Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve formerly known as the Pian Upe National Park is one of the many game reserves in Uganda; that compliment the national parks in Uganda. The reserve is located in north eastern Uganda, in the Karamoja region. The Karamoja region is one of the driest areas in the country and hence pian upe has a semi-arid sub-saharan kind of climate. The park sits on an area of 2,043 km² (789 sq mi) that is managed and protected by the Uganda wildlife authority. It has been managed by Uganda Wildlife Authority since its establishment in 1964. It was turned into a game reserve in 1989.

The Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve has a Semi-arid savannah vegetation and is elevated at 1,000-2,300 meters (3,300-7,500 ft). The park’s temperatures can go up to 20-30°C (68-86°F) on average, with the park getting 600-800 mm (24-32 in) of rainfall annually.

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is home to 40 mammal species mainly the elephants, lions, leopards, girrafes, antelopes, cheetah, striped hyena, topis and others. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is one of the sacred habitats of endangered animal species cheetah and striped hyena.

The park also has over 240 bird species with the major bird being the crested crane. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve has the second-largest population of Uganda’s national symbol, the Crested Crane.

The park has an acacia-Commiphora woodlands, grasslands and riverine forests vegetation that blossoms in the rainy season and dries up in the dry seasons.

When you visit the park, you will engage in activities like game drives that allow you to see the animals in the park, you will have nature walks. Bird watching sprees and many other activities. You will also have a chance to camp under the stars. Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is one the best camping sites in Uganda. You can also visit the communities to enjoy the unique culture of the Karamoja region. On these community tours you will visit the Karamojong and Tepeth people, engage in cultural activities with them like hunting, storytelling, food preparation, piercing activity and many more. On these community visits you will enjoy the rich cultural heritage of the region and the traditional norms, communication, dances and music.

Visiting this game reserve goes a lone way in supporting the works on animal and flora conservation through funding platforms that facilitate collaborations with local communities, sensitization on anti-poaching, constructing anti-poaching units and funding initiatives on habitat restoration. units.

Though there are many efforts of conservation things like human- wildlife conflict is affecting the animal population that is sometimes is kills for moving into the local communities. Poaching and degradation of the habitat also affect the reserve.

As most safari places the best time to visit the Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is during the dry season months between June and September. The entrances fees for the park are $30-$40 per person for single entry and exploration of the game reserve.