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Maramagambo Forest is located in Bushenyi district in south western region of Uganda. It adjoins the Queen Elizabeth National Park to the north. It is jointly managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority and the National Forestry Authority. Within the forest is a bat cave which has been the source of vi
rulent diseases. In 1987, a tourist from the Netherlands was exposed to Marburg virus present in the bats that live in the volcanic tube cave and developed Marburg virus disease. Following this outbreak, the cave was closed until the construction of a viewing platform with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The forest is bordered by two crater lakes, Lake Kyasanduka and Lake Nyamasingiri. Many chimpanzees, red-tailed monkeys, and Bates's pygmy antelopes can be found here. In 2023, the government of Uganda made a move to convert the forest into a national park because of rumours of illegal deforestation and lumbering, and for wildlife protection.
Listen to the audio guide for Maramagambo Forest Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off