what can i do at Pian Upe game reserve
There are many activities that tourists can enjoy while visiting the reserve. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve has established itself as one of the top travel destinations in Uganda. Pian Upe Game Reserve is ideal if you're looking to escape tourist crowds in popular destinations like Queen Elizabeth and Murchison Falls National Parks. click here for Mountain gorilla trekking tours
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is in the Nakapiripiti district of north-eastern Uganda. It is ideally situated to be combined with visits to Sipi Falls, Mount Elgon National Park, and Kidepo National Park Safari in the eastern section of Uganda.
Game-viewing safaris
There are several animal safaris to discover at Pian Upe Animal Reserve, which is the second-largest conservation area after Murchison Falls National Park, with an area covering 2,275 square kilometers. Pain Upe Species Reserve is a worthwhile stop when visiting Uganda, even though its density and diversity of species are not as high as those of Queen Elizabeth National Park and Murchison Falls National Park.
Even though Kidepo National Park was designated as the only national park to locate the animals, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is the only area in Uganda where we discover cheetahs and rolan antelopes. As a result, it is the second-best spot in Uganda to find cheetahs.
Expect to see animals such as jackals, hyenas, cheetahs, cape buffalo, and roan antelope—the latter being unique to Pian Upe wildlife reserve—as well as the great Kudu, Uganda kob, waterbuck, aardvark, velvet, and patas monkeys, olive baboons, and birds like ostriches while on a guided safari.
The simplest animals to detect are antelopes of all kinds, particularly the roan antelope, baboons, velvet monkeys, the strongly vocalized Patas monkey, zebras, buffalos, Dik Dik, birds, and, with some luck, cheetahs. The reserve is home to a variety of predators, including wildcats, jackals, spotted hyenas, civets, serval cats, and the rumored pride of lions.
Because there are fewer tourists in the reserve, there are more opportunities for private and intimate game drives, avoiding the large crowds found in other national parks. The majority of the animals may be seen during morning and evening game drives, which also offer breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. For instance, every morning, the sun rises over the mountains and sets in some of the most captivating sunsets.
Birdwatching
It goes without saying that Pian Upe is one of the best places in Uganda to go bird-watching. The reserve is a birder's paradise due to its unique bird species that have been drawn to the ruined ecosystem. The reserve features designated pathways that provide opportunities for birdwatching.
Among the bird species that can be seen are the rare ostriches, which are also found in Kidepo National Park, and the Karamoja Apalis, which is native to the northeastern region of Uganda. Superb starlings, secretary birds, green bittas, Abyssinian ground hornbills, the endangered shoebill stock, and the endemic Fox weaver bird are among the other bird species that may be seen in Pain Upe Wildlife Reserve.
Community tours
Go on a guided community tour to learn about the customs and culture of the locals living close to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. You may learn about their traditional marriages and weddings, dances that you can participate in, and cattle-raiding activities.
Even though they are known to have been unfriendly in the early days of their arrival, the cultural experiences are highly engaging with people of rich cultural and traditional backgrounds, which is enjoyable to witness.
The pastoral practices of the Karamojong people are widely recognized. You can enjoy an interesting cultural experience in a local Karamojong community near the reserve by visiting one of the communities. The residents will perform unique cultural music, dance, and drama, with the most well-known dance being the Edonga dance.
Mountain climbing safaris and guided nature walks
The hills and mountains that encircle the Pian Upe wildlife reserve are home to hiking destinations like 2,538-meter-high Mount Napak, 3,063-meter-high Mount Kadam, and 3,083-meter-high Mount Moroto. Visitors to the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve have the option of climbing less difficult mountains like Mount Kadam and Mount Napak. The only sightseeing available on hiking safaris is the Napedet cave.
Before the area was gazetted as a national reserve, the first residents of the area would congregate at Napedet Cave to engage in recreational activities. Visitors can see strange paintings of Roan Antelope, Hartebeests, Baboons, and Giraffes, which eventually migrate to the reserve's open plains.
One of the best trekking experiences at Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is hiking to the Napedet cave. This hike improves health, puts one's physical condition to the test, and offers breathtaking views of the reserve's hills.
Where is Pian Upe game reserve located?
Extending over an area of 2788 square kilometers to the north of mountain elgon, is the Pian Upe now under the management of mount elgon conservation area, is the second largest protected area in Uganda after Murchison falls reserve, it lies in semi-arid country which usually receives rainfall in April and more substantial showers from June to early September but some years the rain fails completely.
What makes Pian Upe Game reserve famous?
Pian Upe is home to two pastoralist tribes for which it is named: The Thespian, which is part of a subgroup of the Karamaja, and the Upe, which is a Kalenjiin-speaking people more widely known as the Pakot within Kenya.
These two tribes have a history of armed conflict, mostly related to cattle rustling. At times, the Pian and the Upe team up to fight neighboring tribes in Kenya or Uganda, or they have directed their violence at each other.
Animals such as leopards, cheetahs, and spotted hyenas are quite popular with ranger patrols, and a small population of lions is present. Among the ungulate species are Bur Hell’s zebra, buffalo, eland, Harte beast, greater kudu, topi, orib, dik-dik, and Uganda’s last population of roaming antelope.
In addition to the vervet monkeys, olive baboons, and far-localized pata monkeys, which are popular in the savanna,