How Many Game Reserves Are in Uganda?
Uganda is home to 12 officially designated game reserves, all managed under the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA). These reserves serve as vital wildlife corridors, buffer zones for national parks, and conservation strongholds. Unlike national parks, game reserves often allow controlled human activity such as fishing, cattle grazing, and regulated hunting, depending on the area.
Uganda’s game reserves protect diverse ecosystems—from savannah grasslands to wetlands and tropical forests. They offer rich habitats for elephants, antelopes, primates, crocodiles, and over 1,000 bird species.
List of Uganda’s Game Reserves
Each of Uganda’s game reserves plays a unique conservation role and contributes to community livelihoods through eco-tourism or sustainable land use.
Here are the 12 game reserves:
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Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Located on the western bank of the White Nile in northern Uganda, Ajai covers floodplains and woodlands. It was once home to the northern white rhino and now protects hippos, lechwe, warthogs, and several antelope species. The area also supports important wetland bird species. Its proximity to the Nile makes it scenic and ecologically rich.
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Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
Found near the southern section of Murchison Falls National Park, Bugungu acts as a crucial buffer zone. Its grasslands and woodlands host baboons, kobs, waterbucks, and bushbucks. It’s also a haven for bird species like the shoebill stork. Bugungu offers excellent photography opportunities thanks to its dramatic views of the rift valley escarpment and Lake Albert.
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Karuma Wildlife Reserve
Stretching along the northern edge of Murchison Falls National Park, Karuma Reserve surrounds the famous Karuma Falls. Elephants, leopards, hartebeest, and oribis roam the savannah here. The Karuma hydropower station sits nearby, but the reserve still maintains pockets of untouched wilderness. It also plays a role in wildlife movement toward the northern regions.
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Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
Tucked between the rift valley escarpment and Lake Albert in western Uganda, Kabwoya is both scenic and biodiverse. It features vast grasslands and riverine forests. You’ll find bush duikers, warthogs, hippos, and the rare Ugandan kob. Kabwoya is also famous for fossil hunting, birding, and guided ATV safaris.
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Katonga Wildlife Reserve
This reserve lies southwest of Lake Wamala and is dominated by papyrus swamps and grasslands. Katonga is best explored on foot. It supports shy and rare species like the sitatunga antelope, alongside colobus monkeys and a rich variety of wetland birds. The reserve offers low-impact eco-tourism and is ideal for adventurous walkers and birders.
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Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
Located in the western region, Kyambura borders Queen Elizabeth National Park and protects the famed Kyambura Gorge. This forested chasm shelters chimpanzees, black-and-white colobus monkeys, and red-tailed monkeys. The reserve’s high biodiversity and unique landscape make it a magnet for primate lovers and photographers.
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East Madi Wildlife Reserve
This reserve lies along the Nile in northern Uganda, bordering South Sudan. It protects large mammals like elephants and giraffes. Community wildlife management plays a central role here, with locals participating in conservation efforts and tourism. The reserve also supports migratory species and contributes to the wider Aswa-Lolim ecosystem.
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Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Covering over 2,000 square kilometers, Pian Upe is the largest game reserve in Uganda. Situated in the Karamoja sub-region, it features arid savannahs and rocky outcrops. The reserve protects cheetahs, ostriches, roan antelope, hyenas, and patas monkeys. Its remoteness offers a rugged, uncrowded safari experience.
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Toro-Semliki Wildlife Reserve
Bordering the Semliki River and the Rwenzori Mountains, this reserve is Uganda’s oldest. It blends savannah and gallery forest habitats, supporting forest elephants, olive baboons, and chimpanzees. Birders flock here to find species like the African grey parrot and white-crested hornbill. The scenic Semliki Valley and hot springs add to its appeal.
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Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
Part of a broader conservation zone in the Karamoja region, Matheniko features semi-arid shrublands and savannah. It supports dryland species like hyenas, lesser kudu, dik-diks, and leopards. Its remote location offers a true wilderness vibe. The reserve is ideal for conservation travelers looking for an off-the-map experience.
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Bokora Corridor Wildlife Reserve
Serving as a wildlife corridor between Pian Upe and Matheniko, Bokora supports wildlife migration in northeastern Uganda. Its landscape includes savannah plains, small hills, and acacia woodland. You can spot elands, jackals, and gazelles here. It also helps link key ecological zones in the Karamoja cluster.
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Aswa-Lolim Wildlife Reserve
Aswa-Lolim lies along the northern banks of the Victoria Nile. It plays a vital role in elephant migration from Murchison Falls to Kidepo Valley. The reserve also supports species like Uganda kobs, oribis, and bushbucks. Conservation efforts here focus on reestablishing ancient wildlife pathways disrupted by conflict and development.
Why These Reserves Matter
Uganda’s game reserves relieve pressure from national parks. They protect endangered species, maintain biodiversity, and provide land for scientific research and tourism. Many reserves also host community wildlife associations, helping locals benefit through employment, sustainable tourism, and resource-sharing.
Game reserves also act as buffer zones between wildlife and human settlements. They reduce conflict, support tourism revenue, and encourage conservation awareness in rural areas.
Can You Visit Game Reserves in Uganda?
Yes, but access and tourism infrastructure vary. Some reserves like Toro-Semliki, Pian Upe, and Kabwoya offer guided safaris, nature walks, and birding. Others require special permits or guided arrangements. Visitors often combine game reserve visits with trips to nearby national parks.
If you are interested in off-the-beaten-path wildlife experiences, these reserves offer more privacy and wilderness than the busier national parks.
Plan Your Visit with Us
Uganda’s 12 game reserves offer unique opportunities for wildlife viewing, community engagement, and conservation impact. Whether you want to track cheetahs in Pian Upe, walk through swamps in Katonga, or explore the Rift Valley in Kabwoya, we help you explore responsibly.
Contact us today to customize your visit to Uganda’s hidden wild spaces.
