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Kidepo Valley
True African Wilderness

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the Kaabong District in the extreme northeastern region of Uganda. The park encompasses an area of 1,442 km2 (557 sq mi) with rugged Savannah, dominated by Mt. Morungole (9,020 ft) and drained by Kidepo and Narus rivers. This Ugandan national park is roughly 220 kilometers (140 miles) to the northwest of Moroto, the main city in the sub region, via road. Also 520 kilometers (320 miles) northeast of Uganda’s capital, Kampala, via road. This is one of the finest but least crowded safari parks in Uganda.

The park has two main river valley systems, the Kidepo and Narus. The valley basins are located between 3,000 and 4,000 feet in elevation. The Kidepo Valley National Park’s annual water source is the Kanangarok hot spring in the far north of the park, close to the Uganda-Sudan border. As a result of the variation in rainfall amounts, the majority of the park is covered by Savannah trees, resulting in animal population variations in areas of Narus with high rainfall amounts during the rainy season and Kidepo basin with few animal populations.

The park is home to over 77 species of mammals and 475 species of birds. The park asserts the highest buffalo population in Uganda and is the only park in Uganda to contain Cheetahs. Kidepo valley is home to one of the smallest ethnic groups in Africa, the Karamojong, who are nomadic pastoralists. The Karamojong’s are comparable to the Turkanas of Kenya and Maasai people of Kenya and Tanzania in that they place a high value on maintaining large herds of cattle. These people have preserved their distinct culture for centuries. The fundamental “Ik farmers” are found among the Karamojong; they are believed to have originated in Ethiopia many years ago.

Kidepo valley national park is blessed with abundant animal species ranging to 77 mammal species which include Lions (even some tree climbing lions), elephants, buffaloes, oribi, hartebeests, antelope species like honor reed buck, defassa waterbucks, elands, bush bucks,ย  ย bush duskier, ostriches (also in Pian- Upe), pangolins, caracals, leopards, cheetahs, bat eared fox, stripped hyenas, aardwolves, wild dogs and hunting dogs.

The park has also got great sceneries and birding experiences, the southern Narus is the beginning of the amazing birder’s haven, birds like Hoopoe, Nubian woodpeckers, vinaceous doves, scarlet-chested sunbirds, mosque swallow, superb starlings, little weaver, singing bush larks, Abyssinian ground, Karamoja Apalis, Ethiopian swallow, African grey flycatcher, White billed tit, Slate colored Boubou, Red billed ox pecker and many more other bird species in Uganda.The Kidepo valley has over 475 species of birds, making it the second national park in Uganda with a high bird population density after Queen Elizabeth national park, which has over 600 species.

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KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Top Things To Do In Kidepo Valley National Park

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Game drive / Animal Sightingย 

This is the most popular activity in Kidepo valley national park, where travelers have the chance to explore the open savannah plains in a comfortable 4WD safari vehicle driven by an experienced guide. In Kidepo valley national park, game excursions are conducted in both the Kidepo valley and the Narus valley. During the game drives which can either be done very early in the morning or in the afternoon you will be able to view animals like elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, bushbucks, Uganda kobs, zebras, giraffes, bohor reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeest, oribi, elands, kudus, dik dik, view predators like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs among others.

Additionally, Kidepo valley national park provides night game drives where tourists can explore the park at night with an armed park ranger and spotlight torches to see nocturnal animals clearly. During the night wildlife drive, you will see nocturnal animals such as cheetahs, lions, leopards, and feeding hippos, among others.

Bird watching

Kidepo valley national park is home to more than 470 recorded bird species, including endemic birds, savannah birds, and migratory bird species, making it Uganda’s second-best birding destination after Queen Elizabeth national park. The finest areas for bird watching in Kidepo valley national park are Apoka rest camp, the edges of Narus valley, and Namamukweny valley. During bird watching, you will be accompanied by a knowledgeable bird guide who will assist you in spotting various bird species, including the black breasted barbet, rufous chatterer, African moustached francolin, Egyptian vulture, red billed oxpecker, pygmy falcon, Karamoja apalis, superb starling, Ethiopian swallow, Abyssinian ground hornbill, African grey fly catcher etc

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Hiking/ nature walks

Hiking/nature walk is a fascinating activity in Kidepo valley national park that allows tourists to explore the park on foot with an experienced park guide and armed park ranger to safeguard them from dangerous animals. In Kidepo valley national park, nature treks are conducted near Apoka camp, Rionomoe trail, and Lomej Mountains, among others. During the guided nature walk, you will get up close and personal with various wildlife and bird species, appreciate the cool breeze, listen to the sweet sounds of various bird species, and take stunning photographs, among other things.

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Cultural excursion

A cultural tour is a fascinating activity in Kidepo valley national park, where tourists will have the opportunity to interact with Karamajong and IK locals. During the cultural tour, you will be able to learn more about their culture, tradition, lifestyle, and dress code, visit their Manyata houses, taste their traditional dishes, visit the museum where they sell handicrafts such as stools, arrows, beads, spears, and bows, and enjoy their traditional songs and dances, among other things.

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STAY IN THE KNOWย 

The Best time to visit Kidepo valley national park.

The best time to visit Kidepo valley national park is during the months of June, July, August, September, December, January, and February during the dry season. During the dry season, the park receives little rainfall; consequently, the vegetation will be minimal, allowing you to see animals more clearly; access roads and hiking trails will be passable; and abundant wildlife species will gather around water sources to drink, allowing you to spot various animals.

Where to stay in Kidepo valley national park

  • During your Kidepo Uganada safari, you can choose from a variety of Kidepo valley national park accommodations. The accommodations range from deluxe, midrange, budget and campsites including Apoka Safari lodge, Kidepo Savannah lodge, Adere Safari lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp, Apoka Rest Camp, Kakine self-catering campsite among others.

How to get to Kidepo valley national park

The national park of Kidepo Valley is accessible by both road and air.

  • Air transport entails booking scheduled or charter flights with Aerolink Uganda to the Apoka aerodrome, followed by a road connection to the park headquarters.
  • When traveling by road to Kidepo valley national park, you can take a variety of routes, including the ones listed below.
  • It takes approximately 10 hours to travel from Kampala to Kidepo valley national park via Karuma, Gulu, and Kitgum.
  • It takes approximately 12 hours to travel from Kampala through Karuma, Lira, Kotido, Kaabong, and Kidepo valley national park.
  • It takes approximately 13 hours to travel from Kampala to Kidepo valley national park via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong, and then Kidepo valley national park.
  • It takes approximately 12 hours to travel from Kampala to Kidepo valley national park via Mbale, Sironko, Moroto, Kotido, Kaabong, and then Kidepo valley national park.
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