Kaniyo Pabidi Forest
Kaniyo Pabidi Forest is an amazing nature forest with hidden features covered with huge tree species of mahogany trees plus iron wood trees, found in the south of the Murchison Falls Conservation Area approximately 8 kilometres away from the main gate of the park Kichumbanyobo gate. The Kaniyo pabidi forest is also a site for tourism in Uganda safaris, famously known as a home to primates and haven for birders. However, the kaniyo forest is found within Uganda’s largest park known as Murchison falls national park which supports birding safari and primates safari like chimpanzee tracking. The forest is under protection of Jane good all institute of research and it is located just in 8kilomteres from kichumbanyobo gate of Murchison falls national park, which is 30 minutes’ drive form the nearby town ‘’Masindi’ ’Above all kaniyo pabidi forest is positioned in an area of about 112kilomters all away from Masindi town.
The Kaniyo Pabidi forest is dominated with swan forest mixed trees such as cynometra mid-altitude semi-deciduous cymetraceltis forest, cynometra mixed which occupied the entire forest, vegetation which supports primate’s lifestyle, then other parts of forest are covered with savannah grassland and savannah woodland which are habitant to various mammals like buffaloes, bushbucks, duikers, antelopes, hippos can be seen along the river banks of wainsoke stream. Since it’s a forest and a home to primates on your visit to this forest travellers can get amazed, to view monkey’s while swinging on the tree branches of the tall mahogany trees and as they pick fruits from the trees during the ripping season which happens from the month of June to September.
Kaniyo pabidi forest boost with over 360 bird’s species which are endemic to this forest, travellers can visit this forest on their birding safari and a chance to spotted beautiful and rare bird species such as yellow-footed flycatcher, puvelie illadosis, white thighed hornbill, Ituri batis, other species include; Camarones, Zoothers, neatrapus Cassini, Ceratogymna fistulator, white fluffy tail, yellow and grey long bill, little green sunbird, western black-headed pride among other species.
The forest also harbours with primate’s like olive baboons, white and black monkeys, blue monkeys and the unique endangered chimpanzee, above all a visitor to experience the lifestyle of the chimpanzee have to engage in chimpanzee tracking where they can be given one hour to observe them while playing, swinging on tree branches, feeding your younger ones, you can as well enjoy the photoshoot with them in the wilderness. On your visit to kaniyo pabidi forest travellers can get an opportunity of seeing mammals roaming in the mahogany and iron wood tree and such animals which can be viewed include; elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopard’s, waterbucks, antelopes, warthogs, forest Genet, you can as well view beautiful butterflies and all these species can be viewed on guided forest walk which can be done either in the morning or evening and these are the best hours for bird watching. There is also chimpanzee tracking which is carried out in the morning hour and can take 1 to 8 hours while tracking.
Besides kaniyo pabidi forest, Murchison falls national park is positioned on the shore of Lake Albert and is bisected by waters of Victoria Nile, in north-western Uganda. The park is the country’s oldest and largest national park among the ten national park in Uganda covering an area of about 4000 square kilometres which is habitant to over 76 mammal species, over 500 bird species and many more.
The kaniyo pabidi forest can be visited all year round but the best time to visit the forest is in the dry season when the forest trails are dry to enable you to have a successful chimpanzee tracking and dry months starts from December to February and June to September. Despite the fact that during dry seasons trucks can be passable to access the forest and the forest can be out of slippery. To note, the wet season occurs in the month of March to May and August to November and these are the best bird viewing and nature walk.
On your visit to Kaniyo pabidi forest never forget to carry the required essentials because the rain might fall any time of the day especially in wet season, therefore you’re required to pack such things; rubber boots, binoculars, hat, raincoat, rain gears, sweaters in order for you to be safe in rain season.
The amazing tourist’s activities which can be done in Kaniyo pabidi forest include; the incredible chimpanzee tracking, forest walk, bird watching, game viewing, primates encounter among many other emotional activities which can leave you with an unforgettable experience. You can as well get interested in a cultural encounter like the Boomu women’s group who are good at entertaining cultural performances to the visitors.
Travellers shouldn’t get worried were to sleep on their forest safari in Murchison falls national park, the forest has got nice cottage accommodation and campsite for the visitors and such accommodation units include, Chobe safari lodge, Bakers lodge, Nile safari lodge, Boomu Women’s camp, paraa safari lodge and many more.
In general, kaniyo pabidi forest is located on the boundary of Murchison falls national park, and one to be able to access the park, it can take 4 to 5 driving hours from Kampala. Note that the forest is 8kilometers away from the main gate of Murchison falls national park – Kichumbanyobo gate and 29km from Masindi town, a traveller can decide to fly to and from Entebbe International Airport or kajjansi airfield while using a charter flight or scheduled flight which approximately 1hour and 10minutes to land on one of the park’s airstrip.
