Eco Tourism in Uganda

Ecotourism in Uganda: What is ecotourism? Ecotourism is better understood as responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the residents, and involves interpretation and education. Embarking on eco-tours in Uganda with Maranatha Tours and Travel is a lifetime opportunity to explore untouched destinations, and learn and experience the best of Uganda without leaving a negative impact on the environment.

Ecotourism is entirely a unique experience and a form of travel that is guided by principles. Unlike other forms of tourism/travel, ecotourism is all about uniting conservation, communities, and sustainability. To enjoy most of the ecotourism experiences in Uganda or Rwanda, the ecotourism principles below come to play.

1. Minimize physical, social, behavioral, and psychological impacts
2. Offer direct financial benefits for conservation.
3. Build environmental and cultural awareness as well as respect
4. Deliver memorable interpretative experiences to visitors which assist to raise sensitivity to the host nation’s environmental, social and political climates., etc

There are several eco-tourism sites worth visiting on safari in Uganda. They include National Parks, Reserves, and others. Typical ecotourism experiences to expect to indulge in on Uganda safaris include forest or nature walks, birding, gorilla trekking, cultural trail, and more.

Top ecotourism sites in Uganda

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary

Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary is one of the ecotourism sites that you should consider a must-visit on Uganda safaris. Located in Western Uganda, Bigodi is a short distance away from Kibale National Park, the most visited park for chimpanzee tracking. This wetland/swamp is rich in diversity of wildlife/primates and they include the black and white colobus monkeys, red colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons, l’hoest monkeys. Other mammal species to keep an eye on while at Bigodi wetland include mongoose, sitatunga, bush pigs, bushbucks, etc.

Bigodi wetland sanctuary in birds

Birds in Bigodi include the great blue turacos, papyrus gonoleks, weaver birds, kingfishers, purple-breasted sunbird, flycatchers, crowned eagles, collared Apalis, black-capped apalis, and more.

Kashoya Kitomi Forest

Lying in the Buwhezu district in western Uganda, Kashoya Kitomi Forest Reserve is a compact forest with a land area measuring 433 sq. km. This forest protects a diversity of wildlife including red-tailed monkeys, chimpanzees, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, and others. Other wildlife species from Queen Elizabeth National Park can also be spotted on tour in Kashoya Kitomi Forest, including antelopes like Uganda kobs.

Budongo Forest Reserve

Located Northwest of Uganda, Budongo Forest is an extensive natural forest measuring 825 sq. km. The lush Budongo Forest is home to diverse primates including over 800 chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, vervet monkeys, baboons, blue monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, etc. Plenty of birds are also supported in Budongo including Ituri batis, Cassin’s spinetail, brown twin spot, African dwarf kingfishers, olive-breasted greenbul, crested guinea fowl, chocolate-backed kingfishers, black-eared kingfishers, plain greenbul, little green sunbird, lemon-bellied crombec, yellow-crested woodpeckers, Sabine’s spine tail, yellow-footed flycatchers, etc.

budongo forest reserve

Mutanda Ecotourism program

The Lake Mutanda Ecotourism program is a local initiative in Southwestern Uganda. It was introduced mainly to renovate the Mutanda Eco Community Centre, an eco-lodge that is set on Lake Mutanda shores. This offers camping and accommodation services/facilities to guests visiting Bwindi or Mgahinga National Park for gorilla trekking or birding tours. There are also other amazing activities that guests can engage in while at Mutanda including boat rides, canoeing, swimming, guided hikes, village walking, and more.

Other popular destinations to visit in Uganda include Kibale Forest National Park for chimpanzee tracking, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park/Mgahinga National Park for gorilla trekking, Murchison Falls NP, Lake Mburo National Park, Semuliki, Kidepo Valley National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Maramagambo Forest, Mount Elgon, Rwenzori Mountains National Park, and others.