Kyambura Game Reserve, Primate reserve in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Kyambura Game Reserve is a wildlife sanctuary located within Queen Elizabeth National Park, distinguished by a deep gorge carved into the landscape. The terrain transitions between open savannah and dense forest, creating varied habitats that support a range of animal species, including chimpanzees.
The reserve started as a controlled hunting area in 1962 before being officially protected as a game reserve in 1965. Settlers were removed from the land during the 1990s to restore it as a dedicated wildlife sanctuary.
The name comes from the Runyankole language and means 'got lost', an echo of people who disappeared during severe floods that once swept through the region. This word is woven into how local communities remember the land and its dramatic past.
Chimpanzee tracking requires descending into the gorge and navigating through thick vegetation, so physical fitness is helpful. Hiring an experienced local guide is essential to find the animals and move safely through the forest.
The reserve contains three salty crater lakes that attract large congregations of flamingos, a concentration found nowhere else in Uganda. These mineral-rich waters support a distinct ecosystem that sets this place apart from other protected areas in the country.
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