National park · Uganda
Ajai Game Reserve
Enter Ajai Game Reserve for a half‑day game drive: pay the entry fee (≈ UGX 30 000 / ≈ US$8) and join a guided 2‑hour walk on the main grassland loop; avoid the heavy rains in Apr/May and Oct/Nov for best wildlife spotting.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
166 km² (64 sq mi)64 sq mi (166 km²)
approximate
Established
1937
Best months
Jun, Dec–Feb
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 12Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a mult…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- East Africa ↗Carry the yellow fever certificate on every leg of a multi-country trip: Uganda and Burundi check it for all arrivals, and a stop in Kenya or Ethiopia makes the next border ask for it.
- East Africa ↗Advice for Ethiopia, Somaliland, Eritrea, Somalia, South Sudan and the Congo border areas can change within days; read your government's page the week you fly and before every regional flight.
- East Africa ↗Price park, reserve and permit fees before comparing lodges: they are charged per person per day, often with VAT, and are fixed whatever bed you choose.
- Uganda ↗Get the Uganda e-visa or East Africa Tourist Visa on the official immigration portal before flying, and carry a yellow fever certificate: Uganda asks all arriving travellers for one.
- Uganda ↗Book a travel-clinic visit several weeks ahead for malaria prevention, and check current outbreak notices: Ebola and Marburg outbreaks have occurred in the region, most recently in 2026.
- Uganda ↗Book gorilla and chimpanzee trekking permits before you fix dates; the lodge booking follows the permit, not the other way round.
- Uganda ↗Domestic light aircraft to the parks have strict baggage limits, usually soft-sided bags only and a low total weight (often around 15 kg); confirm the limit with your operator.
- Northern Uganda ↗4WD is the practical choice for Kidepo and Ajai; diesel preferred and carry spare tyres — check the vehicle before you leave.
- Northern Uganda ↗Malaria is more prevalent here than in the south; nets and prophylaxis advised.
- Northern Uganda ↗A home-country driving licence is usually accepted — check with your rental company.
At a glance
- Country
- Uganda
- Area
- 166 km² (64 sq mi)64 sq mi (166 km²)
- 16,600 ha (source).
- Established
- 1937
- Best months
- Jun, Dec–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
Ajai Game Reserve, a 166 km² grassland savanna on the Albert Nile’s west bank, offers short guided drives and walks to see kob, duiker, baboons and occasional leopards, with birdwatching along the river; it’s a quick add‑on from Arua airport or a day trip from Kampala, best visited in the dry months.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1937.
Size and age
166 km² (64 sq mi)64 sq mi (166 km²) · national park since 1937
16,600 ha (source).
Why go
- Grassland savanna with a good chance of seeing kob, duiker, baboon and leopard.
- Birdwatching on the Albert Nile floodplain.
- Close to Arua for a short drive from the airport.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprAvoid
- MayAvoid
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctAvoid
- NovAvoid
- DecBest
- JanDry, good visibility.
- FebDry, good visibility.
- MarTransition to rains.
- AprStart of heavy rains.
- MayHeavy rains, muddy tracks.
- JunDry season resumes.
- JulDry, occasional showers.
- AugDry, good wildlife.
- SepDry, good wildlife.
- OctSecond rain period begins.
- NovRainy, tracks slippery.
- DecDry, cooler.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uganda kob, common duiker, olive baboon, black & white colobus, vervet monkey, warthog, leopard, sitatunga, oribi, hippo, crocodile, pythonJun–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Birds (waterfowl, raptors, weavers)Jun–Sep, Dec–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Administration gate | Entry point, visitor office, and short walking trails. | Open with fee. |
| Grassland loop | Main 2‑hour game drive route on foot or vehicle. | Guided only. |
| Albert Nile edge | Riverbank for birdwatching and hippo sightings. | Accessible from the gate area. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates centred on the reserve gate; approximate for orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry fee (per person) | UGX 30,000 | person | 2026 estimate (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Game drive permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Required for all vehicle or walking game drives.
- Camping
- Only allowed in the designated area near the administration building.
- Fire
- Open fires prohibited; use provided stoves.
Where to stay
Near the park
Bahr‑el‑Jebel Safari camp
Basic tents with meals; the main camp for Ajai visitors.
Near the park
Arua town
Hotels and guesthouses 30 km (19 mi) away.Hotels and guesthouses 19 mi (30 km) away.
Safety
Heat and sun exposure medium
Wild animal encounters low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Administration gate reachable by car; short walks on flat terrain.
Visiting lightly
- Support the planned rhino re‑introduction by buying official souvenirs.
- Stay in the designated camp to limit impact on surrounding land.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Ajai Game Reserve?
The entry fee is about UGX 30 000 per person (≈ US$8) paid at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Ajai Game Reserve?
The main 2‑hour grassland loop is the most accessible; a short birdwatching walk along the Albert Nile is also popular.
When is the best time to visit Ajai Game Reserve?
Visit in the dry months – January, February, June to September, and December – to avoid the heavy rains in April/May and October/November.
Can I camp inside Ajai Game Reserve?
Camping is only allowed in the designated area near the administration building; arrange with the reserve.
Is there a night drive option?
Night drives are not offered; the reserve focuses on daytime game viewing.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Ajai Game Reserve
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