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Pian Upe Game Reserve

Pian upe game reserve is a newly sanctioned tourist destination with astonishing landscape sceneries and mountain views accompanied with untouched grassland and woodlands in Mount Elgon conservation area.

Pian upe is positioned in northeastern Uganda, Nakipiripiti district however it also stretches to districts of Amudat, Moroto, katakwi, Napaka, kween, kumi, bukedea and Bulambuli. The game reserve covers 2,275 square kilometers making it the second largest protected area in Uganda about 356 kilometers from Kampala and this is 8 to 9 hour drive via Mbale to Soroti on road.

 Background of Pian Upe Game Reserve.

Time gone by ; Pian Upe currently a game reserve was a battleground for two karamajong pastoral groups of those from the North-eastern part of Uganda and the Pokot from Kenya and these used to raid on another during ruthless cattle rustling. This drives us to why it’s called ” Pian upe”  where pian refers to a calm hearted people and Upe means enemy , there combination forms the word friendly enemies since these two groups of people were enemies. In this case” Pian” was used to refer to the karamajong people of North-eastern Uganda and Upe refers to the Pokot who are said to have migrated from Kenya. These people are mainly pastoralists and live a traditional life style only being around cattle.

REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD NOT MISS A VISIT TO PIAN UPE.

There many reasons as to why you should stretch a leg to Pian Upe game reserve;

Pian upe is cheap according to other conservation areas but it can also satisfy your anger about meeting different tourist attractions and enjoying the fresh environment of Uganda in nature.

Fauna, you shouldn’t miss out encountering a number of rare animals that can be found in this game reserve like the roan antelopes, civets, serval cat, jackals and many others.

Flora, Pian Upe is still raw with most fascinating plains dominated by woodlands and grasslands, short trees and shrubs.

THINGS TO DO IN PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE.

I know you are already wondering of what to do on your visit to Pian Upe game reserve; here is a list of interesting things to venture into while staying in this game reserve because of its attractions.

Game viewing. The park is still raw with low numbers of tourists and this gives you an opportunity of a game drive in a private way. Morning and evening game drives are the best way to see most of the animals like jackals, spotted hyenas, civets, the great kudu, Uganda kob, zebra, buffalos, cheetahs, water buck, primates like olive baboons, velvet and patas monkey and many more which you will get a chance to encounter with leaving an exceptional experience.

Cultural encounter. Ascertain on the amazing culture and techniques of the people living around the Pian Upe game reserve, overtake a guided cultural encounter by visiting different communities and enjoy their performances like traditional dances, their raiding activities, drama performances, storytelling and also get a chance to engage in any of the activities which will offer you an amazing and memorable cultural experience of the local Karamajongs.

Mountain climbing. Pian Upe is surrounded by mountains like mount kadam, mount Napak, mount Moroto and these offer hiking experiences and these test some ones fitness, during hiking you will see the Napedet cave which a popular ancient recreational place and while here the tourists are able to see odd paintings of heart beasts, baboons which often move to the reserve plains.

Bird watching. Uncover the secret of Pian Upe game reserve one of the birders havens in Uganda having none tempered with eco-environment which has attracted unique bird species. A number of birds like Karamoja Apalis which is endemic to north-eastern part of Uganda, the rare ostriches, superb sterling, secretary bird, shoebill stock and the fox weaver, these bird species will leave a remarkable experience to tourists interested in birding.

Nature walks. This gives you a chance to explore the ample plains of Pian Upe on foot and gain an opportunity to get up personal with wildlife species, butterflies, an opportunity for photography and most interesting and memorable experience is hearing the whispers of the wild, watching sunset during evening nature walk and sunrise during the morning nature walks.

ACCOMMODATION IN PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE.

Pian Upe game reserve being raw its natural is not yet as much been tempered with and this makes it having limited accommodation options compared to other conservation areas. Its popular accommodation is the 4bandas at the headquarters three of which are self- contained and one isn’t self-contained but with a bathroom and toilet outside.

Camping. This is the most amazing and memorable way of staying in the wild since it gives you an opportunity to listen closely to the wild and this will work for adventurous tourists. At Pian Upe camping tents are pitched at the headquarters, you can either carry your camping gadgets or hire from the headquarters.

You can also sleep in the midrange safari tented camp and these tents are called Karamajong overland camp and are self-contained.

BEST TIME TO VISIT.

Sunny seasons are known to be travel friendly and in this also Pian Upe game reserve perfect time to visit is in the months of January to March when the vegetation is dry. Animals during this season gather at water sources mostly on Girik River in the southern part of the reserve making it easy for game viewing. In the wet season the trails are muddy making the tour a little bitter challenging.