Unlike in the past where you would have to travel up to Lake Mburo National Park (western Uganda) or Kidepo Valley National Park (north-eastern Uganda) to see the stunning herds of Burchell’s Zebras, you can actually just drop at Katonga Wildlife Reserve to see these animals as well as Impalas during Uganda safaris.
The first phase of restocking the Katonga Wildlife Reserve (part of the extensive Kibale Conservation Area within western Uganda) with Impalas and Burchell’s zebras has been finalized by the Uganda Wildlife Authority through a team from the Veterinary Unit.
As earlier mentioned Uganda’s Burchell’s zebras are mainly found within Kidepo Valley and Lake Mburo National Parks. These amazing animals are known for their exceptional stripes that are different from one individual to another (no two zebras have the same pattern). These single-hoofed social animals live in smaller groups within much larger herbs.
It is said that their stripes are important tool for camouflage against predators especially leopards, lions or stray zebras from other herds. Surprisingly, these animals sleep while standing just like horses and are herbivores with their diet comprising of mainly grasses in addition to other materials such as herbs, shrubs, barks, twigs and leaves.
Their gestational period is 12 to 14 months after which brown and white-colored foals are born with the ability of standing up and walking on their own immediately after birth.
Impalas are very amazing antelope species from which the name “Kampala”, Uganda’s Capital City was derived. Scientifically known as Aepyceros melampus, impalas are medium-sized antelopes found within only Lake Mburo National Park. They are sub-divided into two species that include the black-faced and common impalas and weigh from 40 to 76 kilograms (88 to 168 pounds). They are characterized by the glossy and reddish-brown coats.
Only male impalas have horns that are slender and lyre-shaped measuring 45 to 92 centimeters (18 to 36 inches) long. These herbivores are grazers as well as browsers feeding on acacia pods, monocots, fruits, forbs and dicots among others.
Mainly occupy woodlands and sometimes between savannahs and woodlands, especially around places near water. Their gestation period is 6-7 months whereby a single calf is born and suckled for four to six months. Males reach sexual maturity at one year old but mate after four years of age while the females start conceiving at one year and a half.
The animals that were transferred to this Wildlife Reserve were captured from the surrounding ranches of Lake Mburo National Park in July 2013.
Gazetted in 1996, Katonga Wildlife Reserve is one of the popular destinations in Uganda and covers an area of 211 square kilometers (81 square miles). It is found within western Uganda along the banks of Katonga River and is a home to several wildlife species such as Buffaloes, elephants, leopards, antelopes like Defassa waterbucks, Uganda Kobs, reedbucks, sitatunga and bushbucks, River otters, warthogs and primates such as olive baboons, black and white colobus monkeys. There are also more than 150 species of birds that call the Reserve home.
The translocation of different animals to Katonga Wildlife Reserve is being done with the aim or turning it into a National Park. It has therefore become of the most popular tourist destinations within the country with over 68 impalas as well as about 11 zebras that are relishing the rich and verdant pastures and water points of the site.
