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© Arshley Brian

Royal Mile

1.70185 , 31.53975

Uganda

Royal Mile is a historical site that is located in Budongo Forest one of the oldest tropical Rain Forests on African Continent.The site is one of the three sectors and the other two being Busingiro Sector and Kaniyo-Pabide.The site covers about 739square kilometres .

The site is mainly a forest and mostly habors typical Forest Species 

The mile is very famous because the former famous king of Bunyoro Kingdom used that stretch through the forest while he was fleeing from being arrested by the british.

The whole mile is covered with trees and a record number of 350 different trees have been recorded including the two endangered mahorgany trees(Khaya Senegalensis and Khaya Anthotheca),a record of 240 different bird species has been recorded and about 20 different mammals have been recorded.

The mile is true birders paradise giving you an opportunity to see different bird species like the Budongo 5s.I.e Choclate-backed Kingfisher,Ituri Batis,Dwarf Kingfisher,Chestnut-capped Flycatcher and Blue-breasted Kingfisher.

Among other rare species are the Nahan's Patridge,Gray Ground Thrush and the Black-eared Ground thrush.

The site is protected by National Forestry Authority and maximum supervison is always ensured to see that the forest is  not encronched on.

The mile is an important area because it provides employment opportumities to locals that get hired every time you go bird watching and through bird protecting the forest the locals have also started planting trees close to the forest and the last kilometre to the forest gate this can be witnessed by the pine,musizi and eucalyptus trees that have been planted around.

Delete exact location

The introductory text should contain general information about the site, which may include for instance:
• geographic/ biogeographic location
• habitat and vegetation
• typical bird species/bird communities
• protection status
• land use and history
• importance for birdwatching

Coordinates were changed by Arshley Brian : 1.7018/31.5397 (2023-05-02 15:03:39 )

Coordinates were set by Arshley Brian : 1.7018/31.5397 (2023-05-02 12:36:41 )

Site name was set by Arshley Brian as "Royal Mile" (2023-05-02 12:36:41 )

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 15:03:39
Royal Mile is a historical site that is located in Budongo Forest one of the oldest tropical Rain Forests on African Continent.The site is one of the three sectors and the other two being Busingiro Sector and Kaniyo-Pabide.The site covers about 739square kilometres . The site is mainly a forest and mostly habors typical Forest Species  The mile is very famous because the former famous king of Bunyoro Kingdom used that stretch through the forest while he was fleeing from being arrested by the british. The whole mile is covered with trees and a record number of 350 different trees have been recorded including the two endangered mahorgany trees(Khaya Senegalensis and Khaya Anthotheca),a record of 240 different bird species has been recorded and about 20 different mammals have been recorded. The mile is true birders paradise giving you an opportunity to see different bird species like the Budongo 5s.I.e Choclate-backed Kingfisher,Ituri Batis,Dwarf Kingfisher,Chestnut-capped Flycatcher and Blue-breasted Kingfisher. Among other rare species are the Nahan's Patridge,Gray Ground Thrush and the Black-eared Ground thrush. The site is protected by National Forestry Authority and maximum supervison is always ensured to see that the forest is  not encronched on. The mile is an important area because it provides employment opportumities to locals that get hired every time you go bird watching and through bird protecting the forest the locals have also started planting trees close to the forest and the last kilometre to the forest gate this can be witnessed by the pine,musizi and eucalyptus trees that have been planted around.

  • Top species

List up to ca. 25 species that:
• have a limited distribution range and/or are rare on a global level
• are most sought-after by birdwatchers at this site
• and are relatively easy to see at this site (year-round or seasonally)

Sabine's Spinetail (Rhaphidura sabini)
Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia)
Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica)
Ituri Batis (Batis ituriensis)
Uganda Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus budongoensis)
Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (Erythrocercus mccallii)
Black-eared Ground-Thrush (Geokichla camaronensis)
Gray Ground-Thrush (Geokichla princei)

Sabine's Spinetail (Rhaphidura sabini) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:04:29)

Gray Ground-Thrush (Geokichla princei) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:04:12)

Black-eared Ground-Thrush (Geokichla camaronensis) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:03:27)

Uganda Woodland-Warbler (Phylloscopus budongoensis) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:02:22)

Ituri Batis (Batis ituriensis) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:02:09)

Chocolate-backed Kingfisher (Halcyon badia) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:01:54)

Blue-breasted Kingfisher (Halcyon malimbica) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:01:21)

Chestnut-capped Flycatcher (Erythrocercus mccallii) was added by Arshley Brian (2023-05-02 14:00:58)

  • Timing and strategy

Royal mile is best to visit during the last rainy season because most birds are active while hunting down for different insects(As per my experience from late march-mid November) it would really be a good season to visit.

