Matheniko wildlife reserve is one of Uganda’s gazetted areas that are found in the north eastern part of the country. This great natural wonder was first established in 1964 which was formerly a Karamoja controlled Hunting Area. Matheniko wildlife reserve is found in Karamoja region next to Moroto district and this great wildlife reserve is adjacent to Bukora wildlife reserve. Matheniko wildlife reserve covers a ground surface area of 1,520 square Kilometres and it is near Mbale city the biggest town in Eastern Uganda. Matheniko wildlife reserve is part of the Karamoja plateau and is and falls along the great rift valley along the Uganda/ Kenya border. This beautiful wildlife reserve is filled with numerous wildlife and bird species. Some of the wildlife species at Matheniko wildlife reserve include; Leopards, giraffe, gazelle, antelope, cheetah, lions, buffaloes, Uganda Kob, duikers, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hyenas, to mention but a few. Matheniko wildlife reserve also has numerous bird species like; African hill barbler, eastern bronze napped pigeon, Egyptian Vulture, Lemon dove, Cattle egret, black throated wattle eye, black headed plover to mention but a few. At Matheniko wildlife reserve there are also numerous plant species, beautiful hills, the dry savannah grasslands to mention but a few that makes it one of the ideal tourist destinations to visit while on a Uganda wildlife/ birding / community safari.
While at Matheniko wildlife reserve one can carry out very many wonderful tourist activities such as;
Game drive; This is one of the best ways of viewing wildlife while at Matheniko wildlife reserve as one is gets to drive in a safari vehicle with a well-trained and armed tour guide whose duty is to direct through the various tracks that pass through Matheniko wildlife reserve and enable tourists to view the different wildlife species. Some the wildlife animals that can be spotted at Matheniko wildlife reserve while on a Uganda wildlife safari include; Leopards, giraffe, gazelle, antelope, cheetah, lions, buffaloes, Uganda Kob, duikers, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hyenas, to mention but a few. These species can be spotted next to water points or even their habitats. Game drives at Matheniko wildlife reserve however come at a cost and extra items like Binoculars are provided for clear viewing of wildlife that could be at a distance.
Bird watching; Matheniko wildlife reserve is one of the best destinations for watching bird species. This indeed makes it a birders haven. Birds at Matheniko wildlife reserve can be spotted while on a guided nature walk, hiking, relaxing at the lodge or even during game drives. This shall indeed make a Bird love have a fulfilled Uganda Birding safari at Matheniko wildlife reserve.
Guided nature walks; Matheniko wildlife reserve has numerous trails cutting across the different areas of the reserve, while with aid of a well trained and armed tour guide, a tourists can get a chance to intimately explore this game reserve on foot. This shall be able to give a tourist the opportunity to view wildlife, bird and plant species at a closer range. However, tourist is always encouraged to put on protective clothing while on these guide nature walks in order to protect them from cuts from grass, insect bites to mention but a few. These clothing includes putting on long sleeved shirts, trousers and safety boots. This shall indeed make their navigation through the jungle safe. Nature walks are also relaxing and provide the opportunity to connect with nature while exploring the beautiful features such as lush vegetation, green hills to mention but a few.
Community tours; While at Matheniko wildlife reserve, tourists can take the opportunity to visit the neigh boring community locally known as the Karamoja group of people. These people are mainly nomadic pastoralist and graze their cattle in some of the reserved areas of Matheniko wildlife reserve. The Karamojong people have a beautiful and rich culture for example they have beautiful traditional dances, they have educative and yet entertaining traditional songs and have one of the best traditional marriages in Uganda. While on a Matheniko Wildlife reserve community tour, a tourist is able to explore the different attributes of the Karamojong, learn about their day-to-day ways of living as nomadic pastoralists, have a language exchange time, make a few friends which shall indeed make a tourist get one of the best experiences at Matheniko wildlife reserve.
The best time to visit Matheniko wildlife reserve is during the dry months of the year which includes months of January, February, June, July, August, November and December. This is a time where most wild animals can be spotted while drinking water , the walking trails are more passable and tourist activities are not interrupted.
There are numerous accommodation options at Matheniko wildlife reserve that range from luxury, mid- range and budget friendly cost that can be accessed while at Matheniko wildlife reserve.
