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Royal Mile is a historical site that is located in Budongo Forest one of the oldest tropical Rain Forests on African Continent.The site is one of the three sectors and the other two being Busingiro Sector and Kaniyo-Pabide.The site covers about 739square kilometres . The site is mainly a forest and mostly habors typical Forest Species , The Royal mile Birding is very famous because the former famous king of Bunyoro Kingdom used that stretch through the forest while he was fleeing from being arrested by the british.
The whole Rayal mile Birding Forest is covered with trees and a record number of 350 different trees have been recorded including the two endangered mahorgany trees(Khaya Senegalensis and Khaya Anthotheca),a record of 240 different bird species has been recorded and about 20 different mammals have been recorded.
The Rayal mile Birding Area is true birders paradise giving you an opportunity to see different bird species like the Budongo 5s.I.e Choclate-backed Kingfisher,Ituri Batis,Dwarf Kingfisher,Chestnut-capped Flycatcher and Blue-breasted Kingfisher.
Among other rare species are the Nahan’s Patridge,Gray Ground Thrush and the Black-eared Ground thrush. The site is protected by National Forestry Authority and maximum supervison is always ensured to see that the forest is not encronched on.
The mile is an important area because it provides employment opportumities to locals that get hired every time you go bird watching and through bird protecting the forest the locals have also started planting trees close to the forest and the last kilometre to the forest gate this can be witnessed by the pine,musizi and eucalyptus trees that have been planted around.
“Royal Mile”, a premier forest birding road that lies under a lush forest canopy and that is probably one of Africa’s most famous birding destinations, rivalling the famous Manu road in Peru in world birding terms.
The Royal Mile, located in Budongo not far from the southern entrance to Murchison Falls NP, opens the door to some of the most pristine forest habitat this century has to offer. Massive mahoganies, ironwoods, and figs conspire to create the kind of sky-high, neck-cramping canopy tiny songbirds favor. The lush understory supports a multitude of different ecological niches yet still affords good sightlines to spy the species within. And what a wealth of species the Royal Mile holds. Basically, this area promises the very best of forest birding.
Birds of Budongo Forest ( Royal mile Birding )
It’s only fitting that kingfishers rule the Royal Mile. The charismatic but furtive Chocolate-backed Kingfisher commands the most interest from birders. We mustered three excellent sightings of this bird, so beautiful that it makes brown look majestic. We also combed through enough African Pygmy Kingfishers to eke out a much rarer African Dwarf Kingfisher. Rounding out the count was near-miss of Shining Blue Kingfisher, though Raymond did point its nest. Uganda definitely delivers all the fancy forest kingfishers you could want.
An exceptionally large mahogany tree is about 80 meters tall or more and 20 meters wide, Budongo Forest is composed mainly of a moist, medium-altitude, semi-deciduous forest, with patches of savanna and woodland. It covers a gently rolling landscape, sloping down to the East African Rift. Four streams, Waisoke, Sonso, Kamirambwa, and Siba, drain the forest and flow into Lake Albert.
Annual rainfall in the area is between 1200 and 2200 mm, the rainy season is from March-May and again from September – to November, and the dry season is from December – to February.
Another advantage the Royal mile Birding Sector lords over most other birding locations is the presence of Chimpanzees. I expected fleeting glimpses of chimps if we saw any at all, but my first encounter with these amazing primates in the wild lasted many minutes as our respective groups peered at each other from opposite ends of the road. Although Kibale famously offers a more complete chimpanzee experience, the long views the Royal Mile served up left me plenty satisfied. And that doesn’t even include crossing tracks with Blue Monkey, Red-tailed Monkey, and Tree Hyrax.
The nearest town is Masindi, and much of the land around the forest is given over to crops, dwellings, and villages, placing continuous pressure on the forest margins, and leading to exploitation for building materials and bushmeat, the snares set by poachers causing mutilation of the chimpanzees and other animals.
Birds found in Budongo Forest- Royal mile Birding
Here are some of the birds to look out for in Budongo Central Forest Reserve.
| Hairy-breasted Barbet | Yellow-spotted Barbet | Yellow-billed Barbet | Brown-eared Woodpecker |
| Yellow-crested Woodpecker | Black-capped Apalis | Western-black Headed Oriole | African Crowned Eagle |
| Ituri Batis | Chestnut-caped Flycatcher | Grey-headed Sunbird | Nahan’s Francolin |
| Blue-breasted Kingfisher | White-spotted Flufftail | Sabine’s Spinetail | Cassin’s Spinetail |
| Chocolate-backed Kingfisher | Blue-throated Roller | White-thighed Hornbill | Spotted Greenbul |
| Dwarf Kingfisher | Piping Hornbill | Fire-crested Alethe | Blue-shouldered Robin-Chat |
| Red-capped Robin-Chat | Lemon-bellied Crombec | Rufous-crowned Elemomela | Yellow-browed Camaroptera |
Wildlife Summary in Budongo forest
Recorded from Budongo are more than 360 bird species, some 290 butterflies, 130 moths, 465 trees, and 24 mammals, of which 9 are primates. Chimpanzee tracking has become an activity popular with eco-tourists, necessitating behavioral guidelines for visitors in order to avoid undue disturbance of both animals and forests.
Trails have been cut crisscrossing the forest, initially to ease access for research workers and since then used by eco-tourists, forest animals, and poachers.
Vernon Reynolds first studied chimpanzees in this forest in 1962, writing a book about the forest and its chimpanzees in 1965. He was one of a trio of pioneer field researchers – the others being Jane Goodall and Adriaan Kortlandt.
During the 1970s and 1980s, civil war raged in the country, with an accompanying breakdown of law and order. Chimpanzee mothers were shot and the infants were taken from the forest and smuggled to collectors in Asia, Europe and America.
Reynolds returned to Uganda in 1990 to determine whether a viable population of chimpanzees still existed in Budongo. By 1995 some fifty individuals had been identified, and this figure remained constant until 2000 when the numbers started rising, thought to be due to an influx of chimpanzees from other areas.
Getting to Budongo Forest – Royal mile Birding
Budongo Forest is located around 300 kilometers northwest of Kampala. Budongo can easily be accessed by either road or air travel. Driving from Kampala to Budongo Forest Reserve takes a total of about 4 hours.
Alternatively, one can take a domestic flight from Entebbe to Murchison Falls National Park which is a shorter drive to Budongo Central Forest Reserve. Since Budongo is often visited along with the nearby and very popular Murchison Falls N.P., getting there is quite easy and straightforward.Best time to visit Budongo Forest
