Mpanga Forest and Mpambire Drum Makers

Mpanga Central Forest Reserve is a small, old tropical forest in Mpigi District, about 37 km from Kampala on the Kampala to Masaka road. It is managed by the National Forestry Authority, with a visitor centre about 1 km off the highway.

Why go

Mpanga is a gentle first taste of Uganda’s forests at the start of a trip west. You walk under giant trees, listen for great blue turacos and hornbills, and watch red-tailed monkeys moving through the canopy. In the right season the paths are full of butterflies. The forest is also linked to the Ffumbe (civet cat) clan of Buganda.

What you can do

• Short guided walks on the Baseline, Hornbill and Butterfly trails (the butterfly loop is about 1 km).
• Birding and butterfly watching, best in the morning.
• A picnic, or a school nature lesson.
• A photo stop at the Equator at Kayabwe, further along the Masaka road.

The people side

Just down the road, in the village of Mpambire, families have made drums for the Buganda kingdom for generations. You can watch them carve the wood and stretch cow hide over the frame, try a rhythm yourself and buy a drum directly from the makers. Small Kiganda shrines also lie about 1 km from the forest centre; your guide will explain them, and we visit quietly and with respect.

Best time to visit

Mpanga is good all year. Come in the morning for birds and butterflies.

Getting there

About 1 hour from Kampala, and about 1.5 to 2 hours from Entebbe. It is an easy stop on the way to Lake Mburo, Lake Bunyonyi or Bwindi.

Good to know

Mpanga is a small forest, best as a 1 to 2-hour stop rather than a full day. Walks are easy and mostly flat. Facilities are basic, and some visitors describe them as worn.