Things to do in Kidepo National park

Things to do in Kidepo National park : Kidepo national park is located in the North Eastern region of Uganda in Kabong district it shares boarders with Sudan and Kenya . It is Uganda’s most beautiful park but also the most remotest and least visited national park in Uganda . Kidepo national park is located over 600km from Kampala and being the farthest of the 10 Ugandan national park can be accessed in 2 ways that is road transport and air transport means . This national park covers a total surface area of about 1,442 square kilometers, which was first gazette as a game reserve and later it was established as a national park in 1962 with the main aim of protecting all wildlife animals in the park . Kidepo national park is under the management of Uganda Wildlife Authority who protect all the national parks in the country .

Kidepo national park is surrounded with beautiful landscapes , open savanna plains , woodlands , dense forests which all acts as good natural habitats to many wildlife species . Kidepo national park has two main biomesi ; savanna / acacia grassland in the Narcus valley which lies in the southern area of the part and semi – arid short grass area in the northern Kidepo valley . The park is generally dry experiencing only one rainy season of April – September . It has two rivers Kidepo and Narus both of which are seasonal only flowing during the rainy season . During the long dry seasons water can only be found in wetlands and remnant pools in the Narus valley . It stands out as one of the best virgin places for wildlife enthusiasts .

Kidepo national park supports a wider diversity . It has about 80 mammal species in the park but 28 cannot be found in any other park in Uganda including caracal , stripped hyena , aardwolf , cheetah , bat-eared fox and hunting dog are carnivore species unique to Karamoja region and protected within Kidepo . Kidepo also harbors 5 species of primate including the kavirondo bush baby which is also unique to the area . The park also has a number of rare ungulates including the Greater and Lesser kudu , chandlers mountain reedbuck ,klipspringer , dikdik , bright gazelle , beisa oryx and roan antelope . Kidepo has unusually small crocodiles with maximum length of 2.5 m compared to the nile crocodiles which regularly exceed 4m . The small size is apparently a result of the limited food available .

Kidepo is the best park in Africa for great buffalo herds and other common animals are elephants , zebra , bush pigs , Rothschild giraffes , eland , Jackson’s hartebeest , buffalo , oribi , lion , leopard, spotted hyenas , black backed and side backed jackal . Birdlife in Kidepo is remarkable too with 475 species second to Queen Elizabeth National Park which has 625 species .

ACTIVITIES TO DO ON VISIT TO KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Animal watching via Game drives

Game drives are mostly done along the Narus valley since most of the year the park’s wildlife gather here . This area is well designed with track circuits and tour car visitors have clear views of herbivores grazing in the short savanna plains . Lions and other cats are often sighted on top of rocks looking out for prey in the vast plains . The best time for the game drive is in the early morning when herbivores are grazing and cats are on hunt and during the afternoon you shall find many animals around the water sources.

Game viewing can also be done along the kidepo valley where one can enjoy the sand bed river especially the dry seasons . The sand bed is like an oasis in a desert . It is lined with palm trees and has plenty of birds . It is advisable to visit the northern area in the morning as the afternoon is unbearably hot there and comes with plenty of tsetse flies . Crossing the sand bed river is another highlight in the Kanangorok Hot Springs where you enjoy the spectacular landscape and you  can also  have a picnic near springs which the local people believe have magic powers .

The Sand Bed along River Kidepo

The sand bed experience during the dry season on river kidepo can be very fascinating . One can enjoy wilderness experience while listening to different birds singing .

River kidepo is an intermittent sand river found in the northern part of the park . It stands out because it is lined by Borasus palms that make it appear like an oasis in the sahara . Many bird species  can be found around this area .

 Bird watching in Kidepo national park

Kdepo is one of Uganda’s important bird areas and an incredible Uganda birding destination . The park is only being discovered by birdwatchers since it has been off the main tourist circuit and more bird species are being added to the check list of over 475 recorded species . Some of Africa’s rarest and most sought after birds are found in the park . The park is good for semi arid species which cannot be found in other parts of Uganda .

Nature walks

Nature walks can be done around Apoka camp at any time of the time an visitors are able to observe a number of animals such as zebra , elephant , reedbuck , buffalo . There are also long traits which visitors can walk in the early morning to observe species at close range and enjoy the beautiful wilderness .

Climbing Mount Morungole & Visiting the IK people

Trekking on Mount Morungole is an attraction activity which leads to the IK people . The great Morungole expedition which involves a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain commanding spectacular views of kidepo national park will expose visitors to variety of dances from the IK , their way of life , their unique settlements and you get to learn their unique migration history .

Karamajong Community tour

The karamajong tribe is the main local community inhabiting the karamajong region and neighbouring the park . The karamajong culture and way of life is interesting to visit to enjoy their unique cultures , traditional houses called manyatta and their setting of homesteads , traditional dances , traditional handcraft stools , spears and hand bungles from beads .