Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is an incredible national park located in remote corner of northeastern Uganda and stretches along the border of Kenya and south Sudan, this park is ranked as the most scenic national park in Uganda with a resemblance to Masai mara national reserve and Serengeti national park.

Kidepo valley national park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers and lies in the altitude range of 914meters – 2750 meters above the sea level, the landscape of Kidepo national park is crossed by 2 rivers that is Narus River and Kidepo River which are both seasonal. Kidepo valley national park consists of major physical features making up the scenic landscape of the park and these include Kidepo valley – the valley is a 50 meters wide bed of white sands and crossed by seasonal Kidepo River, Kanangorok Hot springs, Mount Morungule, Lamoj hills, Namamukweny valley – this valley is a great birding habitat with many bird species such as Eastern paradise-whydah, white-crested turaco, Abyssinian roller, green wood hoopoe and common bulbul among others. Though the name of the valley says otherwise, the name Namamukweny is a local slag meaning a place with no birds.

Kidepo valley national park is a home to a huge population of 77 mammal species including the largest single herd of Cape buffalo, mammals in Kidepo valley national park include Elephants, Rothschild’s giraffe, Burchell’s Zebra, Oribi, Klipspringer, Bohor Reedbuck, Eland, Hartebeest, Lion, Hyena and Cheetah, Leopard, striped jackals and perhaps Africa’s largest single herd of Cape buffalo roaming grasslands that extend in all directions towards distant ranges. Some of species in this park are not found in other parks except some game reserves like Cheetahs, Eland and Kudu. On occasions, you will sight a white-eared Kob from the neighboring South Sudan.

Kidepo valley national park is rich of bird life, the park hosts over 465 bird species with 58 species of prey which are notable species in park and 14 endemic species believed to be endemic to Kidepo and Karamoja region. Birds in Kidepo valley national park include Ostrich, Secretary bird, little green bee-eater, Kori bustard, Pygmy falcon and Karamoja Apalis the Verreaux’s eagle, Egyptian vulture,  Abyssinian roller, Abyssinian scimitar bill, Black-breasted barbet, Chestnut weaver, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Fox kestrel, Golden pipit, Greater kestrel, Jackson’s hornbill, Northern carmine bee-eater, Purple grenadier, Pygmy falcon, Red-throated bee-eater, Rose-ringed parakeet, Rufous chatterer, White-bellied go-away bird and many more

Safari activities to do in Kidepo valley national park

Game drives

The major activity is game drives in search of the various exotic animals and plants. The best times for game viewing are early morning at 6 am or later in the evening about 5pm. The game drives are usually done in the Narus valley which is a plain enclosed by distant mountains because the valley has water much of the year, many animals congregate here making it easier to sight them. Watch the animals in the grasslands across a large spectrum. Visit the Katurum kopje, which will provide superb views of the scenery across the valley.

Bird watching

Kidepo valley national park is a great bird watching destination in Uganda, bird watching safaris start from Apoka rest camp and takes you through the fringes of Arua and Namamukweny valley. As you while through the valley of the park which are crowded by birds you will spot many bird species such as swallos.

Birding is a pleasure in Kidepo valley national park. The bird count in the park is at 465 bird species. Start from the Apoka rest camp and proceed to the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny valleys. The park being savannah, it is easy to spot the birds as you move along. Birding is best in the morning or evening but one is free to spend the entire day with packed lunch in the park. The species of interest include; Clapperton’s Francolin, Purple Heron, Karamoja Apalis, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Abyssinian Roller, Eurasian Roller, Helmeted Guinea fowl, and several birds of prey.

Nature and Hiking walks

Nature and hiking walks in Kidepo Valley national park are amazing experience to engage in while on your safari, hiking is commonly done on Lamoj Mountains situated outside the park. Hiking on these hill is a 4 hours hike commencing as early 8:00 am in the morning before the pick of the heat. Nature walks in Kidepo valley national park are done in Narus valley and Namamukweny valley starting from Apoka tourism center, nature walks in Narus valley take approximately 2 hours and in Namamukweny valley take about 6 hours. These safari office magnificent scenery of the landscape and many animals and birds are spotted along the way.

Community walks and Cultural experiences

Cultural walks and counters in Kidepo valley national park take you on a visit to amazing tribes that are Karamojong and Ike people, the Karamojong reside in the communities situated along the borders of Kidepo valley national park and they were inhabitants of the area of the park before it was gazetted as a park. The Ike are minority group of people living on top of mountain Morungole, these people are hunters gatherers and when you visited their community you will be treated to an amazing cultural experiences including building of circular houses using local materials, interact with the elders who will tell the history of their people and be entertained by local dances and drama. The Karamojong are nomadic people depending on livestock farming, these people poses the most undestroyed culture which you will encounter while on the visit in their communities. You will enjoy activities like cattle rearing, milking and preparing of the kraal, interact with the elders, entertainment from local dances and drama.

How to get to Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo valley national park is situated in a distance of from Kampala the capital city Uganda, the park is accessed by road and air transport.

By road two routes are used to get to the park that are

Kampala – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto – Kidepo OR Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo OR Kampala – Gulu – Kitgum – Kidepo

By air – chartered/ domestic flights are offered from Entebbe international airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kidepo airstrip, chartered/ domestic flights are offered by Aero link and you need to book your safari prior to your date of flight.

You can also take scheduled or chartered flight from Entebbe to Kidepo.

Accommodation in Kidepo valley national park

Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National park is got from Safari Lodges and Camps situated either inside or outside of the park and they include Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Kidepo Savannah Lodge and Adere Safari Lodge