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Kalinzu Forest Reserve in Uganda is a biodiverse protected forest managed by the National Forest Authority according to the National Forestry and Tree Planting Act 8/2003. Besides trees, the Kalinzu Forest Reserve supports a range of forest birds over 378 Species among which include the impressive Great Blue Turaco, the Cuckoos and the Black and White Casket along with Sun birds.
The Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve covers an area of 147 square kilometers and stands at an altitude of about 1,400m above sea level.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is adjacent to the renowned Queen Elizabeth National Park and Maramagambo Forest and is famously known for chimpanzee trekking safaris in Uganda.
There are more than 320 chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest, with two habituated chimpanzee groups with more than 70 individuals for the Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trekking safari.
This forest also has other primate species: Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, L’Hoest Monkeys, Baboons, Blue Monkeys, and Red Tailed Monkeys.
Other wildlife animals to see at Kalinzu include giant forest hogs, waterbucks, and antelope species, among others.
Additionally, the forest nature is home to over 378 different bird species and 262 butterfly species, thus facilitating incredible bird watching safaris and butterfly identification adventures.
Kalinzu likewise protects 414 plant species, making it a great place to go for plant identification as you safari in Uganda.
Some of the renowned safari activities in the destination include the Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trekking in Uganda, guided nature walks, and bird watching.
In this article, we discuss important facts about Kalinzu Forest as a great place to have your Uganda safaris and tours.
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is found in Bushenyi District in southwestern Uganda, about 375 kilometers away from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda.
The forest is just 45 minutes to about an hour drive away from Queen Elizabeth National Park. This thus makes it easier for travelers to connect with their adventures in both Queen Elizabeth National Park and Kalinzu Reserve.
Kalinzu Forest was established and formed by the British Colonialists in 1932 to protect its rich biodiversity. Some forest areas were cut off to establish the Igara and the Kyaruhunga Tea Plantations, leading to deforestation. However, to protect other forest creatures, the government stopped the practice of deforestation.
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is now managed by the National Forestry Authority.
The Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve near Queen Elizabeth National Park boasts a rich number of attractions to explore for your Uganda safari tours in the forest.
Below is a list of the safari attractions in Kalinzu Forest to explore on your safari to Uganda.
Let us discuss these safari attractions for your Uganda tour below
The Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is home to 6 primate species, attracting various visitors from far and wide for amazing experiences. These include chimpanzees in Kalinzu Forest Uganda, olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, red tailed monkeys, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, bush, and the famous chimpanzee population.
Uganda Chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest is the most common primate safari in the forest nature. This Uganda Chimpanzee Sanctuary has more than 320 Chimpanzee species in two habituated communities, which total about 70 members.
To experience this adventure, you can purchase your Chimpanzee trekking permit/Chimpanzee permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Alternatively, your reliable tour operator can help purchase your Chimpanzee trekking permits.
With other protected areas around the forest like Queen Elizabeth National Park, other forest creatures include Antelopes, Wild Pigs, Giant Forest Hogs, and Buffaloes.
In Uganda, the other authentic and major national parks to watch primates are the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Kibale Forest National Park, and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Kalinzu has over 379 species of birds, most of which are forest birds. Some of these beautifully colored singing birds are the most sought-after Albertine Rift endemics and other unique birds that are beautifully colored.
Some of them include the Cuckoo, Great Blue Turaco, Black Billed Turaco, and Black and White Casket.
This will thus provide an amazing experience for bird lovers during their trips to the reserve.
There are over 262 butterfly species in the forest. The butterflies in the forest also extend to the Kalinzu-Maramagambo Forest Reserve which is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Some of the butterfly species in Kalinzu Forest include Bicyclus funebris, Bycyclus auricruda fulgida, Bicyclus dentata, and Bicyclus uniformis, among others.
Kalinzu Forest also protects about 98 moth species, including the common Hawkmoth.
Over 414 tree species are preserved at the Kalinzu Reserve, and some of them include Stroboia, Prunus Africana, and Ficus, among others.
Kalinzu Reserve is among the incredible Ugandan destinations hosting the best safari activities for travelers on their Uganda safari tour.
Below are the top safari activities to enjoy at the Kalinzu Reserve during your Uganda tours and safaris.
Below, we look at these safari activities and adventures to have on your safari to Uganda experience at the Kalinzu Reserve.
Kalinzu Forest Chimpanzee trekking experience is the major safari activity in the reserve, as the forest protects more than 320 Ugandan Chimpanzees with about 70 habituated individuals living in two Chimpanzee families. The destination ranks as the second best place for Chimpanzee trekking after Kibale Forest National Park.
This amazing chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu safari activity occurs twice a day, in the morning hours and the afternoon, beginning at the headquarters with a briefing about the rules and regulations of chimpanzee trekking to see the chimpanzees in Africa.
During the Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trekking safari, a ranger will take you through important guidelines to help you have a safe experience in the forest for your chimpanzee safari.
The chimp trekking/chimpanzee trekking experience will allow you to have a close interaction with the chimpanzee population in their natural habitat, which are known to be man’s closest relatives. During the chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest adventure, you will study and experience the lifestyle of the Uganda Chimps, like feeding, grooming, playing, and young ones being nursed by the female Chimpanzees on your Chimpanzee safaris. You may also watch them hunt insects and use tools in their daily life.
