Ajai Wildlife Reserve: Exclusive wildlife safaris

Ajai Wildlife Reserve is located on a high elevation on the western banks of the White Nile in north-eastern Uganda’s Arua district. The reserve is an area coverage of 148 sq km (57 sq mi), the reserve is known for its large island surrounded by wooded savanna and flooded seasonal swamp that is fed by river Acha and Ala, during the wet season the swamp gets fully flooded, hence cutting off the island from the rest of the reserve.

Ajai Wildlife reserve got its name from a very powerful king called King Ajai who worked tirelessly to protect the reserve and its wildlife. The reserve consists of mainly woodland, swamps, savannah plains that are a habitant of large mammals like leopards, warthogs, hippos, Uganda Kobs, Sitatunga, black and white colobus monkeys, buffaloes, zebras, Pythons, black cobras, red monkeys, puff adders, Vervet monkeys, green snacks, hartebeests, dik-dik, olive baboons, common duikers, water bucks, civet, bush bucks and the park is one the great birding destinations in Uganda with bird species like Weaver birds, African Fish Eagle, Marabou Stocks, Grey Crowned Cranes, Helmeted Guineafowl, Black headed weaver to mention but a few. Ajai Wildlife Reserve became famous around the world when president Theodore Roosevelt visited it during his hunting experience in 1910.

History of Ajai Wildlife Reserve

Ajai game reserve started as a sanctuary and was declared a protected zone in 1937 by the British government and left under the protection of King Ajai. The main reason for gazetting the area was to protect its wildlife, prior to the gazetteing the area President Theodore Roosevelt of USA visited King Ajai’s palace while on his African hunting expedition in 1910, he hunted a number of white Rhinos which led to their drastic reduction in number. five-year Later King Ajai saw the need to protect these animals and imposed tough measures on hunting in the area purposely to protect the animals from going extinct, his measure brought awareness to the government and declared an area of 4 sq km part of king Ajai’s palace a sanctuary. The sanctuary was later declared a game reserve in 1965 by 60 of Uganda’s 80 White Rhinos. In 2002 the Uganda Wildlife Authority started measures of extending the reserve boundaries with and idea of re-introducing the White Rhinos in to the area again because the serving Rhinos were taken to Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary given that the reserve was originally the home of white Rhinos.

Activities at Ajai Wildlife Reserve

Bird-watching Ajai Wildlife Reserve is a birder’s paradise with bird species like Marabou stock, African Fish eagle, Grey Crowned Cranes among others. Bird watching can either be done solely or combined with other activities like game drives or nature walks.

Game drives The reserve is home to a number of wildlife species that can be viewed during a game drive, game drives give tourists a chance to get a close encounter with the reserve’s wildlife like lions, leopards, hippos, Oribis, Common Duiker, Zebras, Sitatunga, Warthogs, Hartebeests among others.

Nature walks: Nature walks are another way to get a close encounter with the reserve small wildlife species on foot. This activity is led and guided by professional reserve guides who are well versed with the trails to use.

How to get to the Ajai Wildlife Reserve

A drive from Kampala to the reserves takes a minimum of 6-hour drive. Tourists can also use a chartered flight from Kampala to Arua Airstrip close to the reserve.

Best time to visit Ajai Wildlife Reserve

Ajai Game reserve is open to tourists all year round, though the best time to visit is during the dry seasons in the months of December to March and June to October, being that roads leading to the reserve are tarmac and difficult to pass in wet seasons, animals congest at the water bodies in the reserve hence easy to spot.

Accommodations at Ajai Wildlife Reserve

There are no built facilities in the reserve yet hence visitors can host their nights in the neighboring towns of Guru and Arua to commence and do activities in the reserve.