Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Safari | Ostrich in Uganda
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Written by:
Ezra
- Published:
- Updated: June 23, 2025
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Safari
The outstanding plateau landscape of rolling plains with black cotton soil drained by intermittent watercourses flowing westwards into Lake Kyoga, forest and wooded savanna grasslands home to eye-catching wildlife roaming in the plains as well as majestic hills and mountains like Mount Kadam (previously Mount Debasien) with ecstatic views of the countryside that offers a once-in-life African experience.
Pian Upe Game Reserve is located in Eastern Uganda, north of Mount Elgon in the districts of Moroto, Amudat, Katakwi, Napak, Kween, Kumi, Bukedea, and Bulambuli and it is connected to Matheniko Game Reserve by the Bokora Corridor land Tenure.
The game reserve is a paradise to a variety of mammals in the area including lion, leopard, cheetah, giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, Uganda, mountain reedbuck, roan antelope, Jackson’s hartebeest Most of the eland, topi, and zebra migrate into the area to breed from North Bokora and Matheniko reserves and migrate northwards when the rains begin.
Elephant in Pian Upe Game Reserve
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The game reserve also harbors reptiles like the Common Agama, Geckos, Venomous puff adders, Rock pythons, savanna monitors, chameleons, and crocodiles along river Girik.
Pian Upe Game Reserve is a birders’ haven with spectacular viewpoints for bird watching. The colorful Birds include ostrich, secretary bird, and yellow-billed shrike among others.
Pian Upe derives its name from its community. Pian refers to a clan among the Karamajong people of Northeastern Uganda while refers to a Kalenjin-speaking pastoral community of the Karamojongs who are said to have originated from the Pokot tribe in Kenya but are now settled close to the wildlife reserve in Amudat district.
Pain means “calm-hearted people while Upe means enemy. The combinations of the two words form one word “Friendly enemies”. These are predominantly pastoralists and live a very traditional lifestyle.
Giraffes in Pian Upe wildlife Reserve
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How to get to Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda can easily be accessed by road from Kampala via Mbale to Sproti which takes about 8-9 hours.
The reserve is 90 km away from Mbale which takes for 4–5-hour drive along the Mbale-Moroto route.
By air, Amudat airstrip is the nearest place to land. This airstrip serves flights setting off from Entebbe Airport (EBB)/Kajjansi Airfield.
Accommodations to stay in and around Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve Uganda offers a wide range of accommodations at affordable prices ranging from luxury to mid-range, and budget lodges.
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 among others.
Conclusion
Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is among the less visited and explored destinations for wildlife safaris, but it has outstanding landscapes, majestic mountains, stunning wild animals, and flora that offer a wide variety of thrilling activities that provide an unforgettable African Safari experience.
Customize this tour using our local expertise. We will recommend the best lodges to suit your travel style and book your permits for your travel dates.
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