Established in 1952, Kigezi Game Reserve is an annex to Queen Elizabeth National Park. This makes it one of the oldest protected areas in the country. It lies at an altitude of about 1,050 m above sea level and covers an area of 265 km². In the southern sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park, the distance from Kigezi Game Reserve to Lake Edward is 7 km. The reserve is a buffer zone. It lies between Queen Elizabeth National Park and populated areas to the south and east. It is perfect for tourists wanting to explore Maramagambo Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Its vegetation is a mix of deciduous forest and savannah grasslands. This reserve contains a small number of mammals. They include black-and-white Colobus Monkeys, Red Colobus Monkeys, and the Eastern chimpanzee. Also, Lions, Leopards, Elephants, warthogs, giant forest hogs, Hippopotamus, buffalo, Topi, and Oribi. Many birds like the Red-necked Spurfowl, Little Swift, Western Cattle Egret, Speckled Mousebird, Pied Kingfisher are in the reserve. Additionally, the Gray-backed Fiscal, Barn Swallow, Sooty Chat, Little Weaver, Black-headed Weaver, Common Waxbill, Red-Billed Firefinch, Hamerkop, Pin-Tailed Whydah, and Bronze Mannikin can also be seen within the park boundaries.
Activities in Kigezi Game Reserve
The Park offers various activities in order to experience the park. These include:
- Forest walk
This activity is carried out by well trained guides, with extensive knowledge of the reserve’s flora and fauna.
- Colobus Tracking
This activity starts early in the morning. The team holds a briefing before trekking. This activity is quite engaging and will be enjoyed by those who are physically fit.
Getting there.
Drive 318 km southwest of Uganda via Masaka to Mbarara. The journey then winds through Ntungamo, reaching Rukungiri District. The reserve is located there.
Best Time to Visit Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
You have a chance to visit Kigezi Wildlife Reserve all year round. To see large herds of elephants migrating from the Rwindi Plains in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Queen Elizabeth National Park, you might need to travel in the rainy season, from September to November and from March to May.
Where to Stay
There are no accommodations within the reserve but tourists can get good lodges and hotels in the nearby Rukungiri district
