waters that create a unique sound of nature when accompanied with sounds of the motioning trees and birds.
Mabira forest is one of the few forests that form a ring of protection around Lake Victoria, and a water catchment for Lake Kyoga, Sezibwa river among many other lakes and rivers. Because of the vastness of the fresh water sources in this forest, it acts as a water source for the surrounding villages.
You cannot leave this place with any kind of stress, it is a safe haven to anyone running away from the busy city, in this place you get the opportunity to learn more about nature yet experiencing it at the same time. No review can recommend this place enough, regardless of the illegal loggers that often invade the forest, there is still a forest cover that has been preserved unique to anyone that choose to explore this forest. That is, the forest is still gifted with over 200 tree species some of which are well known for medicinal purposes and a lot more.
Mabira being a forest does not at any point imply that all you will see, explore and experience in this place is trees, rather there are a lot of activities that you might engage in while in Mabira forest some of which include the following;
Bird Watching hub
Typical of everyone thrilled by bird watching; binoculars, a camera and a zoom camera lens are inevitable companions of the same. Mabira forest is a home of over 315 species of mostly forest birds. Though the forest is gifted with an extensive network of trails, the company of a tour guide will make your exploration venture simpler.
When visiting this natural forest reserve, you will be assured to set your sight upon birds such as cassin’s hawk eagle, Yellow-throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-spotted Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Yellow-billed Barbet, Blue-throated Roller, African Dwarf-kingfisher, White-bellied Kingfisher, Forest Woodhoopoe, White-spotted Flufftail, Afep Pigeon, Grey Parrot, Dusky Long-tailed Cuckoo, Black-shouldered Nightjar, Sabine’s Spinetail, Cassin’s Spinetail and a lot more bird species.
Besides the big population of birds in Mabira forest, it however accommodates only 46% of Uganda’s forest birds. This makes it the forest with the highest population of birds in Uganda. To anyone interested in bird watching, making Mabira forest your destination puts you on an advantage because there is limited space to cover on foot implying that most of the birds are concentrated in a small area granting you a limitless exploration in the shortest time possible.
Because of the high concentration of birds in Mabira forest, anyone planning to start out on a bird watching career, more so forest based bird watching, should never consider any other place in Uganda other than Mabira forest. You will get the opportunity to be exposed to countless numbers of birds that will give you a kick start to your birding career.
On the other hand, anyone passionate about birding, will surely be overwhelmed by how much the natural environment in this place compliments your birding experience, we will be sure to notice numerous bird sounds yet assured of other explorative activities that make Mabira forest not just a hub of bird watching, but a centre for one of the leading extreme adventures in Uganda
Forest Canopy, Skyway Zip-lining
Climbing is one of the childhood hobbies of many people, however, as the saying goes, ‘people never change, they only learn how to behave in public’ many people still have a yarning in them to do some of the childhood activities they used to do, but the environment and their status cannot grant them this opportunity.
Anyone interested in climbing cannot even think of any other destination in Uganda other than Mabira forest. It is the only place in East Africa where zip-lining can be done. The place has certified equipment that meets all safety standards brought in by a peace corps volunteer and also trained the Ugandans that run this place in safety for the visitors that zip-line above the rainforest tree tops.
The place is open for zip lining from 8am to noon and then resumes from 1pm to 6pm. To anyone visiting the eastern region, it is one place to always consider in your itinerary
Mountain Biking
Mabira forest reserve is seated on more than 300 square kilometers, with its well maintained trails; you are assured a secure forest biking experience that stretches out to the surrounding communities. The mountain bikes can be rented from different places such Griffin forest camp outside of the forest at a national forestry department facility, though you can also rent bikes from Nile River Explorers in Jinja
Mountain biking as an off the road activity that calls for some safety gear that is often available in the places where you rent the bikes from. However this doesn’t in any way stop from carrying your personal gear.
To anyone interested in adventure biking, the hills and valleys in Mabira forest make it an ideal destination for such an activity. You may choose to do personal exploration however having the company of a guide will grant you a better experience of this adventure.
You may also choose to compliment your biking experience with other activities within the forest that is, camping and reflecting every after a specified time of your riding. Considering the weather in this place, it is advisable to keep in mind that rain is a common visitor in this place, thus having a preserved shelf for it will help you have a proper plan for your riding experience.
Nature Walks
Nature walks are some of the activities people often engage in while at this place, that to anyone who simply feels like exploring on their own. However I would recommend a resident guide that will continually feed you on numerous facts that you might automatically miss out if you trail on your own.
Group nature walks are allowed though they have to be done in regard to the rules and regulations given by the administration. During the nature walk, you get the opportunity to learn about the medicinal purposes not only of the trees but of most of the other plants you find in the forest.
Nature walks also grant you the opportunity to learn about the Bio-sphere system of Lake Victoria, and the several falls attached to this place. It will also grant you the opportunity to take photos along the beautiful streams in this forest.
Wildlife in Mabira
The forest is home to several endangered mammals that can be found in different parts of Uganda. The illegal Human activities in this place such as deforestation and charcoal burning affect the natural flow of activities for the mammals. Species such as the colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, baboons, short tailed fruit bat, Mangabey, butterflies and birds are affected by some of the activities
Statistically, the place has over 218 species of butterflies, 95 moth species and about 23 mammals that also include the primates. With the help of the guide, you may go on a tracking journey for some of these species.
Accommodation
If you are considering doing all the above activities, accommodation should be put in consideration too. The forest has its own cottages within the forest built to fit the scenery of the forest reserve. The center has 7 double rooms and five twin suite with furniture, a swimming pool, health spa, restaurant, bar and a private balcony for the aerial view of the place.
The place also has a speciation campsite available for outdoor camping and educational tours with 12 tents and water.
There are other places of accommodation with in 7-10 kilometers radius that you might put in consideration since the Eco-lodge might need a minimum of 2-3 weeks booking in advance. The prices also vary according to how close the place is to the forest reserve.