Things to do in Mabira Forest : Mabira forest is located in Buikwe district with an area cover of 306 square kilometers. The forest was gazette as a protected area in 1932 and before it was used to extract rubber while some parts were cleared for coffee plantations. The forest is a habitat to a number of wildlife species including over 312 tree species with ancient trees which are over 25 and 70 years, 315 bird species, 219 butterfly species, 97 moth species, 23 mammal species such as grey cheeked mangabey, fruit bats, baboons, blue duiker, bush pigs, red tailed monkeys, bushbucks and tree hyrax among others. Mabira forest is a rainforest and thus acts as a water catchment area which serves many streams and water bodies such as River Ssezibwa, River Nile and Lake Kyoga among others.
GUIDED NATURE WALK
Guided nature walks are a must do and can be carried out by all tourists of different ages. Guided nature walks in the forest can be done anytime of the day either in the morning or in the evening with an experienced guide who will be sharing information about Mabira forest, tree plants as well as help you in spotting different wildlife species. The forest is a home of about 312 tree species where some species are spotted during nature/ forest walk such as milleni, warbughia with some used as medicinal herbs by the neighboring community to treat different ailments and others used for research.
During the forest walk in Mabira, you will walk through the 68 kilometers trail which is divided into various trails like the red trail which is 33km, yellow trail which is 12km and the white trail which is 5km. the guided nature walks in the forest which takes about 2 to 3 hours and it offers you an opportunity to view various ancient tree species, plants, mammals and bird species.
BIRD WATCHING
The forest is a home to 315 bird species which makes it an ideal place for a bird watching safaris in Uganda. Birdwatching in the forest can be done in the grassland trail which is 3 kilometers passing through the fruiting trees which attract birds. There are different bird species in Mabira forest such as blue headed crested monarch, purple throated cuckoo, black bellied seed cracker, African pied hornbill, yellow long bill, African shrike flycatcher. Grey parrot, hairy breasted barbet and African dwarf kingfisher
ZIP LINING
Mabira forest is the only place in East African region that offers zip lining to tourists while on a safari. Zip lining takes about 4 hours and has two sessions that is the morning session which begins at 8am and the afternoon session which begins at 1pm. Zip lining is an adventurous activity in the forest which passes through river Musamya and gives a spectacular views of mabira forest, griffin falls, grey-checked mangabey, squirrels and various bird species among others.
MANGABEY TREKKING
The grey-cheeked mangabey is a unique and rare primate specie that is found in mabira forest as well as some other parts in Uganda. Mabira forest is the only safari destination that offers tourists with the mangabey trekking. The forest is a home of 3 habituated grey cheeked mangabey families which are available for trekking on a daily basis. The mangabey can be viewed depending on three facts that is time of the day you are trekking, season and availability of food since they move from one place to another in search of food. While on the trek, you can as well see other primates such as the red-tailed monkeys as well as a number of bird species.
BUTTER FLY TRACKING
The forest is a home to about 219 butterfly species and 97 moths. During butterfly identification in the forest. You will follow different trails in the forest such as trails that lead to flowering plants because the flowers attract many butterflies. The identification of butterfly in mabira forest can be carried out with the guide who will help you in identifying beautiful and colourful butterfly species thus making the safari a satisfying one.
MOUNTAIN BIKING
The forest offers tourists with mountain biking as a recreational activity. Tourists are given a chance to ride within the forest accompanied by experienced guides following different forest trails, visiting the local communities around the forest among others. Bikes can be hired from Griffin Falls Camp or even outside mabira forest. During mountain biking safaris within the forest, you will have great views of the primates, tree species, plants and bird species among others which give you a memorable and unforgettable experiences during your safari in Uganda.
