All National Park tariffs indicated below are effective 01 January 2009 through 30th June 2010
UWA New tariffs document Jan 2009 - June 2010 (148KB)

Commercial Filming Fees:
Commercial filming in this Category 'B' Protected Area is US$100- per person per day plus a refundable fee of US$1,000- when you provide UWA a copy of the film.
Accident fee for killing animals US$500-.

Fines:
The fine for those caught driving off track without permission will be fined US$150-.
Over speeding fines Ushs100,000- per offence.
Accident fee for killing animals US$500-.

Excursion within the Park
 

Wetland Canal Trip	FNR/EAR	Citizens
	US$5- per person per trip	Ush5,000- per person per trip

The Canal trip is far from being currently a commercial venture. The 'local canoe' being used is in a very poor condition. The canoe can sit 8 persons. The Canal trip has the potential to be a very good experience but the canal needs a management plan to keep the passage open from encroachment by Papyrus. At the time of writing the 2 km circular passage was not possible to complete due to the size of the canoe, shallow water and blockage of the canal by vegetation.

Getting there and away:
Katonga is 4 hours drive from Kampala. The most direct route is to use the Kampala-Mubende-Fort Portal Road. From Mubende proceed to Kyegegwa ?? Kms. Follow sign posting for Katonga Reserve. Marrum road for 42 kms (1 hour) to the Reserve HQ. This road would be impassable after heavy rain.

Alternative access or departure route via Kaso: From Mbabara an excellent tarmac road heads north for 62 kms to Ibanda. The tarmac continues after Ibanda for 2 kms where a right turn will lead to Kaso on fair marrum roads. From Kaso ask directions at all main junctions for Kabagole. Mbarara-Katonga 3 hours.

The approach to Kaso from Nakaiita on the Lyantonde-Mbarara Road is entirely on marrum. There are several matatu's that make this journey in each direction daily from Lyantonde. Travel time 2 hours.

Accommodation:
In the reserve you can only camp. In Kabagole 2 km from the Reserve HQ basic accommodation is available at Katonga View Hotel and Lodge, meals and cold drinks are available for those unable to camp.

Mechanical Emergencies:
There is no workshop in the reserve or Kabagole.

Location:
The terrain of the Katonga Reserve is mixed Savannah with acacia scrubland or woodlands. A large portion of the reserve is either permanent or seasonal wetlands. There are also pockets of riverine and tropical forest.

Katonga is best known for the opportunity to see Sitatunga antelope. The 207 sqkm reserve is also home too less illusive game also. Reedbuck, Defassa Waterbuck, Warthog and Bushbuck can all be seen at close quarters on a nature walk. A troop of Black and White Colobus monkeys inhabits the riverine forest adjacent to the canal. Bird life is excellent with wetland, savannah and forest species present. Elephant is also present but rarely seen.

Glimpses of the shy Sitatunga can be best experienced with an early morning start 1 hour before the sunrise. Follow the 'Sitatunga Trail' with your guide down to and along the fringes of the swamp. Move in groups not exceeding 3 persons very quietly using any vegetation as cover. Wear clothing that blends with the bush. Sitatunga is very shy and viewing time can be measured in seconds. They are however majestic animals with a large concentration of males that are often seen. On a 2 day visit I recorded 5 sightings the first day and 6 the next. However a following visit accounted for no sightings but this was more likely due to extremely heavy rain throughout the nature walk.

There are 2 other trails in the reserve Kyeibale and Kisharara as well as the only Wetlands Canal in East Africa through the papyrus and reed swamp of the Katonga River.

Surrounding the reserve Banyankore peoples keep large herds of the impressively long horned cattle known as Ankole. A visit to a Banyankore homestead is an interesting opportunity to consider whilst visiting Katonga Reserve. Production of butter from the cow milk is their main source of income as well as selling the milk locally.

Entertaining the needs of local peoples and ensuring the existence of the reserve, it's wildlife and habitat is a challenging task for the Reserve. Poaching and cattle encroachment are persistent problems.

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