Uganda Wildlife Reserve; Wildlife Reserve in Uganda – The Pearl of Africa it is named such because of the nature gifted to her such as diversity in wildlife, Bird species, beautiful vegetation, stunning lakes and rivers, unique cultural as well as hospital people among others. However, Uganda boosts with over 12 wildlife Reserve   that offers perfect experience to the people who visits the area. Each reserve inhabits to different wildlife from animal species like Cape buffaloes, African elephants and vast primate species to the smallest species.  These reserves offer amazing views with undulating terrains, diverse vegetation coupled with abundant activities to indulge when you visit the wildlife reserved on Uganda Safaris.

Below are the ‘’12’’ Uganda Wildlife Reserve to visit while on Uganda Safari as follows;

Ajai Wildlife Reserve Uganda

 The Ajai wildlife Reserve Uganda is found at the edge of the west bank of the Albertine Nile in north western Uganda in Arua district covering over 166 square Kilometers of land. The area is comprised of grass plains, sparse savannah woodland and swamps that describe the reserves topography and it’s a good destination for birders and some of birds to see includes; Black headed weaver, Grey-crowned cranes, white browed council, Helmeted Guinea fowl, Marabou stocks, Africa Fish eagles among others.

Uganda Wildlife Reserves
Ajai Wildlife Reserve Uganda

Animal species to see includes; Warthogs, Buffalo, Common Duiker, Olive baboons, Black and white, Leopards, Uganda Kobs, Sitatunga, Buffalo, Snakes, Hippopotamuses, primate species; Black and White Colobus monkeys and Vervet monkeys many more. There is a plan of re-introducing rhino and the Nile Buffalos, originally home to white rhinos.

Bugungu Wildlife Reserve

Bugungu Wildlife Reserve is located between the Buliisa and Masindi districts at the edge of the rift valley escarpment to the western side of Murchison Falls National Park. However, the reserve covers an area of about 473 square kilometers which are inhabits of about 600 Uganda Kobs ,12,00 Oribis many more and around 240 bird species. The reserve has interesting trails that allows visitors on visit to have chances to enjoy a game drive, nature walks and others activities combined with community visits like culture tour near the reserve, camping, picnics and bird watching.

Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve Uganda

Kabwoya wildlife reserve Uganda  is located along the western rift valley  trail that lies between Murchison Falls National Park and Kibale Forest National Park ,covers about 87 square miles. While the reserve sits around the Albertine rift valley region close to Lake Albert, fishing is one of the main activities   done by communities that live around the reserve.  The most caught fish species is Nile perch. On visit here, you can participate in guided hikes and nature walks and it also has amazing topography that allows mountain bike safaris and Quad biking experience and fossil which is quite good for visitors on safari with children, Uganda Wildlife Reserves.

The reserve is a paradise of birders with over 460bird species to encounter which includes; Northern Carmine Bee-eaters ,Stripe breasted –tit ,Grey Parrot ,Western Nicator ,Yellow-billed Oxpeckers ,dwarf honey guide ,Bare faced Go-away bird among others.

Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve

 Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve lies in north- Eastern Uganda in the Karamoja Sub region and the word Bokora was got from the ethnic group of the Bokora people.

The reserve sits of around 2056 square kilometers with scenic landscape a great destination for birding quite unique to the north eastern region.  Birding is best done at Loporokocho swamp, hikes to Mount Kadam and nature walks as well as community tour visit the cattle kraals of the Bokora people.

Most adventured animal species in the reserve includes; Rothschild’s Giraffes, Spotted Hyenas, Leopards, Topis, Oryx Oribis, Striped hyenas, Uganda kobs, Reedbucks, Lesser kudu, Roan antelopes, Eland among others.

Bird species to see includes; Dusky Turtle Dove, African Hill Babbler, Mountain Yellow-warbler, Black-Throated Wattle-Eye, Lemon Dove, Thick-Billed Honey Guide, Ostriches, Eastern Bronze –Napped pigeon mentioned but few.

Katonga Wildlife Reserve Uganda

Katonga Wildlife reserve lies on the banks of Katonga River and a home of about 40 mammal’s species such as; Sitatunga antelopes, Uganda Kob, African Elephants, River Otter, Reedbucks, waterbucks many more.

Due to the absence of maintains in road networks thus making Katonga Wildlife Reserve best for safari and visitors can explore it on foot and canoe.

The reserve is a home to about 150 bird species includes; Madagascar Pond-Heron, Purple Heron ,Goliath Heron ,Black –headed Heron ,Grey Heron , Rufous-bellied Heron ,Cattle egret ,Little Egret ,Intermediate Heron ,Squacco Heron among others .

