Located on the Sudanese border in the northeast of Uganda. The Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks. It is 1,442 square kilometres and harbours scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa. ‘It could not be any better’ is a common comment on the scenery by visitors who often promise and do come back to Kidepo.
Tucked into the corner of Uganda’s border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, which end in rugged horizon. A huge latitudinal range and correspondingly wide climatic conditions have evolved an extremely diverse flora. As a result the variety of animal species in the park is equally abundant including many which are found no where else in Uganda. Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species as well as around 475 bird species.
Talking about great wildlife reserves in Africa, Kidepo valley ranks best among the most known national parks in Africa. Common wildlife species in the park include lions, cheetahs, wild dogs, black-backed jackals, bat eared fox, Antelopes, Elephants, hartebeest, oribi, eland, kobs, Klipspringers etc. For sure, there is nothing more you will miss out once you take a wildlife trip to Kidepo valley National Park.
Park at a Glance
Size: 1,442km2
The park’s altitude ranges between 914m and 2,750m above sea level.
The park contains two rivers – Kidepo and Narus – which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife.
The local communities around the park include pastoral Karamojong people, similar to the Maasai of Kenya, and the IK, a hunter-gatherer tribe whose survival is threatened.
The vegetation can best be described as open tree Savannah which varies much in structure and composition. Mountain forest dominates some of the high places, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape throughout the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.
Why Go on a Safari in Kidepo National Park
The park is hidden in a valley in north eastern Uganda along the border with Sudan. Surrounded by mountains it is considered by many to offer the most stunning scenery of any national park in Uganda.
Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.
During the dry season, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley near Apoka. These seasonal oases, combined with the open, savannah terrain, make the Narus Valley the park’s prime game viewing location.
Uganda wildlife tourism has a secret in Kidepo Valley national park and hundreds of people fly to Uganda every year on both budget and flying safari tours to Kidepo Valley in search of an incredible Africa safari tour experience.With the unspoilt beauty of plains and wildlife, Kidepo is a perfect destination for any nature lover searching for exceptional wildife experience in Africa.
Nothing compares to the beauty and cultural values of the Karamajong people around the park and any trip to Kidepo is worth every penny.The accommodation is affordable with all you need for a comfortable stay and that added to the endless plain views, it takes you straight into what is known as “Real Africa”. The vibrancy of the park makes it one of the world’s premier wildlife safari destination and the various park activities keep you entertained during your stay.See bellow why you should visit Kidepo Valley National Park.
Things to Do in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo valley national park harbors a great diversity of animal species than other parks in Uganda. These include carnivores, ungulates, and primates. The Uganda safari package takes you to Kidepo National Park offers high chances of viewing tree climbing lions that always sit on sauces trees along Narus valley or on the rock just as you enter the Apoka Park Headquarter. Right from Apoka Rest Camp other animals that can be seen include elephants, leopards, bush duikers, jackals, bushbucks, bush pigs, Kavirondo bush babies, buffaloes, and much more.
Wildlife
At 1440 km2, Kidepo is notable for a number of animals that are not found anywhere else in Uganda including Cheetahs, Ostriches and bat-eared foxes.
Five primates have been recorded in the park including the localized Patas monkey. It also has large concentrations of elephants, zebras, bushbucks, buffaloes and a number of 20 predators including Lions, Leopards and hyenas .There’s also a variety of mustelids, genets, mongooses and small cats.
There are 12 different antelope species that are found in Kidepo and they include the greater and lesser kudu, Guenther’s dik- dik, and mountain reedbuck which occur nowhere else in Uganda. Others are Jackson’s Hartebeest, Eland, Bushbuck, common duiker, Klipspringer, Oribi, Defassa waterbuck and Bohor reedbuck.
The park also supports populations of elephant, Burchell’s Zebra, Warthog, Bush pig and buffalo. The black rhinoceros recently became extinct in Kidepo.It’s also a good bird – watching destination, with a recorded number of 463 birds which includes endemic birds,%6 raptors including the pigmy falcon and Kidepo “specials” which are restricted to the park.