The morning from about 8:30am is always the best time too enter the forest.

a minimum of 5 hours and a maximum of 8 hours would be good time to spend in the Royal Mile

The best and most productive mean would be walking since its a wide trail covered by the tree canopies.

Royal Mile only has one big trail that is 1.3km and the walk starts from the wooden gate to the last Wooden Bridge that has a stream flowing beneath it

However about 15 minutes drive from Royal Mile there is another birding site called Busingiro Forest.its one of the 3 birding sites found in Budongo Forest

You cant access Royal Mile without a guide,You can never permited to take a self guided tour.

Give recommendations for making your visit as productive as possible.
This may include for instance:
• best season
• best time of the day
• how much time to spend at the site
• best means of locomotion within the site
• recommended routes / areas within the site
• guiding

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:16
Royal mile is best to visit during the last rainy season because most birds are active while hunting down for different insects(As per my experience from late march-mid November) it would really be a good season to visit. The morning from about 8:30am is always the best time too enter the forest. a minimum of 5 hours and a maximum of 8 hours would be good time to spend in the Royal Mile The best and most productive mean would be walking since its a wide trail covered by the tree canopies. Royal Mile only has one big trail that is 1.3km and the walk starts from the wooden gate to the last Wooden Bridge that has a stream flowing beneath it However about 15 minutes drive from Royal Mile there is another birding site called Busingiro Forest.its one of the 3 birding sites found in Budongo Forest You cant access Royal Mile without a guide,You can never permited to take a self guided tour.
  • How to get there

Its much more efficient if you are using a private car,there are also public means that drive from masindi or Biiso but they are so congested.

You still can sit on a motorcylce from masindi town and it will take you roughly 45-1 hr to get there 

Explain from where and how to get to this site with private and public transport.

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:23
Its much more efficient if you are using a private car,there are also public means that drive from masindi or Biiso but they are so congested. You still can sit on a motorcylce from masindi town and it will take you roughly 45-1 hr to get there 

Depending on where you are coming from

If its from kampala or from the North,Make sure you drive up to Masindi town procced on the dirt road like you are driving to Kinyara Sugar Factory,after the last sugar cane plantation as you start to ascend a small hill in the corner on your write is a big white signpost with green writtings showing Nyabyeya Forestry College then turn to your write and drive for 4km up to the royal mile wooden gate

You can pay on arrival and it depends on how long you are to stay in the forest if it is half day then you can pay $30 us dollars and if its a full day then you pay $55us dollars.

Other restrictions to follow is that you are supposed to stay on the main trail and dont go off it

You are not supposed to carry anything(specimen)from the forest

Littering is not allowed in the park.

Provide information on how to enter this site, which may include:
• entry points
• entry permits / entry tickets and fees
• opening hours / opening season
• other restrictions

Note that this section should only contain information on how to ACCESS (= enter) a site. Info on how to REACH a site should be added to "How to get there" section.

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:45
Depending on where you are coming from If its from kampala or from the North,Make sure you drive up to Masindi town procced on the dirt road like you are driving to Kinyara Sugar Factory,after the last sugar cane plantation as you start to ascend a small hill in the corner on your write is a big white signpost with green writtings showing Nyabyeya Forestry College then turn to your write and drive for 4km up to the royal mile wooden gategate You can pay on arrival and it depends on how long you are to stay in the forest if it is half day then you can pay $30 us dollars and if its a full day then you pay $55us dollars. Other restrictions to follow is that you are supposed to stay on the main trail and dont go off it You are not supposed to carry anything(specimen)from the forest Littering is not allowed in the park.
Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:25
Depending on where you are coming from If its from kampala or from the North,Make sure you drive up to Masindi town procced on the dirt road like you are driving to Kinyara Sugar Factory,after the last sugar cane plantation as you start to ascend a small hill in the corner on your write is a big white signpost with green writtings showing Nyabyeya Forestry College then turn to your write and drive for 4km up to the royal mile wooden gate
  • Other attractions

There are different wildlife like Red-tailed Monkeys,Blue Monkeys,Mantled Guereza Colobus,Bohom's tree squirell and on a lucky day you can see Chimps Crossing although most of the times they are more heard than seen.

