Ajai Wildlife Reserve is located in Arua District, Northwestern Uganda. This wildlife reserve is set along the Western banks of the White Nile, about 40 km East of Arua. Ajai was declared a Game Reserve in 1937, covering an area of only 148 sq. km. Before it was designated Game Reserve status, the former President Theodore Roosevelt of the United States of America had paid a visit in 1910. He was on a hunting expedition in Africa, and back then, Ajai was one of the most popular places with rhinos.
The rhino population drastically declined, and 5 years later, around 1915, King Ajai began supervising the hunting practices in the area. In 1937, Ajai was declared a Controlled hunting Area, a sanctuary that became part of King Ajai’s Palace. Its area coverage never expanded, and around 1965, it was officially gazetted as Ajai Rhino Sanctuary.
As a Rhino Sanctuary, Ajai inhabited about 60 of the 80 white rhinos Uganda had back then. Fortunately, WWF spoke out against any poaching practices in 1962.
Around 2002, Uganda Wildlife Authority made efforts to expand the boundaries of the reserve in preparation to receive the rhinos that have long been inhabited in Ziwa. Today, the Ajai Wildlife Reserve covers an area of 148 sq. km.
Ajai Wildlife Reserve supports unique vegetation, including a 35km stretch of papyrus swamp, savanna woodland, and grassy floodplains. The reserve’s seasonal River receives its water from the Acha and Ala Rivers.
Ajai’s Wildlife
The compact Ajai Wildlife Reserve harbors a diversity of wildlife in its diverse habitats. The notable wildlife to find in Ajai includes antelope families and large mammals. The checklist of antelopes to explore on Uganda safaris in Ajai includes sitatungas, dik-diks, hartebeests, Uganda Kobs, common duikers, bush bucks, and oribis.
Other wildlife to explore at Ajai include zebras, monitor lizards, warthogs, leopards, civets, buffaloes, hippos, and others. Primates that survive in Ajai include olive baboons, red monkeys, vervet monkeys, black and white colobus monkeys. Reptiles that reside here include snakes such as pythons, green snakes, and more.
Birds.
Ajai Wildlife Reserve contains a significant bird population of interest to avid birders. They include purple glossy-starling, grey crowned cranes, black-rumped waxbill, red-pate cisticola, Heuglin’s masked-weaver birds, piapiac, African fish eagles, and marabou storks. Other birds to identify include white-backed vultures, little bee-eaters, helmeted guineafowl, and white browed coucals.
Possible Safari Activities to Engage in Ajai
At Ajai Wildlife Reserve, expect to participate in guided game drives, cultural experiences, boat rides, and birding tours.
Game drives
Game drives in Ajai offer an incredible opportunity for you to enjoy sights of diverse savanna species. A range of wildlife awaits you to explore in this nature reserve located in Arua, including small antelopes to large mammals. The list of wildlife to encounter includes Uganda Kobs, duikers, waterbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribis, and warthogs etc.
Boat rides
Ajai is an ideal area to enjoy boat rides. A boat ride here involves exploring the aquatic life along the nile river banks. The possible encounters include hippos, crocodiles, and water birds.
Bird watching
At Ajai, avid birders can enjoy sightings of birds such as helmeted guinea fowl, African fish eagle, grey crowned cranes, black headed weaver birds, and browed coucal. White backed vultures, and many others. Come along with your pair of binoculars and camera, ready for your birding expedition.
Nature walks
Immerse yourself in the lush wilderness of Ajai and witness its natural endowment. A guided nature walk is the only unique option to take you deeper into the hidden habitats with diverse wild animals. Expect to spot a variety of antelopes, including oribis, duikers, bushbucks, primates, and bird species.
What is the best time to visit Ajai for Wildlife Tours?
Ajai Wildlife Reserve experiences tropical climatic conditions and is an all-year-round destination. To experience the best of this enriching wildlife reserve, the dry season is the perfect time of the year to consider taking a trip, and that is from June to September or from December to February. The reserve records heavy rains which occur from April, May, October to November.
Where to stay at Ajai
Ajai is still one of the least developed destinations and expects to find limited accommodation options, with camping being the prime option. This means visitors should prepare and come along with their camping tents.
Or you can book a hotel in Gulu or Arua for an overnight stay and connect to the reserve for your wildlife expeditions. In Arua, the available hotels to consider booking for your overnight stay include Novella Guesthouse, Hotel Delambiance, Hotel Le Confidentiel Arua, Heartland Cottages Arua, Muni Residences, Heritage Hotels Aruaha, and Royal Crane Resort etc
In Gulu City, places to stay include Bethel Resort and Hotel, African Roots Guesthouse Gulu, Bomah Hotel, Wellsprings Hotel, Dich Comfort Hotel, Tina Ma Hotel, Blessed Palace Gulu, Hope’s Apartments, and Gulu Churchill Courts Hotel. In Arua and Gulu, it is possible to find budget, midrange, and luxury accommodation options. Contact your safari company on the ground to guide or assist you in securing a comfortable place for your overnight stay for the number of days you plan to be in the reserve for a holiday.
How to reach Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Ajai Wildlife Reserve is approximately 6 hour drive by road starting from Kampala. Or you can take a flight from Entebbe to Arua Airstrip and drive to the reserve in a 4×4 safari vehicle. If you are in Murchison Falls National Park, you can easily connect to the Ajai Reserve. Due to the strategic location, there is a possibility of combining Murchison Falls and Ajai Reserve trips.
What to Pack for Ajai Wildlife Reserve
Plan appropriately for your safari to explore Ajai Reserve, and your packing list should comprise waterproof walking shoes or boots, long-sleeved shirts, a sweater, insect repellents, safari tents and other camping gear, first aid kits, a safari hat, a camera, and bottled water.
Conclusively, Ajai Wildlife Reserve is the perfect place to visit for you to enjoy authentic wilderness experiences. It is one of the untapped destinations to explore on a Uganda safari tour. Plan and book your Uganda tour to Ajai with Bujuku Eco Tours and Travel.