Birding:
The park boasts of an extensive avifauna. 465 species have been recorded Birds of particular interest include the ostrich and the Kori bustard which are principally associated with arid regions. The park also has outstanding numbers of birds of prey. In this category, 58 species of birds have been recorded. Amongst these 14 are believed to be endemic to Kidepo and the Karamoja region. Bird lovers can look forward to seeing more than 58 bird species in their natural habitat recorded including fourteen raptors, honbills,black breasted barbet,apalis,Egyptian Vulture, Neophron etc.During the bird watching trip eyes can also feed on the roaming primates and wildlife hence adding value and memories to the trip.
Hiking and Scenery viewing
Hiking can be carried out on Lamoj Mountains just a few kilometers from the Park Headquarters.
Cultural Performance
For cultural lovers, its fan to explore the wonderful culture of Karamajongs, their lifestyle, tradition, craul, songs and dances.Taking back the Karamajongs are people who compelently refused to be changed by western culture .They lead a life just like in the ancient,and exploring the karamajong culture is another unique tour adventure in Kidepo National Park that you can regret once missed.
During safaris in Kidepo valley national park, tours to the local communities in the neighboring villages can also be arranged. The local community near the park stages cultural dances and performances. Traditional dances such as the Emuya of the Naporre and Nyangia, Larakaraka and Apiti dances of the Acholi are worthy to see and participate in.
Nature Walk and cultural visits to the Karimajong Manyatta (homesteads) where you will probably see kraals belonging to local communities, traditional costumes, stools, spears headdresses, knives, bows, and arrows, and jewelry among others are also interesting and worthy to take during a safari holiday in this park.
Where to Stay
With Kidepo National Park safaris, there is some thing for every one regardless on what your budget and taste could be.The park has different accommodation facilities for luxury and budget travelers and offer only the best.Apoka lodge, Ngamoru wilderness camp and UWA bandas are some of the most loved and a night in any of the three makes your experience unforgettable. Above all the park tour adventures are open for all visitors either local or foreign and the experience is classic.
At the Park itself, there are 16 self-contained chalets at Apoka Rest Camp. There is also a hostel comprising of 14 bandas each with two beds; these bandas are not self contained. Both Apoka Lodge and the Bandas are managed by the park. Make your reservations through Uganda Wildlife Authority Headquarters in Kampala. For visitors who like camping, the park has two ‘Do it yourself’ campsites. You must bring your tent and other camping equipment.
Food and Dining
Neither the Rest Camp nor hostel stock food, visitors are therefore advised to carry sufficient food and drinks for the duration of their stay in the park. The Rest Camp staff can arrange for the cooking. However other supplementary diet such as chicken and goat meat can be arranged from the nearby community for visitors who intend to stay longer.
Driving is more rewarding as vast parts of Karamoja are scenic and total wilderness. However road conditions are some times difficult and 4-wheel drive vehicles (4WD) are recommended. Visitors should note that the road mainly in use from Kotido to Kaabong passes via Kanawauat.
Visitors intending to travel by road are advised to contact UWA headquarters to seek advice about conditions and safety on the roads.
Getting There
Traveling to Kidepo Valley National Park is very easy by either road or air and visitors to the park decide on the best means of transport to use depending on their budget and preferance. When using plane, there are charter flights from Entebbe to Kidepo and the journey takes only two and fifteen minutes to the park.While by road the drive takes almost a full day to kitgum entering the park through either Nataba gate or Lokumoit Gate.The drive is scenic with various stops at Karuma falls, Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, Kitgum town etc.You now have more options than before do make it a point to add Kidepo Valley on your safari in Uganda.
Air Transport:
Chartered aircraft are available from Entebbe International Airport to the Park Headquarters. The Civil Aviation Authority manages an airstrip at Lomej about 3 km south of the Park Headquarters.
For your chartered flights please contact:
United Airlines,
P.O Box 246000
Tel:+256-41-349841/2
Fax: +256-41-349843
E-Mail: united@infocom.co.ug