Although Kalinzu Forest has flatter terrain, the chimpanzee trekking experience/chimpanzee tracking activity will require a normal level of physical fitness as you will be passing through the muddy terrain and thick vegetation.
Most visitors to Queen Elizabeth National Park undertake chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest even though the national park has its own Chimpanzees to trek at the Kyambura Gorge. Kalinzu which is just about 45 minutes from the Mweya Sector (or Mweya Safari Lodge) has more Chimps thus a higher chance of seeing the primates during chimpanzee trekking/chimp trekking than at Kyambura Gorge in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
The best time for Kalinzu Forest chimpanzee trekking/chimpanzee tracking is in the dry season which runs from around June to September and December to February.
The other alternative best destination for a chimp trekking/chimpanzee trekking safari is Kibale Forest National Park. You can purchase your chimpanzee trekking permit/Chimpanzee permits from the Uganda Wildlife Authority. However, your tour operator can also help with purchasing your Chimpanzee trekking permits.
Chimp trekking is often combined with trekking Mountain Gorillas in either the dense forests of Bwindi Impenetrable NP or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
Bird watching is an amazing safari activity in Kalinzu because the forest has over 379 different bird species, including the Black and White Casqued Hornbill, Cuckoo, Black Billed Turaco, Great Blue Turaco, Black and White Casket, Sunbirds, etc.
Some incredible singing birds in Kalinzu Forest include the African Green Broadbill, Doherty’s Bush-Shrike, Black-Baked Barbet, and the Standard Winged Nightjar, among others.
Bird watching at Kalinzu will thus give you the chance to discover some Albertine Rift Endemics for example the Green-Baked Pitta, Rwenzori Turaco, other animal species etc.
Guided nature walks or forest walks in Kalinzu are one of the most incredible adventures, allowing you to experience the forest on foot as you walk and go through the captivating scenery, Kilyantama waterfalls, and different primate species like blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, bush babies, red tailed monkeys.
Different trails for the guided nature walks include the river trail, the waterfall trail, and the palm trail.
The Kishunja Hill Viewpoint will allow you to have a stunning view of the forest top and the Rwenzori Mountains.
Tourists on these forest walks also take the palm trail that will allow you to experience the beautiful plant species, like the “Raphe Palms,” which are used to make local mats.
Other trails to tour on a forest walk/nature walk experience include the valley trail, the river trail, and the waterfall trails.
Wildlife viewing at Kalinzu allows you to watch the small mammals in the forest for example, rodents. Alternatively, Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is around Kalinzu, is another incredible place to explore the forest animals, for example, lions, leopards, waterbucks, duikers, wild pigs, giant forest hogs, elephants, and buffaloes, among others.
You can enjoy the adventures of exploring these wildlife animals on your guided nature walks, game drives, boat rides, reptile tracking, etc.
Conservation education in Kalinzu encourages groups to learn about the natural resources and ecosystems in Kalinzu, for example, conserving and managing wildlife animals, such as chimpanzees, tree species, different bird species, and butterfly species, among others.
Conservation education in Kalinzu Forest is also one way of equipping young people with important knowledge about protecting the environment and guided nature.
Butterfly identification at Kalinzu is facilitated by the presence of about 262 butterfly species. Thus, you will discover various brightly colored butterfly species for your adventure in the country.
Kalinzu yet has informal lodging destinations and camping sites in the Nkombe Forest Station near the forest offices. Visitors staying at the Kalinzu Forest camping site in Nkombe Forest station usually carry their camping gear for the adventurous experience.
While camping, you can purchase firewood and other necessities in the nearby trading centre.
Alternatively, visitors to Kalinzu Reserve can choose to spend the night in the neighboring towns like Bushenyi or in the lodges at Queen Elizabeth National Park that range from luxury to midrange to budget.
Below, we look at the different accommodations or the homeland hotel facilities to stay in while around Kalinzu Forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Luxury:
Midrange:
Budget:
Although Kalinzu can be visited all year round, the dry season is the best time to visit the destination for your safari experiences. These are from December through February and around June to September. Compared to the rainy season, the little or no rainfall in this season makes chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu Forest and other experiences easier to have as you trek through the forest.
The rainy season, which runs from October to November and March to May, has wet, muddy, and slippery tracks and is thus difficult to pass through during your chimpanzee trekking experience/chimpanzee tracking adventures.
Trips to the Kalinzu usually begin from either Entebbe or Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. It takes about 6 to 7 hours to reach Kalinzu Forest by the Masaka-Mbarara road, covering a distance of about 375 kilometers.
Alternatively, you can get to the forest by air transport by taking a customized flight to Kasese near Queen Elizabeth National Park and about an hour journey by road to the reserve.
Uganda has about 506 forest reserves which are all part of the protected areas in the country. These forest canopies cover 6.3% of the land area in the country.
The largest natural forest in Uganda is the Mabira Forest which has an area of 300 square kilometers.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of the most renowned safari destinations in Uganda, famous for its amazing chimpanzee trekking experience/chimpanzee tracking destinations. It is a great destination to include in your Uganda safari itinerary as you explore the diversity of Uganda.
Let us, the best Uganda safari company, help you plan your best safari to Uganda’s Kalinzu by inquiring with us today for the best trip.
Cate
Samuel
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