Three-horned chameleons in Bwindi
Three-horned chameleons in Bwindi: Situated in the southwestern part of Uganda is Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, home to endangered mountain gorillas but it has a lot more to offer such as nature walks, birding, community tours, among others. Bwindi impenetrable forest national park is home to rare three horned chameleons. The three horned chameleons can be called Jackson’s chameleon or Kikuyu three horned chameleon.
They are a species of chameleon that belong to a family of Chamaeleonidae and they are from East Africa however they were introduced to places like California and Hawaii. Three-horned chameleons in Uganda can be found in a few places and among them include Bwindi impenetrable forest national park and Rwenzori mountain national park.
They were named three horned chameleons because of the three brown horns that are found on the head of the male ones. Female three horned chameleons don’t have horns but the males have three horns which are one on the nose and the other two each on the eye. The horns are used in fighting matches between males of the same species.
Three horned chameleons in Bwindi are in most times green in color because they stay on green vegetation but just like any other chameleons, they do change color depending on the temperature, health, and mood. The male three horned chameleons reach a total length of 38cm while the females reach 25cm. The male chameleons live longer than the females but their lifespan changes.
The female three horned chameleons reach sexual maturity at the age of 9 months. Unlike other chameleons who lay off eggs, three horned chameleons carry their eggs inside the body and hatch them in a thick sack. Three horned chameleons do prove about 20 to 30 off-springs per brood after a gestation of 5-6 months. The babies of three horned chameleons are on their own right from birth and female ones do breed again just 20 days after giving birth. The young ones will take 9 months to become sexually active.
Threats to three-horned chameleons include birds, snakes, lizards, and some mammals and if they avoid these predators makes can live u to 10 years old while females can live up to 8 years. Three horned chameleons in Bwindi can be seen living in the tropical forests at altitudes of 1600 to 2400 above sea level. They feed on different invertebrates which include flies, insects, millipeds, centipedes, roaches, mealworms, crickets, spiders and much more using their long sticky tongue to catch prey.
Three horned chameleons are not poisonous or venomous but you should never eat a chameleon. They are very peaceful but they can hiss or bite which is painful if handled badly. Travelers that are interested in tracking and encountering three horned chameleons can visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park.
Best time to visit Bwindi impenetrable forest national park?
Travelers that are interested in seeing three horned chameleons in Bwindi can visit the park at any time of the year however there are months that are better than the rest. The dry months from June to September and December to February are the best to visit the park because there is little or no rainfall that leaves the trails dry, the vegetation is short which makes it easy for you to spot the chameleon and the roads leading to the park are in good condition.
Travelers can still visit Bwindi in the rainy season of March to May and October to November to encounter three-horned chameleons but this favors budget travelers because the lodges are at a discount. The rainy season is however characterized by too much rainfall that makes the trails muddy and slippery, the vegetation is tall and thick which might be hard for you to locate the chameleons and the roads connecting to the park are in poor conditions.
Accessing Bwindi impenetrable forest national park?
To get to Bwindi impenetrable forest national park for mountain gorillas and three-horned chameleons you need about 9-10 hours from Kampala through Masaka, Mbarara, Kabale, Kisoro, or Kanungu. You take 4-5 hours from Kigali to Bwindi using Katuna birder in Kabale or Cyanika border in Kisoro. Luxury travelers need about hours to get to Bwindi if they fly from Kajjansi airstrip or Entebbe international airport to Kihihi airstrip or Kisoro airstrip to any of the park sectors.
Accommodations in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park
There are so many accommodation facilities in Bwindi impenetrable forest national park where travelers can stay while on a visit to the park. These accommodation facilities are found in different sectors of the park ranging from budget to mid-range to luxury options with where to stay depending on your budget.
Some of the accommodation facilities in Bwindi include Bakiga Lodge, Buhoma Lodge, Rushaga Gorilla Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Ichumbi Gorilla Lodge, Ride 4 Women Guest House, Four Gorillas Lodge, Nkuringo Bwindi Gorilla Lodge, Lake Mulehe Gorilla Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Safari Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Agandi Lodge, and Chameleon Hill Lodge among others.
