Katonga National Park
National Park

Katonga National Park

Uganda 211 km² (81 mi²) Est. 1998

About Katonga National Park

Katonga Wildlife Reserve protects a mosaic of seasonal and permanent swamps, grasslands, and tropical forest along the Katonga River in western Uganda. At 211 square kilometres, it is a quiet, seldom-visited reserve best known for its sitatunga population — the elusive semi-aquatic antelope that is extremely difficult to spot elsewhere. The reserve supports small populations of elephants, buffalo, leopards, and bushbuck, along with good birding. Katonga is primarily a walking and canoe safari destination, offering a peaceful alternative to the busier parks.

0

Safari Tours

3.0

Avg Rating

28

Years Protected

Highlights

  • Best place in Uganda to see the elusive sitatunga antelope
  • Peaceful and virtually unvisited
  • Canoe safaris along the Katonga River
  • Good walking safari options

Considerations

  • Very limited wildlife density
  • Minimal tourism infrastructure
  • Swampy terrain limits accessibility
  • Not a mainstream safari destination

Wildlife

Big Five Status

🦁

Lion

Not present

🐆

Leopard

Not present

🐘

Elephant

Not present

🦬

Buffalo

Not present

🦏

Rhino

Not present

Notable Species

Baboon

Common

Hippo

Common

Waterbuck

Occasional

Fish Eagle

Common

Saddle-billed Stork

Occasional

Common Occasional Rare

Best Time to Visit

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak Season Good Time Less Ideal

Climate Overview

Getting There

Katonga is approximately 4 hours drive from Kampala via the Kampala-Fort Portal road. The reserve headquarters are near Kabagole.

Nearest Airport

Kasese Airstrip

Nearest City

Kyenjojo

Drive Time

4 hours