Pian Upe Wildlife Reserve is one of Uganda’s most underrated destinations. Vast, open, and peaceful, it offers a safari experience far from the crowds, where you can drive for hours and hear only the wind, birds, and wildlife.

But Pian Upe’s story goes beyond its quiet beauty — it’s a tale of a reserve that has endured decades of challenges and is now slowly recovering with careful conservation efforts.

Once Among East Africa’s Prime Wildlife Areas

Historically, Pian Upe was part of one of East Africa’s richest wildlife regions. Together with Bokora and Matheniko Wildlife Reserves, it formed a continuous corridor supporting abundant populations of large herbivores, diverse birdlife, and iconic predators.

Over time, however, the wider Karamoja region faced periods of insecurity and limited resources for conservation. Protection and monitoring were difficult, and some wildlife populations declined or moved elsewhere. Human pressures such as grazing and settlement added to the challenges.

While Pian Upe never lost all its wildlife, these decades of neglect made it far quieter than Uganda’s more famous national parks — a hidden gem waiting to be rediscovered.

A Key Part of the Karamoja Wildlife Corridor

Today, Pian Upe is appreciated not just for its individual landscapes, but for its place within a larger ecosystem. The corridor connecting Pian Upe, Bokora, and Matheniko supports species like:

• Eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, and impala
• Ostriches, baboons, and vervet monkeys
• Diverse wetland and grassland birds, including Fox’s Weaver, Uganda’s only endemic bird

Travellers who enjoy Eastern Uganda safaris will notice how the reserve’s vast plains, scattered acacias, and rocky outcrops feel both expansive and wild — a real contrast to more visited parks.

Conservation and the Slow Return of Wildlife

The story of Pian Upe today is one of careful recovery. Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) and Space for Giants now co-manage the reserve, focusing on:

• Anti-poaching patrols and ranger deployment
• Habitat protection, including controlled burning and restoration
• Translocation of species such as Rothschild’s giraffes
• Scientific monitoring using modern camera traps

Wildlife is gradually returning. Visitors can expect to see:

• Herds of eland and hartebeest
• Rothschild’s giraffes in the northern areas
• Ostriches and troops of baboons or vervet monkeys
• A rich variety of grassland and wetland birds

Predators in Pian Upe

Recent surveys show a realistic picture of Pian Upe’s carnivores:

• Lions: locally extinct; no lions remain in the reserve today.

• Leopards: present but in low numbers, with only a handful of individuals identified.

• Spotted hyenas: doing reasonably well and are the most commonly seen large predator in the reserve.

• Cheetahs: extremely rare and unpredictable.

While predator populations remain low, there is reason for hope. As habitat protection continues and wildlife gradually returns to Pian Upe, the outlook for these iconic species may improve over time, offering future visitors a richer and more diverse safari experience.

A Quiet Safari Experience

What sets Pian Upe apart is its solitude and the beauty of its landscapes. The open savanna stretches toward Mount Kadam, with early mornings and late afternoons offering spectacular light across the plains.

This is a place for travellers who enjoy:

• Sweeping, beautiful grasslands under endless skies
• Slow, reflective wildlife watching
• Birdwatching and photography
• Authentic, off-the-beaten-path safari experiences

Many visitors describe it as a landscape where you can truly stop, switch off the engine, and simply listen.

Combining Pian Upe With Other Eastern Uganda Highlights

Pian Upe fits naturally into a wider Eastern Uganda itinerary. Combine it with:

• Sipi Falls – waterfalls, coffee tours, and scenic hikes
• Kapchorwa- running with champions, cultural experiences and hikes
• Mount Elgon National Park – day treks or multi-day hikes
• Karamoja communities – culture, local experiences, and rural life
• Jinja – rafting, kayaking, or a relaxing start/end to your trip
• Alakara Guest House- an immersive stay in a Karamoja village

With improved road access and internal tracks, Pian Upe is easier to explore than ever before.

Explore Pian Upe with Alakara

At Alakara Travels, we know Eastern Uganda intimately. Pian Upe is one of the places we love to show guests — quiet, authentic, and full of wildlife slowly returning to a landscape that once ranked among East Africa’s prime safari destinations.

If you want to experience a safari far from the crowds, we can help you plan a trip that suits your pace, interests, and style — combining wildlife, culture, and scenery for a complete Eastern Uganda journey.