This is one of Uganda’s potential and important forests which favour the climatic changes through influencing both sunny and rainy seasons; it is located in Bushenyi part of the Queen Elizabeth National Park and is located in the southern part of the forest.
It is bordered by two crater lakes named Lake Kyasanduka and Lake Nyamasingiri. Many Chimpanzees, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Baboons, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Vervet Monkeys, Red tailed Monkeys and antelopes are residents in this forest.
How to get there?
This forest is located in the Western part of Uganda and the closest route is that from Kampala through Mbarara and Bushenyi route. Alternatively, you can decide to take that from Kampala via Fort-Portal, Kasese and Bushenyi route by road transport.
For high end travelers there is an airstrip at Mweya found in Queen Elizabeth National Park served by charter flights privately arranged from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi Airstrip.
This name “Maramagambo” was derived from a traditional tale which resulted after a team of young people got lost with in this forest and it took them a number of days to discover their route back to where they came from, It’s really a kind of African-Hansel as well as Gretel Story.
However on returning back to the village these young people couldn’t speak for long since they were extremely tired after long movements with in the forest hence the word “Maramagambo” for ‘the end of words’. Region of Queen Elizabeth Park from the escarpment of Kichwamba all through to Lake Edward.
This Forest is rated good for Safaris in Queen Elizabeth National Park from guided nature walks through where you come close to nature and you have high chances of sighting different species and mammals in the forest.
Including big tree species, Black and White Colobus Monkeys, Reptiles like Snakes, Lizards, insects like butterflies, tsetse flies and more. Crater lakes are other features to sight while on these guided Nature Walks through out the forest.
This forest is also among the list of best bird watching sites that you can visit while on your tours in Uganda and the place offers varieties of different species recorded to be sightable by birders which include some uncommon species like the Rwenzori Turaco, the White Naped Pigeons plus the Forest Flycatchers and more unlisted.
If you are lucky you may come across extended columns of matching Soldier Ants which columns have been at times spotted 100 meters long and 6 meters side by side but any time be ready to receive their bites.
However it is advised to avoid these soldier ants since their bite is stinging but what’s good is that their bite has no problematic effect on people other than the painful sting.
This destination is also known for the impressive Bat caves which in 2008 were closed because a woman contracted the Marburg Virus however in collaboration with the American Center of disease control a secure viewing center has recently been established just outside of these cave and now there you can actually view the numerous of bats that reside inside.
As well as the pythons that feed on bats; quite the view and today all enjoyed safely without any threats of contracting the dangerous odd Marburg Virus.
Since this forest is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park do not miss out visiting it while in Queen for wildlife Safaris and the mostly done activities in this forest are the guided nature walks, Bird watching, Kayaking on Kyasanduka Crater Lake and Chimpanzee tracking although chimps in this forest are rarely seen.
