East Madi Wildlife Reserve

Set in Northwestern Uganda, East Madi Wildlife Reserve is one of the exceptional nature reserves you shouldn’t miss visiting. East Madi Reserve is located in Adjumani District and forms part of the Albertine Rift Valley. East Madi Wildlife Reserve was declared a Reserve in 2002 with current area coverage of 890 sq. km. The reserve lies near the Nile River and the East Madi River. It features a range of habitats where a diversity of faunal and flora species reside.

East Madi Wildlife Reserve features breathtaking landscapes. The Reserve is composed of unique landscapes and diverse ecosystems. The reserve’s landscape is characterized by woodlands, savanna plains, and wetlands.

Major Attractions in East Madi Wildlife Reserve

Wildlife

East Madi is a wildlife haven. The reserve harbors a diversity of mammal species, including lions, giraffes, elephants, leopards, buffaloes, Rothschild giraffes, and primates like vervet monkeys and baboons.

Bird species

East Madi Reserve supports about 300 species of birds, including white-thighed hornbills, African fish eagles, yellow-footed flycatchers, black-billed barbets, shoebill storks, Abyssinian birds, silver birds, and illadopsis pulveli. Other bird species include red-throated bee-eaters, rock pratincole, black-headed lawing, pied kingfishers, giant heron, and many more.

Unique Vegetation

East Madi Game Reserve features distinct vegetation cover. The reserve’s vegetation zones/cover features a lush savanna grassland, riverine forests, dry woodlands, and dotted acacia trees.

Uganda Safari Activities in East Madi Wildlife Reserve

The main activities in East Madi Wildlife Reserve include guided game drives, bird-watching, nature walks, and cultural or community tours.

Guided game drives

Guided game drives/wildlife viewing is one of the amazing experiences that awaits you in East Madi Reserve. During a guided game drive, expect to find a diversity of wildlife, including giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, oribis, Uganda Kobs, and many bird species.

Birding

A birding tour in East Madi introduces you to the enriching birding habitats, each with diversity of birds. Diversity of birds to spot in this reserve includes shoebills, yellow-throated leaf, rock pratincole, grey-crowned cranes, African fish eagles, giant heron, red-throated bee-eaters, red-throated bee-eaters, and others.

Nature walks

Embark on a journey to unearth the wonders of East Madi on foot with an experienced guide. Nature walking offers a deeper connection with wild, and nature lovers stand a chance to find birds, including red-throated bee-eaters, giant herons, yellow-throated leaf birds, and mammal species. The numerous species of mammals to explore on a guided nature walk include oribi and other antelope families.

Cultural safari experience

Community tours can be done in the Madi local communities, where you can have authentic cultural experience. Visit the Madi community to learn more about the distinct cultures and traditions of the Madi people, and enjoy the interesting dances and stories as told by the elderly.

When to travel to East Madi

East Madi Game Reserve is accessible at any time of the year. However, the dry months are the best for game viewing, and that is from June to August or you can book your wildlife tour from December to February. The weather conditions in the dry season are generally favorable for guided game drives through the plains of Madi Game Reserve.

Where to stay

Places to stay on a tour in East Madi Wildlife Reserve include Lavic Country Resort, Zawadi Hotel, and Aragan Hotel.

Conservation Challenges & Efforts

East Madi Reserve, like the rest of the African wildlife reserves/parks, has its unique conservation challenges. Efforts to save habitats and wildlife have been put in place, including curbing illegal hunting/poaching. Promotion of community-based tourism also plays an essential role in achieving a long-term conservation goal.

Why visit East-Madi Wildlife Reserve –Uganda

East-Madi Wildlife Reserve is home to abundant wildlife and birdlife. The diverse ecosystems make this nature reserve a must-visit for Uganda wildlife safaris. East-Madi wildlife safaris also guarantee you amazing birding or bird-watching experiences. You can also spice up your vacation with authentic cultural experiences.

How to reach East-Madi Wildlife Reserve

From Kampala to the East Madi Wildlife Reserve takes approximately 6 hours. Getting to the reserve is best done using a 4×4 safari vehicle and a professional driver guide accompanying you. By air, you can take a flight from Entebbe Airport to Gulu Airport, where you can make a transfer to the hotel in Adjumani or a camping site in East-Madi Game Reserve.

East Madi Wildlife Reserve Tour with Murchison Falls National Park

A wildlife safari to East-Madi Reserve can be combined with big game tour to Murchison Falls National Park. Before you get to Murchison Falls National Park, you can consider engaging in the rhino tracking at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary.

Located in Nakasongola District, Ziwa features as the only sanctuary with white rhinos in Uganda. A visit to Ziwa Sanctuary is possible en route to East-Madi Reserve in Adjumani and expect to engage in some of its key highlights, especially rhino tracking. What began as a rhino sanctuary currently contains a diversity of other wildlife species and birds. The additional wildlife to see on a tour in Ziwa includes giraffes, Uganda Kobs, colobus monkeys, waterbucks, Aardvarks, Jackson’s hartebeests, and many more.

Birds to find on a birding tour in Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary include African fish eagle, grey-crowned cranes, Abyssinian ground hornbills, pied kingfishers, African jacana, and Pel’s fishing owl.

From Ziwa, you can continue to Murchison Falls National Park for an amazing wildlife tour. Murchison National Park offers thrilling sightings, including oribis, warthogs, cape buffaloes, crocodiles, lions, leopards, elephants, plus primates like blue monkeys, chimpanzees, baboons, and more than 451 species of birds. The common birds to identify on the Murchison Falls birding tour include Senegal thick-knee, goliath heron, African fish eagle, Northern red bishops, rock pratincole, black headed lapwing, red-throated bee-eaters, long-toed plovers, giant kingfishers, casqued hornbills, and great blue turacos.

How to book your safari to East Madi

Contact us to plan and book a successful tour to explore the wonders of not only East-Madi Wildlife Reserve but also other destinations en route. We offer captivating wildlife/game viewing opportunities that take you on a complete immersion into the wilderness.

Conclusively, visit East Madi Wildlife Reserve to enjoy the most mesmerizing encounters in a true African wilderness area. East Madi is one of the untapped tourist sites that await you to unearth on your Uganda safari.