Situated in the lush Maramagambo Forest in western Uganda, the bat cave of Maramagambo is one of those breathtaking spots that guests shouldn’t miss out on their bucket list while on enchanting Uganda safaris. The Bat Cave of Maramagambo is located in Bushenyi District, within the southern ends of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The spot is more like a volcanic tube cave that has earned its reputation as a must-visit spot for adventurers, travellers, and anyone curious about the wilder side of the East African region.
Maramagambo Forest itself is almost impassable, dominated by thick, lush forests. It carries pride as one of the largest tropical rainforests in East Africa, stretching right from the Kichwamba escarpment, down onto the shores of Lake Edward. The Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forestry Authority are entirely responsible for the management of this forest. Some of the most noticeable wildlife that can be sighted while at Maramagambo are the chimpanzees, red-tailed and elusive Bates’s pygmy antelopes, hiding in the undergrowth. Not to miss out the 2 popular stunning crater lakes of Lake Nyamasingiri and Lake Nyasanduka. The bat cave undoubtedly remains the real headliner in this enormous wilderness.
The cave itself is natural and was carved out by ancient volcanic activity. Thousands of bats find a home in the almost hidden cave, especially Egyptian fruit bats, even though guests will find other species too. The bats tend to fill the air with their chatter and diving flights, which mostly happen at dusk when they are all out to feed. What makes the cave even wilder is the cave’s other wildlife, which may include African rock pythons. The pythons snack on the bats, creating a dynamic of predator. Visitors can’t go inside the cave, but from the viewing point, one might catch a big python coiled up and waiting for its next meal.
The Bat Cave traces its history from way back to 2008, when it made headlines for all the wrong reasons. It all started when a Dutch traveller got too close to the bats and contracted the Marburg virus, a terrible fever almost similar to Ebola. This virus that is carried by the fruit bats freaked everyone out, and the cave was shut down as fast as possible. It stayed closed until the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention came in, working with Ugandan authorities to build a safe viewing point. The platform has been up for years now, letting people have a peek at the bats without risking their precious lives. Getting to the Bat Cave is an adventure of itself. Most people access this spot through Queen Elizabeth National Park, which is about 12 kilometers off the Katunguru-Mbarara highway. It only takes about five to six hours from Kampala, passing through Mbarara and Bushenyi, to the destination. It’s just a short hike through the Maramagambo forest of about 30 minutes to the cave. The monkeys and the Rwenzori Turacos can be sighted while on this hike. Guests are advised to wear good shoes since soldier ants are no joke.
The viewing point at the cave keeps you at a safe distance, with a glass acting as a boundary between guests and the bats. The cave is dark with a damp interior that echoes, where one can overhear the bat squeaks and the musky smell. Rangers are usually around to guide guests through, sharing a bit of information about the bats and the forest’s ecosystem at large.
Aside from the cave, Maramagambo forest has more to offer. Nature walks in here can last anywhere from 1-2 hours to half a day, taking you into the crater lakes and through the primates’ territory. Birdwatchers find Maramagambo a birder’s paradise, the spot homes over 190 bird species, for example, forest flycatchers, white napped Pigeons, and other bird species like Rwenzori Turaco. There’s even a cultural space in the nearby Nyanziibiri community, which has a historic cave tied to old rituals and hideouts from Uganda’s challenging past. It is a preserved Banyaruguru hut with artefacts that bring back all those memories to life.
During the year 2013, the Ugandan government unveiled plans to turn Maramagambo into its own national park, aiming to suppress illegal logging and protect wildlife. As of today, it’s still part of Queen Elizabeth National Park, even though this could change, possibly soon.
