Maramagambo Forest: Wonder of Uganda

The geographical position Uganda in the shadows of Great Western and Eastern near Kasese; Maramagambo is an extensive rain forest which is part of Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP) in the far west of Uganda. There are numerous small caves like Bats Cave and Hunters Cave.  Maramagambo is a home to hundreds of fruit bats and pythons, which are often observed in the crevices of the cave floor, using the bats as a source of food. The caves are visited on guided tours to the park, under the general theme of biodiversity.

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Maramagambo Forest

In the local language Maramagambo means 'the end of words', based on a local legend. A group of people local dwellers went hunting ; while pursuing an elephant, and the elephant ran down the hill to swim across the lake (elephants are the only other large mammals that can swim long distances) to lose his seekers. The lake was so deep that, surprised, the elephant drowned. The hunters got lost in the forest, some how they found their way out of the forest after several days; exhausted and barely able to speak.

Maramagambo Forest is one of the largest forests in Uganda. It is a medium altitude moist, semi-deciduous forest. Characteristics of such forest are increasingly becoming rare in Africa. Stretching up to the eastern escarpment and provides cool respite from the equatorial sun and offers an alternative wildlife, including chimpanzees, huge pythons, bush baby, baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, colonies of cave-dwelling fruit bats.

Above the lake, where a waterfall feeds the body below, was the cave. It was beautiful, shrouded in thick, dripping moss. The growth around the cave glowed in healthy greens, fertilized by the rocks of guano deposited at the floor of the cave. I remembered hearing that the air inside a batcave is toxic, but one side of the cave was open, giving an eery quality to the vision The carnivorous snakes probably find easy meals from dead or fallen bats.

Several forest trails have been developed for walking and it is possible to rent canoes to paddle on Lake Nyamusingiri. The Maramagambo forest is the only place in the park with spectacular Blue Lakes and craters. Other features of attraction in the forest include diversity of butterflies. The bat and the hunters cave are other pleasant experiences that the forest offers, and of course some forest birds.

Bats Cave

In July 2008 the caves at Maramagambo Forest became world infamous, after a tourist from the Netherlands died after returning from a journey to Uganda. She was - obviously on her Africa journey - infected with the extremely dangerous Marburg virus, a deadly disease similar to Ebola, which causes haemorrhagic fever and bleeding. As she had visited the caves, the bats were immediately accused to be responsible. But this was an isolated case, during ten years of tourism in the area nothing similar happened before, and three other tourists who visited the cave with her were not infected. But as long as the source of the infection is not identified the park authorities decided to close the caves, just in case the bats were responsible for the fever.

Physical Characteristic & Behavior of Mountain Gorilla - Gorilla Trekking in Uganda and Rwanda

Physical Characteristics:-The gorilla is massive, with a short, thick trunk and broad chest and shoulders. Its eyes and ears are dwarfed by its large head and hairless, shiny black muzzle. Older males develop a crown of muscle and hair that makes the head look even longer. The arms are longer than the stubby legs. The fully adult male mountain gorilla is twice as large as the female.

The Scientific name of the mountain Gorilla is Gorilla beringei, size 6 feet tall, weight 300 to 425 pounds, lifespan -53 years in captivity,habitat-dense forest, rain forest,diet –vegetation, predators - leopards, crocodiles,humans.Gorillas are non-territorial and live in groups called troops that generally consist of 1 to 4 adult males (called silverbacks), some juvenile males (called black-backs), several adult females and young.

Mountain Gorilla

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Behavior:-This gigantic animal is shy and retiring rather than ferocious and treacherous, it only reacts when harassed but will valiantly defend its family group if threatened. Family groups are close-knit and may have up to 30 members, but even if smaller, the group usually consists of at least one older male, one or more females and a few juveniles. Gorillas have strong attachments to members of their own group and even when groups meet and mingle and then subsequently part, each animal tends to remain with its respective unit. An adult male called a silverback named for the silvery gray hairs on its back normally leads each group, serving as its chief protector and defender. Gorillas continually wander through their home ranges of 10 to 15 square miles, feeding and resting throughout the day. Because gorillas are nomadic, they build new nests each day at dusk, constructing them of bent branches in a tree or of grasses on the ground.

Lake Mburo Horse Riding With Charis Uganda Safaris

Charis Uganda Safaris introduces to you another sport; horse riding safari, a thrilling exciting adventure; this is a new tour activity in Uganda that is taking many by storm. The landscape of Uganda graced with mountainous, high lands and low lands valleys and versatile vegetation; making Uganda the most enthralling voyage horse riding vacation destination in the world.

