Kigezi Wildlife Reserve- Travel Tips

What to See, How to Plan & Tours

Kigezi Wildlife Reserve, established in 1952 within Uganda's scenic "Switzerland of Africa" highlands, spans roughly 265 km² in Rukungiri District along the western arm of the Albertine Rift Valley. It serves as an ecological buffer between Queen Elizabeth National Park and the Rwenzori Mountains, featuring a patchwork of moist deciduous forests, open savannah, grasslands, and riverine woodlands dominated by acacia and albizia species. Despite its compact size, Kigezi hosts a diverse range of wildlife: elephants migrating from the DRC and Queen Elizabeth, forest hogs, Uganda kobs, buffaloes, hippos, bushbucks, topis, oribis, and predators like lions and leopards. With over 200 bird species recorded—including grey crowned cranes, hammerkops, and saddle-billed storks—the reserve also supports notable primate populations such as eastern black-and-white colobus and chimpanzees. Visitors can explore via game drives, guided nature walks, and birding tours, while neighboring communities offer cultural experiences, making Kigezi a compelling but lesser-traveled complement to Uganda's more frequented safari destinations.