Mabira Forest Canopy Super Skyway Zip Lining …
The Mabira Forest Canopy Super Skyway Zip Lining through the Tree-Tops of Mabira Forest – an experience like no other in Uganda.
Mabira Forest is 45 minutes from Kampala on the highway to Jinja. Those seeking adrenaline pumping adventure pass through it and may make a comment or two as to how green the forest is but then it is on to White Water Rafting, Kayaking, Bungee Jumping, Quad Biking, and more in the Adventure Capital of Jinja.
In 2014 Mabira Forest Canopy Super Skyway Zip Lining opened and there is a whole new adventure for Adrenaline Junkies in the otherwise tranquil Rainforest. Another major reason to visit Mabira Rainforest,
Mabira Forest is coming alive and it not just the sounds of illegal loggers, Mabira Forest is being developed into sustainable tourism site something various officials and non-officials have spoken of, but nothing came of it.
A few years back I read of a Tourism Official saying that a Canopy Walk or a Zip-Line would be a great tourist drawing attraction, but nothing came of it, just an article, just a statement.
In 2012 – Aaron Blanchard who hailed from the small farming community of Carnation (population less than 1400) in Washington State joined the Peace Corps as a volunteer – the country he was sent to was Uganda where he worked out of Mukono, but wound up at Mabira Forest and that is where the story gets interesting.
Normally when one sees a new activity, one writes up a post on the activity – but there is a story behind the Mabira Forest Canopy Super Skyway Zip Lining Project.
Aaron Blanchard had grown up in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains and now he was in the only Rainforest remaining in Central Uganda and somehow he came up with the seeming crazy idea of a canopy zip-line through the forest.
Aaron Blanchard wrote up a grant proposal, submitted it, it was duly authorized and the money came. He found sources for what he needed – some in the USA and received breaks in price, even though Washington States Premier Outdoor Stores REI ignored him. With a crew of fearless tree-climbing Ugandans the project came into being. The Ugandan National Forest Authority gave its blessing, Insurance was obtained, Sky Captains were trained to assist tourist and the project is a go and tomorrow morning you can zip through the Mabira Forest canopy. The equipment used meets International Safety requirements and standards was approved by Ugandan Government Engineers and is insured by a major Ugandan Company.
It cost the Ugandan government nothing but giving the OK to the project. Ugandans have gained employment, more will come and stay overnight at either Griffin Falls Camp, which Aaron Blanchard has also given a makeover to, or at the up-market Mabira Rainforest Lodge.
Uganda needs more true investors like Aaron Blanchard from Carnation WA, a small town young man with big dreams and abilities to make them happen. Thanks to the American Peace Corps and Aaron Blanchard, and all the others.
Today there are six platforms in the tree tops – 5 zip lines over 220 yards long and you even cross River Musamya before you repel to the forest floor and hike back across Griffin Falls on the way to Griffin Falls Camp.
If you are an Adrenaline Junkie – head East to Jinja and enjoy, but on the way there or on the return trip to Kampala stop at Mabira Forest, spend the night and enjoy zip-lining through the trees.
If you are going on Safari with us, we would love to write into your itinerary a day or two at Mabira Forest taking the Mabira Forest Canopy Super Skyway Zip Lining above the forest canopy, seeing monkeys below such as the rare Uganda Mangabey Monkey that can now be tracked here, or the some of the 315 species of birds found in Mabira Fores.
