Uganda Wildlife Reserves : Uganda is named the pearl of Africa blessed with a number of safari destinations including national parks and national reserves. This is a guide to some of Uganda’s national reserves.
MATHENIKO WILDLIFE RESERVE.
Matheniko wildlife reserve is one of Uganda’s gazetted areas that are found in the north eastern part of the country. This great natural wonder was first established in 1964 which was formerly a Karamoja controlled Hunting Area. Matheniko wildlife reserve is found in Karamoja region next to Moroto district and this great wildlife reserve is adjacent to Bukora wildlife reserve. Matheniko wildlife reserve covers a ground surface area of 1,520 square Kilometres and it is near Mbale city the biggest town in Eastern Uganda. Matheniko wildlife reserve is part of the Karamoja plateau and is and falls along the great rift valley along the Uganda/ Kenya border. This beautiful wildlife reserve is filled with numerous wildlife and bird species. Some of the wildlife species at Matheniko wildlife reserve include; Leopards, giraffe, gazelle, antelope, cheetah, lions, buffaloes, Uganda Kob, duikers, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hyenas, to mention but a few. Matheniko wildlife reserve also has numerous bird species like; African hill barbler, eastern bronze napped pigeon, Egyptian Vulture, Lemon dove, Cattle egret, black throated wattle eye, black headed plover to mention but a few. At Matheniko wildlife reserve there are also numerous plant species, beautiful hills, the dry savannah grasslands to mention but a few that makes it one of the ideal tourist destinations to visit while on a Uganda wildlife/ birding / community safari.
SEMULIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE
Semuliki wildlife reserve is found in the western region of Uganda and is located in the district of Bundibugyo. Semuliki wildlife reserve is home to the famous Sempaya hot springs, River Semuliki and thick tropical rainforests not forgetting the green lush vegetation that surrounds these game reserve. Sempaya hot springs consists of both the female and male hot springs which eject hot water at a temperature of over 100 degrees Celsius. Semuliki wildlife reserve is approximately 411km from Kampala capital city of Uganda. Tooro Semuliki wildlife reserve is filled with numerous wildlife species such as; Baboons, leopards, buffaloes, lions, hyenas, mongooses, sitatunga, pygmy antelopes, reedbucks, serval cats, forest hogs, red tailed monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys, bush duikers including red and blue duikers, rock hyraxes, tree hyraxes, leopards, klipspringers, squirrels, side striped and black backed jackals, bush pigs to mention but a few. Tooro Semuliki wildlife reserve is home to very many bird species like; Red bellied hornbill, piping hornbill, African Grey parrot, White crested hornbill, Shoe bill stork, African grey parrot, Ross turaco, Crested marimba, Maxwell’s swallow, Red billed dwarf hornbill, Ituri batis, red eyed puff back, Nkulengu rail, yellow throated cuckoo, black winged starling, Congo serpent eagle, Red thighed sparrow hawk.
ASWA – LOLIM WILDLIFE RESERVE.
Aswa- lolim wildlife reserve is located in northern Uganda north of Murchison falls national park. Aswa -lolim wildlife reserve is filled with numerous wildlife species many of which are migratory mainly migrating from Murchison falls national. This is possible as the eco system at Murchison falls national park is similar to that of Aswa – lolim wildlife reserve. This wonderful reserve is about 769 elevation above the sea level from the banks of the Alber Nile. This game reserve derived its name Aswa from the river called Aswa and another river called lolim which meanders along river Aswa hence the name AswaL olim wildlife reserve. Aswal olim wildlife reserve was first gazetted in the year 1959 but it was degazetted in 1972 under influence of the then President Idd Amin Dada. However in 2010 Uganda wildlife Authority put some effort to reclaim it status by giving it to a private organisation known as Awsal olim wildlife association thus the reclamation of Aswa loim wildlife reserve. This harsh process of degazetting led to loss of the wildlife reserve’s former vast land to many people as farm lands. Aswa lolim wildlife reserve is cover by the dry savannah vegetation, swampy vegetation that has papyrus and small forests with scattered trees.
Regardless AswaL olim wildlife reserve is filled with numerous wildlife and bird species some of the wild animals one can spot while at AswaL Olim Wildlife Reserve include; Lions, elephants, buffaloes that move in herds, leopards, crocodiles, chimpanzees, hippopotamus, Nubian giraffes, Jacksons hearte beast, Uganda Kob, sitatunga, warthogs, bush bucks, water bucks, hyenas, monkeys, oribis to mention but a few.
It has bird species such as; Abyssinian ground hornbill these usually migrate from other country, blue-headed coucal, swamp flycatcher, African fish eagle, silver bird, Senegal thick-knee, Goliath heron, malachite kingfisher, African jacana, yellow-fronted tinkerbird, black –billed barbet, giant king fisher, Black –headed gonolek, Denhards bustard, malachite kingfisher, speckle-fronted weaver, silver bird, shoe bill, osprey, weaver birds, African jacana, African qualifinch, piapiac to mention but a few. Aswa -lolim Wildlife Reserve is found in Amuru district in northern Uganda and is close to Murchison Falls National Park. Aswal olim wildlife reserve is approximately 305 km by road from Kampal capital city of Uganda to Aswa lolim.
