This activity now has a fuller guide: Forest Walk Tours in Lutoboka and Bugala.
The Ssese Islands are forested, and the forest is older and quieter than the beach suggests. A guided walk is the way to see the part of the island that has nothing to do with the lodge.
What happens
You walk with a guide, at a pace set by looking and not by covering ground. A guide is not there to navigate. They are there because they notice things you would walk straight past, and can tell you what you are hearing.
Who it suits
Anyone who would rather understand a place than photograph it. It is the best activity here for early risers, for birdwatchers, and for anyone travelling with a teenager who has declared themselves bored.
It is also the gentlest thing on this list. If quad biking sounds like too much, this covers similar country at a speed that lets you hear it.
What to bring
- Closed walking shoes with grip; the ground holds moisture under canopy
- Long sleeves and long trousers, which you will be glad of under the trees
- Insect repellent
- Water
- Binoculars if you have them
Best time to go
Early morning, without much competition. The forest is most active shortly after first light and coolest to walk in, and you are back for breakfast.
Arranging a walk
Walks depend on a guide being free, so ask before you arrive and not at breakfast. Birding across the wider archipelago is covered in the Ssese Islands activities guide.
Tell us whether you are walking to see birds or to see forest. It changes the pace and the hour you should start.
