Best Guide To Kidepo Valley National Park, Tourist Attractions and Activities In Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s most isolated National Park, located in the wild frontier region of Karamoja, Kidepo Valley National Park has a savannah landscape that extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges. The Narus Valley in Kidepo Valley National Park has a variety of wild animals such as lions, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffaloes, giraffes, oribis, and reedbucks. The Kidepo Valley National Park Kanangorok Hot Springs located 11km beyond the Kidepo River offers a glorious place to sit and view the mountains beyond the frontier.
Also found in the Kidepo Valley National Park is Mount Morungole which stands at 2,750m and is crossed by the Kidepo Valley National Park and Narus Rivers that nourish the park’s wildlife and this natural habitat as a whole. Kidepo Valley National Park was nominated in the World Travel Awards 2017 in the Category of Africa’s leading National park against others like Masai Mara in Kenya & Serengeti in Tanzania and many others.
Kidepo Valley National Park lies in the rugged, semi-arid valleys between Uganda’s borders with South Sudan in the northwest and only 5km from the eastern border of Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game and hosts over 77 mammal species. The park contains two rivers – Kidepo and Narus – which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife.
Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent, for Kidepo ranks among Africa’s finest wildernesses. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.
During the dry season, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley near Apoka. These seasonal oases, combined with the open, savannah terrain, make the Narus Valley the park’s prime game viewing location, especially with its dense populations of lions, Buffalos, elephants and many similar angulates.
Kidepo’s elephant population has surged from around 200 in the mid-1990s to between 650 and 1000 today. The African Buffalo population is now estimated at 10,000-15,000. The Rothschild Giraffe is very notable, breeding more than 50 individuals from the bottleneck of the mid-1990s population of three and supplemented several from translocation.
Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo is Uganda’s third largest national park and is home to over 77 mammal species and the park offers great opportunities for game viewing. 20 species of predators are present, including lion, leopard, and spotted hyena. In addition, there is the black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, cheetah, and caracal are endemic to Kidepo, and over 50 Rothschild’s giraffes, an internationally important population. Zebra graze on the plains and both greater and lesser kudu roam around the thick bush. Fortunate adventurers may even see a white-eared kob, more commonly seen in South Sudan and Ethiopia.
The bird checklist of over 500 species with the common Ostrich, secretary bird, northern carmine bee-eater, little green bee-eater, Abyssinian scimitar bill, and many more colorful and visible species.
Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park
Apoka game drives are the best way to explore the far reaches of the park within a short space of time. Coming face to face with large mammals and predators from the safety of your vehicle is an unforgettable experience. Most drives follow two 20-kilometre routes through the wildlife-rich Narus Valley. Here, a small amount of water remains even in the dry season, attracting large buffalo herds, thirsty elephants, and antelope. A gathering of herbivores attracts predators, allowing you to see a range of beautiful animals.
In the hot, dry season, game drives depart in the early morning and late afternoon. This allows you to witness the animals in their most active state and capture memories when the light is best for photography.
The drier Kidepo Valley has less wildlife, but it has a wild beauty and is well worth discovering. Use the Kanagorok hot springs, 30 kilometers north of Apoka, as your focus, but do not get blinkered. Drive slowly, crossing the Kidepo River - a wide sand bed in the dry season - and meander across plains framed by the mountains. This is the best place for ostrich and secretary birds, while kudu enjoys the protection of the thicker bush.
Nature Walks in Kidepo Valley National Park
Step out on a trail and notice the sense of vulnerability that makes every walk a vivid experience. Comforted by the knowledge of your guide, you can encounter the wilderness in all its glory. Most of the walking trails take 2 to 3 hours and wind their way through the Narus Valley.
The walk through the Narus Valley is very popular as its short 5km radius is comfortable for most visitors. It gives you ample opportunity to see an abundance of magnificent mammals and birds within the backdrop of a stunning landscape.
Birders will often patrol the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys looking for the Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, which is found only in Kidepo.
For those looking for a greater challenge, a 15-kilometer route follows the ridge line into the hills. While there are many possible trails, some may not have been walked for a long time and will be temporarily closed.
The local communities around the park include pastoral Karamojong people, similar to the Maasai of Kenya, and the IK, a hunter-gatherer tribe whose survival is threatened.
Best Time to Visit Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo is accessible all year round. However, its general climate does differ from the rest of Uganda. While June used to be a dry month, it is now accepted that a long rainy season will run from April to the end of November. This is not an eight-month deluge, but you can expect some rain most days.
The dry season runs from December to March. The temperatures soar during this time, often reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The middle and end of the dry season (November to February) offer higher chances of wildlife sightings since the park’s sandy soils cannot hold water, and it becomes arid.
During these months, the reduced availability of water sources causes animals to congregate around reliable water holes, increasing the chances of sightings. This is also the best chance to see cheetah hunting on the short grass plains.
Where to Stay In Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo has small tourist lodges that include;
Kidepo Savannah Lodge: is a simple, but comfortable lodge located 500 metres from the Kalokudo Gate to Kidepo. There are nine ‘tents’ that use one ablution block and eight self-contained ‘safari tents’ all leading off from a central dining area and bar.
The position provides tourists with great views of the Narus Valley and the mountains beyond.
Apoka Safari Lodge: a luxury lodge perfectly located on a low rise in the middle of the plains. Wildlife is everywhere. Whether you see zebra or buffalo just outside your room when the grass is high, or lion lazing by the pool in the dry months, you are in a prime position to appreciate the wilderness in all its glory.
10 spacious Bandas made from wood, canvas, and thatch provide comfortable accommodation. The dining room and bar are marvelous: thatch-roofed with a raised platform that is perfect for wildlife viewing. There is also a high observation tower, which also doubles as an unforgettable private breakfast spot.
Access to Kidepo Valley National Park:
By road: Most visitors drive from Murchison Falls which takes 7 hours or less on the sealed road. Some visitors choose to break up the journey by spending a night near Sipi Falls. Kampala is located 571km from Kidepo. The 10-hour drive from Kampala via Gulu and Kitgum is a demanding journey and few people choose this route.
By air: Kidepo is serviced by a couple of light aircraft companies flying into the airstrip close to Apoka. These flights only operate on certain days and require a guaranteed number of passengers to fly, making the flight expensive for couples or small groups traveling on their own, but is not so bad for families or larger groups.
Arrange and Book with Ultimate Wild Safaris for the Kidepo Valley National Park Safari Tour in Uganda.
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