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Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park Safaris & Tours, Location, Best time to visit, attraction, Safari accommodations and more
Kidepo valley national park wildlife safaris
Kidepo Valley National Park is a 1442 sq. km National Park in the Karamoja region in the northeast part of Uganda. Apparently, the National Park is the most isolated park but still stands out to be one of the stunning untamed places every wildlife viewer can ever visit while on a Uganda wildlife safari.
This virgin national park is undoubtedly among the best wilderness destinations in Africa, harboring a medley of extinct species of wildlife that are uniquely found only in the park in Uganda.
Location of Kidepo Valley National Park
Located in the remote areas of Karamoja sub- region,Kidepo Valley National Park is found in the north eastern corner of Uganda about 540 kilometers away from the capital city of Uganda-Kampala.
The National Park is approximately 220 kilometers northwest of Moroto the nearest largest town in the Karamoja sub region and borders South Sudan in the northeast.
Kidepo Valley National Park Entrance
History of Kidepo Valley National Park.
To have the bush cleared due to tsetse flies and protecting wildlife from poachers, this semi-arid National Park was first gazetted by the British Colonialists in the year 1958 with an original 1,259 sq kilometers to itself.
The same year Uganda got its independence in 1962, the reserve gained its new status as a National Park and an additional land area was added to the National Park in 1969 to its present 1,442 square kilometers size.
Landscape of Kidepo Valley National Park
Strategically located with two valleys both brimming with wildlife, that is, the northern Kidepo River and the southern Narus river, Kidepo Valley National Park is surrounded by rugged mountains.
Overlooking the park headquarters, Apoka, Narus Valley is the prime game-viewing area offering a strategic vantage point to take in the stunning scenery. The National Park ranges in elevation from 914m to 2,750m, with the highest point being Mount Murungole on the southern edge.
Irrespective of where you are in the national park, you can clearly see Mount Lutoke erected at 2,797m, which is slightly higher and located about 50 km from the South Sudanese border.
The park’s habitat is majorly made of lightly wooded savannas, mixed with montane forest patches, thick miombo woodland, borassus palms, and rocky Mountains.
Whether your intention to visit Kidepo Valley National Park is to explore its diverse landscapes, enticing wildlife, to immerse yourself into this region’s rich culture, or simply unwind amidst the tranquil surroundings, this award-winning destination will without a doubt offer you an unforgettable safari experience.
Landscape
Kidepo Valley National Park Pictorial
The wildlife safari Attractions in Kidepo valley national park
Apoka Tourism Centre.
The wildlife safari center is where the park offices are located where travelers make clearance for all park tourism services and other administrative issues. It is an ideal place to book a ranger to escort you on a game viewing safari, guided walk, birding safari, community tour, or any inquiries.
Mount Morungole.
It ranges at 2750m in the Kidepo valley in the northeast of Apoka. Much of the mountain is lush Montane Forest; remarkably, different vegetation set up from much of Kidepo valley national park.
It is the source of river Kidepo and Narus River and an ideal place for magazine photography, and spectacular views of the park.
Mountains in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley.
The wildlife safari valley is the park derives its name from the Kidepo Valley which means “to pick” from under. The Kidepo Valley is famous for scenic Borassus palm trees that are beautifully scattered all through the valley. The valley is crossed by river Kidepo that drains into the White Nile River.
Narus Valley.
Narus is a local Karamojong word which means” muddy or soggy ground”. Karamoja is a semi-arid region with high temperatures, low rainfall and semi-arid vegetation that gets bare ground after a prolonged drought.
The soil texture is soggy and holds water for longer periods after the rain season creating swamps, bushes and oases. The valley is crossed by the Narus River that provides water to the Karamojong nomads.
Namamukweny Valley.
It literary translates to place without birds sic life, lonely, isolated place. It’s an absolute gem blessed by nature’s beauty in abundance. It’s a perfect setting for travelers seeking solitude and places of retreat to explore and refresh their minds without inconveniences of modern-day life luxuries.
Kanangorok Hot Springs.
The hot springs are located in the northern part of the park beyond Kidepo River bordering South Sudan. It’s about 50 degrees hot and can boil an egg and contains some healing powers or spiritual cleansing thus tourists can find there some people taking bath.
Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo valley National Park is a semi-arid savannah park where dates, acacia and butterfly pea are dominant in the Matheniko wildlife reserve. The national park has unique wildlife species; game viewing safaris often yield fruitful results with cheetahs, buffaloes, roan antelopes, blue duikers, waterbucks, elephants, lions, side- striped jackals among others.
The National Park is also inhabited by 5 primate species including the ground dwelling Patas monkeys often spotted in Apoka Safari Lodge. Other primate species you will sight see during your visit to Kidepo Valley National Park include baboons, vervet monkeys, red-tailed monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys inclusive.
