Day: July 16, 2024

Located in north eastern Uganda in the Karamoja region within the Mount Elgon Conservation Area Pian Upe Wildlife reserve is Uganda’s hidden gem  worth exploring on your Uganda safaris. Pian Upe spreads over 2,788 square kilometers and it’s the second largest protected area in Uganda after Murchison falls National Park. The reserve was established in 1962 to promote wildlife conservation and diversify tourism products in the Pearl of Africa. Pian Upe wildlife reserve is located between Mount Elgon and Kidepo Valley National parks and it’s bordered by Bokoro and Matheneko game reserves.

Pian Upe game reserve was first established as an animal sanctuary in 1958 but was later upgraded to a game reserve in 1960 and opened to tourists in 1962. The dominant vegetation in Pian Upe game reserve include savannahs and woodlands with perched red acacia trees. The diverse vegetation provide food and habitation to different wild animals and birds.  Mbale is the closet town to Pian Upe game reserve and most travelers can spend their overnights in Mbale City. The drive time from Mbale to Pian Upe is roughly 2 hours. In most cases, Pian Upe game reserve is visited as a complement to Uganda safaris in Kidepo Valley National park which together make a complete safari package. The landscape in Pian Upe Game Reserve contain mountains, vast plains and rocky outcrops which favor habitation of various wildlife.

Wild animals in Pian Upe Game reserve

As said already, Pian up game shelters variety of wild animals both herbivores carnivores and omnivorous. Guided game drives in the savanna plains of the park offer you great views of these animals feeding, hunting and relaxing. Among the animals seen in Pian Upe game reserve include Lions, Elephants, Buffalos, Giraffes, Uganda kobs, Dik Dik, Waterbucks. Warthogs, Jackals, Duikers, Topis, Leopards. Cheetahs, Hares, Gazelles, Oribis and Rock Hyrax among others. More so, Pian Upe game reserve is home to primate such as Vervet monkeys, Patas, monkey and Olive baboons. Also, expect to see reptiles such as water snakes, Rock pythons, Puff udders and monitor lizards among others. Morning and evening is the best time for game viewing in Pain Upe Game reserve when animals are actively hunting, socializing, browsing and grazing

Birds in Pian Upe Game Reserve

With over 242 birds recorded in Pian Upe game Reserve is best for bird watching experience.  Some of the notable birds seen in Pian Upe Game Reserve include ostrich, Secretary Sunbird, Karamajong Apalis, Shoebill Stork, white headed buffalo weaver, Abbysinian Ground Hornbill, Fox’s Weaver Birds, Jackson Hornbills. Ostrich is the famous bird, a focus for most birders in Pian Upe Game Reserve.

Best time to Visit Pian Upe Game Reserve

January to March is the best time to visit Pian Upe Game reserve. The season is generally dry which make it easy to view wild animals even from a distance. Also, animals gather at water pints to refresh during the dry season making it easy to spot them. Girik River located in the southern part of the reserve is the major source of water for animals in the Reserve. Also, during this season, Uganda Wildlife Authority does bush burning in the reserve to enable new fresh grasses to grow which make the scenery beautiful for photography and viewing.

Threats to Pian Upe Game Reserve

Human encroachment and habitat loss is the major thereat in Pian Upe game reserve.  Local people living adjacent to the game reserve have continually encroached on the game reserve land to expand on their land for settlement and population. Human wildlife conflict has also been a common challenge in Pian Upe Game Reserve. Poaching by Kenyan herdsmen in the borders of Pian Upe Game Reserve is another great challenge.

People also ask

In which district is Pian Upe Game Reserve?

Pian Upe Game Reserve is located in Nakapiripiriti in North eastern Uganda in the Kalamajong region. The reserve can be easily accessed by road and the drive time from Kampala is roughly 7 hours. Mbale is the closest town which is roughly hour’s drive from the game reserve.

What is the history of Pian Upe Game Reserve?

The reserve was at first established as Debasian animal sanctuary in 1958. The southern part of the reserve near Greek river was managed by a government body to be used for agricultural and farming. However, this put a threat to wild animals which forced Uganda Wildlife Authority to convert Pain Upe into a game reserve to promote wildlife conservation and sustainable tourism.

What is the biggest game reserve in Uganda?

Murchison Falls Park located in north western Uganda is the biggest game reserve in Uganda covering 3840 square kilometers of Land. Pian Upe is the second biggest in size covering 2275 square kilometers followed by Queen Elizabeth National park spreading over 1,978 square kilometers.  Murchison falls National Park is famous for having a high concentration of wild animals and birds. The top activities done there include game viewing, boat cruising, bird watching, chimpanzee trekking in Budongo forest and community tours.

Which game park is found in the North eastern part of Uganda?

Kidepo Valley National park is located in north eastern Uganda in the kalimajong region and it’s the least visited park in the Pearl of Africa.  The park is located 571.5 kilometers from Kampala which takes roughly 10 hours via Kampala Gulu Highway. When driving using Kampala Jinja highway, the distance is 593.9 kilometers which take roughly 12 hours of driving.  If using Kampala Hoima highway, Kidepo Valley Park is 660.5 kilometers from Kampala which takes roughly 12 hours and 30 minutes of driving.

Which is the smallest game reserve in Uganda?

