MATHENIKO WILDLIFE RESERVE: A Home to Incredible Giants of Avian World

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Birds
A group of Ostriches in Matheniko Wildlife Reserve in Moroto District. Courtesy photo

Matheniko Wildlife Reserve is found in North Eastern Uganda in Moroto district and is home to Ostriches, the incredible giants of the avian world. The reserve is a major conservation area in Karamoja region.

Matheniko wildlife reserve is among the many tourist attractions that make Karamoja region an intriguing region to pay a visit this festive season.

From the Karamoja Museum with its centuries-old fossil exhibits, the scenic Mount Moroto, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve with its abundance of flora and fauna to the famous eco-friendly Manyattas; the traditional home setting of the Karamojong people, Karamoja region is well endowed with natural beauty.

Karamoja offers a myriad of attractions to tourists but above all, the contrast between its authentic culture mixed with a touch of an ancient Africa and its adoption of the modern life dynamics gives the region an edge as an intriguing destination for every human being.

The reserve is home to Ostriches which are the biggest and tallest birds in the world weighing up to 346 Pounds and can grow up to 9 ft. These giant birds can also run up to 43 miles per hour making them the fastest birds on land.

An Ostrich egg can weigh up to 1.3kgs and is equivalent to about 24 chicken eggs.

Matheniko reserve is also home to predators like the wild cats, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and Leopards. The primate population include patas monkeys, baboons and vervet monkeys. Other animals like the giraffes from Kidepo Valley National Park and Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve visit the Matheniko during certain months of the year to have an experience of a new environment.

Other fascinations in the Matheniko Wildlife Reserve are game drives and sport hunting, mountain and rock climbing, cultural visits and camping, among others.

Apart from ostriches, other bird species that call Matheniko Wildlife Reserve home include; the Eastern bronze-napped Pigeon, the Mountain Yellow Warbler, Ethiopian swallow, among others.

Visit Uganda and especially Matheniko Wildlife Reserve and cherish these moments of untamed beauty, its magical and breathtaking.