Kalinzu forest reserve.

Kalinzu forest reserve is made-up of a thick natural rainforest, located in the outskirts of the magnificent Queen Elizabeth National Park. A walk through the forest reserve will expose your eyes and mind to a whole new exciting life due to the animals, beautiful scenery from all sides of the reserve especially those of the Rwenzori mountains, Lake George and the Kazinga channel that it parades.

The forest is a habitat to several species of plants and animals encompassing the primates, beautiful bird species, rare tree species and grasslands. Kalinzu Forest reserve is made-up of over 414 species of trees, 378 bird species, six different primate species, 262 butterfly species that will elevate your exploration. The forest has well stationed accommodation facilities serving it to ensure that the travelers have a good time while exploring the natural area which makes it a favorable destination.

History of Kalinzu forest reserve.

The Captivating Kalinzu forest reserve was established in 1932 by the British colonial masters with the aim of protecting the biodiversity within. The reserve covers an area of nearly 137 square kilometers in Bushenyi district. Part of the forest reserve was cleared to establish the Kyaruhunga and Igara Tea plantations which led to loss of various tree species.

The government thereafter enforced a stop on deforestation in the area to protect the remaining part of the forest and the tree species within as a habitat for a variety of wildlife species. The forest reserve has a huge ecological significance to the region. Kalinzu forest reserve is currently managed by the National Forestry Authority.

Tourist attractions in Kalinzu forest reserve.

Kalinzu forest reserve is renowned for its extraordinary beauty and has a number of tourist attractions within which partly explains why thousands of tourists flock to the forest every year. The attractions encompass;

Bird species. The forest is a home to a variety of bird species which tourists enjoy viewing when in the reserve. They can be viewed at the designated bird watching centers which have improved binoculars to enable the visitor to see birds that are even at a longer distance. The birds in the forest include the sunbirds, hammerkops, African fish eagles, turacos, abyssinian ground hornbill, black bee eaters, cinnamons, egrets, African paradise flycatchers, secretary birds and shoebills.

Primates. It is important to note that Kalinzu forest reserve is home to over six primate species which the tourists to the reserve can get to observe. These include the red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, l’hoest monkeys, blue monkeys, baboons, Galagos, pottos and vervet monkeys.

The forest itself is substantial tourist attraction due to the beautiful scenery of the canopies that is good for photography and sightseeing. Nature walks can be conducted in the forest to help the travelers explore more of the reserve. The forest is made-up of rare and attractive to species such as the ficus, strobania, parinari and prinus Africana.

The Kilyantama Waterfalls are also an iconic Tourist attraction in the forest reserve. Visitors enjoy photography while at the waterfalls and sightseeing.

The reserve is also a home too over 262 butterfly species which the travelers get the chance to observe. The butterfly watching activity is enjoyable especially on the nature walks conducted within the forest.

Activities carried out in Kalinzu forest reserve.

Forest hikes. These are conducted within the forest and help the visitors to observe the various attractions within the reserve.

Chimpanzee tracking. The forest reserve is a home to chimpanzees that have been habituated over the years by scientists. These chimpanzees can be watched by the travelers to the forest reserve which makes the adventures more satisfying.

Research activities are also carried out in the magnificent Kalinzu forest. These are usually carried out by the scientists about the medicinal trees and also to gather data on the various animal species within especially the primates.

How to get to Kalinzu forest reserve.

Kalinzu Forest reserve can be accessed through Kampala- Mbarara – Kasese road. It is located along the highway just 10 kilometres into Bushenyi district In the West of Ishasha sector. The journey usually takes approximately six to seven hours.

Best time to visit Kalinzu forest.

The best time to visit Kalinzu forest is during the dry seasons. The short dry seasons running from June to July and the long dry seasons of December to February are the very best to visit and have a good time in the forest reserve. The dry seasons are favorable because there are no interruptions of rain and slippery grounds therefore the visitor gets to smoothly participate in all activities and have the best experiences.

