Kidepo National Park lies in a rugged, semi arid valley. The park boarders Sudan and Kenya and was gazette as a national park in 1962. This most isolated National Park is the third largest park after Murchison Falls National Park and Queen Elizabeth National Park. This Virgin National park is undoubtedly among the best wilderness areas in Africa, harboring a couple of extinct species of wildlife that can’t be found in any other Ugandan national park.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!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.
When you visit Kidepo Valley National park, you will be thrilled by the unique cultures of the Karamojongs, Acholis and the Ike among others. Visit their communities to learn more about their unique culture through music, dance and drama, daily activities, home steads. Learn more about their cooking techniques, state of art used when building their hats and so on.
A variety of wild animals are found here include elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, lions, bush duiker, jackal, bushbuck, bush pigs, kavirondo bush babies and much more. Popular game drives are done in Narus Valley where mammals spend most of their time feeding and drinking water.
Over 475 bird species are found in Kidepo Valley National Park. It’s the second largest bird’s sanctuary after Queen Elizabeth National Park. Expect to find unique birds like ostrich, kori Bustard and Karamoja Apalis.
Hiking can be conducted on Lamoj Mountains only few kilometers from the park Headquarters. Visitors can also visit the marvelous Kidepo River Valley covered with Borassus palm forest; its broad flat bed is dried out through the biggest part of the year. From the Kidepo Valley, also you can move to Kanangorok Hot Springs that are situated just 11 kilo meters from the Kidepo river valley.
Currently, the park hosts over 75 species of mammals and 470 species of birds. All these fall in a prime game viewing location. By estimate, it is about 510 Kilometers by road form Kampala – Uganda’s capital and Moroto is apparently the largest town in the sub region. Being named the 3rd best national park in Africa, this national park is definitely a must visit for any traveler to Uganda.
In brief, major tourist activities in Kidepo Valley National Park include Game drives, birding, Hiking/ Nature walk tours, cultural trips.
Kidepo Valley National Park at glance:
*The park can be reached by Air or roads. By Air, you can fly from Entebbe Airport to Apoka Airstrip and then drive to the park.
*It’s better to visit this park in dry season than in rainy season. During rainy season, some river crosses roads to make transportation very complicated.
*Better hire A 4 Wheel drive safari vehicle- stronger for African roads. Because of long distance and bumpy roads, a strong vehicle can maneuver.
*The park experiences hot temperatures because it’s in semi- arid region of north Eastern Uganda. The park experiences only one rainy season per annum (April-September).
*The best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park is October to March every year.
Where to stay:
When you visit Kidepo Valley National Park, you can decide to stay in Budget Lodge/ camp, mid-range or Luxury.
Apoka Safari Lodge is among the luxurious lodges Kidepo valley National Park. While here, wild animals come to your door-steps, you are in the middle of beautiful wonders, wild animals among others. The convenience, the luxury, the fashion and class encompasses you in the middle of this African Wild.
Apoka Rest Camp has 16 contained chalets offered, 14 Bandas each having 2 beds; the Bandas are actually not self contained. With regard to visitors who choose camping, this park has 2 ‘Do it yourself’ camping grounds. You have to carry your own tent along with other camping gear.
Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp- found at the border of Kidepo Valley National Park that is situated 320 kilometers north of Kampala the capital city of Uganda. A number of the wild animals which often visit the camp include: Elephants, Lions, Hyenas, Zebras and Water bucks.