Kabwoya wildlife Reserve is a hidden gem situated within the Western side of the Albertine Rift Valley between the breath-taking Blue Mountains of the Congo and Lake Albert and covers an area of 8,700 km². One of the most and finest wildlife reserve was gazetted in 1980 and became a wildlife Reserve in 2002 but until today, few people know about it. The reserve is characterized by remote savannah plains along Lake Albert and tourists can enjoy the striking views of Lake Albert and the magnificent Blue mountains of Democratic Republic of Congo. Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve used to be a controlled hunting ground and used to house numerous wildlife species but was eventually wiped out due to the high rate of poaching, and then become the Reserve.
Originally in the 1960s, Kabwoya wildlife reserve was a controlled hunting ground and it was a home to a huge population of wildlife and of various species. Few years later, all animals were wiped out by poachers, local cattle herders took over the land thereby driving the few animals that were left out of the reserve.
Activities in Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Some of the common tourist activities within Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve include Fishing, Horseback rides, Fossil hunting, Guided Nature walks, birding, game drives, birding, and boat rides among others.
Fishing within Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve is conducted from Lake Albert where tourists can be able to catch different sizes of the Nile Perch. Half-day or full-day fishing adventures using motorboats can be organized for tourists. Only a maximum of three anglers is allowed in each boat for safety reasons.
Fossil hunting is one of the most important and interesting activities that allow tourists to hunt for fossils that have existed for generations.
Mountain Bike Riding is characterized by a must-do activity for tourists who are interested in exercising while at the same time view different wildlife species within the Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve. The savannah plains of the reserve offer magnificent biking trails where participants can ride through easily.
Kabwoya is the only Wildlife Reserve where Quad biking is conducted and this allows you to view wildlife in an extraordinary way. You will relish the breathtaking scenery of the Wildlife reserve and bird species.
There are over 460 bird species including the Albertine Rift endemic bird species making it the best spot for bird lovers. You will need cameras and binoculars for an ultimate birding experience to marvel such activity at its best.
Besides Lake Mburo National Park, Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve is another place where tourists can relish horseback rides in the wild. The most recommended time is early morning or sunset were a variety of wildlife such as buffaloes, duikers, and warthogs can be sighted.
Nature walks is a must-do for most tourists who visit Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve. The most interesting is when the nature walks are conducted from the Albertine rift escarpment that rewards tourists with the breath taking views of several antelope species, warthogs, primates, and bird species among others.
Guests exploring the reserve can enjoy a stay at the intimate Lake Albert Safari Lodge, perched on the rims Murchison Falls National Park, this sophisticated five-star country lodge.
What to expect from Kabwoya wildlife reserve
Today however, if you visit the place you will realize that there is some improvement ever since it declared as a wild life reserve. Since then the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority has been and is still introducing more wildlife in to this reserve. At the moment, there are animals like the antelopes, Uganda Kobs, impalas, the bushbucks, and the Duikers as well as the hartebeests, among others which all used to be used to exist in the 1960’s.
For those who are interested in primates, there is a number of different primates which means primates watching is very much possible in this reserve. There are some like the baboons which are commonly seen along cliffs, there are chimpanzees, some few white and black colobus monkeys and the ordinary Vevert monkeys which you can find in that forest along the banks of river Hoywa and wamababya. The presecence of the chimpanzees give you a chance to go for some mini chimpanzee trekking experience.
There are also the aquatic which include the hippos and these come from Lake Albert. Important to note is the fact that this reserve is amazingly growing, the wildlife population in the reserve is slow but steadily expanding.
As a matter of fact, Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve’s major tourism attraction is not the existing wildlife but rather that beautiful scenery which makes the place seem like it’s some kind of heaven.
During your v to Kabwoya wildlife reserve, you can always do a guided nature, do a simple game drive around and you can also do some bird watching at the same time as the nature walk and you can also go for the fossil hunting but this will require a skilled person in this field of fossils.
Visiting Kabwoya is a perfect choice for any one driving through the area between Murchison fall national park and Kibale national park and wishes to have a little bit of more wildlife experience and amusement during the trip.
