Travel Guide Réserve De Mabira

This beautiful rainforest is a nature reserve of about 30,000 hectares located about ten kilometers west of Jinja. Protected since 1932, it would shelter, according to the National Forestry Authority (NFA), 312 species of trees, 315 species of birds (some of which are directly threatened, like the Nahan francolin) and 218 butterflies. Some of these species are unique to this area. The forest is also home to many monkeys (including the endemic Ugandan mangabeys) and fruit bats. Several trails (45 minutes to 4 hours of walking) allow you to discover this ecological sanctuary particularly appreciated by birdwatchers. Like other forests in the country, the Mabira forest has been the victim of significant deforestation, particularly during the civil war in the early 1980s. It has lost more than 25% of its surface. It is constantly threatened by the sugar company SCOUL (Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited) and by the illegal cutting of wood practiced by the neighboring populations. For nature and peace lovers, we can't recommend enough a stop in this forest, especially since the place is easily accessible and has some tourist facilities (hiking trails, zip line, lodging, picnic tables ...). A few kilometers west of the reserve, the charming Ssezibwa waterfall is also worth a stop