Tourist attractions found at Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve: Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is a natural forest located in Busheyi District 10 kilometers west of Ishaka Town on the main Mbarara – Kasese Highway in Western Uganda. The forest reserve covers an area of about 147 square kilometers and is adjacent to Maramagambo forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park. Kalinzu forest reserve has abundant wildlife. The Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve, one of Uganda’s protected areas, provides vital habitat for a variety of plant and animal species, aiding in the country’s attempts to conserve its biodiversity. The reserve is home to over 414 Species of trees, it harbors 378 Species of Birds, six different Species of Primates, Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys and Chimpanzees, 262 Butterflies, 97 Moths, Reptiles, and Flowers. The forest reserve is also home to nocturnal species such as bush babies, Pottos, and Galagos
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve offers visitors a variety of activities and attractions such as Forest Walks, Research, Conservation Education, Birding, Butterfly Identification, Chimp Tracking, and small Mammal viewing. Kalinzu Forest Reserve is one of East Africa’s most rewarding and underrated chimpanzee trekking destinations. It is approximately 375 km which is about an hour’s drive from the Capital City of Kampala. This reserve can be visited any time of the year but the most preferred time is during the dry months of January to February and June to July.
Tourist attractions found at Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve
Primate species
Kalinzu Central Forest is a vibrant habitat that hosts 6 different types of primates. You can find Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Chimpanzees, and olive baboons here. Whether you’ll see all of these amazing creatures depends on the time of year and how well your tour guide knows the area. If you want a better shot at spotting a variety of monkeys, heading over to Bigodi Swamp is a great idea, as it’s home to eight out of the 13 primate species found in Kibale Forest National Park.
Wildlife
Besides the primate species, the forest reserve is also home to galagos, pottos, bush babies, Lions, wild pigs, antelopes, leopards, and buffaloes among others.
Birdlife
As said earlier, Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is home to over 378 species of birds. This is due to the fact that, the reserve is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park alone, which is an Important Bird Area and Ramsar site is famous for harboring over 600 birds including forest, savanna, wetland, and water bird species. Some of the bird species that you may encounter here include Tambourine Dove, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Red-Chested Cuckoo, Hadada Ibis, Narina Trogon, Eater Yellow-Billed Barbet, Speckled Tinkerbird, Yellow-Throated Tinkerbird, Yellow-Rumped Tinkerbird, Yellow-Spotted Barbet, African Paradise- Flycatcher, Yellow-Bellied Wattle-Eye, Western Black-Headed Oriole, Hairy- Breasted Barbet, Dusky Crested Flycatcher, Red-Tailed Greenbul, Little Greenbul, Red-Tailed Greenbul.
Other bird species found here include Red-Tailed Bristlebil, Green-Backed Camaroptera, Honeyguide Greenbul, Yellow-Whiskered Greenbul, Red-Capped Robin-Chat, Red-Headed Malimbe, Scaly-Breasted Illadopsis, Black Cuckoo Shrike, Gray-Throated Barbet, Dideric Cuckoo, Black-Bellied Seedcracker, Black And White Shrike-Flycatcher, African Blue Flycatcher, Buff-Throated Apalis, Gray-Green Bushskrike, Barn Swallow, African Pied Wagtail, Green-Throated Sunbird, Olive Sunbirds, African Thrush, Green White-Eye, Black-Necked Weaver, Green-Headed Sunbird, African Shrike-Flycatcher, Northern Double-Collared Sunbird And Common Swift among others.
Vegetation of Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is home to 414 different types of trees, including Musanga leo-Herrera, whose fruits are a vital food source for local chimpanzees. The forest itself can be categorized into four different vegetation types: primary forest, secondary forest, mixed forest, and more.
A significant portion of Kalinzu is classified as a primary forest, meaning it has remained untouched by human activity. In contrast, much of the northeastern area of the reserve is designated as a secondary forest, indicating it has experienced disturbances in the past due to logging that occurred in the 1970s. The Guinea plum tree (Parinari excelsa) was particularly sought after for its durable hardwood during this time. Before Kalinzu became a protected area, local people would also gather trees for their medicinal properties, like Funtumia Africana and Carapa grandiflora, which were used to treat various ailments, including burns.
In the areas of secondary growth, you’ll find common tree species including broadleaf varieties like Musanga, guinea plum, Strombosia scheffleri, and Beilschmiedia Ugandensis, all of which can reach impressive heights of 27 to 30 meters. Beneath these tall trees, the undergrowth is filled with smaller trees and evergreen shrubs, such as wild cardamom ((Aframomum angustifolium), part of the ginger family. Another notable shrub is Craterispermum laurinum, which can grow up to 7 meters tall. To the north of Kalinzu, there’s a transition to savanna, creating a unique blend of habitats between the secondary and primary forests.
Amazing things to do
Chimpanzee tracking
Chimpanzee tracking is the main highlight of a Uganda safari Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve. The forest reserve is home to 320 chimpanzees, making it the ideal for chimpanzee tracking tours. A chimpanzee tracking tour in the park starts in the morning and are in shifts- that’s say the morning shift at 8:00 am and the afternoon shift at 3:00 pm. This activity begins with a briefing about the rules and regulations to follow while in the forest. This activity is also a guided safari, where visitors are escorted by an armed ranger and guide who will help them interpret and sight different creatures. Along the way, you also encounter other forest creatures, birds, and primates like baboons, blue monkeys, L’Hoest’s monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. Upon encountering them, you will allow one hour to observe their behavior and group dynamics as they swing from tree to tree. You might spot some resting, others mating or grooming one another
Wildlife viewing
Kalinzu Central Forest Reserve is just a short drive from Queen Elizabeth National Park and the beautiful Maramagambo Forest. While on your safaris, you will have the chance to spot different wildlife species such as big animals like leopards, wild pigs, and antelopes wander over from the national park to search for food in the forest.
Birdwatching
Kalinzu Forest is a birders paradise. It is one of the best destinations for birding tours in Uganda. During your birdwatching tours, you will have the chance to spot birds such as Klaas’s Cuckoo and Woodland Kingfisher. You can also spot European Bee-eaters, African Black-headed Oriole, Long-crested Eagle, Gray-throated Barbet, Great Blue Turaco, and African Crested-Flycatcher. Also, you will see Golden-breasted Buntings and splendid, narrow-tailed, and purple-headed starlings among others.
