January 2019

This is one of Uganda’s potential and important forests which favour the climatic changes through influencing both sunny and rainy seasons; it is located in Bushenyi part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and is located in the southern part of the forest.

It is bordered by two crater lakes named Lake Kyasanduka and Lake Nyamasingiri. Many Chimpanzees, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Baboons, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys and antelopes are residents in this forest.

How to get there?

This forest is located in the Western part of Uganda and the closest route is that from Kampala through Mbarara and Bushenyi route. Alternatively, you can decide to take that from Kampala via Fort-Portal, Kasese and Bushenyi route by road transport.

For high end travelers there is an airstrip at Mweya found in Queen Elizabeth National Park served by charter flights privately arranged from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi Airstrip.

This name “Maramagambo” was derived from a traditional tale which resulted after a team of young people got lost with in this forest and it took them a number of days to discover their route back to where they came from, It’s really a kind of African-Hansel as well as Gretel Story.

However on returning back to the village these young people couldn’t speak for long since they were extremely tired after long movements with in the forest  hence the word “Maramagambo” for ‘the end of words’. Region of Queen Elizabeth Park from the escarpment of Kichwamba all through to Lake Edward.

This Forest is rated good for Safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park from guided nature walks through where you come close to nature and you have high chances of sighting different species and mammals in the forest.

Including big tree species, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Reptiles like Snakes, Lizards, insects like butterflies, tsetse flies and more. Crater lakes are other features to sight while on these guided Nature Walks through out the forest.

This forest is also among the list of best bird watching sites that you can visit while on your tours in Uganda and the place offers varieties of different species recorded to be sightable by birders which include some uncommon species like the Rwenzori Turaco, the White Naped Pigeons plus the Forest Flycatchers and more unlisted.

If you are lucky you may come across extended columns of matching Soldier Ants which columns have been at times spotted 100 meters long and 6 meters side by side but any time be ready to receive their bites.

However it is advised to avoid these soldier ants since their bite is stinging but what’s good is that their bite has no problematic effect on people other than the painful sting.

This destination is also known for  the impressive Bat caves which in 2008 were closed because a woman contracted the Marburg Virus however in collaboration with the American  Center of disease control a secure viewing center has recently been established just outside of these cave and now there you can actually view the numerous of bats that reside inside.

As well as the pythons that feed on bats; quite the view and today all enjoyed safely without any threats of contracting the dangerous  odd Marburg Virus.

Since this forest is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park do not miss out visiting it while in Queen for wildlife Safaris and the mostly done activities in this forest are the guided nature walks, Bird watching, Kayaking on Kyasanduka Crater Lake and Chimpanzee tracking although chimps in this forest are rarely seen.

This is an exceptional part in Queen Elizabeth National Park you should not miss while on wildlife tours in Uganda, it is commonly known for the tree climbing Lions sighted resting in the fig tree branches.

Queen Elizabeth National Park is located in the South western part of Uganda and is on the bucket list of the top ten National Parks to visit, it’s recorded with wide scope of Wildlife primates which include over 95 Mammal species like Cape buffaloes, hippopotami, crocodiles, elephants, leopards, lions, and chimpanzees plus over 500 Species of Birds.

These primates are located in different regions of the park which include Ishasha sector, Kyambura gorge, Maramagambo Forest and the Kazinga Channel.

Its un avoidable to leave Queen Elizabeth National Park without visiting the Ishasha sector which is located in the south western part of Queen commonly known for the attractive Tree Climbing Lions.  It’s also a good site for bird watching to birders which is suitable either in the morning or evening time.

Mostly in the morning there are just lazily hanging in the tree branches plus nests from a long night sleep and in the evening there are just gathering for long night sleep after their feeding during day.

These Tree Climbing Lions are rarely seen and there are only two populations recorded in Africa with one found in Lake Manyara National Park of Tanzania, the second population found in the mostly known Queen Elizabeth National Park, these primates are named among the African Big Fives which are rated to be the most dangerous to human beings.

These Tree Climbing Lions are mostly brown in color and feed on fresh (Carnivores) with four legs, they usually feed on small animals like Kobs, Impala, Elands, Buffaloes and more, the males of these exceptional lions have black manes.

The reason for the climbing of trees by these Lions is that sometimes there are escaping from heavy sun shine on the ground, biting insects like tsetse flies, their enemies like elephants, leopards and more, they also enjoy lying in the tree branches after feeding and gaze at the ground feeding mammal species like Kobs, Impala, Elands and more.

It is advised to visit the Ishasha sector for tree climbing Lion sighting on a safari jeep for security purposes (Game drive) as some of these lions tend to hide in bush on the ground targeting for what to eat of which it’s very difficult to be attacked when on a jeep than when moving on ground.

After a visit to the Ishasha sector you can proceed to Kyambura gorge for Chimpanzee tracking with high chances of sighting different other primates and Bird species recorded. This Chimpanzee tracking activity in Kyambura gorge costs $50 USD per person.

A boat cruise along the Kazinga Channel is the best way for sighting different Aquatic species like Hippos, Crocodiles, lizards and Bird species like rare shoebill feeding along the banks of the Channel.

Which makes it a great and memorable Wildlife Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park and un exceptional to leave Queen without visiting the Ishasha sector in the Southern part.