Kigezi Wildlife Reserve

 Kigezi Wildlife Reserve lies in Rukungiri district in western Uganda, covering over 265 square kilometers home to numerous wildlife species such as; Buffaloes Giant Forest Hogs , Bushbucks ,Topis ,Kobs and various bird species   like Grey-crowned cranes ,Verreaux’s Eagle ,Saddle-billed stork ,Red- faced barbets ,Peregrines Falcons ,Hammerkop among others, Uganda Wildlife Reserves.

Karuma Wildlife Reserve

The Karuma Wildlife Reserve lies next to Murchison Falls National Park where you can combine a visit to Karuma with Murchison Falls National Park activities. Primates to see in Karuma includes; Olive baboons, Black and White colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys and L’Hoest Monkeys among others, animals to explore includes Buffaloes, Lions, Leopards, Rothschild giraffes, elephants, lions, Oribis, Topis among others.

Uganda Wildlife Reserves
Karuma Falls

It is also a great birding destination such as; Yellow-throated leaf, Rock particle, Giant heron, Senegal think-nee, Red- throated bee-eater, Giant kingfisher, Swamp flycatcher among others.

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve sounds as the second largest conservation area after Murchison Falls National Park, located in Nakapiripirit district in North Eastern Uganda and from Kampala to access Pian Upe is a drive through Mbale.

Animals that call Pian Upe their home includes; Roan antelopes, Common duiker, Serval cats, Elands, Zebras, Rock hyrax, waterbucks, cheetahs among others. It is also home to primates like Vervet monkeys, olive baboons, patas monkey. Some of birds to see includes Fox’s weaver, Ostrich, Karamoja Apalis, Great Hartlaub’s bustard, Jackson’s hornbill, Superb Sterling many more, Uganda Wildlife Reserves.

Activities to do includes; Mountain climbing at Mount Kadam, Guided nature walk and Wildlife Safaris, Cultural Community among others.

Toro- Semliki Wildlife Reserve

Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve was gazette in 1926 is Uganda’s oldest and best of reserve to visit, found in between the Kabarole and Ntoroko district in western Uganda.

This reserve is truly a Uganda birding site hosting over 400 bird species and some of birds to see includes; Red necked Falcon, Arrow market Babbler, Tropical Boubal, Abyssinian ground hornbill, Malachite kingfisher, African open bill, Luhdrers Bushrike among others.

Wild animals to see in Toro –Semliki Wildlife Reserve such as Buffaloes, Uganda kobs, Hyenas, Elephants among. primates to see includes; Vervet monkey, Central African red colobus, Baboon, Blue monkey, Red-tailed monkey, Dent’s Mona monkeys, Grey cheeked mangabey and others.

Activities to do in Toro-Semliki wildlife Reserve; Visit the local community around the reserve enjoy their traditional dance or make handcrafts, birding, nature walk and wildlife viewing, Uganda Wildlife Reserves

Kyambura Wildlife Reserve

 Kyambura Wildlife Reserve locates near Queen Elizabeth national park and a great site to view chimpanzees through chimpanzee tracking. This reserve is a water source to the animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park and best for wildlife viewing. Good place to watch beautiful bird species such as African skimmer, African Broad bill, Pink backed pelican and White Tailed Lark, Falcons many more.

You can choose to do a combined safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park and be able to engage in boat cruise, game drive, lion tracking of unique tree climbing lions and also take a nature walk around the Kazinga Channel.

East Madi Wildlife Reserve

This reserve is located in Northern western Uganda, north of Murchison Falls –Amuria district. However, the reserve sits on an area of about 831 square kilometers and it’s a home to over 50 mammal species ,200 square bird species and 374 plant species.

Activities to do in the reserve includes; wildlife viewing, birding, nature walks.

Primates species to see includes; Blue monkeys, Colobus monkeys, Vervet monkeys and Red-tail monkeys among other.

Matheniko Wildlife Reserve

Matheniko Wildlife Reserve is located in Karamoja Sub-region North East of Uganda. Matheniko is a home to wildlife species like Lesser Kudu, Roan antelopes, Bright’s Gazelle and Ostriches and birds to see includes; Grey-Cuckoo Shrike, Alpine chat, Grey- Cuckoo shrike and Thick billed honey guide among other. The reserve is also home to some ancient rock painting that has been existing for over 3000 years ago, Uganda Wildlife Reserves.

Activities to do; birding, community and cultural visits, nature walks and wildlife viewing.