TORO-SEMLIKI WILDLIFE RESERVE

Protected since 1926, the reserve is one of the oldest in the country. Covering an area of 542 km², it stretches as far as the southern shore of Lake Albert, with landscapes of acacia woodland and grassy savannah interrupted by islands of palm trees and swamps. On a clear day, you can make out the outline of the Rwenzori peaks and the Congo Blue Mountains. Before the civil war, the reserve was richly endowed with some of Africa's largest lions and numerous leopards. Today, although a few of these felines are still present, you'll mainly be able to see Uganda cob, buffalo, primates (colobus, chimpanzees...) and, possibly, elephants. Safaris in these conditions are not as spectacular as in Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks, but lovers of tranquillity and birdlife (440 species recorded) will appreciate them. In this respect, the waters of Lake Albert provide one of the country's best opportunities for spotting the Nile shoebill. If you are not a guest at Semliki Safari Lodge, you can organize your own activities - such as a primate walk (US$40 for a 3 to 4-hour hike) or Nile shoebill spotting (US$120/boat; for more than 3 passengers, an additional US$25/person) - through UWA. The government agency has a camp (with canteen) at Ntoroko (cost 50-90,000 shillings for a banda): booking required.