PIAN UPE WILDLIFE RESERVE
For those of you who are planning to spend your next holiday in Kidepo Valley National Park or northeastern Uganda then Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve should be a must to visit destination. It is one of a kind safari destinations that shouldn’t miss out in your travel plan this coming season. 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 spans for over 2788 square kilometers and lies north of Mount Elgon and currently falls under the management of Mount Elgon Conservation Area. This reserve is found within a semi-arid side of Uganda that normally experiences rainfalls around April and more considerable light rainfall from June to early September but in some years, rainfall is absolute. The southern side, it was gazetted as the Debasien Animal Sanctuary in 1958. This is a government led program to convert land just south of the Greek River for agriculture threatened the viability of wildlife conservation in the entire area. Around 1964, the area was extended northward and later renamed Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve. On the other side, for dramatic views to plains of this reserve Mount Kadama is the best place for you. It stands at elevation of about 3068 meters east of the reserve’s boundary.
The largest part of the reserve is still undisturbed grassland and wood grassland. There are 2 pastoralist tribes that are found here that the reserve derived its name. The Pian which falls on the Karamoja side and Upe on the Kalenjin speaking people also known as Pakot in Kenya.
What to see in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve boasts of its diverse wildlife species and still offers authentic experiences. For visitor experiences, the notable wildlife species for you catch a glimpse at this reserve include 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.
How to get to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
The reserve’s headquarters are found alongside the Mbale-Moroto route about 90 kilometers off Mbale and 11 kilometers north of the reserve’s northern boundary. At this point, you will be in position to find this reserve’s headquarters immediately you cross Chepsukunya Trading Center which is about two hours’ drive. To get to the reserve, you may need to pay about $5 for foreign visitors, non-residents at $10 while Ugandans and East African residents pay shs.2500. If you are planning to embark on guided tours per walk, non-resident foreigners pay $30 and foreign residents pay $15 then East Africans pay shs.10000.
What is a threat to this reserve?
Whereas Uganda Wildlife Authority provides local communities part of the proceeds from tourism as a way to curb down poaching practices, it is believed that this protected area is still highly threatened by unchecked encroachers especially herdsmen from Kenya side. Normally, cattle keepers cross over to the reserve via porous borders and drive their animals into the wildlife reserve, hunt down wildlife species for meat, cut down trees to pave way for them to settle and this practice scares off incredible bird species and wildlife which are main attractions to most visitors on Uganda safari.
Where to stay in Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
For visitor overnight stay, there are limited accommodation options within this reserve however, you can choose from the 4 Bandas and some lodges that are accessible from its headquarters.
In conclusion, Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is a true Karamoja’s paradise for rare game. Pay a visit to this stunning protected area and you will be rewarded with incredible views over the hidden treasures.