Busingiro is located 41 km west of Masindi on the road to Butiaba. The site is 40 m on the left and well sign posted from the road. From Kampala the drive takes 3 to 4 hours.
By public transport take a taxi from the New Taxi Park in Kampala to Masindi. The journey takes 2 ½ -3 hours and costs approximately Ush. 7,000. A daily bus leaves Masindi taxi park at midday. Matatus also run to Butyaba or Wanseko , they take approximately 1 hour to reach the site and cost 3,000 USh.
Facilities
Visitor Reception
A locally styled open sided building provides a pleasant place for visitors to relax , enjoy sodas, snacks or locally prepared meals. Local crafts, bird guide books, t-shirts and videos can also be brought here.
Education Center
The project runs an education program for local schools. Children visit the forest to see it for themselves and find out about its importance to the area. Displays at the center help visitors interpret the forest’s secrets, and understand its complex ecosystem. Get a taste for Budongo Forest by first visiting the Entebbe Wildlife Education Center where a forest display is based around the eco tourism project at Budongo.
Bandas
Two traditionally styled African Bandas provide comfortable and private accommodation for visitors. One double and three single beds can cater for a total of five visitors . Each banda is set in a beautiful forest glade providing a relaxing environment for resting after a forest walk.
Campsite
A campsite with space for 20 plus people is pleasantly situated away from the visitor reception. A camp cooking shelter, water pump and campfire area provide all the necessary facilities for the self catering camper.
Bathing and latrines
An open air wash room provides hot or cold showers and, along with two pit latrines serve both the bandas and camp site.
Catering
Food can be prepared by the campsite cock. Visitors are advised to buy provisions in advance at Masindi and arrange with the guides if catering services are required.
Things to See and Do
Though no longer used for camping tracking, Busingiro’s complex and extensive trail system remains open for Forest Walks. Some routes are of note, variously, for tress, birds, and butterflies, so it worthy discussing any special interests and preferences with the guides, who will tailor your work accordingly. A 3 hour forest walk costs US$15 as does a birding walk with a specialized guide. although you may work unaccompanied along the main road, visitors may enter the Forest on either sides only when accompanied by a guide.
The best place to do a guided bird walk is along the Royal mile, which runs between Nyabyere Forestry College and the research section. Unfortunately, the Royal Mile lies about 14Km from Busingiro, so it’s only really a viable option for a day tip unless you have a private transport or stay at the Forestry College. Generally regarded as being one of Uganda’s forest birding site, the Royal Mile supports a wide variety of localised species, with the sought after African dwarf, blue-breasted and chocolate backed kingfishers all very common. A long list of other local specials includes Cassin’s hamk eagle, Nahan’s francolin, white thighed horn bill, yellow billed barbet, lemon-billed crombec, balck-capped apails, forest fly catcher, yellow footed fly catcher and Jameson’s wattle-eye. Various Monkeys are also likely to be seen, along with giant forest squirrels and the bizarre chequered elephant-shrew. Equally bizarre in this remote patch of forest is a Large Church built by polish refugees who were settled in the area during Word War II.
The Trail System
A complex trail system has been developed at Busingiro. A grid system offers the best chances for chimpanzee tracking, and a loop system incorporates a range of forest features and good specimen trees.
Visitors must enter the forest with a guide and follow the code of behavior which will ensure their safety and maximum enjoyment. Visitors should discuss their preferences and time schedules with the forest guides who will tailor a program to meet individuals needs.
A number of special interest walks can be arranged from Busingiro.
Bird Watching
For birds a visit to the Royal Mile is a must. This spectacular wide forest avenue was first enjoyed by King Kabalega of Bunyoro earning its name ‘The Royal Mile’. It is a 15 km drive from the eco-tourism site and visitors must pay a forest entry fee before entering the forest reserve. On an early morning visit visitors cannot fail to see some spectacular forest birds such as the Chocolate Backed Kingfisher and Paradise Flycatcher. A visit to the Royal Mile can also be combined with a trip to Lake Kanyege where water birds and clouds of butterflies enjoy a sunny forest edge pond.
Primate Tracking
Chimp tracking is most successful on the grid trail, where a 200m grid system ensures ease of access through the forest. For chimp tracking its best to start early around 7.00 am. The guides follow the daily movements of the habituated chimpanzee groups. Three years of recording their movements indicate July, August and September offer a 90% success rate of seeing the chimps. In February , March , April, May and September this decreases to 70 %, and in October, November, December and January when food is scarcer chances drop to 50%. The fluctuating fruiting seasons of the forest trees determine the chimps movements. It can take 30 minutes or all day to find them. Only children 7 years and upwards are allowed chimp tracking. Groups are limited to 6 people.
General Forest Walk
The loop system leading from the visitor center offers fascinating forest walks. The guides will interpret the features of the forest which include elephant pit traps, salt licks, elephant wallows and historic grinding stoners. Secrets of the forests will be revealed on these walks. Discover a tree that gets elephants drunk and be amazed at the huge indestructible Ironwood trees dominating the forest canopy.
Little Kasenene Hill Trail
A 4 hour trail takes visitors up Little Kasenene Hill to enjoy spectacular views over Lake Albert and the Blue Mountains of Congo. The trail leads through grassland and shrub. Visitors to the forest in November will witness the spectacle of local people collecting grasshoppers for frying.
Getting There
This Busingiro Tourist Site lies directly along side the Bulisa road, 43km west of Masindi, and is clearly signposted. The 2km turn-off to Nyabyere Forest College is about 10Km closer to Masindii, and also signposted.The drive to Masindi should take an hour in a private vehicle. Using public transport, any minibus-tax or bus heading from Masindi to Butyaba or Wansoke can drop you at the camp, though you’ll probably have to pay the full fare for Butiaba. A 4×4 with drive can be hired in Masindi though a local tour operator.