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Mount Moroto Lies in the extreme east of Uganda
and is the most accessible place to see some of
the dry northeastern "special", many at the
western edge of their ranges here in Karamoja
province. One of a chain of volcanoes along the
Kenyan border that begins with Mount Elgon in
south and includes Mountains Kadam and Morungole,
Moroto is a forest reserve protecting a range of
habitats from arid thorn savanna to dry montane
forest. Although a long hike is required to
reach the higher areas, excellent arid thorn
savanna and rocky slopes are accessible from the
town at the foot of the mountain.
ABOUT THE PARK
 Province
: Moroto.
Elevation
: 920-3084m above sea level.
Size
: 483 km excluding surrounding areas.
Habitat
: Dry Combretum and Acacia savanna, dry montane
forest.
Status
: Forest Reserve and public land.
Birds
: 225 species.
Timing
: All year round.
Time
Required: 1-2 days
Key Species of Birds
Stone Partridge, Black-headed Plover,
White-bellied Go-away Bird, Jackson's Hornbill,
Hemp Rich’s Hornbill, handsome Silver bird,
Grey-headed and Pygmy Batises, Bristle-crowned
and Superb Starlings, Eastern Violet-backed
Sunbird, White-headed Buffalo Weaver, Purple
Grenadier and Straw-tailed Whydah, African
Grey-Fly-catcher. .
BIRD WATCHING
Lake Bisina and Lake Opeta from an eastern
extension of Kyoga system and are included as
sites for Uganda's only endemic bird, Fox's
Weaver. Although no facilities are present, the
lakes can be covered enroute from Mount Elgon to
Moroto or visited for a day from a base in Mbale
or Soroti.
Lake Bisina is more accessible of the two and is
easily reached on a good dirt road that branches
north off the main Mbale-Soroti road at Kapiri,
20km southeast of Soroti. Continue along this
road to the lake edge and arrange with a local
fisherman to take you across to the northwestern
corner where a colony of Fox's Weavers nest in
the waterside vegetation. Numbers peak in March
and April but there are at least a few present
year-round. Quiet areas of water lilies support
African Pygmy Goose and Lesser Jacana and
Shoebill is fairly frequently seen at the edge
of the extensive papyrus.
The dense thorn savanna around the T-junction
with the Mbale road 11 km from town supports
White-bellied Go-away Bird, Jackson's Hornbill,
Fawn-colored Lark, African Grey Flycatcher, the
handsome Silver bird, Yellow-bellied Eremomela,
Mouse-colored Penduline Tit, Pygmy Batis, Brubru
and Eastern Vilet-backed Sunbird. Drive south
from the junction for 5 km, watching for Dark
Chanting Goshawk, Yellow-necked Spur fowl,
Crested Bustard and the smart Black-headed
Plover at the roadside. The Plovers and
Temminck's Courser may also be seen on the
airstrip closer to town. Pairs of D'Arnaud's
Barbet are frequently seen engaged in their
bizarre tail-wagging duets. Listen for the
distinctive sound of Pebbles being struck
together that may reveal the presence of the
Grey Wren Warbler....
OTHER WILD LIFE
Other wildlife is not plentiful in the Moroto
area but may include Potos, Monkey or the
spectacular Golden Cat.
ACCESS,
Moroto can be reached from Mbale either via
Soroti (90 km tarmarc, or 170 km 2 WD dirt,
drive time required 6 hours ) or via the direct
eastern route ( 230 km. 2 WD dirt, drive time
required 7 hours ). There is good birding along
both routes . To reach the Seminary from Moroto,
turn right at the first roundabout in town and
continue around the base of the mountain for 7.5
km.
ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS
The Moroto Hotel on the edge of town has double
rooms for $ 30 person, although there are two
more basic yet clean hotels on the main road .
Restaurants serve local foods and basic
provisions are available from numerous stores.
LOCAL ATTRACTIONS OUTSIDE THE PARK
The road from Moroto to Soroti crosses the
Bokora Game Reserve 50 km from town and dry
thorn bush at the roadside supports,
Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Mouse-coloured Penduline
Tit, Northern White-crowned Shrike, Beautiful
Sunbird and Grey-capped Social Weaver.
Pink-breasted Lark favours the arid Acacia
savanna in this area. Hartlaub's Bustard has
been described as "common on the Bokora Plains"
and Red-fronted Warbler, a scarce species in
Uganda, is known from arid scrub at the roadside
between Kangole and Iriri villages (30 -65km
from Moroto).
The direct eastern route from Mbale to Moroto is
an excellent birding road although the journey
takes longer than via Soroti. The stretch
between Nakapiripit and Moroto is particularly
good with Pygmy Falcon, Jackson's Hornbill and
White- headed Buffalo Weaver common at the
roadside although a fair selection of dry
country "specials" may be found a mere 25km
north of the Kapchorwa turnoff.
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