Described as one of the Top Three national Parks to visit in Africa and the most picturesque of All Africa Safari by CNN Travel, Kidepo Valle National Park is a remote national park located at the furthest end of North Eastern Uganda. The park is found in the semi-arid Karamoja province on the northeastern frontier with Kenya and South Sudan. From Kampala, it is a drive of about 520 kilometers by northeast of Kampala City, and approximately 220km by road northwest of Moroto, the largest town in the sub region.
Kidepo Valley National Park is a Uganda’s hidden wilderness gem nestled in gorgeous landscapes of rugged hills and vast savannahs with unique wildlife including species found nowhere else in Uganda including cheetahs, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, caracal and kudu. The park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers, sprawling savannah plains, soaring mountains and spectacular landscapes.
The park encompasses of Kidepo and Narus Valleys overshadowed by the brooding mountainscape of Mount Morungole, a scared peak of the mysterious IK people.
Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park
Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is home to over 77 Uganda animal species thriving in the two dominant features of the park, the Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. The Narus Valley is dominated by open grassland studded with tall sausage trees and the massive elongated fruits.
Animals in Kidepo Valley National Park include lions, African buffaloes, Rothschild giraffe, Burchell’s zebras, warthogs, bush pigs, side-striped jackals, leopards, aardwolf, caracals, and African wild dogs, antelope species including Jackson’s hartebeests, Bohor reedbucks, Oribi, Elands, Uganda Kobs, Klipspringer, Guenther’s dik dik, Greater Kudu, lesser kudu, waterbucks, bush duiker, grant’s gazelles, bushbucks and Mountain reedbucks.
There are also primates in Kidepo Valley National Park including Patas Monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and black and white colobus.
Birdlife in Kidepo Valley National Park
With over 475 bird species recorded, Kidepo Valley National Park hosts the second highest population of any protected area in Uganda, coming second to only Queen Elizabeth National Park. Birds in Kidepo include about 56 raptor species recorded, the most commonly observed species include pygmy falcony Tawny eagle, Bateleur Eagle and several types of vultures such as Egyptian vultures, white headed vultures and others.
Also, Kidepo Valley National Park supports the only population of Clapperton’s francolin and the spectacular African rose-ringed parakeet in East Africa. Other bird species in the park include Vinaceous Dove, Hoopoe, Nubian Woodpecker, Mosque Swallow, the Ruppell’s and Superb Starlings, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Little Weaver and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, a variety of seedeaters including the Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Clapperton’s Francolin, Black Coucal, African Moustached and the Broad-tailed Warblers, Marsh Tchagra and Crimson-rumped Waxbill among others.
Kidepo Valley and Kanangorok Hot Springs
Kidepo Valley National Park gets its named from Kidepo River within the Kidepo Valley. The valley is famous for its scenic Borassus plam tree a delicacy of elephants as well as indigenous communities, they are beautifully scattered all through the valley.
The name “Kidepo” is a derivative of the Karamonjog “akidep” which means “to pick” and as the Kidepo Valley was frequented by the locals to collect ripe Borassus palm fruits from the Borassus palm trees that line Kidepo River.
The Kanangorok Hot Springs – is situated about 11 kilometers from the Kidepo River on the Sudan border, a glorious place to sit and view the mountains beyond the frontier. The hot spring water is about 50℃ temperature hot.
The local people believe that the water from the hot springs contains some healing powers or spiritual cleansing hence visitors can find some people bathing therein. The thicket bush that surrounds the hot spring harbors lesser and greater kudus.
Safari Activities to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
Game Drives
Game viewing is the major Uganda Safari activity in Kidepo Valley National Park, the game drives are done in search of the various animals in the park and also get to spot various bird species and spectacular landscape.
Best time for game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are early morning at 6 am and later in the evening about 5 pm. The game drives are usually done in the Narus Valley which is a plain enclosed by distant mountain because the valley has water much of the year. Most of the animals congregate here making it easier to see them.
Bird watching
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the best places to do bird watching in Uganda, the park is home to over 465 bird species making it a haven for birders. Bird watching experience starts from the Apoka Rest Camp and proceed to the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys.
The park being a savannah park, it is easy to spot the birds as you move along. Bird watching in Kidepo Valley National Park is best done in the morning or evening. Birds of interest to lookout for include African rose-ringed parakeet in East Africa. Other bird species in the park include Vinaceous Dove, Hoopoe, Nubian Woodpecker, Mosque Swallow, the Ruppell’s and Superb Starlings, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Little Weaver and Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu, a variety of seedeaters including the Yellow-rumped Seedeater, Clapperton’s Francolin, Black Coucal, African Moustached and the Broad-tailed Warblers among others.
Guided Nature Walks and Hikes
The mountains in and outside of Karamoja can be hiked but the most common hikes are to Lamoj mountains. The hike takes about 4 hours to hike and to start early morning before the heat picks up.
Guided nature walks takes about 2 hours and are done in the Narus Valley, they start from the Apoka Tourism Centre which 5 kilometers to Narus Valley. There is a trail to Namamukweny Valley taking 6 hours for the beautiful scenery.
Community walks and Cultural experiences
The Karamoja Region has rich cultures of the Karamojong and the Ik People. The Ik tribe is the most isolated tribe in Uganda living on top of Mount Morungole Mountain. The experience is extremely strenuous all day hike to visit this endangered group of people. they are peaceful hunter-gatherers who have retreated to the mountains for protection from the neighboring cattle-raiding tribes.
A visit to the Karamojong homesteads will give you a glimpse into their pastoral lifestyles, join the dancing and purchase the crats like knives, arrows, jewellery and stolls.
How to Get to Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in a remote region of Uganda and it can be accessed by road and air transport.
By Road – The journey from Kampala is long but rewarding as you move along the different regions, vegetation and tribal lands. There are three routes used to get to the park that is
- Kampala – Mbale – Soroti – Moroto – Kidepo
- Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Kotido – Kaabong – Kidepo
- Kampala – Gulu – Kitgum – Kidepo
By Air – There are scheduled or chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Lomej Airstrip in the Apoka Tourism Zone.
Best Time to Visit Kidepo Valley National Park
Generally Uganda has two dry and wet seasons. The best time to visit Kidepo depends on your interest as a visitor. Wildlife viewing is best done during the dry months of December – March and July – August. During the time River Kidepo and Narus dry up leaving a small oasis where the animals gather in large numbers to drink.
The animals gathering in large numbers provides perfect opportunities for wildlife viewing and photography.
During the rain months, the rain brings back the rivers and animals tend to disperse and feed in smaller groups because there is plenty of food and water everywhere. The short rainy season still has good views of the animals, this is also the best time for birding in Kidepo as migrant birds arrive from Europe and northern regions of Africa.
Where to stay in Kidepo Valley National Park
There are several safari lodges where visitors can stay on a Uganda safari to Kidepo Valley National Park, these accommodation options range from luxury, midrange[A1] to Budget options. These include Kidepo Apoka Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Adere Safari Lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp, Apoka Rest Camp, Kakine & Nagusokopire Campsites among others.
