It measures approximately 211 square kilometres (81 sq mi) and is located along the banks of the river, approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi), by road, west of Uganda's capital city - Kampala. The reserve protects a network of forest-fringed wetlands along the Katonga River and can best be explored by foot and canoe.

It is home to over forty (40) species of mammals and over one hundred (150) species of birds many of which are specific to wetland habitats.

Commonly sighted in the wetland reserve are bohor reedbuck, bushbuck, waterbuck, warthog, as well as elephant, river otters and colobus monkeys. Also found in this habitat is the shy Sitatunga, a semi-aquatic antelope with webbed hooves.