Bat Cave in Maramagambo Forest
The Bat Cave is one of the iconic attractions to explore on a guided nature walk in Maramagambo Forest Reserve in Uganda. The Bat Cave in Maramagambo Forest is tucked inside the rainforest in the Southern end of Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Bat Cave in Maramagambo Forest is exceptionally unique, lying near a spectacular blue lake and a hunter’s cave.
At the Bat Cave, visitors are left amazed by a massive concentration of bats. It is a hidden treasure of its own, holding not only bats but also other species, including pythons. The pythons often visit the cave mainly to prey on the bats. In 2008, the Bat Cave in Maramagambo was closed following a Dutch visitor who contracted the Marburg Virus. The site was shut until cooperation was reached with the American Centres for Disease Control, and it was from this that a safe viewing spot outside was established. At the viewing spot, guests are able to view the bats without any risk of getting in contact with these mammals.
The bat viewing location is at a safe distance, and there is a glass that acts as a boundary for guests and bats. The interior of the cave is dark, and you can easily enjoy the echoes. Experienced ranger guides lead visitors.
Where is the Bat Cave in Maramagambo Forest?
The Bat Cave is located inside the scenic Maramagambo Forest Reserve in Western Uganda. Maramagambo lies in Bushenyi district, and is part of the Southern parts of Queen Elizabeth National Park. The Bat Cave is a unique, volcanic tube-like cave that attracts nature adventure seekers to explore it on a guided walk.
Accessing the Bat Cave in Maramagambo
Visitors interested in the Bat Cave tour can embark on a half-hour trek through the Maramagambo Forest. Good footwear is essential for your nature walking excursions to the Bat Cave. But first, you should drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park from the Kampala-Mbarara-Bushenyi route. It is about a 6-7-hour drive to Maramagambo Forest in Western Uganda.
About Maramagambo Forest Reserve
Maramagambo Forest is a lush natural rainforest and extends from the Kichwamba Escarpment to the scenic Lake Edward shores. This lush forest reserve is managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority & National Forestry Authority. Within Maramagambo, there exist a myriad of species to be encountered, including the l’hoest monkeys, chimpanzees, colobus monkeys, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, olive baboons, and blue monkeys. There are also pygmy antelope families, bush babies, and pottos, plus over 200 bird species.
Birds of Maramagambo Forest include black bee-eaters, African fin foot, Robin-chat, White-tailed lark, Ross’s turacos, Verreaux’s eagle owl, Black-headed batis, African emerald cuckoos, Rwenzori turacos, Brown illadopsis, white-napped pigeon, African paradise flycatchers, African green pigeon, and black and white shrikes.
Other birds in Maramagambo Forest include red-throated wryneck, chestnut wattle-eye, African fish eagle, Western black-headed oriole, blue-shouldered robin-chat, little grebe, green crombec, bat hawks, Sulphur-breasted bush shrikes, fawn-breasted wax-bill, black coucal, dark-capped yellow warblers, and many others.
Beyond primates, caves, and birds, a visit to Maramagambo also takes you on an exploration of the scenic Craters, including Lake Nyasanduka and Nyamasingiri. And if you are interested in cultural experiences, you can opt for a guided community visit at the Nyanziibiri community.
Additional Activities to Enjoy
Guided forest walks
Maramagambo Forest offers unforgettable forest/nature walks. Visitors get a chance to have a deep penetration into the lush rainforest. The different forest trails introduce guests to the hidden habitats of Maramagambo Forest with a lot to explore. The possible sightings during the Maramagambo Forest walk include primates such as vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and colobus monkeys. A diverse array of birds also awaits you to identify, including little grebe, African emerald cuckoos, red-chested cuckoos, black cuckoos, and many others. You can spend at least 2 hours to even a half day while you explore the lush Maramagambo Forest to the fullest.
Bird-watching/birding
At Maramagambo Forest, guests also have abundant birds to explore during a guided birding excursion. The birds that make Maramagambo an exceptional birding location include Sulphur-breasted bush shrikes, white-napped pigeon, Rwenzori turacos, African green pigeon, Ross’s turacos, and more.
The Best Time to Explore the Bat Cave & Maramagambo Forest
Maramagambo Forest can be visited at any time of the year. However, the peak dry season offers the best weather conditions that favor guided walks to the Bat Cave and also other habitats in the forest. As per the annual travel calendar, the peak dry season falls in the months of June, July, August, and September –these are typical long dry months of the year. The shortest dry months, on the other hand, extend from December, January, to February.
The remaining months are mainly wet or rainy, with the forest floor often posing challenges for visitors to access the Bat Cave. The rainy months begin from March to May, whereas the shortest rains are experienced from October to November.
Where to stay
The accommodation options present for guests to book in and around Maramagambo Forest include Embogo Lodge, Jacana Safari Lodge, Mazike Valley Lodge, and Bulbul Safari Lodge. The accommodation facilities can be booked through a reliable tour operator like Native Africa Tours.
Getting to the Bat Cave in Maramagambo Forest
The Bat Cave is found in Maramagambo Forest, which is located in Western Uganda. This forest is found in the Southern section of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Getting there requires a 4×4 safari vehicle. Connecting to Maramagambo Forest takes about 6-7 hours from Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara to the Bushenyi route.
Guests can also take a flight up to Mweya Airstrip or Kasese Airstrip, where a professional driver can pick them up. Driving from the available airstrips to the lodge in or around Maramagambo Forest takes a shorter distance.
Bat Cave Tour Combined with Savanna Wildlife Tours
Bat Cave excursions in the Maramagambo Forest can be combined with mesmerising savanna game viewing experiences. Visitors can easily connect to most of the savanna sectors in Queen Elizabeth National Park to enjoy a guided game viewing tour. To enjoy the best of savanna wildlife tours, expect to explore Ishasha and Kasenyi plains. Both sectors offer unmatched game drive experiences.
Ishasha sector lies in the Southern Queen Elizabeth NP and is the most popular spot to find the tree-climbing lions. The Kasenyi track offers the best game drive, especially if your interest is to find the majority of the Big game.
Wildlife to observe on a guided game drive includes African bush elephants, spotted hyenas, and Uganda Kobs. Warthogs, buffaloes, leopards, lions, bushbucks, and waterbucks. A myriad of avifaunal species also reside in the Ishasha and Kasenyi. You should expect to spot these in a 4×4 safari car with a pop-up roof.
Visit the Kazinga Channel to enjoy sightings of the aquatic life. Navigate through the channel with an experienced team as you explore the hippos, crocodiles, and many water birds. Along the river banks, expect to find a variety of small and large mammals. These converge in the area to drink water and cool off from the scorching sunshine. At the river banks, you can find elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, and other species.
Beyond the usual game drives, Queen Elizabeth NP also offers exceptional lion tracking/trekking and research experiences. These include lion trekking, hippo census, and others.
Bat Cave in Maramagambo Forest offers nature lovers an incredible bat-watching experience. Book a tour to Maramagambo with Native Africa Tours. Explore more about the iconic Bat Cave, which is dominated by several bats and also attracts predators.
