Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Along the roaring flow of the Victoria Nile is Karuma wildlife reserve, a portion of the famous Murchison Falls protected areas. Eest of Murchison Falls National Park is positioned these great falls along Gulu – Kampala highway northwestern Uganda in in Kiryandongo district.
The Karuma falls influenced the naming of the reserve. The illustrious and daring magnificent moist roars of Karuma falls on the Victoria Nile is accelerates at an elevation of 902m above sea level. The splendid stunning Karuma falls are sited in proximity to the Murchison falls northwards.
Karuma is a buffer zone to Murchison Falls National Park together with other reserves (Budonog forest, Bugungu wildlife reserve, Kaniyo Pabidi forest and the Karuma wildlife reserve). The reserves makes Murchison Protected Areas the largest conservation constituency in Uganda and is the oldest protected.
The Karuma Hydroelectric power dam, is the 600mw hydroelectric power dam under which is now the largest power dam in the country. it’s expected to make the highest power supply in the country, the karuma town just meters from the reserve is falling into rapid growth (economic and social) as result of the newly power dam under construction.
Mythically it’s believed that the legend spirit called Karuma contrived the rocks on which the waterfalls are found. It was gazetted in 1964 and covers an area of 820 kilometers squared, a larger space of the reserve has been settled in by over 7,000 refugees in Kiryadongo. Human settlement is becoming a great challenge to the reserve. It was formed to act as a buffer zone for Murchison falls national park and other surrounding areas.
The magnificent Karuma wildlife reserve is posed along the northern route heading to northern Uganda. It’s characterized by two vegetation features of tropics which much located along the streams of Victoria Nile and savannah vegetation.
Wildlife species in Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Reaching the reserve, a warm welcome by the baboons is amazing. The reserve docks a number of wildlife species include several primate species like red tailed monkeys, vervet monkey, L’Hoest monkeys, and blue monkeys. And other animals include Buffalos, elephants, hippopotamus, giraffes, water bucks, bush duikers, hyenas, warthogs, Ugandan Kobs, Oribis, Topis and on some occasions the leopards and lions can encountered.
It’s a birder’s spot for watching several birds both larger and smaller bird species including; Kingfishers, swamp fly catcher, yellow throated leaf love, grey cheeked crane, sun birds etc..
Comparably when decides to take a combined Uganda Safari to both Karuma and Murchison falls national park. Expect these two amazing moist roars of the Karuma fall and the Murchison falls along the Victoria Nile and are not found elsewhere in the country. Visitors opting for a tour to Karuma wildlife reserve can enhance their safari memory by encountering wildlife at Murchison falls national park for higher value of wildlife view.
Accommodation at Karuma wildlife reserve
Karuma being a buffer and bleeding zone Murchison Falls National Park, when opting to visit the reserve if so possible to use the safari lodges of Murchison Falls National Park. Well Karuma town which is built just besides the reserve has a number of standard hotels and motels as well as eco-lodges like Chobe Safari Lodge, Karuma Falls Campsite. Accommodation available range right from budget, mid-range and luxury among which include; Bwana Tembo Safari Camp, Boone Women’s Camp, Paara Safari Lodge, Shoebill Campsite.
Karuma Wildlife Reserve
The reserve can reached via Kampala –Gulu highway in Kiryandongo, on a road drive covering a distance of about 236km right from Kampala capital, and a drive from Kampala takes about 4hours drive northwards. While when from Gulu driving southwards, it’s about an hour drive about 70km. The considering a drive from Masindi covers a distance of 110km approximately 1 and half hour of driving.
