Buniga Forest

Buniga Forest: The Buniga Forest trail is amazingly one of the areas of interest for visitors in Southwestern Uganda especially if you are visiting Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga Gorilla National Park for gorilla trekking. The 3-4 hours’ forest walk in Buniga exposes you not only to the forest’s birds, wildlife and flora but also showcases the unique life of the Batwa pygmies. 

Buniga Forest is among the very few lush forests left not only in the neighboring Bwindi but also in Uganda and Africa at large. The forest cover area has been greatly encroached resulting in a reduction in its size and biodiversity loss. 

The creation of Buniga Forest trail by the Nkuringo Community Conservation and Development Foundation was primarily to conserve and manage the forest for the eco-tourism-related activities. The returns from Buniga forest walks benefit the local communities and it is one way to make them appreciate wildlife conservation.

Location

Buniga Forest walk is one of the interesting community based activities visitors can engage in after or before gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park. Buniga lies in the Southwestern part of the country and the trail lies on the Nkuringo side extending up to 1.5kms. 

Flora and fauna of Buniga Forest

Buniga Forest is naturally endowed with variety of floral species making it one of the best places to visit for guided nature walk. The forest’s rich biodiversity includes over 100 bird species, primates such as chimpanzees, l’hoest, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys; floral species like the giant lobelias, ferns and more.

You can take part on a nature walk on 1.5kms trail, offering from easy to moderate hikes or walks. On a walk, expect to make breaks to explore and experience the unique cultures, traditions, practices of the Batwa pygmies. Explore they managed to live for years, the medicinal plants, lifestyle and more.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Buniga Forest lies near Bwindi Impenetrable National Park where half of 1063 mountain gorillas all live. Established in 1991, Bwindi’s area coverage is 331sq.km and its creation was primarily to host mountain gorillas. Today, over 459 of the world’s 1063 mountain gorillas range in Bwindi making it the ideal gorilla trekking destination. 

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is an impressive natural forest park also known for its over 200 butterfly species, 360 bird species, 400 tree species, and more. Overall, there are over 120 mammal species to look out for on Uganda safaris in Bwindi National Park including chimpanzees. 

Birds of Bwindi include several Albertine rift endemic species and the likely ones to sight include the Grauer’s rush warblers, African green broadbill, short-tailed warblers, Shelley’s crimson wigs, Chapin’s flycatchers, and others. 

Others include viellot’s black weavers, snowy crowned robin chat, Cassin’s flycatchers, Ruwenzori batis, yellow fronted canary, dusky capped weaver, pink-footed puff back, and more. The main areas of importance for birders on the Bwindi birding tour include the Ruhija sector and Buhoma. Ruhija is famous for birds such as Rwenzori batis, handsome francolin, western green tinker bird, white-tailed crested flycatcher, and others. 

Gorilla trekking in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga Gorilla National Park can be added to visitors’ list of experiences besides Buniga Forest walk. At USD700 per gorilla permit, visitors on Uganda gorilla safaris get to explore 21 habituated gorilla families in the 5 sectors- Buhoma sector, Nkuringo, Ruhija, Ntebeko, and Rushaga. 

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, located in Kisoro protects both mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. It is the smallest Park of all the 10 in Uganda, expanding on 33.7sq.km with only one habituated gorilla family. The main activities to be part of and add on Buniga forest walk include hiking/volcano climbing, birding, Batwa trail, golden monkey tracking, and others.