Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve is found in western Uganda, Hoima district positioned between Kibale National Park and Murchison Falls National Park. The reserve was established by Uganda Game Department during the colonial government in early 1960s. There was to utilize superfluous control on sport hunting, then declared Kabwoya for Controlled Hunting and sport hunting could only be done with special license.
Due to continued poaching and human encroachment activities, the area was wiped out and became a cattle raring grounds. In 2002, again the wildlife reserve regazzetted to combat such actives. However, this reserve has remained among the hidden natural treasures for the future use. The Reserve is under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) which ensures that the reserve remain intact with ecological varieties by introduction and translocation of several animals to the reserve.
The Kabwoya wildlife reserve is a smaller reserve which covers an area of 194km2. It comprises Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve area 87km2 and Kaiso-Tonya Community Wildlife Area 107km2. It’s strategically adjacent besides the base of the Albertine Rift escarpment. The reserve spreads westwards to the Lake Albert shorelines, feed by two rivers northwards Lwamagongo River, and Warwire River southwards.
This remarkable tiny reserve features the savannah plains that stretches further to shores of Lake Albert being an amazing spot for the great view of the magnificent Lake Albert and blue mountain of DRC.
Access
In western Uganda is Kabwoya wildlife reserve in Hoima district. The reserved covers 3 sub-counties of Kabwoya, Kyangwali, and Buseruka. It’s situated in a distance of 240km west of Kampala capital, from Kampala the Kabwoya Reserve can be accessed using the Hoima road via Kiboga Gusunju road which is about 4hours drive.
Wildlife of Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Ugandan kobs (Kobus kob thomasi) in Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve, Uganda- East Africa.
Several animal census have been carried out and several mammals, birds and insect were recorded. This positions Kabwoya Wildlife reserve another wildlife rewarding reserve in Uganda. It’s a home and a paradise for wildlife encountering including; Buffalos, primate species particularly monkeys like Baboons, black and white colobus monkeys, rarely can sight chimpanzees and vevert moneys are the commonly seen primates. Antelopes like Uganda Kobs, Impalas, Jackson’s heartbeats, waterbucks, bushbucks, bush duikers. Other mammals include hippos in Lake Albert, bush pigs, warthogs. The reserve is a birders haven, its home to about 400 bird species of which some are endemic to Uganda, and others are migratory birds.
Flora
The vegetation primarily comprises Hyparrhenia and Themeda grassland interspersed with patches of the undifferentiated dry thicket with Grewia spp and Acacia brevispica (Langdale-Brown 1964). Along the Hohwa River are stretches of riverine forest.
Activities to do at Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Guided hikes and nature walks
The reserve is very scenic site with breathtaking sights of Lake Albert and Blue mountains of the neighboring Congo. It’s great site for nature walking, and hiking activities through the Albertine rift escarpment. The walk leads to several wildlife scenic spots watching a number of land mammals and bird species.
Birding
Fishing on Lake Albert
The fishing activities are done on Lake Albert, the lake is a pool for several fish including Nile Perch, Mud fish, cat fish and a number of types. Fishing is done on a motor boat alongside safari guides who can provide you with fishing equipment like hook. When you catch a fish either can realize it or take and prepare it for a meal if it reaches the regally eatable size.
Quad biking
Enjoy the wild with your quads bike, the reserve has been a great space for doing the wild quad biking leading to watching some of the species which inhabit in the reserve. The quad biking has been a great sighting activities for the lake, animals and birds.
Fossil hunting
This is probably the only protected area in Uganda where fossil hunting is done. Fossil involves bonding of a family or a group and embark to collect the remains of the old age like arrowhead, pieces of pottery, spearheads and many more.
Accommodation
There is quite accommodation here, but Lake Albert Safari Lodge and Kironko lodge provide a kind of standard and exclusive accommodation facilities. The Lake Albert Safari Lodge is a mid-range lodge which can also accommodate luxury travelers.
