The Bat cave in Maramagambo forest

The Bat cave in Maramagambo forest

The Bat cave in Maramagambo forest:  you have a great experience to the bat caves that are tucked in the Maramagambo forest in Queen Elizabeth National Park. Maramagambo forest is an extensive tropical rainforest which lies in the southern part of Queen Elizabeth National Park in the far west Uganda in Bushenyi district. The word “Maramagambo” is in a local Runyankole word which means “short of words” and it was derived from the two young children of the tender age who got lost in the forest for a couple of days trying to look for their way out but in vain and when they were saved from the forest, they couldn’t speak what really happened to them and the locals ended up naming it Maramagambo. It is a perfect destination for hiking and nature walk experience in addition to exploring the bat caves and crater lakes that are nestled in the forest.  The forest inhabits various species of mammals, primates and bird species, also famously linked with its bat caves where tourists come all the way from other countries to visit these bats in this forest.

Millions of bats do occupy and inhabit this cave, pythons are also observed in the crevices of the bats cave floor and usually prey on these bats. In addition, besides the bat cave experience, one can have a chance to hike through the forest to have a glimpse on different primate species like chimpanzees, L’Hoest monkeys, red tailed monkeys, pottos, bush babies, black and white colobus, olive baboons, vervet monkeys as well as the blue monkeys. Alongside watching primates, one can also view a variety of bird species such as the Rwenzori turacos, white napped pigeons, flycatchers, sunbirds, bee-eaters to mention but a few while hiking to the caves, also a visit to the Nyanz’ibiri community leaves you with great memories. You will also enjoy the overview of the mysterious bat cave from the viewpoint which was constructed for tourists after the 2008 incident where some tourists contracted the Marburg virus when they had gone inside this Cave. Consequently, the caves were closed or sealed from human encounter but after a period of time, the ministry of tourism re-opened them however the park in cooperation with the American center for disease control set up a safe viewing platform outside the cave where thousands of bats can be seen without any fear of contacting the Marburg virus.

Getting there

The Maramagambo forest can easily be accessed by whether road or air transport from Kampala city through Mbarara to Bushenyi which is a 5- 6 hours’ drive. The best access to the forest is through the Queen Elizabeth National Park gate close to Jakana Lodge and it is 12km off the main road from katunguru to Mbarara. Alternatively, you can fly from Entebbe International Airport to Mweya Airstrip nestled near Queen Elizabeth National Park via a charter flight.