Cheetah in Kidepo Valley National Park
Birdwatching in Kidepo Valley National Park
With a confirmed checklist of 475 bird species, Kidepo is a paradise for birders. Around 60 of these are found nowhere else in Uganda but Kidepo. Raptors are especially abundant with 56 species, of which the most commonly seen include:
Dark chanting goshawk
Tawny eagle
Secretary bird
Pygmy falcon
Bateleur eagle
Other notable species you will find in this semi-arid National Park include;
Ostrich
Kori bustard
Carmine and red-throated bee-eaters
Abyssinian roller and scimitar bill
Barbets, hornbills, buffalo weavers, and the rare Karamoja Apalis
Ostrich in Kidepo Valley National Park
Recommended Safaris to Kidepo Valley National Park
Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Game drive
Kidepo valley wildlife safari national park is a popular place for game drives sightseeing a variety of wildlife species like the Kudus, mane less zebras, buffaloes, rhinos, elephant, waterbucks, giraffes, Nile crocodiles, Kobs, duikers, cheetah, leopard.
The game drive gives an opportunity to spot the eye-catching savanna grasslands, flat terrain with scenic undulating hills scattered in a few spots.
Nature walks.
Kidepo valley is a true vast African wilderness with flat plains in the scenic landscapes and land features where the beautiful wildlife species are spread all over the corners of the park.
A nature walks into Lamoj hills gifts visitors an opportunity to spot wildlife within the adjacent valley, Kanangorok hot spring viewing.
Cultural encounters.
The Ik people had inhabited the Mount Morungole ranges as their sacred home. After losing their ancestral land for conservation of wildlife, they transverse the Karamoja plains in search of game for hunting, gathering fruits, leaves and fruits.
The IK people live a polygamous lifestyle and look at childbearing as a sign of blessings from their ancestors. Visit the IK homestead on Mount Morungole and experience their African lifestyles of living.
Karamojong Cultural Dance
Why Visit Kidepo Valley National Park?
Imagine wide open savannahs ringed by rugged mountains, seasonal rivers flanked by Borassus palms, and barely another vehicle in sight. That’s Kidepo. The park’s remote location means you’ll share it mostly with wildlife, not other tourists.
Best Time to Visit Kidepo Valley National Park
Although Kidepo Valley National Park can be visited throughout the year, the dry season from December to April offer the very best game viewing experience. This is because of limited water sources which result to wildlife gathering and concentrating in the Narus Valley.
However, it is important to note that from September to November which are termed as the wet season also offers great conditions, with lush scenery and good visibility.
Here is a table summarizing months and activity levels
| Month | Wildlife Viewing | Birding | Visitor Numbers |
| Dec – Feb | Excellent | Good | High (Peak) |
| Mar – Apr | Good | Excellent | Moderate |
| May – Aug | Fair | Excellent | Low- moderate |
| Sep- Nov | Excellent | Good | Low |
With the above table, you get to discover that the dry season comes with the best wildlife viewing experience while the wet season offers the best birdwatching experience. It also comes with scenic beauty brought in by the beautiful lush vegetation.
Game Viewing
Top Sightings in Kidepo Valley National Park
Leopard
Olive Baboon
African Fish Eagle
Ostrich
Banded mongoose
Topi
The Oribi
Klipspringer
Baboon
Hippo
Coke’s Hartebeest
Buffalo
How to Get to Kidepo Valley National Park
There are majorly two main ways to reach Kidepo Valley National Park depending on your budget, level of comfort and experience you want to have during your visit and these are as follows,
By Road
From Murchison Falls: 7-hour drive via Gulu and Kitgum
From Kampala/Entebbe, the drive to Kidepo Valley National Park takes about 10 hours with a lunch stopover in Jinja or Mount Elgon
By Air
Fly in safaris from Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip to Kidepo airstrip near Apoka through chattered or scheduled flights are the quickest and most comfortable way to get to Kidepo Valley National Park.
Where to Stay in Kidepo Valley National Park
Luxury Lodges
Apoka Safari Lodge.
Apoka Safari Lodge sits on a rocky rise above the Narus Valley in the southwestern part of Kidepo Valley National Park. It’s the most comfortable and private place to stay in this remote area. From your veranda, you can watch wildlife move through the open plains without ever leaving the lodge.
Offering spacious stone cottages, outdoor bathtubs, and an inviting pool carved into the rock, Apoka Safari Lodge is the top tier accommodation in the national park. The service is discreet, and the atmosphere is quiet with direct access to the park’s game viewing
Apoka Safari Lodge Pool
Standard Lodge
Kidepo Savannah Lodge.
With safari tents and thatched cottages offering basic amenities, Kidepo Savannah Lodge sits just outside the park gate with a more affordable price.
For budget accommodation options, we have Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp located outside the park with great with views across the savannah.
Absolutely. Kidepo Valley National Park is a rare, raw, and richly rewarding safari destination. With fewer crowds, exceptional game viewing, striking scenery, and cultural depth, it offers something truly unique—Uganda’s best-kept safari secret.
If you’re planning a Uganda safari and want to go beyond the usual, put Kidepo Valley National Park on your itinerary and let your well-trained experienced driver guide from Nata Adventures take you on a trip that will definitely leave lasting memories in your mind.
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