Uganda Forest Reserves
Budongo Forest Reserve
Budono forest reserve is situated in the North-western part of Uganda and its just 3 hours drive from Kampala via Masindi District. The reserve covers an area of about 825sq kilometers of where by only 53% is forest and the remaining part is grassland forest. It has been a forest reserve since 1932. The reserve lies in the southern extension of Murchison falls National Park, which is considered the largest national park Uganda has covering over 3,840sqkm.
Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Semliki valley wildlife reserve is the oldest among other reserves in Uganda formally known as the Toro Game Reserve and it was named a Reserve in 1932. It is a 545 kilometers squared sanctuary located in Western Uganda to the northeast of the Bundibugyo road extending to Ntoroko on the southern shores of Lake Albert. The leading vegetation type is open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savanna , mixed together with patches of borassus palm forest, significant belts of riparian woodland along the main water path as well as some extensive swamps towards Lake Albert. Semliki is mainly of interest to birdwatchers.
Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Katongo wildlife reserve is located in the districts of Ibanda and Kamwenge in the western Uganda along the banks of River Katonga. It covers an area of about 211sq km. It is about 200kms which is just about 4-41/2 hour’s drive from Kampala up to the reserve. The wildlife reserve was established in 1998 and is a recent addition to Uganda’s list of protected wildlife areas. The reserve can best explored by canoe or by foot, it is a home to over 40 species of mammals and over 150 species of birds are recorded in the area. Many of these species of animals, birds and plants in the reserve are rare to the reserve’s wetland environment.
Mabira Forest
Mabira forest is located in Buyikwe District between Lugazi and Jinja just about 54 km (1 hour) from Kampala up to the forest reserve headquarters. It has been protected as a reserve since 1932. It is covering an area of about 306 square kilometers and it’s regarded as one of the last remaining rain forest and biggest in central Uganda. It is a home to very many primate species like the red tailed monkeys, Vertvets, grey-cheeked mangabeys; it is a home to over 315 bird species including the Cassinis hawk eagle, Grey long bill to mention but a few, 97 species of moths 218 species of butterflies, 312 species of trees among others species.
Kalinzu Forest Reserve
This forest reserve is located in Bushenyi district in the Southwestern part of Uganda near Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Maramagambo forest. It is approximately 375 kilometers which is just about 6 hours drive up to the reserve headquarters. The forest lies on an average altitude of about 1400m above sea level. The reserve is known for its 414 species of trees and shrubs including prunus African Ficus and Parinari among others. The forest is also famous for its six different primate species that include chimpanzee, black and white colobus monkeys, blue monkeys, L’hoest guenon, vervet monkeys, and baboon.
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe wildlife reserve is a conservation area in the Karamoja sub region of northeastern Uganda and it’s regarded as the second largest conservation protected area in Uganda after Murchison Falls national Park. The reserve covers an area of about 2788 square kilometers to the north of mountain Elgon and it is now under the management of mountain Elgon conversation area, it lies in a semi arid county which usually receives rainfall in April and more considerable light rainfall from June to early September although in some years the rain fall is complete. Most of the Reserve is covered by undisturbed grassland and wooded grassland.
