Mabira Forest

Mabira covers around three hundred square kilometres of rainforest between Kampala and Jinja, a reserve since 1932 at 1,070 to 1,340 metres and the largest remaining block of semi-evergreen rainforest in the Victoria basin, one of the largest surviving blocks in central Uganda and the closest real forest to the capital. It holds around three hundred bird species, nine primate species including the endemic Uganda mangabey, and 218 butterfly species. A canopy zip line runs through the trees, mountain bike trails cross the reserve, and forest walks go from the Griffin Falls camp.

The landscape

• The canopy zip line - a run through the treetops from platform to platform.
• The Uganda mangabey - a primate found only in this part of the country.
• The mountain bike trails - marked routes through the forest reserve.
• The forest walks - guided routes from the camp, including night walks.

When to go

June to September and December to February are drier. Mornings are best for birds and primates. The forest is humid year round.

Good to know

The main highway runs through the forest and traffic noise carries. The forest is largely secondary, logged from the early twentieth century. Trails are muddy after rain.

Nearby

Jinja is east, and Kampala is west.

Key facts