Areas for Horse Ridding

Along the River Nile in Jinja the horseback safari here will provide our tourist with an ideal way to explore the Nile, see a traditional Busoga village, admire the fantastic panorama from the hills overlooking the Nile River low lands. The landscape will bring you face to face with an awe of the beauty of the source of the River Nile area.  Charis Uganda Safaris offer both short (2hr, 3hr) safaris and longer overnight and multi-day horseback safaris. For the shorter horse tour, riding experience is necessary. We can take up to 10 riders per safari, guided by two and above field guides. Different groups can temporarily separate slip away at certain points during the safari allowing more experienced riders to gallop at a more advanced pace and those not so confident to stay within their comfort zone.

 Lake Mburo in the south-western part of Uganda with its breathtaking landscape has an extensive area of wetland that harbors wildlife and birds which are endemic to the area in the country.  Small groups of 2-4 riders are  organized easy to manage and supports.

Horse Riding With Charis Uganda Safaris

Lake Mburo Horse Riding With Charis Uganda Safaris

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Kakuuto campsite, found near Kampala; on the other hand are bread, raised, for the purposes of preservation, eco-tourism, and research on the farm. There are different breed of horses that are raised for different kinds of jobs ranging from race horses that will race alone or pull sulkies trotters or jump, farm horses that will be ridden or work around the farm, ranch horses that will cut cattle from herds and pleasure horses just to ride.

Charis Uganda Safaris runs short safaris (1hr, 2hr & 3hr rides) 7 days a week at 10am in the morning and 2pm. Advance reservations are vital, since our horses and guide few. The night & multiday horse riding safaris are run on demand. No need to worry, the majority of people that ride with us have minimal or no horse riding experience. Our horses are well trained, Charis Staff gives you brief training prior your safari on the basics of horse control, we follow your pace for you comfort.

We advise that you wear long pants/ ankle high boots with heels; we provide helmets & a full-length raincoat. Deposit your bags at our premises, for safety. The beasts have saddlebags, for keeping camera, wallets, sunscreen plus water etc while out on safari.  Weight limit for safety reasons we have a 95kg weight. Overnight safaris are run on demand, a minimum of two people; feel free to contact us anyway; even when you are alone, other solo riders just might wait on a second person.

Children from 6 years can also ride the horses with; however it’s advisable that the guide having the child's horse on a lead rope if required.

Best Beaches in Uganda

Uganda is blessed with an area of 36,330sq under water: 36,330 sq km’s, its emerging to become a cradle of popular beaches wrapped around Lake Victoria. The beaches are surrounded by, white sand, greenery.

More than 80 % percent of the Beaches in Uganda are situated in Entebbe or along the Entebbe – Kampala Road. At these Beaches, Ugandans and visitors to Uganda spend a quality time with their families and friends enjoying themselves basking the cools tropical weather with the cool breeze, and the great big romantic, gentle inspirational fire in the sky at sunset.

The beaches tend to attract big crowds on weekends and public holidays.  The main activities at the beaches include swimming, beach volleyball, goat races, beach football, Quad biking, boat cruises, canoeing, fishing, picnics, eating the whole tilapia fish. The popular beaches in Uganda are:- The Lagoon, Imperial Resort, Botanical Garden Munyonyo, Bulago Island, Ssese Island, Nabinonya, Lutembe Lido;  other new beaches :-  One Love ,Aero, Anderina to mention but a few. Late in the evening the revelers return to their places of a board through the hectic traffic, but satisfied with the days mind relaxing beaches.  We at Charis Uganda Safaris will design to you relaxing and breathe taking tours on the Ugandan beaches.

Best Beaches in Uganda

Gorilla and Chimpanzee Tracking in Uganda

Day 1: Kampala - Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla Park. Depart Kampala or Entebbe from hotel to arrive Bwindi later in the evening for overnight at Mantana Luxury, Tented Camp or Buhoma community Bandas. 

Day 2: Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla Park: Early morning Gorilla briefing, Tracking, lunch will be served at your hotel and afternoon village walk to the pygmies to learn a good deal of these peoples culture in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest return for dinner and overnight. 

Day 3: Bwindi Impenetrable Gorilla Park - Kibale forest National Park: This morning at 7:00am you will depart Bwindi Forest to Kibale Forest National Park, overnight at Ndali Lodge or Tooro Resort. Full board

Day 4: Kibale forest National Park:- Morning Chimps tracking in the forest return for lunch and afternoon village walk to compare yourself with the tourism sector how it has helped the community to develop. Return for dinner, overnight. Full board

Day 5: Kibale forest National Park:- Kampala : Transfer from Kibale Forest to Kampala or Entebbe depending on where your accommodation is, otherwise transfer to the airport to catch you flight back home.

Tour Cost Includes: Accommodation, meals as stated, transport, entrance fees to all National Parks, Mineral water, Gorilla permits, Chimpanzee permits, Guides allowance, Game drives, Village walk in Bwindi and Kibale.

Excludes: Drinks, Laundry, Telephone calls, tips, and any other personals extras that is not included in the itinerary.