Located along the banks of The Albert Nile, Ajai and East Madi Wildlife Reserves are perfect stopovers to break the journey between the North East and North Western wildlife corridors for nature enthusiasts. Sport hunting opportunities exist in Ajai Wildlife Reserve under the Uganda Wildlife Authority’s policy of extractive utilization of wildlife on public and private sector partnership arrangements.
Currently Ajai has only one tented camping facility. In contrast to the marauding populations of Northern White and Black Rhino species that existed in Uganda at the turn of the 19th Century, Ajai‘s Rhino population took a toll for the worse leading up to their extinction in the early 80’s.
The reserve had played host to famous 20th Century statesmen including American President Theodore Rossevelt in 1909 also inspiring the words of the then colonial secretary Winston Churchill who wrote of the Country after visiting in 1907 in his book ‘MY AFRICAN JOURNEY ,’ My journey is at an end , the tale has been told. The reader who has followed so faithfully and so far has a right to ask what message I bring back. It can be stated in three words’ CONCENTRATE ON UGANDA ’. The authorities have since taken the hint with real prospects for the re-introduction of the Rhino in collaboration with Rhino Fund Uganda which should go along way in reviving investment in the region.
Together with East Madi Wildlife reserve currently managed by a concessionaire, these attractions offer ideal getaways. Further north is the potential to develop other attractions including Lipan in Kitgum district, Palabek Ogili in Lamwo district and Lomunga in Moyo district. Most of these habitats were traditional hunting grounds and now communities and local governments are receptive to harnessing their tourism potential. There is also a large concentration of colobus monkeys and bird species in the Atiak forest reserve near the Albert Nile .