Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve | Uganda’s Largest Reserve
Pian Upe game reserve is a conservation area is in northeastern Uganda of the Karamoja sub region and the second largest conservation area in Uganda after the Murchison falls reserve which is in the north western Uganda. Pian Upe is a beautiful reserve which is under the management of mountain elgon conservation area.
Pian Upe wildlife reserve is a home for two pastoralists’ tribes which are known as a thespian which is a sub group of Karamoja and the Upe being the Kalenjin speaking people which are commonly known as the Pakot in the Kenya region where these two tribes have a history of armed conflicts mostly related to cattle rustling. These two tribes, the Pian and the Upe they a times team up fighting their neighboring areas both in Uganda and Kenya though they are sometimes violent to each other.
The southern part of Pian Upe used to be a gazetted area as the Debasien Animal sanctuary in 1958 and in 1964 when it was extended northwards; it was named Pian Upe wildlife reserve which is a very remarkable area with Hot springs and it also the destination with mercury wells just at mount Kadam, an isolated range on the eastern boundary of the reserve.
Pian Upe is a home for wildlife species like Black rhinos, elephants, lions, giraffes, plain zebras, oribi and the only roan antelope in Uganda. It also has chameleons, skinks, chameleons, geckos and agama. The reserve has reptiles like puff adders, rock pythons as well as the water snakes that are harmless. The is a also a good place for birders for its bird species like white headed buffalo weaver, Jackson’s horn bill, ostriches and great hartlaub’s bustard which are mostly found within Loporokocho swamp. In addition the vervet monkeys, olive baboons, the far localized pata monkey are white popular in the savanna.
What to do
Mountain climbing
You get to hike mountain Kadam which is the second highest mountain in Karamoja region where on the slopes of Mt Kadam there are the Tepes people who speak Kuliak language known as Soo or So. Most of the Tepes people shifted to Karimajong and now it’s only a few people who can speak the language and historically the Soo people were hunter gatherers but now they are pastoralists and subsistence farmers.
Bird watching
Pian Upe game reserve is with several number of bird species for those who love bird watching they have a chance of spotting lemon dove, black throated wattle eye, hartlaub’s turaco, Grey cuckoo shrike, a giant ostrich among others
Game drives
A guided game drive in Pian Upe gives opportunities to spot animals roan antelopelike only place you can see the roan antelope in Uganda. Other animals you should look out for on this Uganda safari are the cheetahs, the zebras, greater kudu, buffalos, black backed and side stripped jackals, eland, and harte beast.
Cultural community visits
The cultural encounters around Pian Upe are the Kalenjin and the Karimajongs where these people are nomadic pastoralists who depend on their cattle for survival. These people have also managed to stay despite the fact that modernization is changing cultures.
You get a chance to see their way of lives during the encounter, dance music and drama, story tellers and their marriage customs among other interesting unique features among them.
Visit Napendio caves
These caves are considered to be sacred by the local people. These caves have the amazing paintings of wild animals like baboons and antelopes. Napendio caves used to be a recreational place especially for art during the ancient days.
Accommodation
Pian Upe has limited accommodation but within the reserve there are four UWA bandas but the other lodges that are accessible are outside the reserve around Sipi falls or in Mbale town
How to get there
Pian Upe wildlife reserve’s headquarters is located along the Mbale – Moroto route about 90 kilometers off Mbale and 11 kilometers north of the reserve’s northern boundary. At this point, you will be in position to find this reserve’s headquarters immediately you cross Chepsukunya Trading Center which is about two hours’ drive
Best time Pian Upe
Pian Upe wildlife reserve can be visited throughout the year but the best time to visit is during the months of January to March because the animals gather at water places so they become easy to view and the vegetation is normally clear than during the rainy season when the vegetation is abundant and the views are normally bad and hazel. During the months of November to December it’s normally a dry season but with lush vegetation, animals hidden in grass and treetops hence hard to spot.
