Game Reserves in Uganda / Uganda Game Reserves; Uganda over all boasts with a total of 12 wildlife reserve – famous Uganda wildlife reserve thus forming a great rewarding attraction of wildlife species on Uganda Safaris that marks Uganda destination worth a visit.
Below are the lists of Uganda Game Reserves or Wildlife Reserves;
Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Toro-Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
Matheniko Wildlife Game Reserve
Karuma Wildlife Game Reserve
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Kyambura Wildlife Game Reserve
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
Katonga Wildlife Game Reserve
Uganda as a destination offers a great chance to the tourists who visit the country on their Wildlife safari to discover what really makes the country to be astonish stopping destination for the best wildlife viewing experience. Uganda is astonished with 12 remarkable wildlife reserves. However, wildlife reserve is defined as an area set aside to preserve other country’s biological diversity, landscape or natural heritage as well as offering visitors a gainful viewing scenic nature, recreation, scientific research and regulated extractive utilization of resources.
Pian Upe Game Reserve-Bokora –Matheniko Wildlife Game Reserve
These game reserves are found in North Eastern region of Uganda that houses the same species with Kidepo Valley National Park thus forming the great Karamoja wildlife protection zone. Wildlife species includes; Cheetah, roan antelopes, elands, greater kudus, topis, spotted hyenas, leopard, zebras among others. Though among them pian upe game reserve is the best area in Uganda to explore Cheetahs.
Toro- Semuliki Wildlife Reserve
The Toro-Semuliki wildlife reserve is located in western side of Uganda near Semuliki National Park a best location to birders. This reserve offers an amazing checklist which includes many birding special species. At the reserve there is Ornithologist guide will assist you in locating and identifying hundreds of avifauna such as the rare shoebills in the reserve.
In western Uganda, along on the banks of River Katonga and around there found Katonga Wildlife Reserve, one of the best places in East Africa to encounter rare march dwelling sitatunga antelope.
Ajai Wildlife Reserve Uganda
This reserve is located in Northwestern Uganda along the shore of the mighty Albert Nile near the Arua district ,a home to wildlife species such as hippos ,crocodiles and reptiles like pythons. Ajai wildlife Reserve spans over 166 square kilometers covered by grassland which is managed by a local chief named ‘’Ajai’’ 1930s thus the reserve got its name from him. Up to 1980, the wildlife Reserve was one of the few safari locations where White Rhinos can be encountered during a Uganda Wildlife Safari. Although, are now extinct within the Wildlife Reserve. It’s the reason as to why was called Ajai Rhino Sanctuary. It used to shelter over 60 white Rhinos of the total 80 of these species that Uganda had.
Kyambura Wildlife Game Reserve –Uganda
Kyambura forest reserve in Queen Elizabeth National Park lies on the north-eastern side of Queen Elizabeth National Park, estimates 30 kilometers from the park headquarters. Kyambura Gorge covers a distance of 11 kilometers and connects to the Kazinga Channel which forms the northern boundary of the reserve. This reserve’s area covers about 156sqaure kilometers. In 1963 the area was first established as a Controlled as Hunting Area and was gazette as a game reserve in 1965 now here it is.
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve Uganda
Kabwoya Game Reserve is a hidden area that lies on the floor of Albertine Rift Valley. More so, the reserve is located between the Rift Valley escarpment, Lake Albert as well as the breathtaking blue mountains of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west. This reserve offers visitors a best scenic area in western Uganda region.
More so, this reserve covers an area of about 87 square kilometers and to its north is bordered by a community wildlife Area called Kaiso –Tonya. Originally the two areas Kaiso-Tonyo were Controlled Hunting Area, gazetted in 1963. This area become a reserve in 2002 till today, though few people know about it.
Karuma Wildlife Game Reserve –Uganda
The reserve covers an area of about 820 square kilometers. Karuma wildlife Game Reserve was established as a wildlife reserve in 1964 to act as a buffer zone lying between the Murchison falls National Park and the surrounding villages.
The reserve is found in Kiryandongo district in western Uganda, that stands an elevation of 902 meters above sea level. The wildlife offers a gainful view of roaring Karuma waterfalls that lies on the Victoria Nile. These waterfalls are located not far from Murchison Falls National Park known as the oldest and largest Uganda National Park. This is an extensive area that inhabits wide range of animal’s species such as elephants.
Bugungu Wildlife Reserve Uganda
This reserve was established in 1908 in order to shelter and protect the savannahs grassland and seasonal wetlands at the edge of the great Rift Valley escarpments to the western side of the famous Murchison Falls National Park Uganda. Meanwhile, Bugungu wildlife reserve is part of Murchison Falls Conservation Area that makes up the Murchison Falls National Park. This reserve is positioned between Buliisa and Masindi district.
Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
Kigezi Wildlife game reserve is located within the Rukungiri district western Uganda close to the Maramangambo forest. Just know the place is worthwhile for travelers planning a visit to Uganda Safari Tour to adventure the amazing attractions of the Maramangambo forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda. It was established in 1952 and cover an area pf about 265 square kilometers. The game reserve is characterized by different habitats which includes; Open grasslands, woodlands and savannah.
Katonga Wildlife Game Reserve
This game reserve lies in western Uganda along the banks of River Katonga in Kamwenge districts. The wildlife reserve is located within area of about 207 square kilometers and was gazetted in 1964 as a game reserve to serve to the migrating wildlife species from western Uganda to Tanzania and South Sudan.
East Madi Wildlife Reserve
The East Madi Wildlife Reserve lies in Northern Western Uganda in the north of Murchison Falls in Amuru district. It sits on an area covering about 831 square kilometers of land inhabiting over 50 mammal species, around 181 species of birds and over 374 plant species thus making nature walk, wildlife viewing and birding much rewarding. There are variety primate’s species to encounter here include; Vervet monkeys, Blue monkeys, Colobus monkeys and Red-tail monkeys.
Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
This reserve is located in Karamoja sub-region North East of Uganda and is among the most visited reserve when it comes to tourism industry, because it offers a great protection of conservation areas in Uganda. In spite of the attractions like Lesser Kudu, Roan Antelopes, Bright’s Gazelle and Ostriches which can only be found in untouched wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park as well as rare –notable bird species such as Alpine chat, Grey –Cuckoo shrike and thick Billed Honey Guide which can be seen while touring the reserve. This wildlife reserve rewards with beautiful ancient rock painting which have existing for over 3000 years ago. Activities carried out here include; birding, nature walks, community and cultural visits. Can be visited all year round.
Notes; A travelers may choose to do a combined trip with a visit to other outstanding tourist destination like a visit to Murchison Falls, Bwindi National Park ,Kampala City tours among others.
