Overview
Pian Upe Game Reserve is the second largest conservation protected area in Uganda behind Murchison Falls Conservation at 2043 km2 situated in the Karamoja subregion and managed by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Pian Upe was previously known as Debasien Animal Sanctuary gazetted in 1958 however was later renamed Pian Upe Game Reserve in 1964 after the government-led project for agriculture threatened the availability of wildlife and the reserve was expanded northward. Pian-Upe Game Reserve is located in North Eastern Uganda covering parts of the Nakapiripirit, Amudat, and Moroto districts. It forms part of the Karamoja Conservation Area, which includes other protected areas like Kidepo Valley National Park with the area culturally significant to the local pastoral communities, who have traditionally relied on the land for grazing. The reserve is increasingly viewed as a potential ecotourism destination, attracting interest for its scenic beauty and cultural richness.
Pian Upe Game Reserve is one of the most fascinating conservation areas with semi-arid conditions with one major wet/rainy season in a year. The bigger part of the reserve is covered by undisturbed and wooded grasslands and features bristle species, lemon grasses, and beard grasses, and small portions of riverine woodland and kopjes exist. The plains are decorated with red acacia and desert dates as the dominant tree species, bush willows, and shrubs like the wooly caper bushes and butterfly pea with the lower vegetation layer burning yearly. The plants in the reserve are adapted to the dry conditions with some having deep root systems and waxy leaves to minimize water loss.
Pian Upe Game Reserve once hosted a wide variety of wildlife, which was poached in the 1970-80’s during Idi Amin’s era. Due to the poaching of wildlife, there was a local extinction of Lions, eastern black rhinos, elephants, and giraffes however efforts to restore it to its former glory are being made. The game reserve remains with untouched wilderness and is a must-visit for game viewing and sightseeing. The government of Uganda has expressed interest in upgrading Pian Upe to National Park status from a game reserve with efforts to restock wildlife in the process as well as more areas for tourism development to open up.
Pian Upe is home to quite some rare animals found nowhere else in Uganda like Cheetahs which gives one more chance to see the fastest mammal in the world and the Roan Antelopes as the only remaining population in Uganda. The reserve has 44 mammals which include leopards, cheetahs, civets, spotted hyenas, jackals, wild cats, cape buffaloes, elands, roan antelopes, waterbucks, kobs, giraffes, impalas, blue and common duikers, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, patas monkeys, hares, and hedgehogs; 242 bird species with 11 endemics like fox’s weavers, karamoja apalis, darters, hornbills, African eagles, herons, ostriches, secretary birds, superb sterlings, red-billed oxpecker, piapiac, and red-winged lark. The reserve is also home to reptiles like rock pythons, puff adders, water snakes, skinks, geckos, chameleons and monitor lizards. Although the area once supported healthy populations of lions, elephants, black rhinos, and giraffes they are now locally extinct however giraffes were relocated from Murchison Falls National Park with the help of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and Uganda Wildlife Authority in an effort to restock the game reserve.
ATTRACTIONS
Wildlife
Pian Upe is one of the few places in Uganda where Cheetahs are found, together with roan antelopes, zebras, eland, buffaloes, leopards, hyenas, warthogs, common duikers, olive baboons, vervet monkeys, patas monkeys, hares, hedgehogs, klipspringers, dik-dik, hartebeests, waterbuck, reedbuck, rock pythons, puff adders, common agama, skinks, savanna monitors, geckos, chameleons and many more make for an amazing opportunity for game viewing for a tourist.
Bird Watching
With over 250 bird species including 11 endemics, and migratory birds like ostriches, secretary birds, Abyssinian ground hornbills, jackson’s hornbill, karamoja apalis, superb starling, green bitta, shoebill, fox weaver, helmeted guineafowl, black-billed wood-dove, black-bellied bustard, wattled lapwing, African harrier-hawk, bateleur, green Woodhoopoe, African grey hornbill, bee-eaters, barbets, cormorants, shrikes, warblers, egrets, herons, and many more. Pian Upe Game Reserve ranks second in terms of bird density to Queen Elizabeth National Park with Loporokocho swamp as a habitat for many of the birds which makes it a perfect spot for birding.
