Kidepo Valley National Park
KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
Kidepo Valley National Park is a celebrated safari destination on Uganda’s tourist Map. Popular for offering true African wilderness experiences, the Park is a haven of raw natural beauty and unmatched cultural experiences.
The Location and area of Kidepo valley National Park
Situated in the remote north-eastern corner of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park is about 557 square miles in size and sits within the popular Karamoja sub-region. While it doesn’t receive as many visitors as it deserves, the Park is an unrivalled Sanctuary for extraordinary and threatened wildlife species of the country hence making it the perfect African wilderness destination you will ever desire.
The Park borders South Sudan and Kenya with sweeping savannah plains that meet Valleys and become Oases during the dry season. When it comes to spectacular landscapes, Kidepo National Park never disappoints with its towering mountains and hills overlooking the majestic plains thus creating the ideal “wow factor” for your trip to Uganda.
The two beautiful River Valleys of Narus and Kidepo also separate the landscape of Kidepo National Park and in the dry season they become watering points as well as seasonal oases for wide range of wildlife as they gather to drink fresh and clean water or feed on fresh pasture. This is one of the reasons why the dry season is preferred for safaris to Kidepo Valley National Park.
The Interesting History of Kidepo Valley National Park
Prior to being the Kidepo National Park that we all love and wish to explore, the whole of Karamoja sub-region region, including where the Park sits was inhabited by two tribes with different livelihoods. There were the Dodoth Pastoralists and the IK farmers.
In 1958, the British Colonial Government established a Game Reserve with the hope of protecting the unique wildlife species that were declining, as a result of indiscriminate hunting as well as to put an end to further clearing of the savannah grasslands for tsetse fly control. However, it became a National Park 1962.
The remarkable attractions to see within Kidepo Valley National Park
There are loads of things to see in Kidepo National Park but the best ones have been summarized as:
Animals
With over 86 mammal species in Kidepo valley National Park, it is a must-visit safari destination for trips into the Pearl of Africa. Views of outstanding Burchell’s zebras, cheetahs, African bush elephants, Jackson’s hartebeests, the rare Senegal Galago, Rothschild giraffes, Side-striped jackals, black-backed jackals, common warthogs, Klipspringer, the unique bat-eared foxes, duikers, Reedbucks, serval cats, Uganda Kobs, striped hyenas, African wild dogs, the giant elands, bush pigs, bushbucks, Impalas, , Guenther’s Dik-dik, Oribis, lions, caracals, leopards, to mention but a few.
Plethora of beautiful Birds
Referred as one of the Important Birding Areas of Uganda, Kidepo Valley National Park has about 475 bird species (the second highest number after Queen Elizabeth National Park that has 600 species). The Somali Ostriches, Karamoja Apalis, Golden Pipit, Abyssinian Rollers, White-bellied go-away bird, little bee-eaters, Chestnut weavers, White-eyed kestrel, Rufous chatterer, barbets, Abyssinian Ground thrush, Kori bustard, Pygmy falcon, Purple herons, Carmine bee-eater, Red-throated bee-eater and Black-breasted barbets are some of the unmissable birds during tours of Kidepo Valley National Park.
Outstanding landscapes
This Park boasts of outstanding landscapes in form of savannah plains that are dotted by acacia tree species, the spectacular Narus and Kidepo Valleys, the indescribable views of mountainous and hilly landscapes that create perfect backdrops for wilderness photography.
Culture of the Aboriginal people
Travellers to Kidepo Valley National Park are welcomed by the warm and super-friendly locals-the Dodoth pastoralists living in the flat areas and IK Farmers inhabiting the slopes of Mount Morungole.
The unmissable things to do within or around Kidepo Valley National Park
Go on a search for Kidepo’s rich wildlife
Unlike the crowded safari destinations (like Queen Elizabeth and Murchison falls National Parks), the guided game drives in Kidepo National Park are more private and remote with few safari vehicle in the same place. These drives are conducted under the guidance of professionally trained guides and through well-maintained game tracks. Four of the big five animals (Cape buffaloes, African bush elephants, lions and leopards), Defassa waterbucks, hartebeests, cheetahs, Uganda Kobs, duikers, bushbucks, giant elands, Rothschild giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, impalas, bushbucks, giant forest hogs, Topis and many others are encountered during these game drives.
Watch the outstanding feathered beauties
Thanks to its 475 bird species in Kidepo Valley National Park, about 100 of them can be encountered during a single birding trip and always expect to see Somali Ostriches, Karamoja Apalis, Red-throated bee-eater, Golden Pipit, Black-breasted barbets, Abyssinian Ground thrush, Kori bustard, Pygmy falcon, White-eyed kestrel, Abyssinian Rollers and Golden Pipit are encountered.
Explore the Mountain peaks
In the company of trained guides explore the slopes of Mount Morungole until its peaks at 9019 feet above sea level. Physically fitness is requires to take on this mountain and there is an opportunity to interact with the IK People and even spot different bird and animal species along the way.
Village tours
Learn, compare and contrast the cultures of the IK farmers and Dodoth pastoralists to have an understanding of how they live their lives. The people of Karamoja region are some of the tribes that still practice their original cultures and traditions in form of traditional dressing, local cuisines, and cultural dances without being affected by modernity.
Walk the secluded wilderness
The best way to have an intensely personal experience of Kidepo’s wilderness is by embarking on a guided walking safari to learn about the Park’s unique ecosystem, unique animal species, bird species and most interestingly the spectacular landscapes that make it stand-out from the other safari destinations of Uganda.
Accommodation options for travellers to Kidepo Valley National Park
The luxurious Adere Safari Lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp, Apoka Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp and Wilderness Camping are some of the few accommodation options for travellers to the remote and secluded Kidepo National Park.
When is the best time to go to Kidepo Valley National Park?
The recommended best time to go to Kidepo national Park is during the dry months of May to September and then from December to February when downpours aren’t experienced. With absence of rains in the Park, few watering points that include Narus and Kidepo valleys are left and these draw high concentrations of wildlife thus rewarding travellers with unmatched game viewing experiences.
Getting to the secluded Kidepo Valley National Park
There are two main transport means of getting to Kidepo National Park. For Air, access is by scheduled or chartered flights by Aerolink from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi Airstrip into Apoka Airstrip or Kidepo Airport, followed by road transfer to the Safari Camp. Road transfers from Kampala to Kidepo National Park take 9-10 hours.