Mabira Forest Reserve along Kampala-Jinja highway covers an area of 360 sq km with about 300 bird species most of them are rarely seen elsewhere in Uganda, over 200 different kinds of trees, 218 butterfly species with their beautiful color, and 23 different types of mammals, mainly monkeys. The patches of grassland in the valleys and extensive papyrus swamps support a lot of different kinds of birds. The forest is just an hour’s drive from Kampala city. Under the National Forestry Authority and collaboration of the local community, Mabira Forest was opened to the public in 1996.
Notable bird species found in the forest reserve include:-Rare Nathan’s francolin, Cassin’s hawk eagle, Green tailed bristle bill, Grey long bill, Leaf love, Paradise flycatcher, Sooty Boubou, Purple-throated cuckoo shrike.
A large number of unique birdlife species seen from the visitor’s centre. Flowering trees in the clearing attract a variety of sunbirds such as green, Little Olive, Blue throated brown, Green throated, olive bellied and superb sunbirds. Other forest edge species include speckle-breasted Woodpecker; Black throated Apalis, African blue Flycatcher and Grey-crowned Negro finch. Forest Ribbon, Snowy headed Robin-Chat, Grey capped warbler, Black and white Flycatcher, Dusky Tit and common Wattle Eye which can be seen around the Campsites.