The Kalinzu Forest is one of the most attractive forests in Uganda. The forest lies approximately 10 kilometers west of the popular Queen Elizabeth National Park’s Ishasha Sector, in Bushenyi district – western Uganda. From Kampala, Uganda’s capital city, it is about 5 to 6 hours to reach Kalinzu Forest.
It is more convenient if you hire a private car from any sanctioned rental company in Uganda and use it for transport, when visiting the forest, instead of facing the problems of using public transport, like inflexibility and overcrowding.
Kalinzu forest is not only a forest but also a wildlife reserve, famous for being the cheapest destination in Uganda for chimpanzee tracking excursions.
The forest is really very special and interesting, think of that close encounter with one of the world’s great apes – chimpanzees! The forest is indeed a tourist paradise as it inhabits several wildlife species and bird species as well as various tree species plus many other attractions.
A couple of activities are carried out in this beautiful-adventurous forest such as chimpanzee tracking, nature walks, bird watching, and sightseeing among others.
The activity of tracking chimpanzees is perhaps the highlight of visiting this beautiful Kalinzu Forest Reserve, and chimpanzee tracking here is cheaper than anywhere else in Uganda. The forest inhabits a remarkable number of over 300 chimpanzees and over 40 of them are used to the presence of humans – so they can be tracked.
Meanwhile, though chimpanzee tracking here is cheaper, the nearby Kibale Forest National Park is the best destination for hosting the chimpanzee tracking expeditions not only in Uganda but world-wide.
Therefore if your main interest in visiting Uganda was to track chimpanzees, the best place to go to is Kibale but do not hide such vital destinations from your exploration as they also spice up your chimpanzee tracking trip, given that they are even within vicinity to the remarkable Kibale Park.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve is honestly one of those less marketed destinations in Uganda but worthy a visit, especially when you are both a nature lover and chimpanzee aficionado!
Apart from chimpanzees, the forest also inhabits more primate species like blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, olive baboons, black and white Colobus, L’Hoest’s Monkeys, red tailed Colobus, bush babies, pottos, galagos, and very many beautiful bird species.
It’s really a great time visiting Kalinzu Forest Reserve as you will also meet a fortune teller of the Kalinzu Hills. This amazing old man will reveal to you a lot of information about the ancient importance of the forest reserve to the people who live near it and you will also get to know more about the culture of Africa.
Guided nature walks through the forest will expose you to some of the most beautiful attractions in western Uganda such as the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains, the eye catching Kazinga Channel, Lake George, Lake Edward, and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
You can even decide to visit the aforementioned destinations after your visit to the forest, for a more detailed trip in Uganda.
However, there are not many accommodations in Kalinzu Forest Reserve but within and around Queen Elizabeth National Park are many accommodations that you can sleep in and later head to Kalinzu for the exciting forest activities.