A Guide to Kidepo Valley National Park.

This guide to Kidepo Valley National Park will take you to Uganda’s most scenic and untouched safari destination, located in the northeastern part of the country. It’s the third largest national park in Uganda, covering an area of about 1,442 square kilometers. It has breathtaking scenic views of unique valleys and unspoiled wilderness, which makes it a true African wilderness. Kidepo Valley National Park was first gazetted in 1954 as a northern Karamoja controlled hunting area, and in 1962, it was converted into a national park protecting the big game that existed during that time. The park derived its name from the Kidepo River, which is a seasonal river.

During the wet season, its waters flow through the park to the River Nile in South Sudan, but for only a few hours, leaving a river of sand as wide as 165 feet. The park is home to over 78 mammal species, including caracals, cheetah, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, greater kudu, striped hyena,  dik diks, Guenther’s dik-dik, which are only found in this park in Uganda, among other mammals. It also hosts over 480 unique bird species, including northern and semi-arid bird species that are found nowhere else in the country, savannah birds, birds of prey, riverine, and wetland birds. The park is surrounded by Karamojong people, a tribe that still holds sound, rich cultural values and norms, and visiting this community leaves memories that you will hold dearly. If you are seeking tranquility and a true African adventure, Kidepo Valley National Park must be added to your bucket list.

Where to find Kidepo Valley National Park.

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the northeastern region of Uganda, bordering Kenya to the east and South Sudan to the northeast. The park can easily be accessed by chartered or scheduled flights, which is about 2 hours from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip to Apoka Airstrip. Travellers can also use road transport, which is about a 10-12 hour drive from Kampala-Mbale-Moroto-Kaabong- Kidepo Valley National Park.

Where to stay.

Kidepo National Park offers several eco-friendly accommodation options for travellers, which cater to all travellers’ budgets, from luxury accommodations to standard accommodations, all provide unique and memorable stays. If you are looking for luxury stays, consider Apoka Safari Lodge, Mara Safari Lodge, Mid-range accommodations Adere Safari Lodge, Katurum Lodge, and those looking for budget-friendly accommodations, look at Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Kidepo Valley UWA Campsite.

Things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park.

Game Drives.

These are one of the most thrilling safari activities that allow visitors to explore the open savannah grasslands and woodlands. These are guided activities led by an experienced park guide who gives more information about the wildlife species that you might encounter. Game drives are conducted in either Kidepo Valley or Narus Valley, which have a high concentration of wildlife species and water sources. They are done in a 4×4 pop-up vehicle, which allows visitors to clearly see animals in their natural habitats. Kidepo has over 78 mammal species, including 28 species that are only found in the park in Uganda, like Caracals, cheetahs. The park offers three sessions of game drives the morning, evening, and night game drives, which give travellers a chance to spot nocturnal birds and animals like leopards, hyenas, owls, civets, and more. Visitors will see various animals such as herds of buffalo, lions, elephants, zebras, erands, giraffes, oribis, Uganda kobs, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, caracals, leopards, black-backed jackals, greater kudu, bush duikers, among others. Bird lovers will see hundreds of unique bird species, including ostriches, Karamonja Apalis, Black-breasted Barbets, Yellow-billed, Silverbird, Nubian woodpecker, Mosque swallow, Vinaceous Dove, and more birds.

Bird Watching- A Guide to Kidepo Valley National Park.

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the best bird watching destinations in Uganda, with over 480 unique bird species, including birds of prey, savannah birds, water birds, migratory birds, and woodland species. Birding is conducted in areas such as Apoka, Narus Valley, and Kidepo Valley, and all provide equal opportunities of seeing various bird species. Some notable bird species to encounter, includeBlack-breasted Barbets, Karamonja Apalis, Ostriches, Yellow-billed Shrike, the attractive Silver bird, Nubian woodpecker, Mosque swallow,  Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Vinaceous Dove, Ruppell’s and superb sterling, Hoopoe, Red-cheeked Cordon bleu, and Yellow-rumped seedeater, Singing Bushlark, Kori bustard Brown-backed Woodpecker, Little Green Bee-eater, Long-tailed & Standard-winged Nightjars, White-bellied Tit , Pygmy Falcon, African Grey Flycatcher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Eastern Yellow & Jackson’s Hornbills, Red-winged Lark, Little Weaver & Red-cheeked, Fan-tailed Raven, White-bellied & Hartlaub’s Bustards, Abyssinian & Rufous-crowned Rollers, Eastern Pale Chanting Go-shawk, Slate-coloured Boubou, Green-winged, White-faced Scoops Owl, black-bellied Bustard, Harlequin Quail, Common Buttonquail, Black-headed Plover, Flappet Larks, Croaking Cisticola, among others.

Nature Walk.

Nature walk in Kidepo Valley National Park is an amazing activity that allows visitors to explore the open savannah grassland on foot. This is a guided activity led by an armed ranger who provides protection for the participants and a knowledgeable park guide who gives more insights about the park’s inhabitants that you might encounter. Nature walk is done in various areas like Apoka, Narus valley, where visitors will be able to see countless herds of elephants, buffalo, elands, warthogs, and more. Visitors can also visit Kanangorok hot springs.

Community Cultural Tours-A Guide to Kidepo Valley National Park.

Kidepo National Park is bordered by the Karamojong people, which is an indigenous ethnic group who still holds very rich cultural values. For lovers of true Africa’s culture, Kidepo is the right place to be. Visiting the homesteads of the surrounding community of karamojongs and participating in some of their day to day activity is something that will not be washed off your brain. When you deep yourselves in their homesteads, you will meet the elders and leaders who will enhance your cultural knowledge about the place.

The Best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park.

The park can be visited throughout the year, and the best time preferred by most travellers is during the dry season, which runs from June to September and December to February. During this season, the park receives little to no rainfall, the vegetation cover is short, and the tracks are dry, making it easy to penetrate it in search of wildlife species. However, visitors can visit the park during the wet season, which runs from October to November and March to May. The park receives abundant rainfall, the tracks are muddy and slippery, making it challenging to penetrate the park.