Katonga Wildlife Reserve | Uganda Wildlife Safaris Tour Adventures

Katonga wildlife reserve is located on 207 square kilometers of land in Ibanda and Kamwenge districts in Western Uganda and was named after the Katonga River which flows from the swamps South West of Lake Wamala towards Lake Victoria in the Eastern direction with lesser flows periodically to the same swamps to Lake George in the West.

A large portion of the reserve is either permanent or seasonal wetlands and consists of savannah with acacia scrubland/wetlands. Riverine and tropical forests are also found in Katonga wildlife reserve.

Katonga wildlife reserve was gazette in 1964 as a game reserve and was known as a corridor for migrating wildlife in search of water and pastures due to the political instability of the 1970s. Katonga wildlife reserve became a Wildlife Reserve in 1996 when the former Game Department and Uganda National Parks merged to form Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA).

Currently, the reserve is managed by UWA under the Kibale Conservation Area administration with a Warden In-Charge based at the Reserve Head Office at Kikorogoto. Katonga wildlife reserve is considered one of the areas where a large population of the shy sitatunga antelope is because of the availability of swamps.

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Things to do in Katonga Wildlife reserve

Guided Walks

There are three guided trail walks in Katonga and these include Kisharara, Kyeibale, and sitatunga trails. Sitatunga trail leads you to the grassland and swamp where you can be able to spot the rare sitatunga. Kibale trail leads you to rock formations and caves and here tourists are provided with opportunities of taking good photographs.

Kisharara trail takes you to grassland habitats, savannahs, and swamps where you can get to see a lot of animals, especially primates.

Canoe Rides

This usually takes you 2hours in the reeds and papyrus swamp and is made possible with the help of a local boat operator. Sitatunga antelopes, otters, and water birds are seen here. These include the rare shoebill stork and kingfishers seen while on the canoe ride.

Wildlife Viewing

Over 40 mammal species are found in the Katonga wildlife reserve area and these include elephants, warthogs, Uganda kobs, olive baboons and warthogs, Bushbuck, and Reedbuck among others.

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Community Visit

A visit to the neighboring local community helps you to connect and understand more about the lifestyle of these communities and these are mostly Banyankore that keep long-horned cattle.

You can participate in their daily activity by learning more about how they milk cows, and make cow ghee as well as get involved in their traditional dance. Also, get to learn about how they have managed to preserve their culture over the years.

Best Time to Visit Katonga Wildlife Reserve

Katonga wildlife reserve can be visited any time of the year though the best time to visit is during the drier months that is December to March and May to September. This is considered the best time for wildlife viewing.

Accessibility to Katonga Wildlife Reserve

Katonga wildlife reserve is located 207 kilometers in Ibanda, Kyenjojo, and Kamwenge districts. It can be accessed by use of road transport in a comfortable 4×4 Wheel drive vehicle and is a 3hours drive from Uganda’s capital city, Kampala.

When you reach Kyegegwa town council, turn southwards as you follow signposts on a 42-kilometer distance following signposts until you arrive at the gate.

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