Ajai Game Reserve- From a Rhino Sanctuary to a Wildlife Reserve

In North Eastern Uganda, along the western bank of the White Nile, lies a small conservation protected area known as Ajai Game Reserve. Ajai Game Reserve is a secluded environment surrounded by a large Island, wooded savannah, and seasonally flooded swamps. Ajai game reserve covers an area of about 16,600 hectares of land in Arua district, characterized by forests, wetlands and grasslands as well. It is some great reserve tourists can visit while on a safari to Uganda. During the 1930’s, Ajai Game Reserve was protected by a private management under a Local Chief identified as Ajai and hence deriving its name. In 1965, the reserve was protected and gazetted to safeguard part of Uganda’s white Rhinos; 60 out of the 80 that Uganda had by then, hence the name Ajai Rhino Sanctuary before it was turned to a Uganda wildlife safari reserve. However, during the 1980’s, poaching became rampant in this area until the Rhinos were no more (extinct) in Ajai Rhino Sanctuary. In 2008, Ajai Wildlife Reserve was taken over by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and today UWA has plans of reinstating Rhinos as well as Buffaloes in the reserve. Though Rhinos got extinct, there are variety of wild animals as well as birds in Ajai Wildlife Reserve suitable for watching especially by tourists on Uganda safaris.

Uganda safari attractions/ activities in Ajai Wildlife Reserve

Ajai Wildlife Reserve is a great reserve to encounter while on tour in Uganda. The reserve has diversity of animals that tourists can see while on their Uganda Wildlife safari trips. These animals include; Uganda kobs, Oribis, Warthogs, Hartebeest, Sitatungas, Duikers, Leopards, White colobus monkeys, the Vervet monkeys, the Olive baboons, Hippos, and some few lions. Water animals include; crocodiles and python snake. Game drives will enable you see these animals as they wonder in their natural habitat. Some can be best seen during the dry seasons along the swamp banks as they quench their thirst. Game drives are the most exciting activity enjoyed by tourists on safaris in Uganda. Besides the Wildlife, there are also several birds that habit within the forests of Ajai Wildlife Reserve. These birds include; yellow footed fly catcher, the white hornbill, the cattle egret, the red billed woodpecker, and the clapper ton’s francolin. Forest and nature walks carried out in Ajai Wildlife Reserve enable tourists on Uganda birding safari tours see numerous bird species in the forests, especially along the swamps and in other areas found in the reserve.

Getting there

Ajai Wildlife Reserve can be accessed using different means of transport as seen below; By road, From Uganda’s Capital Kampala, while using the Kampala – Masindi road, it is about 424km taking about 6 hours. From Kampala, using the Kampala – Hoima road, it is about 397km taking about 7-8 hours. From Murchison Falls National Park, while using the Gulu-Arua road, it is about 121km taking about 2-3 hours. Please note that this journey includes a ferry.

The best time to safari to Ajai Wildlife Reserve

The best time to safari to Ajai Wildlife Reserve is during the dry seasons. There are two dry seasons experienced in the reserve and these are from December – March and June – October. The wet seasons are tricky to safari Uganda because most of the roads to these destinations are in poor conditions so they are impassable during the wet seasons since some roads experience flooding, and others are slippery. Therefore, strong 4WD cars are the best choice to use while travelling to Ajai Wildlife Reserve.

Safari accommodation/ where to stay in Ajai Wildlife Reserve

There are no safari accommodation areas in Ajai Wildlife Reserve. However, tourist with camp tents can be helped. The only close accommodation areas while on a safari to Ajai Wildlife Reserve are several Kilometers away from the reserve and these are in Gulu and Arua towns.  

In conclusion, enjoy your ultimate Uganda safari colorful experience to Murchison Falls National Park and pass via Ajai Wildlife Reserve for more wildlife viewing.

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