PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE


Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is one of Uganda’s best kept secret. It is that one protected area that has not been fully explored by many and paying a visit here means a great opportunity for you to get the best of African experiential safari holiday.

Set strategically in northeastern Uganda, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is one of kind safari destinations that still offer authentic African experiences. It is that one protected areathat has not been fully explored by many and paying a visit here means a great opportunity for you to get the best of African experiential safari holiday. This reserve lies within the Karamoja sub-region of northeastern Uganda and it is regarded as the second largest conservation area in the country after Murchison Falls National Park. It covers an area of 2788 square kilometers and lies north of Mount Elgon and currently falls under the management of Mount Elgon Conservation Area.

Things to See in Pian Upe

A Uganda safari to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve rewards you with astonishing views over diverse wildlife species like zebras, buffaloes, leopards, lions, giraffes, greater Kudus, Topis, Oribis, Hartebeests, dik-dik, roan antelopes, jackals, aardvark, cheetahs, spotted hyenas, elands, hedgehogs, birds such as Ostriches, Jackson’s hornbills, white headed buffalo weaver, hartlaub’s bustard as well as primates like olive baboons, patas monkeys, vervet monkeys and others.

About 44 mammal species call this reserve a home most of which are within Uganda and limited to this reserve as well as the Karamoja sub-region.

On the other side, approximately 242 bird species are confined in this wildlife reserve.

The reptiles include rock pythons, puff adders, water snakes, lizards and others. It is dominated by tree species in red acacia, desert date, harrisonia Abyssinia, red spike thorns; shrubs like butterfly pea, wooly caper bush and others.

Things to Do in Pian Upe

Game Viewing

Game/Wildlife Viewing is undoubtedly the main reason most Uganda holidaymakers visit Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. This vast savanna reserve is best explored on a game drive using a 4×4 safari vehicle with open roof for you to enjoy excellent view of wildlife including giraffes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, buffaloes, elephants, impalas, zebras, duikers.

Birding

When it comes the best birding safari destinations, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is never left out. The reserve is an expansive protected area, sheltering over 242 bird species. The reserve is a true birder’s haven, protecting interesting bird species such as the Karamoja apalis, secretary birds, superb starlings, ostriches, Abyssinian ground hornbill, fox weavers, Jackson’s hornbill, Great hartlaub’s bustard and others.

Sight Seeing

Pian Upe hiking adventures provide amazing sightseeing experiences especially at Napedet Cave. The cave is a famous ancient recreational site for the first occupants of this area. While on guided walks/hiking tour at Napedet Cave, it is possible to see incredible paintings of baboons, giraffes, hartebeest, roan antelopes.

Mountain Hikes

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is also surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains worth hiking through. You can embark on the less challenging hiking experiences on Mount Napak (2538m), Mt. Kadam (3063m) or go for Mount Moroto hiking adventures to challenge yourself on elevation of 3083m.

Cultural/community walks/tours

Pian Upe Wildlife safaris also offer a great opportunity for you to learn in depth about the Karamojong cultures, traditions and other practices. Your community tour in the Karamojong community also includes entertainment from local residents and your interaction with them is amazingly so rewarding.

Travel Planner

Getting to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda is estimated to be 90kms away from Mbale. To get here, you drive along Mbale-Moroto route and if you are to begin your trip from Kampala, expect to spend at least 8 hours’ drive. By air, Amudat airstrip is the nearest place to land in. This airstrip serves flights setting off from Entebbe Airport or Kajjansi airfield.

When is the Best Time to go to Pian Upe

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve like other destination has the best time visitors can go enjoy their Uganda safaris. Pian Upe wildlife safaris are perfectly done during the dry months of the year; from January, February to March-these are characterized by clear game views due to less dense vegetation or from November to December when there is a lush vegetation. Heavy rains in Pian Upe begin from April to October and majority of Uganda holidaymakers avoid these months due to challenges they come with when navigating through the reserve.

Places to stay in and around Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve

Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda has affordable places for visitor stay while on Uganda safari holiday. They include Karamoja Overland Camp, Uganda Wildlife Authority Bandas or Camping. Other nearby accommodation choices include Lavender Inn, Shalosa Hotel, Mount Moroto Hotel and Hotel Leslona Limited.

