Maramagambo Forest Reserve is a central natural tropical rain forest located Western Uganda in Queen Elizabeth National Park known for its diverse wildlife, including chimpanzees, monkeys, and a variety of bird species.
Maramagambo rainforest is one of East Africa’s biggest forests, stretching from the Kichwamba escarpment to Lake Edward.
The name “Maramagambo” is derived from a Runyakitara language and translates to “short of words” or “speechless.,” The story associated with a group of people who got lost in the forest and shoued for help for along time and nobody heard them since the forest is large. By the time they were found they were too exhausted to talk and had “no words” thus the name.Visitors can enjoy nature walks, birdwatching, and wildlife viewing in the forest.
Bat Cave
The forest is famous for its bat cave where visitors are able to view the cave from a viewing platform.
Wildlife
Maramagambo hosts over 7 special species of primates that include chimpanzees, blue monkeys, olive baboons, red tailed monkeys, l’hoest monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys. Nocturnal primates especially pottos and bush babies can be spotted during a night walk.
Other creatures in the forest includeBates’s pygmy antelopes.
Crater Lakes
Maramagambo Forest is bordered by two crater lakes, Lake Kyasanduka and Lake Nyamasingiri.
Birding
The diversity of bird species within Maramagambo Forest, make it one of the special birding destinations in East Africa. The birds of interest in the forest include the African skimmers, papyrus canary, Rwenzori Turaco, Martial Eagle, Lesser & Greater Flamingos White – tailed Lark, Black- headed Batis, Chapin’s flycatchers, African green Pigeon and more.
Maramagambo Forest bird list
- Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
- Western Crested Guineafowl Guttera verreauxi
- Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster
- Black Crake Zapornia flavirostra
- Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus crassirostris
- African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
- Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
- African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus
- Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer
- African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
- Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
- Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis
- Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
- Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
- Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
- Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
- Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus
- Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
- African Fish-Eagle Icthyophaga vocifer
- Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
- Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer
- Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
- African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus
- White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus
- Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
- Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
- Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
- Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
- Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
- Western Banded Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinerascens
- Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
- Common Buzzard Buteo buteo
- Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
- Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill Bycanistes subcylindricus
- White-throated Bee-eater Merops albicollis
- Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
- African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta
- Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
- Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
- Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
- White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus
- Gray-backed Fiscal Lanius excubitoroides
- Rufous-naped Lark Corypha africana
- Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus
- Cassin’s Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini
- Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra
- Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis
- Vieillot’s Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus
- White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
- African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
- Ross’s Turaco Tauraco rossae
- Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
- White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
- Gray-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
- Black-headed Gonolek Laniarius erythrogaster
- Angola Swallow Hirundo angolensis
- Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica
- Eastern Yellow-billed Barbet Trachylaemus purpuratus
- Gray Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus
- Winding Cisticola Cisticola marginatus
- Splendid Starling Lamprotornis splendidus
- Little Weaver Ploceus luteolus
- Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullata
- Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
- Western Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava
- Blue-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur afer
- Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
- Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
- Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminatus
- Brown-eared Woodpecker Pardipicus caroli
- Little Greenbul Eurillas virens
- Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus
- Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala
- Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
- Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
- Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola
- Eastern Plantain-eater Crinifer zonurus
- Klaas’s Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas
- Little Swift Apus affinis
- Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
- Wahlberg’s Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi
- Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus
- Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
- Gray-capped Warbler Eminia lepida
- Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis
- Leaf-love Phyllastrephus scandens
- Northern Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis
- Slender-billed Starling Onychognathus tenuirostris
- Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius
- Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis
- Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
- Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
- Crested Francolin Ortygornis sephaena
- Levaillant’s Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii
- Shoebill Balaeniceps rex
- African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
- European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
- Spot-flanked Barbet Tricholaema lacrymosa
- Double-toothed Barbet Pogonornis bidentatus
- African Gray Woodpecker Dendropicos goertae
- Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
- Papyrus Gonolek Laniarius mufumbiri
- Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
- Pied Crow Corvus albus
- Moustached Grass-Warbler Melocichla mentalis
- Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
- Trilling Cisticola Cisticola woosnami
- Common Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus
- Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris
- Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
- Rüppell’s Starling Lamprotornis purpuroptera
- Slender-billed Weaver Ploceus pelzelni
- Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
- Black-headed Weaver Ploceus melanocephalus
- Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
- Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens
- Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola
- Crimson-rumped Waxbill Estrilda rhodopyga
- Zebra Waxbill Amandava subflava
- Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
- Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
- Papyrus Canary Crithagra koliensis
- Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata
- Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
- Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum
- Spur-winged Lapwing Vanellus spinosus
- Blue-naped Mousebird Urocolius macrourus
- Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
- Tropical Boubou Laniarius major
- Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus
- Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
- Siffling Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus
- Banded Martin Neophedina cincta
- Waller’s Starling Onychognathus walleri
- White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
- Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla
- Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops
- Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
- Scaly Spurfowl Pternistis squamatus
- African Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda cuculoides
- Brown-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira cyanea
- Western Nicator Nicator chloris
- Green Crombec Sylvietta virens
- Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
- Black-lored Babbler Turdoides sharpei
- Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi
- Gray-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes tephrolaemus
- Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
- Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius
- Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
- Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
- African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
- Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
- Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
- Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
- Marsh Tchagra Bocagia minuta
- Compact Weaver Pachyphantes superciliosus
- Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
- Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus
- Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii
- Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus
- Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
- Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus
- African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata
- Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
- Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica
- Blue Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus
- Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
- Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus
- African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus
- Purple-headed Starling Hylopsar purpureiceps
- African Forest-Flycatcher Fraseria ocreata
- White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
- Holub’s Golden-Weaver Ploceus xanthops
- Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
- Northern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer griseus
- Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys
- African Gray Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus
- Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
- Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
- Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike Campephaga phoenicea
- African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda
- Fan-tailed Grassbird Catriscus brevirostris
- Rufous-chested Swallow Cecropis semirufa
- African Thrush Turdus pelios
- Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
- Gray Cuckooshrike Ceblepyris caesius
- Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythroryncha
- Common Swift Apus apus
- African Crake Crecopsis egregia
- Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
- Dwarf Bittern Botaurus sturmii
- Little Bittern Botaurus minutus
- Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
- Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
- Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis
- Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus
- African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
- Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
- Northern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis edolioides
- Golden-backed WeaverPloceus jacksoni
- Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos
- Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala
- Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata
- Sabine’s Spinetail Rhaphidura sabini
- Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
- White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
- Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
- Rüppell’s Griffon Gyps rueppelli
- Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
- White-headed Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus bollei
- Black Bee-eater Merops gularis
- Cinnamon-chested Bee-eater Merops oreobates
- Gray-green Bushshrike Chlorophoneus bocagei
- Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus
- Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis
- White-chinned Prinia Schistolais leucopogon
- Olive-green Camaroptera Camaroptera chloronota
- Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni
- Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis
- Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
- Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera
- Green Hylia Hylia prasina
- African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
- Swamp Flycatcher Muscicapa aquatica
- Dusky-blue Flycatcher Bradornis comitatus
- White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
- African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
- Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis
- Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra cyanolaema
- Bronze Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis
- Red-chested Sunbird Cinnyris erythrocercus
- Baglafecht Weaver Ploceus baglafecht
- Black-winged Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus
- Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis
- Ring-necked Francolin Scleroptila streptophora
- Bare-faced Go-away-bird Crinifer personatus
- Black Coucal Centropus grillii
- Singing Cisticola Cisticola cantans
- Red-headed Bluebill Spermophaga ruficapilla
- African Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia microscelis
- Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
- Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
- African Dwarf Kingfisher Ispidina lecontei
- Nubian Woodpecker Campethera nubica
- Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
- Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens
- Cardinal Quelea Quelea cardinalis
- Northern Red Bishop Euplectes franciscanus
- African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
- Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
- Stuhlmann’s Sunbird Cinnyris stuhlmanni
- Little Ringed Plover Thinornis dubius
- Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica
- Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus
- Yellow-billed Egret Ardea brachyrhyncha
- Red-throated Bee-eater Merops bulocki
- Red-headed Lovebird Agapornis pullarius
- Meyer’s Parrot Poicephalus meyeri
- Black-and-white Mannikin Spermestes bicolor
- Gray-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus
- Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica
- Mackinnon’s Shrike Lanius mackinnoni
- White-eyed Slaty-Flycatcher Melaenornis fischeri
- White-browed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
- Brown-capped Weaver Ploceus insignis
- Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
- White-headed Sawwing Psalidoprocne albiceps
- Black-billed Turaco Tauraco schuettii
- Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina
- Gray Greenbul Eurillas gracilis
- Lesser Moorhen Paragallinula angulata
- White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
- Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus
- Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis
- Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus
- Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus
- European Roller Coracias garrulus
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
- Black-crowned Waxbill Estrilda nonnula
- Black Kite Milvus migrans
- Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Ketupa lactea
- Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
- Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
- Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima
- Horus Swift Apus horus
- White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
- Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
- African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
- Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis
- Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii
- Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
- Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
- Kittlitz’s Plover Anarhynchus pecuarius
- Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
- Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
- Temminck’s Courser Cursorius temminckii
- Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
- African Skimmer Rynchops flavirostris
- Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
- African Spoonbill Platalea alba
- Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
- Eurasian Kestrel Falco tinnunculus
- White-tailed Lark Mirafra albicauda
- Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
- Red-faced Crombec Sylvietta whytii
- African Yellow-Warbler Iduna natalensis
- White-tailed Ant-Thrush Neocossyphus poensis
- Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius
- Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex
- Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris
- White Stork Ciconia ciconia
- Pale-throated Greenbul Atimastillas flavigula
- Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis
- Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus
- Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
- Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo
- Western Black-headed Oriole Oriolus brachyrynchus
- Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris
- Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens
- Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus
- Red-tailed Ant-Thrush Neocossyphus rufus
- White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus
- Black Bishop Euplectes gierowii