Kyambura Wildlife reserve

 Kyambura Wildlife reserve is located in western Uganda kasese district bordering the west Kyambura Gorge of Queen Elizabeth National Park and lies immediately south of Lake George. The Kyambura gorge and the Kazinga channel make it possible to manage the area as a separate entity, because there is no connection between the reserve and Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Kyambura Wildlife reserve is well known for its chimpanzee population. The reserve has an area coverage of 156 sq km. Kyambura Wildlife reserve is prominently known for its primates especially chimpanzees, the reserve is referred to as the stunning sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park. Other primates include black and white colobus monkeys, baboons, red tailed monkey, Vervet monkeys among others. Countless bird species are in the reserve like headed bee eaters, African fin foot, falcons, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Pink-backed Gonolek, Shoebill, Black rumped Buttonquail, White tailed lark, Greater Flamingos and Lesser Flamingos, Bar tailed Godwit, Martial Eagle among others. The word “Kyambura” is a Runyankole word that means “got lost” its because the area used to flood with water and later it disappeared with some locals of the village.

History of Kyambura Wildlife reserve

The reserve was first gazetted to serve as a buffer zone to Queen Elizabeth National Park and it was previously part of the larger area established as a controlled hunting Area and established a game reserve in 1965.

Activities at Kyambura Wildlife reserve

Chimpanzee Trekking and watching other primates.

Chimpanzee Trekking is the main activity carried in the reserve, there are chimpanzee families that are habituated and fit for trekking. This is the best activity where you take pride in spending a full hour watching these primates carry out their day to day activities. During chimpanzee trekking one gets a chance to spot other primate species like vervet monkeys, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys among others.

Nature and Forest Walks

Travelers get an opportunity to walk through the reserve and its forest which offers great opportunities to spot the reserve’s wildlife on foot like the Giant forest hogs, Black and white colobus monkeys, red-tailed monkeys, black Columbo’s monkeys among others while enjoying the forest walk.

Birdwatching

The reserve is home to countless bird species and is a perfect destination for a birding safari, where you will spot forest birds like Less and Greater Flamingos, white tailed lark, shoebill, pink backed pelican, bar-tailed Godwit, Martial Eagle, African Broadbill, Pink backed Gonolek, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl among others.

How to get to Kyambura Wildlife reserve

The park is not far from Queen Elizabeth National Park headquarters. The reserve is 420 kilometers form from Kampala via the Kampala-Masaka-Mbarara highway. The alternative route is via the Fort portal which is 410 km.

Reservations can also be acceded by a flight on a charter flight from Entebbe to Airstrip in southwestern Uganda, where your guide meets you and transfers you to the reserve.

Best time to visit Kyambura Wildlife reserve

The reserve is open to visitors all year round, just like all other wildlife viewing safari destinations in Uganda, and the reserve is best visited during the dry season in the months of December to February and in late June to October.

Accommodation at Kyambura Wildlife reserve

There is no accommodation in the reserve but there are few nearby accommodations like Kyambura game reserve, Mazike Lodge, Kyambura gorge lodge among others.