Extending over an area of 2788 square kilometers to the north of mountain Elgon, is the Pian Upe now under the management of mount Elgon conservation area, is the second largest protected area in Uganda after Murchison falls reserve, it lies in semi-arid country which usually receives rainfall in April and more substantial showers from June to early September but some years the rain fails completely.

The predominant cover of mixed acacia commipphara savanna is essentially the Uganda’s extension of an eastern savanna encompassing much of northern Kenya and the amboseli-tsavo-mkomazi complex of reserves on the border between Kenya and Tanzania. Providing dramatic contrast to the dry scrubby plains of Pian Upe is mount kadam, an isolated range of spectacularly tortured turrets and bleak volcanic plugs that rises to an altitude of 3068m on the reserve’s eastern boundary.

Pian Upe is a home to two pastoralist tribes for which it is named: thespian being part of a sub group of the Karamoja, and the Upe being a Kalenjiin speaking people more widely known as the Pokot within Kenya. These two tribes have a history of armed conflict mostly related to cattle rustling. At times the Pian and the Upe team up to fight neighboring tribes in Kenya or Uganda or at times they have directed their violence to each other.

Animals include Leopard, cheetah and spotted hyena are quite popular by ranger patrols and a small population of lions is present.  Among the ungulate species are bur hell’s zebra, buffalo, eland, Harte beast, greater kudu, topi, orib, dik-dik, and Uganda’s last population of roam antelope. In addition the vervet monkeys, olive baboons, the far localized pata monkey are white popular in the savanna.

Matheniko Game Reserve is also known as Matheniko Wildlife Reserve. Situated in the conservation area of the Karamoja sub region of northeastern Uganda, Matheniko Wildlife Reserve appears to be the 5th of the most-threatened wildlife conservation protected area in Uganda.

Matheniko Game Reserve is a portion of the corridor of protected areas in the Karamoja sub region that stretches all the way from Kidepo National Park down through Bokora & Pian Upe Wildlife Reserves. North-East to Matheniko Game Reserve is the Uganda – Kenya border. This Game reserve is situated in the famous Somali – Maasai environment of semi-desert grassland with part of it being shrubland. The average rainfall that falls in the Reserve each year is estimated to be 670 mltrs with much rain falling in the months of April, May and also in November.

This game reserve currently harbors a few species of wildlife though it’s not so busy compared to the rest.

Ajai Wildlife Reserve is situated in northern Uganda along the western shores of the mighty Albert Nile near Arua district, covered by grassland. This small Wildlife Reserve spans at 166 square kilometers (16600 hectares) of land and is managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. With all the treasures that this Wildlife Reserve holds, it is a perfect place for a safari in a secluded environment given the fact that it is often neglected by tourists on a safari. Its landscape is dominated by a vast island and its surrounding is at times flooded by swamps in addition to savannah woodland vegetation.

Wildlife Species within the Wildlife Reserve

Much as the White Rhinos are now extinct within the Wildlife reserve, you will encounter other fascinating wildlife species that include primates such as the Olive baboons, the black and white colobus monkeys and the Vervet monkeys, the warthogs, the Sitatungas, the lions, the Lelwel Hartebeest, the Leopards, the Warthogs, Sitatungas, the Blue duikers, the zebras, Common Duiker, the Oribis, as well as Uganda Kobs among others. There are several aquatic Wildlife Species such as the Hippos and the Crocodiles and other reptiles such as the Pythons.

Presently, there are plans by the Uganda Wildlife Authority to re-introduce the Nile Buffaloes and White Rhinos back into Ajai Wildlife Reserve. In order to explore these interesting wildlife and several bird species, a nature walk or a game drive around the game reserve is a good idea.

There are several bird species that call Ajai Wildlife reserve home and they include the Grey Crowned cranes, Marabou stocks and African fish eagles among others.

Tooro Semliki Wildlife Reserve was established as a game reserve in 1926 and was among the first protected areas to be gazetted. The main reason was to protect the large numbers of Uganda Kobs in the area. It covers an area of 542 km2. It is located in western Uganda, within   Ntoroko and Kabarole districts.

Tooro Semliki Wildlife Reserve enjoys a dramatic rift valley setting between the Rwenzori, kijura escarpment and Lake Albert. The dominant vegetation type is the open acacia-combretum woodland and grassy savannah, interspersed with patches of borassus palm forest, significant belts of riparian woodland along the main water courses, as well as some extensive swamps towards Lake Albert. The reserve itself is topographically unremarkable, set at a relatively low altitude starting from around 700m above sea level, but on a clear day the setting is truly awesome, with the sheer rift valley escarpment rising sharply from the eastern shore of Lake Albert, the 2500m-high Congolese Blue mountains on the western horizon and the mighty glacial peaks of the Rwenzori visible to the south west.

The activities done here includes community tourism, game drive, bird watching, nature walk, boat ride and hike to Nyaburogo gorge.

Wildlife Habitats

The Tooro Semliki plain is predominantly grassy savanna and acacia-combretum woodland echoing Murchison Falls National Park at the northern end of Lake Albert. Stands of borassus palms, lake shore marshland and broad river valleys filled with beautiful galley forest all add variety. Lake Albert lies outside the reserve but can be visited for canoeing and bird watching.

Wildlife in Tooro Semliki

Tooro Semliki contains the same key species as Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks; Elephant, Buffalo, Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Warthog, Giant Forest Hog, Hippopotamus. Primates include Chimpanzees, Baboons and Monkeys including Vervet, Red-tailed and Black and White Colobus. Uniquely, the 200 strong Elephant population includes savannah and forest Elephant plus a hybrid form from inter- breeding. Researchers from the University of Indiana have been studying chimpanzees in the riverine forest at Mugiri close to Semliki Safari Lodge.

There are chances of encountering the chimpanzees when you take a primate walk. The reserve boosts of 440 bird species including Red-necked falcon, Black-billed Barbet and the turkey like Abyssinian Ground-hornbill. The Shoebill is usually sighted in the marshes of Lake Albert.