Tucked in the north-west tip of Uganda, the 1442 km2 Kidepo Valley National Park is a true African wilderness and the most alluring park in Uganda. It’s remoteness makes Kidepo Valley NP less-visited, but the few who make this far, have been amazed and awed by a diverse and exciting mega fauna. This incudes 465 bird species and 77 species of mammals where Cheetah, Bat-eared Fox and more species are found nowhere else in Uganda. The park boasts the most stunning landscapes anywhere in the country with extensive golden savanna plains dotted with kopjes, Borassus palms and dry-scrub, riparian woodland all hemmed in by towering rugged and rocky mountain ranges.
Things to do and Activities in Kidepo National Park
- Untamed Wildlife Safaris
Kidepo Valley NP protects diverse wildlife that migrates along its two seasonal river systems of Kidepo river and Narus river system following the rain patterns that bring in fresh grass and water. Of the two river systems, Kidepo river dries out for over 6-months of the year but the Narus river retains water all-year round making it an oasis in this semi-arid landscape. Wildlife game drives run across these river systems brings you up-close to various game including; Greater and Lesser Kudu most spotted in woodland around the dry Kidepo river, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Guenther’s Dik-dik, Eland, Bohor Reedbuck, endangered Nubian (Rothchild’s) Giraffe, Oribi, Common Duiker, while the rock kopjes pairs of Klipspringer. Deffasa Water Buck, Cape Buffalo, Burchell’s Zebra, the terrestrial Patas Monkey are widespread in the grasslands among others. Predators include Lions, Leopard, Side-striped Jackal, Spotted Hyena, Cheetah, even the rare Bat-eared Fox, Black-backed Jackal, Aardwolf, Caracal among others.
- Rewarding Birding Experience
Kidepo Valley National Park is a top birding hotspot featuring on most Uganda classic birding safaris. Kidepo and the entire north-east Uganda sits entirely in the Somalia-Masai biome hosting a unique bird-list where top targets include up to 23 of the total 32 bird species restricted to this unique habitat. Bird highlights at Kidepo include typical dry country species like Karamoja Apalis, Clapperton’s Spurfowl, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Common Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Fox Kestrel, Brown Parisoma, Pygmy Falcon, Yellow-necked Spurfowl and Jackson’s Hornbill, Golden-Pipit, Rufous Chatterer, Red and Yellow Barbets and more.
- Nature Walks and Hiking
Kidepo Valley NP offers excellent guided nature walk to explore its vast stunning landscapes and a chance to get close to nature and its diversity. On guided nature walks, you connect first hand to nature and its surroundings, you smell the aroma of savanna, hear and interpret variety of sounds, identify tracks and marks left by the park residents. Away from the safety of the game drive vehicles you find yourself on the same level with the park residents, that include Nubian Giraffe, Common Eland, African Elephants, Zebras, Cape Buffalo, Kob and other.
Your guide will call your attention to smaller angulates you would miss normally on game drive vehicle including a variety of insects and reptiles. Popular nature walks at Kidepo NP take place in the Narus valley notable for high concentration of wildlife.
A longer walk follows the palm-lined seasonal river-bed of Kidepo that extends to hot springs on the northern edges of the park. The woodlands here host hundreds of Common Ostrich and a diversity of birds. Hikers will be attracted to the towering 2750m Mount Morungole ranges lying on the eastern edges of the park also the home of the Ik people that offer a cultural experience.
- Community Adventure Experience
Take a community visit to the Karimojong, and learn of the ancient traditions, jump to their warrior songs, of these formerly nomadic community of pastoralists. Visit the Ik also known as “people of mountains” that dwell high on the slopes of Mt. Morungule who are agriculturalists and live-in tight communities like their cousins on the lower plains, take home an authentic experience of rich and ancient traditions.
Located 70km south-east of Kidepo Valley NP, Nakipelemoru Manyatta Village set on the outskirts of Kotido is the largest and the oldest East Africa traditional settlement with up 10,000 people. Nakipelemoru translated the “Rock is seen” in the local Karamajong direct, refers to the ancient sacred rock where the Jie people first settled after migrating from Cush present-day Ethiopia.
Getting to Kidepo Valley National Park
By road: The wilderness of Kidepo Valley National Park is reached via two routes, with the most direct one running through Gulu city, turning east at Kitgum town to follow a well-maintained marram road and arriving at Kalokudo main gate after some 130km. A direct drive from Entebbe or Kampala one will need a full -day (10-hr drive) to cover this 560km long distance. An eastern route covers a total of 740km requiring a full-day drive through Mbale on to Moroto, passing the heartland of Karamoja to arrive at Nataba gate on the eastern park boundary. Although these routes can be undertaken in a day’s drive, it should be noted that this is a rushed and tiring drive.
These long routes are easily broken by overnighting in Gulu city and exploring the regions’ attractions that includes scenic falls of Arruu or if using the eastern route, breaking it off near Moroto town with chances to explore off-the-beaten adventure options here.
By Air: Adventurers with a short time on their hands are better off flying-in to Kidepo Airstrip near the Apoka right in the heart of the wilderness park. Chartered flights connect Kidepo airstrip with Murchison Falls NP and Entebbe airport. The flight covers some 2-hrs and offers scenic landscapes views across the northern region of Uganda.
Best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park
Although Kidepo is an-all year-round destination the rainy season that occur between April and September makes driving around the valley tough and requiring a strong 4WD. Wildlife this season spreads far and wide as food and water is plentiful.
The dry season occurring between October and March is the best time for wildlife enthusiasts visiting Kidepo Valley NP as this is when wildlife is concentrated in the Narus valley for its all-year round water availability.