Katonga Wildlife Reserve is one of the most popular and frequently visited Wildlife Reserves in Uganda. This lush Reserve extends for over 207 square kilometers along the banks of River Katonga within the western districts of Kamwenge and Kyenjojo, bordering Tanzania. It was named after River Katonga that drains from the wetlands south-west of Lake Wamala towards Lake Victoria in the East.
The Katonga Wildlife Reserve was first established as a Game Reserve in 1964 to act as a corridor for migrating wild animals from the western side of the country to the neighboring countries of South Sudan and Tanzania. It was later changed into a Wildlife Reserve in 1996 when the former Game Department and Uganda National Parks combined to become Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).
Like all Ugandan National Parks and Wildlife Reserves, Katonga Wildlife Reserve is controlled/or managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority under the management of the vast Kibale Conservation Area with its head office being at Kikorogoto.
The terrain of Katonga Wildlife Reserve is mainly characterized by undulating hills with varying vegetation types. These include papyrus swamp, riverine grasslands, savannah grasslands, seasonal or permanent wetlands, wooded grasslands, riverine woodlands that are dotted with woodland or acacia. The commonest species of flora in this Wildlife Reserve are the Rhodes grass (or Chloris gayana) and Sporobolus festivus.
Wildlife:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve has several small herds of sitatunga living within the wetland system. There are also other antelope species such as the Uganda Kobs, impalas, Defassa waterbucks, duikers, bushbucks, common elands and reedbucks among others. There are opportunities to view zebras, River otters, Hippos, elephants, warthogs, buffaloes, leopards and chevrotain among others. Primates such as the olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and vervet monkeys are also found in here.
Birds:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve is a haven to over 150 species of birds, majority being species that are specific to the aquatic and wetland ecosystem. Some of these birds are African fish eagles, open-billed storks, shoebill storks, Pied and malachite Kingfishers among others.
Bird watching:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve is one of the best wildlife reserves for birding, and features several well-maintained birding trails. The most popular trail is the 2-kilometer long wetland canal trail through the papyrus swamp where wetland specific species such as the open-billed storks, shoebill storks, kingfishers and many others can be spotted.
Canoe rides:
Canoe rides are conducted within the magical River Katonga, rewarding visitors with the rich faunal and floral diversity of the Wildlife Reserve. The ride is conducted under the guidance of a local guide who will identify the unique features within the River and the surrounding wetlands especially the River Otters and bird species among others.
Game viewing:
Game viewing through the savannah grasslands offer outstanding chances to see impalas, Defassa waterbucks, duikers, bushbucks, elephants, reedbucks, zebras, River otters, warthogs, buffaloes and common elands among others.
Guided nature walks:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve has three spectacular trails where the guided nature walks are conducted. Walking along the sitatunga trail in the morning hours rewards visitors with the sight of the timid antelope specie.
Kisharara Trail passes through the vast savannah towards the wetland canal and joins the banks of River Katonga until of the tributaries of the River. It is where numerous primates, antelopes and birds are found.
The Kyeibale Trail is a circular path through the scrubland into the small forest, transversing stunning rock formations as well as Caves that shelter numerous animals. You can see the leopards on a lucky day.
BEST TIME TO VISIT:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve is open all year round, but the months of January, February, June, July, August, September and December are the driest with best game viewing opportunities when wildlife gather around water drinking points. However, rain is possible anytime due to climatic changes. Numerous bird species can be spotted during the rainy season.
WHERE TO STAY:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve has wilderness Camping offered within some of the designated Campsites like Kabangole Campsite with basic camping requirements and is only 2 kilometers from the Reserve Headquarters. Alternatively, visitors can opt for more comfortable accommodation within the nearby Towns of Ibanda, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge.
HOW TO GET THERE:
Katonga Wildlife Reserve in western Uganda is found in the districts of Kamwenge and Kyenjojo, at approximately 3 hours’ drive from Kampala City to Kyegegwa Town. Once you reach this Town, turn southwards for only 26 miles while following the well-labeled signposts.
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