Situated in Yumbe district, within the remote North-western side of Uganda is Mount Kei Forest Reserve, an ignored Birding Area in the country with extraordinary species to look-out for. With an average terrain elevation of 980 meters above sea level, this Reserve shares its borders with Kenya (to its north) and Sudan while River Kechi drains through its Eastern boundary. This Reserve was formerly known as Mount Kei Rhino Sanctuary, sheltering some of the country’s Rhino population before they became extinct in the 1970s.
Size of Mount Kei Forest Reserve
Mount Kei Forest Reserve extends for over 384 square kilometers (38,400 hectares) of dry Combretum-Terminalia savanna as well as Butyrospermum savanna woodland. There are also over 30 unique flora species in this Reserve, 3 of them found in Uganda alone and these are Morinda titanopylla, Aeschynomene schimperi and Combretum racemosum. Forest covers at least 57%, savannah 40% and shrubland 2% of Mount Kei Forest Reserve landscape.
The remoteness of this Reserve limits human activity with surprisingly sparse population around the area, although it is also vital as a source of wood fuel, herbal medicines, construction poles and honey in addition to being an important water catchment Area.
Bird species in Mount Kei Forest Reserve
Mount Kei Forest Reserve is home to over 175 bird species including the Sudan-Guinea Biome species and those that are endemic (localized) to Uganda. Expect the Levant Sparrowhawk, Dybowski’s Twinspot, the Red-necked buzzard, the Asian Green Bee-eater and Palestine sunbirds among others.
Besides the birds, mammals especially Somali shrews are also known from no other place in Uganda but just Mount Kei Forest Reserve.
Best time to visit Mount Kei Forest Reserve
Mount Kei Forest Reserve is one of Uganda’s all-year round safari destinations with birding tours conducted from January to December. However, the long rains of March to May as well as short rains of October to November limit birding adventures, given the muddy and slippery nature of roads/paths experienced during these months.
