Tourist activities in Pian Upe wildlife reserve Uganda- Yes, the reserve has made the title of being one of the top best destinations in Uganda because of its attractions that have supported so many activities to do while staying in the wildlife reserve. If you want a place where you don’t want crowds of tourists like what happens in the Murchison falls national park, Bwindi impenetrable forest national park, and Queen Elizabeth national park, then Pian Upe game reserve is the best place for you to visit. Pian Upe wildlife reserve is situated in the North-Eastern part of Uganda in Nakapiripiti district strategically located to combine with visit Sipi Falls and Mount Elgon national park both in the Eastern part of Uganda and Kidepo national park trip in the north-eastern part of Uganda. Below are the most interesting tourist activities done in Pian Upe wildlife reserve.

Game viewing safaris

Being the second biggest conservation area with a total area covering 2,275 sq. km after Murchison falls national park, there are a lot of wildlife safaris to discover in Pian Upe wildlife reserve. Although Pain Upe wildlife reserve cannot be rated as high as Queen Elizabeth national park and Murchison falls national park in terms of density and diversity of flora and fauna, it is worth visiting when traveling to Uganda. Pian Upe wildlife reserve is the only gazette place in Uganda where we meet Roan antelopes and the Cheetah even though Kidepo national park had been marked as the only national park to find these wild animals thus Pian Upe wildlife reserve is the second place in Uganda where we find the cheetah. While on a game drive in Pian Upe wildlife reserve, expect to encounter animals such as Jackals, Hyenas, cheetahs, Cape Buffalo, Roan antelope – Pian Upe wildlife reserve is the only place where we can find this fine-looking antelope, Dik Dik, the great Kudu, Uganda kob, Aardvark, Waterbuck, Vervet monkeys, Patas monkeys, and Olive baboons, as well as birds such as the giant Ostriches, Jackson’s hornbill, white, headed buffalo weaver, great Hartlaub’s bustard. Numerous types of antelopes especially the roan antelope, topi, common eland, blue and common duiker, klipspringer, baboons, vervet monkey, the strong vocalized Patas monkey, Zebras, Buffalos, Dik Dik, birds to mention a few are the easiest to be seen and with a bit of luck, you can also see the cheetahs. Predators found in the reserve include; the wildcats, Spotted Hyenas, Jackals, Civets, Serval Cats, the mysterious Leopards, and prides of Lions are reported to occasionally be seen in Pian Upe wildlife reserve.

Game viewing can be difficult due to the bad nature of trails however, with a good 4X4 comfortable safari vehicle, the trials can do drivable. To have a great experience of the wild animals in Pian Upe, you need a minimum number of 3 Days in the wildlife reserve to fully experience the game in the reserve. The reserve is still undamaged with low numbers of visitors, so widens your opportunity for game drives in a private and intimate experience, dismissing crowds that can be seen in another national park. Morning and evening game drives are the best times to spot most of the animals with the amazing sunsets and sunrises for example every morning the sun comes out behind the mountains and descends over the horizon in some of the most charming sunsets.

Bird watching

It is no doubt that Pian Upe is one of the best destinations in Uganda for bird watching with spoilt eco-environment in Uganda which has attracted endemic bird species making the reserve a true birder’s Haven. There are defined trails in the reserve where birdwatching can be done. Some of the bird species that can be seen here include; the Karamoja Apalis which is endemic to the north-eastern part of Uganda, the rare Ostriches which can also be found in Kidepo national park. Other bird species to be found while in Pain Upe wildlife reserve include; Superb sterlings, great Hartlaub’s bustard, Green bitta, Secretary bird, Jackson’s hornbill, Abyssinian ground hornbill, the rare shoebill stock, and the Fox weaver bird which is also an endemic bird species.

Community tours

This is one of the best tourist activities done in Pian Upe wildlife reserve of learning about the culture and ways of the people living around the reserve. You will go for a guided community visit and interact with local people where you will get to learn about their traditional weddings and marriages, traditional dances that you can take part in, and their invading activities for cattle. The cultural experiences are very exciting with people of rich culture and tradition experiences that are thrilling to watch even though they are known to be hostile in the earliest days of their settlement. The Karamojong are famously known for their pastoral practices. The cultural encounter with one of the local Karamojong communities near the reserve will offer you an amazing and memorable cultural experience on a piece of rare cultural music, dance, and drama performance by the local people most especially the celebrated Edonga dance.

Mountain climbing safaris and guided nature walk

Yes, Pian Upe wildlife reserve is blessed to be surrounded by hills and mountains that offer hiking experiences among which Mount Kadam at 3,063, Mount Napak at 2,538 meters, and Mount Moroto which is at 3,083 meters high. While in Pian Upe wildlife reserve, visitors can opt to hike Mountains that are less challenging such as Mount Napak and Mount Kadam

Mountaineering safaris only offer sightseeing such as the Napedet cave. Napedet cave is a famous ancient recreational place for the first inhabitants of this area who would gather to take part in painting before the area was gazetted as a national wildlife reserve, while at the caves, tourists will be able to spot odd paintings of Roan Antelope, Baboons, Hartebeests, as well as Giraffes which once move to the reserve’s open plains. Climbing to the Napedet cave is one of the best experiences of hiking while at the Pian Upe wildlife reserve. This hike tests someone’s physical fitness levels, working on health levels and giving way overwhelming views of the reserve’s ranges.

Best Time To Go Safari To Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda

All national parks and wildlife reserves in Africa have the best time to visit and Pian Upe wildlife reserve is one of them. The vest time to visit Pian Upe game reserve is between January to march when the vegetation is dry, you have stunning views and the animals gather at the water sources making it easy for game viewing. It is also during this period when the reserve management also carries out controlled bush burning to keep the grass short, leaving the vegetation dry and it becomes easier to view the animals around the main water sources when they gather for a drink or bathing. Girik river which is situated in the southern part of the reserve is a source of water for animals living in this semi-arid region. From November to December, it is a dry season but the vegetation is still lush making it difficult to spot animals hidden in the grass and treetops.

From April to October, it’s always a rainy season, so the trails are usually muddy thus the roads are even impassable due to flooding making game viewing impossible. The tracks in Pian Upe wildlife reserve are not well developed so, in the wet season, it can be a bit difficult, with lush vegetation, bad aerial views. Visitors are always advised to travel in a 4WD land cruiser most preferably in case of weather challenges.