Budongo is Uganda's largest natural forest, a great block of mahogany and ironwood on the escarpment above Lake Albert, bordering Murchison Falls National Park. It has a long history of chimpanzee research and some of the tallest trees in East Africa.
Chimp tracking is based at Kaniyo Pabidi on the road into Murchison, where the chimps are habituated and the walking is on fairly level ground. On the other side of the forest, the Royal Mile is one of the best birding tracks in the country. For anyone travelling to Murchison, Budongo is an easy and rewarding addition.
Besides chimpanzees, the forest holds black-and-white colobus, blue and red-tailed monkeys and olive baboons. Birders come for species such as the Puvel’s illadopsis, chocolate-backed kingfisher, yellow-footed flycatcher, Ituri batis and white-thighed hornbill, some found in few other places in East Africa.
Chance of seeing
Our estimate for a stay of two or three nights with a good guide. Wildlife is wild, so nothing is promised.
Tall, closed forest with a high canopy, buttressed trunks and a cool, shaded floor. The broad Royal Mile track lets light in and makes the forest easier to take in.
Activities here
Budongo is warm and humid, with daytime temperatures around 22 to 28°C. The wettest months are March to May and September to November, but showers can come at any time.
| Month | Day °C | Night °C | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 30 | 15 | 30 |
| Feb | 31 | 16 | 60 |
| Mar | 30 | 16 | 110 |
| Apr | 28 | 16 | 170 |
| May | 28 | 16 | 170 |
| Jun | 27 | 15 | 110 |
| Jul | 27 | 15 | 110 |
| Aug | 27 | 15 | 150 |
| Sep | 28 | 15 | 150 |
| Oct | 28 | 15 | 160 |
| Nov | 28 | 15 | 100 |
| Dec | 29 | 15 | 50 |
Approximate long-term averages. Higher ground is cooler, and forests can rain in any month.
December to February and June to August are the drier months. Trails are firmer and the chimps are often easier to follow, though showers still pass through the forest.
March to May and September to November are the wettest months. The forest floor gets muddy and the Royal Mile can be puddled, but the walking at Kaniyo Pabidi is fairly level and treks go ahead.
June to September and December to February make for drier trails. Chimp tracking and birding run all year, and the forest is at its greenest in the rains.
Best time to visit Jan to Feb, Jun to Sep
Kaniyo Pabidi is on the Masindi road into Murchison Falls National Park, about 4 to 5 hours from Kampala. The Royal Mile is reached from the Masindi side, about an hour from town.
Chimp tracking needs a permit, and group sizes are small, so it is worth booking ahead in busy months. We arrange permits with the rest of your Murchison plans.
Chimpanzee tracking is on forest trails that can be muddy. A yellow fever certificate is needed to enter Uganda, so please carry it with your passport. Visitors with a cold or other infection cannot track, as chimpanzees are vulnerable to human illness. Malaria is present, so antimalarials are advised.
National ParkBwindi Impenetrable National ParkMountain gorilla trekking
National ParkKibale National ParkChimpanzee tracking
National ParkQueen Elizabeth National ParkKazinga Channel boat safari and tree-climbing lions
National ParkMurchison Falls National ParkThe Nile forcing through a seven-metre gorge
National ParkKidepo Valley National ParkRemote savannah wilderness
National ParkLake Mburo National ParkWalking safaris among zebra and elandOur take
“Morning chimps, afternoon birds”
We like to split a Budongo day, tracking chimps at Kaniyo Pabidi in the morning and walking the Royal Mile later, or the next day at dawn. The Royal Mile was once a colonial forestry avenue, and walking it slowly with a good bird guide is one of our favourite quiet hours in Uganda. It is a good choice for guests who want chimps without the steeper ground of some other forests.
Safaris from
US$2,115 per person
Plan your time in Budongo
Every safari we run is private and built around you. Tell us your dates and what you hope to see, and we will shape the route, the lodges and the permits.
Made to measure
Tell us how you like to travel and we will build a private journey around it: the right lodges, the right pace and the permits already in hand.
Start planningCookies
Essential cookies keep this site working. With your permission we also remember the safaris and places you have viewed. You can change your mind any time from Cookie settings in the footer.