The entrance fee for Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is as follows: Foreign non-residents pay $35, foreign residents pay $25 per person, and East African citizens pay 15000 UGX per person. 

 Here's a more detailed breakdown:

  • Foreign Non-Residents: $35 USD per adult, $5 USD per child
  • Foreign Residents: $25 USD per adult, $5 USD per child
  • East African Citizens: 15,000 UGX per adult, 2,500 UGX per child




Recent Articles
  •  WHAT IS THE BEST TIME OF THE DAY FOR THE MOST WILDLIFE ACTIVE?
  •  WHAT MAKES TRADITIONAL DANCE IN RWANDA UNIQUE?
  •  WHAT ARE ACTIVIES TO DO AROUND SIPI FALLS?
  •  BIGODI WETLAND COMMUNITY WALK
  •  UGANDA CYCLING TOURS
  •  HOW INTELLIGENT ARE GORILLAS?
  •  IS YELLOW VACCINATION IMPORTANT TO ENTER EAST AFRICA?
  •  OTHER ACTIVITIES TO DO AT ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY.
  •  WHAT CAN I SEE IN BUTARE?, RWANDA
  •  HOW EASY IS CROSSING RWANDA BOARDER?
  •  WHAT SICKNESS DO GORILLAS SUFFER FROM?
  •  ARUU FALLS
  •  RHINO TRACKING IN AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK
  •  HOW DEEP AND BIG IS LAKE BUNYONYI
  •  HOW TO BOOK HIKING AT MOUNT ELGON
  •  HOW BIG IS VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK
  •  HOW FAR IS FROM LAKE MBURO TO BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK
  •  PHOTOGRAPHY TOURS IN RWANDA
  •  VACATIONS AT LAKE KIVU
  •  EXPLORING BUNYARUNGURU CRATER LAKES
  •  WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
  •  FOREST ELEPHANTS IN BWINDI
  •  CAN YOUNG CHILDREN ALLOWED TO VISIT THE KIGALI GENOCIDE MEMORIAL?
  •  DISTANCE FROM KIGALI TO BWINDI.
  •  MOUNT NYIRAGONGO ERUPTION
  •  CULTURAL EXPERIENCES IN RWANDA
  •  KAMPALA CITY
  •  WHAT DOES CHIMPANZEE HABITUATION IN KIBALE NATIONAL PARK MEAN?
  •  ECHUYA FOREST RESERVE
  •  WHITE WATER RAFTING AND KAYAKING ON THE NILE IN JINJA UGANDA
  •  LOCAL UGANDAN FOOD YOU MUST TRY
  •  EQUATOR
  •  WHY IS A 4X4 VEHICLE GOOD FOR AN AFRICAN SAFARI?
  •  TREKKING WITH GOLDEN MONKEYS VERSUS GORILLAS
  •  WHY ARE YOUNG KIDS NOT ALLOWED TO DO GORILLA TREKKING?
  •  GORILLA TREKKING WHEN PREGNANT IN UGANDA
  •   GORILLA FAMILIES IN BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK.
  •  HORSE RIDING SAFARIS IN UGANDA.
  •  DIFFERENCES BETWEEN GORILLAS AND CHIMPANZEES
  •  FLYING SAFARIS IN UGANDA.
  •  IGONGO CULTURAL CENTRE
  •  FORT PORTAL TOURISM CITY
  •  HOW MUCH IS WILDLIFE VIEWING IN UGANDA
  •  MBALE SAFARI EXPERIENCE
  •  THE NILE CROCODILE.
  •  WHAT IS WILDLIFE VIEWING IN UGANDA
  •  HOW MUCH IS A GORILLA TREKKING PERMIT IN UGANDA
  •  HOW DO I SELECT A RELIABLE UGANDAN TOUR OPERATOR
  •  ACTIVITIES AT KORA NATIONAL PARK
  •  REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT EAST AFRICA.
  •  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: Your Complete Guide to a Life-Changing Adventure
  •  WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE BEYOND TRAVEL AFRICA.
