Katonga Wildlife Reserve
Expert Reviews (2)
Uganda Parks
US
Tim is a travel writer who has covered 10 African countries for Lonely Planet's Africa, East Africa and West Africa guidebooks.
4 people found this review helpful.
Not the Right Place for Everybody
I like this reserve, I really do, but first-time safariers should give it a pass, and even returners will want to consider whether it’s the right destination for them. There just isn’t much wildlife here, although since it’s seldom visited you might have the whole place to yourself like I did. The sitatunga, an elusive swamp-dwelling antelope that’s rarely seen in other parks, is relatively easy to find here. Canoe rides through the papyrus swamp to look for hippo, sitatunga and otter are no longer available, but you might see black-and-white colobus monkey and various antelope on a guided bushwalk. There is no accommodation other than a basic campsite, so if you want to get an early start (which is best for sitatunga sightings), be prepared to rough it a little.
Charlotte lives in Uganda and is a writer, blogger, volunteer and promoter of birding, conservation and responsible tourism. She writes for Fodor’s, Horizon Guides and Bradt, and runs an award-winning blog.
2 people found this review helpful.
Perfect – If You’re A Birder Who Likes Roughing It
To be honest, there is little in Katonga Wildlife Reserve that you won't see elsewhere. However, if you’re looking for a wilderness experience that’s not too far off the main safari circuit, Katonga comes up trumps. You’re very likely to have the whole area to yourself.
It’s broadly similar to Lake Mburo National Park, and Uganda Wildlife Authority has big ambitions for restitution and plans to upgrade Katonga to a national park. New trails are being cut, cattle have been evicted from the reserve and zebra, topi and impala have been reintroduced. The wildlife was unfazed by our presence, even up close, as we counted birds for a census (and dodged hippos) along the swamp edge. Sitatunga are also resident. Katonga is great for African hoopoe, a variety of waterbirds and civet cats. Elephants are seen seasonally on one side of the reserve.
The lack of facilities mean that this oft-overlooked savannah is ideal if you’re up for roughing it, but I’ve loved our low-key stays here: rangers brought us jerrycans of water for cold bucket showers and we ate local food at the nearby trading centre. The outdated Uganda Wildlife Authority dorms are basic in the extreme. Next time I’ll take my camping gear.