KYAMBURA WILDLIFE RESERVE “HOME OF PRIMATES”
Kyambura wildlife reserve at times referred to as the valley of primates is part of Queen Elizabeth national park located in the north-eastern region of the park that is 30 kilometers from the headquarters, this reserve was fo0rmed as a buffer zone for Queen Elizabeth national park. Kyambura wildlife reserve famous for offering exhilarating chimpanzee trekking experience is covers area of 156 square kilometers spanning across 11 kilometers south of Lake George and linking to the kazinga channel, the reserve is the only place in queen Elizabeth national park where you can encounter the endangered habituated chimpanzees and other primates like red tailed monkeys, vervet, black and white colobus monkey, olive baboons.
Kyambura wildlife reserve is drained by river kyambura which links to kazinga channel, this makes the reserve to be an important water source for the animals in Queen Elizabeth national park and the reserve itself.
Attractions in kyambura wildlife reserve
Kyambura wildlife reserve is a hidden wildlife wonderland of Queen Elizabeth national park separated kyambura gorge which creates an elusive border. Attractions in this reserve include.
- Vegetation cover
Kyambura wildlife reserve is dotted with beautiful vegetation of various species which includes the underground forest always referred to as kyambura gorge, because the reserve is close to the equator the reserve consists of verdant tree canopy filled with rain forest tress, riverine trees.
- Scenic landscape
Kyambura wildlife reserve has the best scenic landscape in the region, the landscape consists of a deep valley, rift valley escarpments and steep slopes which are formed by the powerful flow of river kyambura.
- Wildlife
Kyambura wildlife reserve is a home to numerous primates which use the deep forests as their habitant, primates in kyambura wildlife include the endangered chimpanzees, red tailed monkeys, vervet, black and white colobus monkey, olive baboons and many more.
- Bird species
Kyambura wildlife reserve is an important birding site for forest bird species, the reserve is a home to many bird species which harbor in the deep rain forests. These bird species include falcon, fly catchers, white napped pigeons, blue- headed Bee eaters, the fin foot African bird, Martial Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Shoebill, African Skimmer, Lesser plus Greater Flamingo, Chapin’s Flycatcher, White-tailed Lark, Corncrake, Pink backed Pelican, Verreaux’s Eagle Owl, Papyrus Canary, White-winged Warbler, African Broadbill, Papyrus Gonolek and the Black Bee-eater.
Kyambura forest reserve the valley of primates offers various amazing tourist safari activities and memorable experiences to the tourists visiting the reserve. The following activities are offered
Chimpanzee tracking
Kyambura forest reserve is the only place I queen Elizabeth national park where you will see primates most especially the habituated chimpanzees, chimpanzees in this reserve underwent habituation process which makes them to be comfortable with to be comfortable and familiar with human presence. When in forests of this reserve you get to see chimpanzees building nests on top of trees, picking fruits (chimpanzees pick fruits differently according to the time of the day, in the morning they randomly pick the fruits but in the afternoon and evening they are very selective in their picking as they take the moist ones and leave the raw ones). On the chimpanzee tracking experience you will see chimpanzees getting and eating termites rom their holes, the use tree stems which they poke in the holes for the termites to cling on.
NOTE:
before participating in chimpanzee trekking it is best you get to be sure of your physical ability as the activity requires you to be physically feet, while you are in the presence of chimpanzees follow the rules read to your by your guide. The chimpanzees are very protective being as they might beat you using plant stems if offended, also chimpanzee tracking as an activity is not allowed for tourists below the age of 12.
Reservations for Chimpanzee tracking are made at Mweya Visitor Information Centre found in Queen Elizabeth National Park.
Birding
Kyambura wildlife reserve is a home to various forest birds’ species which leave in the verdant rain forest trees, these birds are categorized under the birds of global conservation concern. Upon visiting this fascinating reserve many bird species such as falcon, fly catchers, Martial Eagle, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-rumped Buttonquail, Shoebill, African Skimmer, Lesser plus Greater Flamingo, Chapin’s Flycatcher, white napped pigeons, blue- headed Bee eaters, the fin foot African bird and many more are seen while on a nature forest walk.
Nature/ forest walks
Kyambura wildlife reserve is gifted with the most impressive landscape in the region of Queen Elizabeth national park and ever green rain forest due to its closeness to the equator. Nature / forested walks in this reserve take you through the beautiful rain forest trees along the steep slopes which were formed by the vigorous water activity of river kyambura. Nature walks/ forest walks in kyambura wildlife reserve follow numerous nature walk trails which are well maintained basing on fitness of the tourist, on these trails you get to see many primates such as black & white Colobus monkeys, olive baboons, chimpanzees and many more.
Access to kyambura forest reserve
By road, Kyambura forest reserve at times referred to as kyambura gorge is situated 420 kilometers from Kampala the capital city of Uganda along Kampala-mbarara route and 410 kilometers along Kampala fort-portal route which is approximately a 6-7 hours’ drive. By air chartered flights of about 60 minutes to one hour flight are offered at Entebbe international airport and at kajjasi airstrip to the queen Elizabeth national park’s airstrip in mweya. Kyambura forest reserve is a short distance from the headquarters of Queen Elizabeth national park, before entering the reserve you need an access allowance permit is got from the visitor’s centre of kyambura gorge which is located at the famous fig tree camp on the rim of kyambura gorge.
Kyambura wildlife reserve together with its wildlife are very much threatened by encroachment activity carried out by humans which leads to shortage of food and loss of home to the primates.
Visiting kyambura forest reserve is an additional to your queen Elizabeth safari for chimpanzee trekking experience, touring this reserve is done on foot through the beautiful scenery created by verdant tree canopy filled with tall ever green trees. In this reserve you will be intoxicated by many wonderful creatures that is the chimpanzees, baboons, black and white colobus monkeys and many forest birds such as Chapin’s Flycatcher, White-tailed Lark, Corncrake, Pink backed Pelican and many more.
