In the late 1960’s, Katonga wildlife reserve served as a path way for game migration between western Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. In 1964, the area was gazetted as a wildlife reserve. However, poaching and cattle encroachment took a heavy toll in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

Katonga wildlife reserve protects 207sq km of mixed savannah, papyrus swamp and rain forest with acacia woodlands. A large portion of the area is wetlands.
This reserve is located in the central park of the country, 200km west of Kampala. This park can best be explored on foot and by use of canoes. It supports 40 mammal species and 150 bird species. Among the more visible mammals are elephants, water bucks, reed buck and river otter. The Uganda kob, olive baboons and colobus monkeys can also be found. Katonga is of great interest because it is one of the best places in East Africa to look for the secretive sitatunga Antelope.

Activities and Attractions

Canoe trips

There are canoe trip which follow a narrow channel through the swamp and gives visitors opportunities for seeing various water and papyrus associated birds, the Sitatunga and the river otters. The wetlands canoe trail is a two kilometer ride through the reed and papyrus swamp guided a local boat operator allowing the best opportunities to spot kingfishers and storks like shoebill storks.

Guided walks

There are three guided half day walking trails which can be arranged by the park staff. The Kisharara trails takes you through main habitats within the park comprising of grassland, Savanna and swamp fringes and is a good trail for seeing Sitatungas, birds and monkeys. The kyeibale trail takes you through an area with tall rock formations as well as forested valleys and caves. The Sitatunga trail takes you through a mixture if grassland and wetland habitats offering more chances of seeing the rare Sitatunga for which it is named.

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