Zika Forest is among the tropical forests found in Uganda. It is located along Entebbe road approximately 22km from Uganda’s capital city – Kampala. The Forest is relatively small with several mature trees of different species as well as green undergrowth.
The Name ‘Zika’ which in the local Luganda language means ‘overgrown’ was derived from the forest’s thick tree cover which in fact was previously referred to as the ‘Upper Storey’. This is a spectacular display of Mother Nature and one of the best stopovers for any one on Safari in Uganda on the way to or from the Entebbe International Airport.
This green forest covers a total land area of approximately twenty five hectares (62 acres) and it lies close to the marshland of Waiya Bay which extends up to Lake Victoria the largest freshwater lake in Africa. Zika prides in a number of species which include 135 tree species, over 60 sphingid moth species, 38 saturnine species as well as 40 species of mosquitoes. So for any holidaymaker on a Uganda Safari Tour that is enthusiastic about nature this is the perfect place to visit.
Today, Zika forest is a research field station and is under the protection of the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) based in Entebbe. The institute has a research tower which is 120ft tall. With funding from the World Health Organization, comprehensive behavioral research, as well as ecological studies are being conducted in the tower on this forest. While on this high tower, visitors can have the opportunity to see the various birds, monkeys and beautiful canopy while standing on an elevated platform.
Although not far from Uganda’s urban city centers, this green forest offers a great getaway from the busy and crowded ‘town life’ the capital Kampala and town of Entebbe. Above all you may also enjoy corporate retreats or basic picnic in this beautiful forest. All these unique options for anyone on a Uganda Safari Tour qualify it to be one of your stopover destinations when planning your holiday to Uganda the Pearl of Africa.
Also worth mentioning is that Zika forest has a rich educational significance for leisure travelers as well as study groups, and it’s no surprise that USA’s former president Jimmy Carter also visited it.
