Semliki Wildlife Reserve, Uganda
The Semliki Wildlife Reserve is a massive area of wilderness situated between the Ruwenzori Mountains and Lake Albert deep inside Uganda's Western Rift Valley. The reserve is a prime conservation area of which much is untouched. The Semliki Valley Wildlife Reserve which, was formerly called The Toro Game Reserve, is the oldest protected area in Uganda. It is where East Africa meets west, tropical rainforest meets grassy savannah. The diverse habitat is a natural haven for a huge array of wildlife including lion, buffalo, leopard and elephant, both savannah and forest species, along with the national antelope of Uganda, the Uganda kob. In addition the area houses a centre for primates’ research, mainly focusing on chimpanzees making it a wonderful place to track them in their natural environment. The birdlife within the reserve is also staggering with some 500 bird species being spotted in the area and on the shores of the glistening Lake Albert, including the shoebill stork.