Sándor Jakubinyi

14:31 22 Feb 24

2019 megigazulás

12:45 21 Feb 24

We went on a two-week trip with my family, organised by Coleb from Standard Safaris.I had my concerns about organised trips, but this one didn’t justify any of those. Everything went very smoothly, even when some problems arose with one of the cars it got fixed by next morning, the accomodations were clean and comfortable, the programs were exciting and well-balanced - everything was done to a truly high standard.If you plan to visit Uganda and are looking for a guide, I warmly recommend Coleb and his team. In case you have a choice of drivers, go for Godwin, his presence made this trip even more enjoyable - cheerful, helpful, good sense of humour, generally a great person. Just look for the guy with a big smile and big heart:)

Bert Simoens

09:38 08 Jan 24

We recently embarked on a safari adventure with Standard Safaris in Uganda, which was truly exceptional. Our guide, Yonah, was outstanding - his kindness, knowledge, and discretion significantly enhanced our experience. He was the heart of our trip.The local company's planning was offering a tailor-made journey that matched our interests. We saw an array of wildlife in Murchison, enjoyed rafting at Jinja, and experienced mountain biking at Sipi. A visit to Kidepo National Park was a highlight and comes highly recommended.The vehicle provided was comfortable and reliable. We highly recommend Standard Safaris for anyone seeking an unforgettable safari in Uganda. Their professionalism and the exceptional guidance of staff like Yonah make them an great choice.

Michał Kostrzewa

00:41 15 Nov 23

We are all extremely grateful Standard Safaris for an incredible East Africa experience. I recently booked a custom trip for group of 8 people, including an 8-year-old boy, from Kampala through Queen Elizabeth National Park and on to Rwanda and Burundi. Coleb delivered on everything that was discussed and agreed upon beforehand.The car provided was in great condition and our driver Meddy went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable, informed, and had the best possible time. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. All local services were inlcuded in (reasonable) price that we agreed, so there was no need to worry about payments during the 6 day trip. Also Standard Safaris agreed took care about safety and security by helping us organize armed ranger while in the park.The whole trip was hassle-free and smooth. We saw amazing wildlife in Queen Elizabeth NP, took in the sights of Rwanda and Burundi, and made lifelong memories.I would happily book with Standard Safaris again in a heartbeat and recommend them wholeheartedly to anyone looking for the best East Africa trip. They provide top-notch service while ensuring you have an incredible, customized experience. If you want a hassle-free, flawlessly organized African adventure, Standard Safaris is the tour operator to book with.

Ivan Nammanda

18:31 27 Oct 23

Very organized travel operator who chose awesome guide to make our trip wonderful.We booked a nine days trip with Standard Safaris and all was perfect from start to finish. Coleb was very prompt at replying and easy to liaise with ahead of the trip. We had done a lot of research and had an itinerary in mind and Coleb helped us to put everything together to make this happen for a very reasonable price.  On the trip we had a private vehicle for the whole tour which was exactly what we wanted. Bryan was our driver and an amazing guide - really friendly and knowledgable, working hard to find the things that we wanted to see and quickly understanding what was of interest to us/how much information to give.Would highly recommend a trip to Uganda with Standard Safaris. We are definitely coming back soon!

MUGAIGA KENNETH

18:01 27 Oct 23

The company has very courteous tour guides with wide knowledge of fauna and frola in the whole of East Africa.The choice of safari Lodges is good with first class treatment.Game drive security is assured.Almost The whole of September I was traversing through DRC, Uganda,and Rwanda on a gorilla tour and wildlife expedition.Everything was arranged and booked perfectly by Standard Safaris.The owner, Coleb was always helpful whenever we needed to ask questions about this gorilla safari in Uganda and beyond.It was a complex expedition but Standard safaris and Coleb made it look amazingly easy.I’ll recommend Standard safaris 200%, for all gorilla safaris in Uganda, Rwanda and wildlife tours in east africa.

travel uganda

16:35 27 Oct 23

This is so far the best gorilla trekking company in Uganda, and africa, by far. I had a wonderful time with Standard Safaris as a solo traveler.My guide was excellent and our safari planner, Coleb was quick with responses and the prices were very friendly.I’ll definitely book with Standard safaris on my next gorilla tour in Rwanda and Uganda.

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