  •  WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMMODATION CAN I EXPECT?
  •  WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A SAFARI IN UGANDA
  •  HOW TO CHOOSE A RELIABLE TOUR OPERATOR FOR A RWANDA TRIP?
  •  HOW SAFE IS UGANDA FOR TOURISTS
  •  WHAT TYPE OF ACCOMODATION CAN I EXPECT IN RWANDA?
  •  8 Questions about Kenya Safaris
  •  HOW SAFE IS RWANDA FOR TOURISTS?
  •  WHAT DOES RWANDA GORILLA TREKKING COST?
  •  WHAT ARE THE MAJOR ATTRACTIONS IN RWANDA?
  •  WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT UGANDA
  •  WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO BE ON A SAFARI IN UGANDA
  •  WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT RWANDA?
  •  MOUNT NYIRAGONGO
  •  WHERE TO SEE LEOPARDS IN UGANDA.
  •  UWA permit cancellation policy in Uganda
  •  ENTEBBE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
  •  ACTIVITIES AT LAKE BUNYONYI
  •  RUSIZI NATIONAL PARK
  •  KIBIRA NATIONAL PARK
  •  THE STORY OF THE NAKAYIBA TREE
  •  WHY IS ZANZIBAR CALLED THE SPICE ISLAND
  •  SAFARI ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES AT ABERDARE NATIONAL PARK
  •  PIAN UPE GAME RESERVE
  •  THE GADDAFI MOSQUE (UGANDA NATIONAL MOSQUE)
  •  SOFT GROUND WRESTLING IN UGANDA
  •  QUAD BIKING IN UGANDA
  •  LAKE KYOGA IN UGANDA
  •  BUNGEE JUMPING IN UGANDA
  •  EXPLORING MOUNT MOROTO
  •  THE KIGALI GENOCIDE MUSEUM.
  •  NDERE CULTURAL CENTRE
  •  THE UGANDA WILDLIFE CONSERVATION EDUCATION CENTRE
  •  MT RWENZORI.
  •  BODA BODA TOURS IN UGANDA
  •  THE BIG FIVE ANIMALS IN AFRICA.
  •  TIPS FOR SELF-DRIVE SAFARI
  •  HOW TO ENJOY SAFARI DRIVE IN A GROUP SETTING
  •  GOLDEN MONKEYS IN UGANDA AND RWANDA
  •  THE NILE RIVER
  •  MOUNT KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
  •  WHY IS KIBALE SAID TO BE THE PRIMATE CAPITAL IN THE WORLD
  •  WHY IS KIBALE NATIONAL PARK SAID TO BE THE PRIMATE CAPITAL IN THE WORLD
  •  RIVER KATONGA
  •  THE EQUATOR IN UGANDA
  •  WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A UGANDAN CULTURAL TOURISM TOUR
  •  HOT AIR BALLOON SAFARIS IN UGANDA
  •  LAKE VICTORIA
  •  HOW TO PLAN FOR A GOOD SAFARI VACATION
  •  WHAT MAKES A GOOD SAFARI VACATION
  •  ABOUT LAKE KIVU
  •  DOLWE ISLANDS
  •  CANOPY WALKWAYS COMMON QUESTIONS
  •  LAKE BUNYONYI ISLANDS
  •  ZIWA RHINO SANCTUARY.
  •  GUIDELINES FOR TIPPING WHILE ON SAFARI IN UGANDA
  •  Sipi Falls
  •  Dian Fossey
  •  ACTIVITIES IN RUBAVU
  •  KISIZI FALLS
  •  NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
  •  THE CULTURE OF BATWA PEOPLE
  •  RWANDAN CULTURAL SITES, CENTRES AND VILLAGES
  •  FINDING THE GOLDEN MONKEY ON A FOREST WALK
  •  MABAMBA WETLAND WHERE THE SHOEBILL FOUND
  •  CLOTHES AND EQUIPMENT’S TO PARK ON UGANDA SAFARI
  •  LOW-COST KENYA SAFARI/BUDGET SAFARI IN THE HEART OF AFRICA
  •  AMABERE GA NYINAMWIRU
  •  WHERE TO GO IN EAST AFRICA FOR HORSE RIDING