Rubanga Forest offers many activities, including bird watching, which is popular during the wet season. During this time, the thick plants make it harder to see wild animals.
However, many tourists enjoy this challenge as it gives them a chance to take pictures of the plants and spot birds with their binoculars, helping them find birds that are far away.
The long rains usually happen from March to May, watering the whole park. Some areas bloom with new growth, while others become muddy.
The forest is also home to migratory birds that arrive between November and April. Over 40 species visit during this time. If you want to see these birds, be sure to tell your guide in advance.
You can take a nature walk in Rubanga Forest with a tour guide. This walk lets you explore quiet parts of the forest filled with birds, butterflies, and many plants. Some plants are used as medicine by local people.
Walks usually start early in the morning for tourists who want to see animals as they begin their day. If you prefer to avoid the morning dew, you can walk in the afternoon.
During the walk, you must follow all rules like not breaking leaves, not throwing trash, and staying quiet because the animals are easily scared.
Besides nature walks, you can enjoy horseback riding on the open savannah plains nearby. Horses cannot easily walk in the thick forest, so riding is done outside the forest.
You can also do game drives and camping in the area. Boat cruises are available on the nearby lake, but the water does not reach the forest itself, so the only way to enter Rubanga is by walking.
Walking may be tiring but many tourists enjoy it as exercise.
Rubanga Forest is located in southwestern Uganda inside Lake Mburo National Park, the only national park in this region.
