Maramagambo Forest is located in Bushenyi, Uganda. It is part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and is located in the southern part of the forest.
It is famously associated with its Bat Cave where a tourist from the Netherlands was exposed to Marburg virus present in the bats that live in the volcanic tube cave and developed Marburg virus disease.
Following this outbreak, the cave was closed until the construction of a viewing platform with support from the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The forest is bordered by two crater lakes named Lake Kyasanduka and Lake Nyamasingiri. Many chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys and Bates’s pygmy antelopes can be found here.
Of course, it’s on record, the word “Maramagambo” is deprived from a long standing belief in Uganda Africa, as a result of a mind blowing tale that occurred years back, that, a certain group of teenagers failed to make their way out of this epic forest.
And in return, they spent some horrific moments in the wilderness till they had to trace their way back to their homes days after.
A mysterious killer record that befell in the village, that these teens were not able to speak for a long time because of the trauma and psychological torture that was mounted on them.
Hence the famous word “Maramagambo”, literally meaning, “No more words – No more talking”. Encounter with the natives who will tell you more compelling facts about the Origin of “Mgahinga” word.
Well, have refreshing moment as you observe the two crater lakes, Lake Nyamasingiri and Lake Kyasanduka bordering this forest.
Nature walks (can cover 1 and half hours to half a day through the Canopy benching shaded trails)
Hiking (the vicinity is hilly, and there are foot trails)
Exploring the stunning crater lakes (Lake Nyamasingiri and Lake Kyasanduka)
Primates wild life (Chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, Bates’s pygmy antelopes, Vervet Monkeys, baboons etc)
Vegetation (see the canopy shapes of trees)
Bat Caves(Popular visited, though they had been closed formally due Marburg Virus, Lucky enough in collaboration with the American Center of Disease Control, a secure viewing center was recently put in place, outside of these caves, surely, you can view numerous bats that reside there and as well the pythons that feed on them)
Kayaking at the delightful Kyasanduka Crater Lake
Bird watching (there are different birds species like; Yellow bill, Little Grebe, African Fin foot, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Coucal, Blue, breasted Kingfisher, Black Bee-eater, Blue-throated Roller, Barbets, Red-throated Wryneck and many more.
Matching Soldier ants that form a lane of up to 100 meters long and 6 meters side by side. (Please do not try getting closer to the soldier ants as they can bite you, however no negative effect to worry about, the challenge is that their bite is stinging but not has no lasting effect)