What To Do And See In Kalinzu Forest

The Kalinzu forest is located in the western part of Uganda and part of the extensive contiguous protected areas where Queen Elizabeth National Park is part. Kalinzu forest reserve hosts a community of chimpanzees as the main inhabitants but these are mainly used for Research purposes. Note that you can also engage in activities in Queen Elizabeth National Park other than those to do Kalinzu forest serve.

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More than 200 chimpanzees have been recorded as residents of Kalinzu forest reserve. Even though research about chimpanzees is one of the main activities around this forest reserve, chimpanzee trekking is open to the public especially in the peak season when the demand gets high.

A number of other primates are confirmed as residents of Kalinzu forest reserve including black and white colobus, vervet monkeys, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys, olive baboons and others.

An array of birds especially forest birds are residents of this Kalinzu forest reserve and these can be seen when you embark on a birding experience in this forest. A few of the possible birds to find in Kalinzu forest reserve Include yellow backed  weaver and lesser Masked  Canary, African Jacana, African Wattled Plovers, White faced Whistling, African Mourning Dove and others.

Activities To Do And What To See In Kalinzu Forest Reserve

Chimpanzee trekking and Research in Kalinzu forest reserve

Enjoy chimpanzee trekking in Kalinzu forest reserve is exciting with chances of being a few meters from these endangered primates. The chimpanzee trekking  experience in Kalinzu forest reserve starts early morning or in the afternoon with briefing at the ranger station.

Ranger guides later accompany the tourists in Kalinzu forest reserve using the tracks constructed by regular visitors. The way may be quite strenuous because the forest is situated on the floor of the rift valley. When finally with the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them but use it to the best by taking photos, watch them go about there daily activities and much more.

Those with interest in carrying out research about the chimpanzees in Kalinzu forest reserve need to make advance booking and all necessary arrangements. There are other primates you may get chance to find in Kalinzu forest reserve including olive baboons, grey cheeked mangabey, red tailed monkeys  and others

Birding in Kalinzu forest reserve

Kalinzu forest reserve has favorable environment for the survival of a number of birds as over 378 bird species have been recorded as residents here. The forest has some streams and rivers that flow in it and these support the rich wildlife within it. When you start the birding safari in this park early, you may get the chance to find black and white casqued hornbill, great blue turaco, sunbirds, white casket hornbill

Birding in Kalinzu forest reserve is more rewarding when you are in company of a great birding guide.

Guided Nature walk in Kalinzu forest reserve

Immerse into the aromas of Nature by taking a guided nature walk in Kalinzu forest reserve. Use the trails constructed by regular visitors to this forests reserve. On the way, you get to identify several natural trees, colorful butterflies, a number of birds, stunning features and much more. Ensure to wear the right trekking gears for the forest walk as there are some rough surfaces in the jungle that may cause skin irritation.

What else to Combine Safari activities in Kalinzu Forest With

Game Drives in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is a biosphere reserve hosting a number of animals that may be spotted during the game drives. The southern sectors of Queen Elizabeth National Park which is close to the park is home to animals including lions especially the tree climbing lions, elephants, topi, leopards, waterbucks bushbucks, hyenas, bushbucks elephants, buffaloes and others. A game drive in the Kasenyi tracks may be that opportunity to find lions in action as they await to prey on resident Uganda kobs that are residents in this area.

Birding in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Queen Elizabeth National Park is home to over 605 bird species and arranging a Uganda birding experience here is never a disappointment. The Kazinga channel is like a magnet to several bird species including black headed Gonolek, yellow backed weavers, lesser Masked Canary, Grey headed kingfisher, Martial Eagles, Red capped Lark, African Jacana, Malachite and pied kingfishers and others. Other major birding stations in Queen Elizabeth National Park include Maramagambo forest, Edward flats and many others.

Forest walks in Maramagambo forest

The Maramambo forest is one of the few natural forests that are still surviving in Uganda. While on a guided forest in Maramagambo forest, you may get the opportunity to see a number of primates, different bird species, butterflies and so many others. The presence of multitudes of bats that roast in the cave within the forest. These bats make there way out as night breaks in

The presence of the stunning blue copper lake close to Maramagambo forest is mesmerizing. When you take the trail heading to the lake Nyanusingire gives you an opportunity to see wildlife that roam this area.

Launch cruise on Kazinga channel

The launch trip on Kazinga channel is one of the best safari activities to do in Queen Elizabeth National Park especially after a tiresome chimpanzee trekking adventure in Kalinzu forest. The 40 kilometers long channel which connects Lake Edward with lake gorge is a prime wildlife spot in the park as animals make there way from the rift valley floor.

From the comfort of the launch, you get to enjoy the hippos, crocodiles, a number of animals that find there way to the shoreline, reptiles, a number of birds that move to the channel and many others.

