Echuya Forest Reserve is one of the endowed yet under looked safari destinations in Uganda. This Forest Reserve is a perfect add-on safari destination for travellers planning to explore Mgahinga Gorilla National Park, Lake Bunyonyi or Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. This Forest Reserve extends between Bufumbira County in Kisoro district and Rubanda County in Kabale district.
Birding in Echuya Forest Reserve is one of the sough after adventures in South-western Uganda because this Reserve sits at the heart of the biodiversity – endowed Albertine Rift eco-region in addition to being a site of Global biodiversity significance, thus making it an Important Bird Area. Birders to this Forest Reserve are promised a plethora of bird species including Albertine Rift endemics and several globally threatened species.
Echuya is a montane rainforest extending for about 36 square kilometers, with length of 7 kilometers and width of 750 meters. The forest reserve also features high-quality Bamboo, areas of broad-leaved forest especially on the Eastern side as well as higher altitude on the northern side of Kisoro-Kabale road. Additionally, there is a vast Swamp – Muchuya Swamp extending north-south along the Reserve in addition to draining to the south. Almost 80% of this Forest Reserve is overgrown Macaranga kilimandscharica as well as abyssinica while 20% is the mountain bamboo known as “yushania alpine”.
Bird species in Echuya Forest Reserve.
Echuya Forest Reserve is haven to over 152 unique species of birds including about 18 species that are endemic to the Albertine Rift eco-region. Because of this diversity, the Forest Reserve has been ranked as the most Important Forest Reserve in Uganda for its uniqueness of flora and fauna.
Interestingly, it is among the 30 Important Bird Areas of Uganda with the most popular bird species being the endangered Grauer’s swamp warblers, Rwenzori Turaco, yellow-eyed black flycatcher, blue-headed sunbirds, red-faced woodland warblers, red-throated alethe, Regal sunbirds, handsome spurfowl, Purple-breasted sunbirds, dwarf honeyguide, Montane black-headed Oriole, Archer’s robin-chat, Dusky Crimsonwing, Montane Oriole, long-crested eagles, Red-throated Alethe, Brown-capped weavers, Black-faced Apalis, mountain greenbul, White-eyed slaty flycatcher, Kivu ground thrush, Strange weavers, Mountain masked Apalis, Barred long-tailed Cuckoo, Collared Apalis, white-browed Crombec, Regal sunbirds, Goshawks, Rwenzori nightjar, Shelley’s greenbul, handsome francolin, Stripe-breasted tit, Doherty’s Bush-shrike, Red-necked Buzzards, Rwenzori batis and many others.
Other interesting attractions in Echuya Forest Reserve.
On top of the outstanding bird species, Echuya Forest Reserve also shelters other jaw-dropping attractions that include wildlife such as the black and white colobus monkeys, duikers, Moon forest shrew, blue monkeys, Forest buffaloes, Montane shaggy rat, olive baboons, Woosnam’s brush-furred rat, forest elephants, Montane mouse shrew, bushbucks, giant forest hogs and many others. There are also lots of butterfly species in the forest.
Birding within Echuya Forest Reserve can be blended with a visit to the nearby Batwa community to learn about their exciting lifestyle and how they harmoniously lived in the forest before being evicted.
Best time for Birding in Echuya Forest Reserve.
Birding in Echuya Forest Reserve is an all-year round adventure although the wet season-March, April, May, October and November is considered the breeding time for most birds, hence travellers are guaranteed of rich sights and sounds of these amazing feathered beauties.
Where to stay during birding in Echuya Forest Reserve?
There are currently no accommodation facilities in Echuya Forest Reserve, therefore visitors can stay in the nearby areas of Kabale Town, Lake Mutanda, Kisoro Town and Lake Bunyonyi. Check-out Lake Bunyonyi Eco-Resort, Mutanda Lake Resort, Arcadia Cottages, Bunyonyi Overland Resort, Travelers Rest Inn, Lake Bunyonyi Rock Resort, Lake Muhele Gorilla Lodge, and many others.
How to reach Echuya Forest Reserve?
Echuya Forest Reserve is approximately 8 hours from Uganda’s Capital (Kampala) and can be reached via the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara-Kabale-Kisoro road. However, this Forest Reserve is only 4-5 hours’ drive away from Kigali, Rwanda.