Landscapes
Mountain Kadam, Twin Hills, Napedet cave, Kelekede rock, Moru hills, and Namorotot cave are some of the sites that provide beautiful views, a home for animals like rock pythons, puff adders, savanna lizards and hyenas, activities like mountain climbing and hiking are also enjoyed by tourists.
Lake Opeta is found in the southern part of the game reserve, providing a wetland system perfect for birds, reptiles, and other animals. Cheposukunya hot springs are also found in the reserve and are also a good spot for bird species, with beautiful views for camping or picnics and picture taking.
Culture
Once in this area around and within the reserve, one gets to experience culture at its best with communities like the karamojongs and IK people. Things like the traditional homesteads called Manyattas, traditional dances, crafting, and grazing are activities tourists can engage in to appreciate the communities. Much as the communities are still traditional and haven’t fully embraced modernity, they engage in the activity through a local guide.
ACTIVITIES
Game Drives
With the flat grassland plains and kopjes, a game drive along the plains is certainly a popular activity in the reserve. The type of plains makes it easy for one to view the beauty of the reserve in its entirety, and the animals like the cheetahs, roan antelopes, leopards, jackals, giraffes, dik-dik, elephants, Ugandan kobs, mountain reedbucks, rock pythons, puff adders, olive baboons, vervet and patas monkeys, hyenas, rock pythons, puff adders, and many more and bird species like ostriches, secretary birds, fox’s weaver, Abyssinian ground hornbills, and many more. The drives can be done in the morning or afternoon with an experienced guide taking 2-3 hours.
Bird Watching
Pian Upe Game Reserve has spots like Cheposukunya hot springs, Loporokocho swamp, and Lake Opeta which are perfect habitats for the multiple bird species to be viewed either in the mornings or evenings. This makes birding a remarkable experience for enthusiasts to explore one of Uganda’s lesser-known avian havens with the help of an experienced local guide. Birds like fox weavers, plovers, vultures, herons, pelicans, lapwigs, African hill babblers, superb starlings, dusky turtle doves, Abyssinian ground hornbill, green bitta, karamoja apalis, Jackson’s hornbill, and more. With endemics and migratory bird species, the reserve avails an all-season scenario for birding and not forgetting the fact that it is the second in regards to bird density with Queen Elizabeth National Park coming in first and more species yet to be identified by the researchers.
Mountain Climbing
Mountain climbing in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve offers an exhilarating adventure for those seeking to explore Uganda’s rugged northeastern landscapes. Mountain Kadam avails a trail that one take to enjoy the beautiful scenic views and features at Pian Upe Game Reserve. Features like the Napadet cave can also be toured and the cave avails history in the sense of painting of roan antelopes, giraffes, and baboons which is a historic and quite the activity to engage in as one walks through the cave and is done in the mornings for about 1-3days for a full summit.
Guided Nature Walks
Guided nature walks offer an immersive experience into the pristine game reserve; arranged with a guide and an armed game ranger and are one of the best ways to explore the reserve. One gets to enjoy nature and animals intimately as they get up close and personal, with animals like cheetahs, roan antelopes, giraffes, elephants, and reptiles; enjoy birds singing and the gorgeous scenic views. A tourist gets to enjoy the fresh breeze and also have an opportunity for perfect picture taking and they have to be physically and mentally ready for the hike with light clothes. Places like Keledeke Hills, Twin Hills, Moru Hills, Mount Kadam, Mount Napak, and Napedet Cave avail trails for nature walks.
Community tours
Community tours are done within the communities near the game reserve with a local guide and this enables a tourist to be fully immersed in the culture of the community in every sense of it through music, dance, drama, crafting, grazing, and beekeeping. Guests are allowed to engage with the rich cultural heritage of the communities providing an insight into their traditional lifestyles, and customs. These activities can be used to define the communities in and around the reserve. We have the Karamojong and IK people both very traditional and in no rush for modernity and are also pastoralists. They have traditional manyattas and craft centers that also add to the experience.
The best time to visit Pian Upe is during the dry seasons which are between January- March and November- December. For the best experiences the dry seasons provide clear skies and animals always gather around the available water sources which makes it easy for tourists to view the animals. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve offers a unique and off-the-beaten-path safari experience, allowing visitors to explore Uganda’s hidden wilderness and encounter a variety of wildlife in a pristine natural setting.