Mgahinga Gorilla National park located in kisoro district south western Uganda is the smallest park in Uganda. Mgahunga spreads over 34 square kilometers of land and its home to the endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys hence the slogan “Where Silver meets Gold”. Also, Mgahinga shelters three of the eight volcanoes in the Virunga Conservation Area. These there volcanoes in Mgahinga Gorilla Park include Mt Sabyinyo, Mt Gahinga and Mount Muhabura.  The popular activities in Mgahinga Gorilla National park include gorilla trekking, Golden monkey trekking, Volcano climbing and Batwa cultural trail.

What is the first private game reserve in Uganda?

River Aswa wildlife conservancy is the private game reserve in Uganda and it’s located in Murchison Falls National park.

Which game park is most visited in Uganda?

Queen Elizabeth, the second largest National park in Uganda is the most visited and receives the highest number of travelers on Uganda safaris. The park has a vast biodiversity comprised of savannahs, forest, woodlands and swamps which all provide food and habitation for various wild animals and birds. Also, Queen Elizabeth National park offers a long list of activities such as game viewing, boat cruise at Kazinga Channel, Bird watching, chimpanzee trekking in Kyambura Gorge, Lion tracking and community tours among others

What are the game reserves in Uganda?

Uganda has 12 game reserves located in different parts of the country. The list of game wildlife reserves in Uganda include:

1. Ajai Wildlife Reserve
2. Bokoro Corridor Game Reserve
3. Bugungu Wildlife Reserve
4. Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve
5. Kyambura Wildlife Reserve
6. Kigezi Wildlife Reserve
7. Karuma Wildlife Reserve
8. Katonga Wildlife Reserve
9. East Madi Wildlife Reserve
10. Matheniko Wildlife Reserve
11. Toro Semliki Valley National park
12. Pian Upe Game Reserve

In conclusion, Pian Upe Game serve is a hidden gem worth exploring on your Uganda safari. Contact Superfine Safaris, book your Uganda Safari and explore the treasures of Pian Upe Game Reserve.

Safety is a concern for all travelers booking gorilla safaris in Africa. How safe is gorilla trekking in Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the common asked questions in gorilla tour bookings. Travelers want to be sure of their safety while with gorillas in the jungle forests of Africa. For the first time travelers, gorilla tracking is indeed threatening given the huge size of a silverback gorilla, his serious looks and the forested nature of gorilla habitats. However, Superfine Safaris Limited guarantee your safety on your gorilla tour to Africa. YES, we give you gorilla trekking safety tips to ensure your safety and that of the endangered mountain gorillas. The gorilla trekking rules and regulations have been put by Uganda Wildlife Authority and Rwanda Development Board to ensure safety of the gorillas and travelers.

Keep a distance away from the gorillas
Please, do not come so close to the endangered gorillas. Keep a distance of at least seven meters away from the gorillas to give them some free space. Coming so close to gorillas looks like you are encroaching on their privacy, which can cause them to charge at you. Moreso, keeping a distance is one way of preventing the transmission of communicable diseases especially flue and cough from humans to the endangered gorillas. Similarly, people can catch some animal diseases if they come so close to the gorillas. These endangered species share over 99% of human genes. This makes them to susceptible to human illnesses, which can be deadly to them. Uganda Wildlife Authorit

Wear closed shoes and gardening gloves
You must dress right for the jungle if you want to be safe. Closed shoes are recommended to protect your feet from sharp stones and sticks. Also, closed shoes protect your feet from dirty mud, which at times can be slippery making it hard for one in sandals to walk through. The shoes should also be waterproof to ease your movements. More so, gardening gloves protect your hands from thorny bushes and dirty grounds.

At some point in gorilla trekking, travelers are forced to touch down or grab bushes for support especially after rain. Your soft hands will be safe with gardening gloves. The other things to carry for gorilla trekking include long sleeved shirts/blouses, insect repellants to prevent poisonous insect bites, rain jacket, hat and sun glasses. A walking stick and porter are also helpful in gorilla trekking.

Avoid direct eye contacts with the silverback gorilla
Do not look direct into the eyes of the silverback gorillas. During the pre gorilla trekking briefing, travelers are asked not to look direct into the eyes of the gorillas. Direct eye contact irritates the gorillas. It makes a silverback gorilla scared forcing him to behave wild. Keep focused on your camera, observe silently the human like characters of the gorillas and utilize this hour to the maximum.

Keep within your group
Do not split from your group! Gorilla trekking at time s takes several hours of roaming in the jungle before meeting the endangered species. During this time of hiking, travelers are reminded to keep within their group of sight. Splitting and moving alone in the jungle so risky and dangerous for you.

Listen to your ranger guide
You will be assigned two armed park rangers to escort you on your gorilla tour experience. These rangers are experienced with gorilla behaviors and can tell when a gorilla is in good or bad mood. If the ranger guide tells you to step back, please do for your own safety.

Do physical exercises
Travelers warming up for gorilla trekking are also advised to do physical exercises to ensure fitness. A hike up and down hill to see gorillas is a strenuous activity, which require fitness. Some travelers who are not fit find it hard to make it to the gorillas. Examples of physical exercises recommended for physical fitness include walking, stretching, and long hikes among others.

Do not trek when sick
If you feel any sign of sickness, please do not insist to trek the endangered gorillas.

Safety remains key for every successful gorilla trekking experience. Contact Superfine Safaris for more gorilla tour advice and bookings!