Budget Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Budget safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park allow travellers to explore this remote paradise without overspending. It is located in the far northeastern corner of Uganda, bordering Kenya and South Sudan. Kidepo National Park is one of Africa’s most untouched and breathtaking wilderness destinations. This is one of the least explored savannah parks in the country. Due to its distance, it’s about 700 kilometers from Kampala to the park. It’s one of the largest national parks in Uganda, covering an area of about 1,442 square kilometers. It was designated as a national park in 1962 after Uganda gained its independence to protect the Big mammals that existed at that time.
Kidepo is known for its rich biodiversity, hosting up to 80 mammal species, including the African Big Four game, 480 bird species, like migratory birds, birds of prey, savannah birds and the park’s unique residents found nowhere in the country. The park’s rich biodiversity allows it to offer an authentic safari experience far from crowded tourist routes at affordable rates. The park offers budget friendly accommodations with good standards and thrilling safari activities that travellers can enjoy. Whether you are a backpacker student traveller or simply seeking an affordable adventure, a budget safari in Kidepo proves that experiencing raw African wilderness does not have to be expensive. For the best deals, consider travelling in the low season, which runs from March to May and October to November. Lodges and travel agencies tend to offer discounts in this period.
Things to do on Budget Safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Bird Watching.
Bird watching in Kidepo is one of the most thrilling activities that bird ornithologists and bird lovers can enjoy on their budget friendly safari. The park is blessed with over 480 unique bird species, including birds of prey, savannah birds, water birds and the park’s residents. Bird watching is best enjoyed during the morning and late afternoon hours when birds are most active. It is led by a knowledgeable park guide who gives more information about the bird species that you might encounter and identifies various bird species by their melodic songs and sounds. This is one in a lifetime experience that bird lovers should enjoy on their visit to the park. They will have a chance to see various bird species, such as Hamerkop, Pink-backed Pelican, Osprey, Bruce’s Green-Pigeon, Four-banded Sandgrouse, Denham’s Bustard, White-bellied Bustard, Hartlaub’s Bustard, Black-bellied Bustard, Buff-crested Bustard, Great Blue Turaco, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Common Ostrich, African Pygmy-Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Helmeted Guineafowl, Western Crested Guineafowl, Stone Partridge, Crested Francolin, Abyssinian Ground-Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill, Jackson’s Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Olive Bee-eater, Common Reed Warbler, White-throated Bee-eater, White-faced Whistling-Duck. Secretary Birds, Northern Camine bee-eaters, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Purple Heron, Clapperton’s Francolin, Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Egyptian Goose, Garganey, Ring-necked Francolin, Orange River Francolin, Blue Quail, Harlequin Quail, Common Quail, Clapperton’s Spurfowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Speckled Pigeon, Mourning Collared-Dove, Lemon Dove, Dusky Turtle-Dove.
Nature Walks.
Nature walks are one of the most incredible activities that travellers on budget safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park can enjoy. These allow visitors to explore the scenic views and the rich biodiversity in the park on foot. Nature walks are guided activities led by an experienced park guide who helps by identifying various plants, trees, birds and animal species that you might find. There will be an armed park ranger who protects participants from wild animals. The park has various spots suitable for nature walks, like Narus Valley, areas around Apoka Rest Camp, and Kidepo Valley, all of which allow views to enjoy the beautiful scenic views of the park. They will have a chance to see giraffes, elands, zebras, Uganda Kobs, elephants, and bird lovers will enjoy the beautiful sounds of birds like Jackson’s Hornbill, Northern Red-billed Hornbill, Olive Bee-eater, Common Reed Warbler, White-throated Bee-eater.
Game Drives.
There is no complete safari in Kidepo National Park without game drives, and these allow visitors to explore the untouched and breathtaking views in Uganda’s true wilderness. The park offers three sessions: morning game drives, evening game drives and night game drives, all of which give equal chances of encountering various bird and animal species. This is a guided activity led by a knowledgeable park guide who identifies and gives more information about the birds and animals encountered. Game drives are best done in Narus Valley since it has high numbers of animals and visitors have a high chance of seeing various animals. While on the game drives, visitors will see animals like elands, zebras, elephants, leopards, lions, giraffes, buffalo, cheetahs, caracals, bat-eared foxes, kudus, dikdiks, Uganda Kobs, and more. Bird lovers will be delighted in watching hundreds of birds that call this amazing park home, like the Great Blue Turaco, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Common Ostrich, African Pygmy-Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Spur-winged Goose, Helmeted Guineafowl.
Cultural Encounters.
Cultural encounters are among the top things to do on budget safaris in Kidepo Valley National Park. The park is surrounded by two unique tribes, the Ik people, which is a small hunter-gatherer tribe living in the mountains bordering Kenya, whose traditions are under a threat and the Karamojong, a semi- nomadic pastoralist group and their tribe, the Maasai, in Kenya, known for their cattle keeping traditions. Visiting these communities gives travellers a chance to learn more about their traditions through storytelling, how they use traditional herbs to cure diseases, traditional dances and more.
Where to stay on a budget friendly safari.
Kidepo offers budget-friendly accommodations ranging from budget to mid-range options, all providing charming experiences. Consider Adere Safari Lodge, Katurum Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, and Kidepo Valley UWA Campsite.
