Visit the Vargin Land of Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve In Northeastern Uganda; Pian Upe wildlife reserve is one of the Uganda’s largest protected areas covering the distance of about 2043sq.km, its found in the north of mountain Elgon national park and this makes pain Upe the second largest protected area after Murchison falls national park. Pian Upe wildlife reserve is situated in the Karamoja sub-region of Uganda in the north eastern part of the country along Mbale – Nakapiripirit – Moroto road.
Pian Upe location, its located in the North eastern part of Uganda and its 90km from Mbale, from the Uganda’s capital is 315km north east of kampala, the wildlife reserve is accessed by road which takes 8 to 9 hours to the protected area and if you use air transport the flight will set off from Entebbe international airport or kajjansi air flied to Amudat the nearest flied to the reserve.
Pain Upe wildlife reserve history / back grounds ; Years before pain Upe wildlife reserve was gazetted as a conservation area , the place / area was the battleground for the two Karamojong’s pastoral group of people comprised from north eastern park of Uganda and the Pokot group of people from from Kenya, right up into Matheniko and Bokora wildlife reserve and in Kidepo valley national park, the main road into the reserve forms the boundaries where both tribes intersect to raid one another during the ruthless cattle rustling. However , peace has since returned to this region and tourism introduced for the better of the communities.
In the 1958 the southern part of pain Upe wildlife reserve was gazetted as the Debasien Animals Sanctuary even when the boundaries of the wildlife is still threatened when the government set up and established the Agricultural produce in the area. The threats on the reserve resources pressed the state to expand the area and rename it pain Upe game reserve in 1964, unfortunately the government of Uganda has expressed the great interest in upgrading the pain Upe game reserve to national park position.
Things to see in pain Upe game reserve ; A Uganda safari to pain Upe wildlife reserve rewards you with astonishing view over wildlife species such as zebras , buffaloes, roan antelopes, greater kudus, leopard, giraffes, aardvark, topis, cheetahs, bad eared fox, spotted hyenas, Elands, dik dik, water bucks, jackals, oribi bird species like ostriches, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white headed buffalo wear, Jacksons hornbills, secretary birds, and the primates like olive baboons, patus monkeys, ververt monkeys, the reptiles like the Rock pythons, puff adder, water snakes, lizards, trees species such as Abyssinian , acacia trees, wooly caper bush, red spike thorns, desert data and much more.
The activities to do in pain Upe game reserve; the game viewing is the most tourist attraction to the pain Upe wildlife reserve in north eastern Uganda, this vast savannah reserve is best to explored on a game drive using 4WD safari vehicles with open roof or pop-up for you to enjoy excellent view of the wildlife such as giraffe, leopards, buffaloes, roan antelopes, greater kudus, cheetahs, zebras, among others.
The Flora and Fauna; pain Upe wildlife reserve is one the most fascinating and interesting conservation with distinct wildlands dominated by the wooden savannah plains which are surrounded by mountains and also cut between rock-strewn ridges and kopjes plateau, seasonal rivers, the short grass, lemon grasses, bristle species and others, the acacia trees shrubs like dessert data, butterfly pea. Also pain Upe harboring quite number of rare animals found no where in Uganda like the roan antelope, the population of cheetah measuring up to 84% chances thus pain Upe wildlife reserve is the best place to see world fastest mammal.
The reserve also is the home to the largest herds of common Elands small population of zebras, dik dik, greater kudus, oribis, even the reserve is home some reptiles like Rock pythons, Agama, lizards, but crocodile is not found in the reserve. Morning hours game drive and even drives are the best time to see most of the animals with the dazzling sunset and sunrise for example every morning the sun comes out behind every mountains and descends over the horizon in some of the most fascinating sun sets.
Mountain hiking and guided nature walks in pain Upe; driving into pain Upe game reserve introduces you to a lot of endless flow of savannah plains dotted with Acacia and the sausage trees as well as rocky ridges embraced by three mounts that is mount Napak, Mount Kadam and Mount Elgon, when you beyond the horizon you ,will see these these mountains stretching high above the sky. The mountain allows you to hiking to the Napedet cave is one of the best experience of hike, in hiking also visit can be able to see odd painting of Roan Antelope , Hartebeests, Baboons giraffes which is once roamed the games open plans.
Bird watching in the pain Upe game reserve; when it comes to birding destination the pain Upe wont leave you the same because the reserve is an expansive protected area, sheltering over 245 bird species. The reserve is a true birding havens protecting a very interesting bird species such as the Karamoja apalis, Abyssinian hornbill, superb starling, secretary bird, ostriches, Jacksons hornbills, fox weaver, Kori bustard among others.
Best time to visit pain Upe game reserve; pain Upe is like other protected areas / destinations has the best time time visitors can go for their safaris in Uganda. Pian Upe wildlife safari is perfectively done during the dry season of the year; from January, February to March these are very clear for game viewing due to less dense vegetations or from November to December when there is a lush vegetation. The heavy rains begin pain Upe in April to October in this period and the majority of tourist avoid these months because of due to challenges they come across when they navigating through the reserve for game drive.