Visit The Crater Lakes Area

The crater lake area can be explored using the 27 kilometer long winding track from the Main gate and Equator gate. While on the drive in this area, you may get to find both wet and wet craters. Some of the notable crater lakes on Queen Elizabeth National Park include lake Nyamunuka with a putrid smell, Lake Katwe which is oldest mining industry of Uganda where salt extracting is being done using rudimentary methods. The lakes are extend to the Rwenzori foot and across the rift valley floor.

Kyambura Gorge Another Chimpanzee Safari Sanctuary

For another chimpanzee trekking experience other than Kalinzu forest reserve, Kyambura gorge is another destination open for this activity within Queen Elizabeth National Park. The chimpanzee here live on a 100 meters deep gorge and can be hiked to get to the floor of the gorge. The hike into the Kyambura gorge is quite strenuous and may pause some challenges but when you finally find the chimpanzees, only one hour is allowed with them as a conservation measure

The Kyambura gorge was formed as River Kyambura eroded it way towards Kazinga channel.

How to get to Kazinga channel

The distance from Kampala to Kalinzu Forest reserve is about 375 Kilometers on a drive via Masaka Mbarara route. The Kalinzu forest is situated on Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The drive time to Kalinzu forest is about 5 to 6 hours.

There are scheduled domestic flights from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe Airport to Mweya or Kasese Airstrip. You need to reserve a seat in advance as there are locals on ground who also border these flights to go upcountry. Charter flight services are available at Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe Airport to Mweya or Kasese Airstrip for those who desire to travel at a more private arrangements.

Ensure to hire a transfer vehicle to get to the destinations you are aimed to head too.

Which Accommodation To Book On Safari To  Kalinzu Forest Reserve

The accommodations to book on safari to Kalinzu Forest reserve are categorized into luxury, mid-range and basic. Some of the accommodations where to spend the night during a safari to Kalinzu Forest reserve include Buffalos safari lodge, Mweya safari lodge, Simba safari lodge, Bush lodge, Katara Lodge

Before booking accommodation to use during the Uganda safari, ensure to check out on the inclusions and exclusions of the package cost of that facility.

When is the best time to do a safari to Kalinzu Forest reserve

The dry season is most preferred season to do a safari in Kalinzu Forest reserve even though the reserve is open all year. The dry season is normally June to September and December to February when the temperatures tend to be high generally in Kalinzu Forest reserve and surrounding areas.

The trails in Kalinzu Forest are quicker to explore since there is normally less undergrowth protruding through. The chimpanzees and other forest dwellers spend most of the time close to the ground making it more possible to spot them. The forest has a number of trails which you can follow to get deeper into the forest and you may get the chance to see other forest dwellers since more sunlight is allowed into the forest.

Note that the dry season is normally the peak tourism season of Uganda and so more tourists are expected to be found on ground. Ensure to reserve the chimpanzee trekking permit earlier to avoid getting disappointed at the last minute. Expect to share the same space with other tourists on ground and other amenities that support safaris. It is better to reserve all necessary logistics and avoid last minute plans to avoid getting disappointed.

The wet season which is March to May and October to November are open to do activities in Kalinzu National Park. Note that the vegetation is luxuriant and sometimes the streams in the forest may overflow to create a wet environment but passable.

Those who wish to have undisturbed time in Kalinzu forest may take advantage of the season when less tourists are expected on ground. Chances of getting full attention from the ranger guides during a tour in Kalinzu forest visit are more possible in the low season.

Even the cost of other amenities that support tourism are more affordable for those with a limited budget during the low tourism season. The cost of accommodations, transport and other expense that support safaris and may be discounted

For those interested in carrying our research about the chimpanzees and other primates, the wet season may provide that great attention you wish to have from researcher in order to have the desired results. Contact us for more information.

What Are The Rules And Regulations For A Safari In Kalinzu Forest

No feeding the chimpanzees and in case you are eating do it atleast 200 meters away from them. this is to prevent any chances of them grabbing it from you yet they are wild animals that must search there own food.

Sneezing or coughing before the chimpanzees may spread an infection to them so do it away from them.

Keep a distance of about 8 meters from the chimpanzees when you locate them to prevent chances of spreading infections germs to them

Use a clean mask when you are with the chimpanzees as a measure to prevent spread of corona virus to these precious primates.

Only children aged above 12 years are allowed to do chimpanzee trekking because of the nature of the entire experience. Chimpanzee adventures are challenging at times which may not be easy for children below this age. Even the time of locating the chimpanzees is unknown, which requires patience. A child below this age may not with stand this.

Dumping in the forest is forbidden which may alter the nature of the forest where chimpanzees and others forest dwellers live.

No entering the forest without an escorting ranger guide because there are other unhabituated forest inhabitants that you may encounter and they hurt you.

Only one hour is allowed with the chimpanzees during chimpanzee trekking and four hours during chimpanzee habituation experience when you locate them. They have been habituated to be in the presence of humans for just that time.

Surrounding the chimpanzees is forbidden because its makes them feel ambushed.

For more information, get in touch with our team.