Things to Know About Mabira Forest Reserve, a regular ambiance that fumes alive mists of unpolluted nature remains the crown of beauty. Mabira Forest Reserve is the largest perennial tropical rainforest in central Uganda. The forest’s pride has been swallowed up due to the unrated cutting of the dense forest, leaving the walled outlooks. In this matter, it’s not guaranteed that Mabira will remain the largest forest in central areas.
The forest still holds some of the majestic trees, accommodating a larger number of wildlife species. There are over 150 bird species collected and recorded in the forest. The tropical forest is home to various mammal species. Like bushbucks, duikers, several monkeys, baboons, butterflies, and many ancient African tree species, among others. The rich biodiversity is greatly affected, as are the great human settlements. Which have affected wildlife habitation.
Earlier in 1900, Mabira Forest was leased to the East Africa and Uganda Exploration Company. They set up the Mabira Forest Rubber Company, which collected over 225,000kg of wild rubber from the Funtumia elastica tree species. The target of the company wasn’t realized. So they resorted to planting more rubber, tea, coffee, and sugar cane. Today, a larger portion of the forest surrounded by mega-sugarcane plantations. Which take up almost the largest portion of the land that was once a forest.
Mabira Forest Reserve Geography
The forest is located in the central region, east of Kampala, north of Lake Victoria, in Buikwe district. Along the stretcher of the Kampala-Jinja road, right from Lugazi town to Jinja. Mabira Forest Reserve a tropical rainforest; it covers an area of about 30,000 hectares, and the reserve has been protected as Mabira Forest Reserve since 1932. Driving from Kampala, it takes 59.1 km, or about 2 hours. Depending mostly on the flow of traffic along Jinja Road. The nature of the forest is characterized by slopes that rise to about 1070 to 1,340 m above sea level. It’s fed by rivers that empty Lake Victoria northward, among them the River Ssezibwa.
The biodiversity of Mabira Forest Reserve
Being a tropical rainforest within the equatorial hemisphere, the forest is vulnerable to a wider ecosystem. The rich biodiversity of flora and fauna is a natural pleasure, lying beside the Victoria Basin forest-savanna mosaic ecoregion. Mabira Eco Zone has suffered the long-term torments of human encroachments, which have disturbed the ecosystem. However, the forest still hosts over 300 indigenous tree species, including lophocebus, macrosphenus concoluor, and Francolinus nahani, stretching on the slopes of valleys and hills encompassed by papyrus swamps.
The forest is unique for its ancient tree species that are elevated; the tree species have grown older, sprouting out their buttress roots. The forest also accommodates several wildlife species, including primates like baboons, white and black colobus, and mangabey. More species include the red short-tailed bat, about 210 butterfly species, and mammals including kobs, bushbucks, and leopards, among others. About 300 bird species, including the African dwarf kingfisher, blue-throated roller, gery parrot, and African pied hornbill, call the forest reserve their home.
Threat and Conservation of Mabira Forest Reserve
With all kinds of threats to the forest, the tragedy mainly sparked in 2007, when Sugar Corporation of Uganda Limited (SCOUL), a jointly owned company between the government and Mehta Group, announced plans to cultivate part of Mabira forest for sugar cane plantations (70 km2). However, environment activists, conservationists, and other parties, knowing the consequences of this, signaled the conservation message about ensuring the survival of the forest and its inhabitants.
Human encroachment for settlement, cultivation, and timber and firewood cutting are major and critical threats to the forest. The actions have negatively impacted the overall nature of the forest, which is encountered almost every year. There are limited engagements and enforcements from the ministry of natural resources, together with the National Environment Management Authority and the Environment Police, to ensure that acts of poaching, encroachment, and illegal settlement within the forest are clogged.
Things to do when visiting Mabira Forest Reserve
Going to Uganda, one of the most attractive places to visit for adventure, includes Mabira Forest. The tropical rainforest is a light spot for guests who come for adventure and research. This forest is for adrenaline-pumping events. Going to Mabira mostly aligns with an itinerary going through Jinja, the East African capital of adventure, in the eastern region. The rich ecosystem of the forest, which hosts a variety of wild species. Attracts a number of activities in which tourists can engage, among which are:
Enter the forest for nature walks.
The tranquil ambiance of Mabira is worth exploring on a real nature walk. The walk in the ancient-grown trees collaborated with saplings to form a unique calm and rich biodiversity. That makes the forest nice. Thinking adventurously in Mabira is true, and one step to achieving this is to go on a walk. Within the forests are various wildlife. And these spotted with longer coverage, possibly with a walk on those well-made walking trails?
The forest rewards with sightings of forest creation, hug buttress tree species, bird sightings, insects, including butterflies, and various primate species. The walk can swiftly become a monkey tracking walk, offering opportunities to watch several monkey species, including mangabey, baboons, civet monkeys, and colabus monkeys, birding, butterfly identification, and other viewings. Among the walking trails are the red trail, yellow trail, and white trail.
Go hang on the zip line.
The most adventurous ziplining in East Africa done at Mabira Forest. The zip-lining experience lets you hang on a longer-lop slider on top of the forest canopy. Some go with a louder and more fearful cheer, and others just enjoy the slide. The lining at Mabira done in two sessions: the first session starts at 8 a.m., and the second session starts at 1 p.m. The full session takes about 4 to 5 hours, and adventure mainly doesn’t bring clear views of animals, but the adrenaline is real. Flying over the tallest tree canopy brings you out of your comfort zone. The adventurous fly just a little closer to the plains but swing close to the birds. Ziplining is the most memorable encounter in the forest.
Track the Mangebay monkeys.
The forest is home to over seven primate species, commonly the mangebay, civet monkeys, black and white colobus, blue monkeys, and baboons, among many others. The Mabira forest authorities started the Mabgebay tracking experience, where trackers can have a close-up encounter with the monkeys. Mangebay is a black and grayish monkey with a shaggy appearance that dwells in low-altitude rainforests.
Uganda has two types of mongabey, including the grey-cheeked Mangebay (Lalbigena), and Mabira Forest is the solitary tourist destination to track the rare grey-cheeked Mangabey monkeys. The zoologists, in their research, found that the Mangebay monkeys in Uganda are unique to Uganda and not anywhere else in the world. The Mangebay here habituated to give trackers a chance for an up-close encounter with the monkeys.
Forest Biking
Besides walking to cover a longer area of the forest, even biking has offered a full-day pack to cover the largest of all. So, here, you need to hire a bicycle and ride beyond the forest limits to the surrounding communities. Hiring a bicycle to start your biking trail costs $15. At Griffin Falls Camp, guests can find several bikes to hire.
Bird watching
Bird watching in Mabira Central Forest is great because of the sheer density of birds. You don’t need to go too far into the forest to see the birds. The Grassland Trail is a favorite of birders. This trail passes through an area with several fruiting trees, which attract many of the forest birds.
Since it is a well-marked trail, birders can go alone, but a guide will make the experience more memorable by helping identify the species through their sounds. Mabira is home to about 300 bird species. On a birding trail, you can possibly encounter about 46% of Ugandan native birds.