Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve is located in the North eastern side of Uganda the same great location to untouched safari destination renown as Kidepo Valley National Park that boosts with over 86 mammal’s species and more than 500 bird species plus stunning mountain home to the unique IK People among others. More so, the reserve was established in 1964 and covers an area of about 794 square miles and marked as the second largest wildlife reserve in Uganda and is part of the wider Semi-arid Karamoja Wildlife Conservation region including; Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve and Matheniko Game Reserve.
Therefore, three game reserves were named after the four ethnic division of the Karamojong tribe; Upe, Pian, Matheniko and Bokora. Each ethic group live close to the wildlife reserve. Inspite, the Upe and Pian live near to pian Upe wildlife reserve, the Matheniko occupy areas close Matheniko Wildlife Reserve while the Bokora live close to the Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve.
Despite the reserve is comprised of dry plains with Mount Kadam and Mount Napaka the most amazing features, the plains are composed of mainly savannah grasslands, shrubs, short tree and bush. Bokora Wildlife Reserve offers scenic landscape and wildlife species but the roads that leads there can be in poor conditions during the rainy season.
What challenges faced by Bokora Wildlife Reserve species and nature is the encroachment and outright occupation by local communities living around the reserve.
The Karamoja region are the local people who live within the area, for years had been unstable because of tribal wars and cattle rustling lead to loss of their animals and had to get to other means of survival. Fortunately, the peace has returned and most of the Karamojong warriors disarmed and many families live in abject poverty. Now some of them survived on cultivating food or use the reserve for grazing during heavy drought. However much, Uganda Wildlife Authority evicts them from time to time, the problem of encroachment still appears. The location seems to have been made a challenge by the local politicians who often rise selfish reason.
Due to the hunger and drought which is experienced during the dry season which helps many of the pastoralists from their home by construct water holes, the Uganda’s government and other humanitarian Agencies have come up with great solution to contain the situation. Recently the Karamojong region has faced drought which lead number people to death but the United National World Food Programs has helped the region by help of supplement the diet of communities facing starvation.
Those seeking for accommodation stay on safari can book lodge facility in Kidepo Valley national park.
Wildlife Species in Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
The Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve is inhabitant of plants and animal species that have been hardened by the Semi-arid conditions in the reserve. Animals expect to explore here includes; Spotted Cheetahs, Hartebeests, Elands, Leopards, Roan antelopes, Spotted hyenas, Rothschild’s Giraffes, Striped hyenas, Topis, Uganda Kobs and Zebras.
Bird life
Bokora corridor wildlife reserve is home to various bird species such as Grey-Shrike, Hartlaub’s Turaco, Jackson’s Hornbills, Lemon Dove, Thick-billed Honey guide, White-headed Buffalo-weaver, Eastern Bronze –napped pigeons, Black –throated Wattle-eye, Dusky Turtle Doves mentioned but few. The best site for birding is at Loporokocho swamp.
Top things to do in Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
Visit the Karamojong People
Ideally, this reserve is home to the Karamojong people and if you take a visit to the reserve or park can go for an interesting cultural tour of this unique tribe in order to discover the true African natives. Note, the Karamojong are nomadic pastoralists and rely on their cattle which provide to them meat, manure, hides and milk. They also take cow blood during hottest months of the year. They refused to change their identity into modern ways of living thus making it the best tribe to visit in a true indigenous African tribe. On visit to their region you can participate with them out to graze cattle’s, learn how to milk cows as well as taking park in the evening traditional dances.
Game drive
The reserve lies in semi-arid area boosting with range of wildlife species. On visit for three ‘’3days’’ expect to spot numerous antelopes, lions, buffaloes, giraffes, hyenas, cheetahs and elephants among others.
Birding in Bokora
The Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve experience the dry months and the best time to go for birding, because it supports the world largest bird species; the Ostrich and other bird species can be spotted. Wild Ostriches are widely spread in dry conditions and plains because they can spot approaching predators even smaller animal species which are interested in their eggs.
Note; For a complete safari in northeastern region, one can combine a visit to Bokora Wildlife Reserve with a safari to Kidepo Valley National Park, Matheniko Wildlife Reserve and Pian Upe wildlife reserve among others.
Best time to go for safari in northeastern region of Uganda;
The reserve is all year visited although the dry season is the best season to visit the wildlife and engaging in amazing activities, dry months starts from June to September and December to February. The rain seasons happens in the months of April to May and November within these period roads become impassable in some sections however, it leads to beautiful scenery ad green vegetation.
Note; During the driest part of the year heat can be hard to contain because of too much sunshine.
