Kalinzu Forest
One interesting place in a rather unusual manner is Kalinzu woodland reserve. The picturesque guided trips across the mountains will help you unwind. Nature treks across the valleys will let your thoughts enter a completely different universe of forest life. The beauty of the Kazinga channel, Lake George, and mountain Rwenzori is evident during the trek in the forest.
The Kalinzu forest reserve boasts an incredible array of wildlife species; it features more than 414 tree species with applications that will deepen your understanding of African history. Flying under the thick tree canopies in various colors will treat your modes right, 262 butterfly species will bring smiles on your face when you look at them. The forest boasts 6 different primates, 97 moths, reptiles, the flowers in the field will treat your modes right.
best tourists to Kalinzu forest reserve like the chimpanzee trekking activities best of all. About 300 chimpanzees total are found in Kalinzu forest reserve; two years ago, a Japanese study team found roughly forty of them habituated. This increases your chances of spotting the chimpanzees when you visit Kalinzu Forest Reserve. Furthermore, Kalinzu Forest Reserve is the ideal budget choice for chimpanzee trekking as compared to other regions of Uganda like Budongo, Kibale, and Ngamba among others; Kalinzu chimpanzee trekking permits are cheaper than anywhere else in Uganda.
Kalinzu woodland
Apart from the chimpanzees, Kalinzu Forest Reserve boasts additional primates that will make your nature treks in the forest exciting. Among the baboons and mokeys found in Kalinzu forest reserve are blue monkeys, the black and white monkey, l’hoest, the red tailed colobus monkeys, and black billed turacos.
You will also have opportunity to visit Kalinzu Hill fate teller when visiting Kalinzu Forest reserve. This elderly man will provide you a lot of knowledge regarding the historic purposes of Kalinzu Forest reserve for the nearby population. The Kalinzu Forest reserve night experience will improve your experience and reach another fresh level. Tracking the night primates inside the bush or nocturnal primates will be interesting for you. Among other night creatures, you will monitor the Galagos, bush babies, and Pottos.
That is not all about the night; the sound of the jungle will make your life back in the mode you want it to be; the sound of the crickets coupled with the sound generated by the leaves when the wind blows, the forest in Kalinzu will make a rhythm at night; what can’t Mother Nature do?
Set in the heart of the forest, Kalinzu forest camping site allows you to appreciate the entire nature package. Setting the camp in the forest allows you to be removed from the human settlements so that you may have an unusual natural experience in the wild/natural environment. This is all to provide you a totally natural experience; the camp is situated in the middle of the forest reserve in the shadowed glades.
There are less other lodging options close to Kalinzu Forest; homeland hotel is closer; 10km from Ishaka. But you can sleep in any lodge in Queen Elizabeth and then relocate to Kalinzu for your woodland activities.
- Mweya safari lodging
- Mweya Guesthouses
- Lodge Jacana
- Katara Hotel
- Katunguru features Park View Safari Lodge and an engiri game lodge and camping.
- Private Lodge of Queen Elizabeth Pvt
These guidelines should help you before starting the activities in Kalinzu forest:
- Only six persons are permitted to travel into the forest on a round trip.
- Remember constantly to keep on the tourist path; also, keep your voices down.
- Unless you might find company, you should not linger at a given location.
- Lastly, keep in mind that all of this relates to nature sustainability; do not feed the animal and leave the trash remain.
How one gets there;
From Kasese to Mbarara, Kalinzu woodland runs alongside the major route. It is situated in the Busenyi district west of Ishasha in roughly 10km within Queen Elizabeth national park. For guests from Queen Elizabeth national park as well as those heading there, the receiving centre is conveniently located.
From Kampala bus station, you can reach Kalinzu forest via bus; the journey takes five hours. And depending on the time of year, the fares run from 10000 to 12000ush. Once off the bus at Butare, visitors have a short distance to travel to Kalinzu forest reserve. Walking to the visitors’ reception is also quite interesting as you listen to the sound of the forest trees and the peaceful tweets from the forest birds.
One of the most unforgettable wild experiences should be the nature hikes in Uganda’s wild west, namely in Queen Elizabeth National Park with regard to kalinzu woodland. The long day of sitting in the tour vehicles during the wildlife drive will stretch your legs thanks to the tourist activities in Kalinzu woodland. For those who pay close attention to details, the little things count greatly; you would not want to miss this amazing view of the new untamed world of nature with Kalinezu Forest Reserve.
Activities in Nature
There are four nature walks paths in Kalinzu woodland.
The valley path
Overwhelming views of the great steep slopes of the right valley with the green forest canopy can be seen on this walk, which takes roughly four hours. During this trail you may come across different creatures on the way.
The trail leading to the waterfall
This trek runs across damp terrain and hilly sections with breathtaking views of the chimpanzee Kalinzu woodland. The water fall trail is so vast with breath-taking vistas of the Kalinzu forest and takes around 4–6 hours.
The River Trail
The river trail takes roughly one hour and covers two and half kilometers. This walk and the visitor will also come along River Kajojo, also known as Elephant River; elephants we are known to bath from here. Chimpanzees and other primates are often observed here.
The palm walk
The rare flame tree with its unique red large tulip flame like leaves which the locals believe arouses sexual desires in women and variety of palm trees among the rest. This trail takes about one and half to up to two hours visitors can come along the fascinating tree species on this trail and pass through flat terraces among the tree species.
Apart from appreciating the canopy of the Kalinzu forest passengers may also run park with different bird species and other wildlife. Picnic lunch box can be seen and lunch can be enjoyed in the picnic places of Kalinzu forest.