Royal mile is one of the key butterfly spots in the country where you stand a chance to photograph some of the most beautiful butterflys like the African map,Blue-mother of Pearl,Forest Mother of pearl Blue-banded swallowtail,Spot-blue Pansy butterflys among others

If you are an ectomologist the spot is one of the best areas in uganda to photograph dragonflys,dameslfy like Slender Skimmer,Tri-coloured Marsh-hawk,Red-veined Dropwing,Golden Damselfly, Persian Blue Damselfly among other insects.

Among other activities to see if you have time,you would spare and visit the Polish Church where some of the Polish Second World War Victims were settled.

Add information about other attractions at this site, including
• wildlife (apart from birds)
• sights (natural, cultural, archaeological, etc.)
• activities (e.g. for non-birding companions)

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:45
There are different wildlife like Red-tailed Monkeys,Blue Monkeys,Mantled Guereza Colobus,Bohom's tree squirell and on a lucky day you can see Chimps Crossing although most of the times they are more heard than seen. Royal mile is one of the key butterfly spots in the country where you stand a chance to photograph some of the most beautiful butterflys like the African map,Blue-mother of Pearl,Forest Mother of pearl Blue-banded swallowtail,Spot-blue Pansy butterflys among others If you are an ectomologist the spot is one of the best areas in uganda to photograph dragonflys,dameslfy like Slender Skimmer,Tri-coloured Marsh-hawk,Red-veined Dropwing,Golden Damselfly, Persian Blue Damselfly among other insects. Among other activities to see if you have time,you would spare and visit the Polish Church where some of the Polish Second World War Victims were settledsettled.
Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:40
There are different wildlife like Red-tailed Monkeys,Blue Monkeys,Mantled Guereza Colobus,Bohom's tree squirell and on a lucky day you can see Chimps Crossing although most of the times they are more heard than seen. Royal mile is one of the key butterfly spots in the country where you stand a chance to photograph some of the most beautiful butterflys like the African map,Blue-mother of Pearl,Forest Mother of pearl Blue-banded swallowtail,Spot-blue Pansy butterflys among others If you are an ectomologist the spot is one of the best areas in uganda to photograph dragonflys,dameslfy like Slender Skimmer,Tri-coloured Marsh-hawk,Red-veined Dropwing,Golden Damselfly, Persian Blue Damselfly among other insects. Among other activities to see if you have time,you would spare and visit the Polish Church where some of the Polish Second World War Victims were settled

If you get in touch with the local guide i can provide all the required information you would need about Royal Mile.

Royal Mile does not have any accomodation facilities however the best and most efficient option is to sleep in maasindi town and the best hotes to recommend are Masindi Hotel,Kabalega Resort Hotel and New Court View Hotel.

There are no catering services around Royal Mile,the best option is to carry packed lunch from you place of accomodation or you can stop by in Masindi Town and order for something .

There are no desiginated washrooms and the best option is to use bush toilets.

Provide information about what type of facilities are available at
or near this site, including:
• information centers / information points
• catering
• accommodation
• hides and watchtowers
• restrooms / toilets

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 14:06
If you get in touch with the local guide i can provide all the required information you would need about Royal Mile. Royal Mile does not have any accomodation facilities however the best and most efficient option is to sleep in maasindi town and the best hotes to recommend are Masindi Hotel,Kabalega Resort Hotel and New Court View Hotel. There are no catering services around Royal Mile,the best option is to carry packed lunch from you place of accomodation or you can stop by in Masindi Town and order for something . There are no desiginated washrooms and the best option is to use bush toilets.
Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 13:54
If you get in touch with the local guide i can provide all the required information you would need about Royal Mile. There are no catering services around Royal Mile,the best option is to carry packed lunch from you place of accomodation or you can stop by in Masindi Town and order for something . There are no desiginated washrooms and the best option is to use bush toilets.

The place is all safe and there has never any theft robbery cases.

The only annoying animals are the Common Baboons(Papio Anubis)  they some times keep barking which may hinder your concentration when bird watching.

There is no noise pollution except once in a while when you find the baboons on the trail.

Are there any security issues or other annoyances at this site? For
instance, these may include:
• offenses like robbery or theft
• natural hazards
• dangerous or annoying animals or plants (mosquitoes, leaches, thorn bushes, etc.)
• noise pollution

Edited by Arshley Brian on 2023-05-02 14:00
The place is all safe and there has never any theft robbery cases. The only annoying animals are the Common Baboons(Papio Anubis)  they some times keep barking which may hinder your concentration when bird watching. There is no noise pollution except once in a while when you find the baboons on the trail.
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