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Kidepo Valley National Park is located in Uganda’s North Eastern region, in the Kaabong district. Kabong is a town located close Uganda’s border with South Sudan. This lonely and distant national park is primarily made up of harsh Savannah, hills, and vast valleys encircled by the Morungole Mountains.
The colonial authorities designated Kidepo as a game reserve in 1958 in response to the Ik and Dodoth’s excessive poaching and destruction of vegetation while attempting to reduce the amount of Tse Tse flies in the park. Four years later, in 1962, the wildlife reserve was transformed into Kidepo Valley National Park. In 1962, Uganda gained independence
Kidepo National Park, Uganda. The park features two large valleys: Narus and Kidepo. Each of these valleys is centered on a river of the same name. The Narus and Kidepo rivers dry up in the midst of the dry season, forcing the animals to rely on the remaining tiny pools (oasis).Kidepo’s semi-arid climate, mountains, Savannah grasslands, plains, and wildlife combine to create Uganda’s greatest landscape. Kidepo is also the ideal national park to visit for wildlife viewing due to the large number of animals congregating at one location.
CNN Travel named Kidepo one of the world’s three most beautiful national parks.Kidepo’s highly lovely terrain and wildlife (over 76 species of mammals and 474 species of birds) have made it Uganda’s only park where travelers may witness the African wilderness as it existed prior to modernization. It is Uganda’s sole park with circumstances comparable to Kenya’s Maasai Maraa and Tanzania’s Serengeti.Maneless Zebras, ostriches, orx, cheetahs, and wild canines are among the wildlife species found in Kidepo National Park that are unique to Uganda.
Other animal species include aardwolves, buffalo, caracals, jackals, Klipspringers, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, bat-eared foxes, leopards, and lions. The antelope species are bohor reedbuck, bushbuck, bush duskier, defassa waterbuck, eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, Uganda kob, and oribi.
If Kidepo National Park is such a pure wilderness with breathtaking scenery and wildlife, why does it receive so few visitors?
One reason, as previously said, is its isolated location, which necessitates many hours of driving for tourists who cannot afford a chartered flight from Entebbe or Kampala. Kidepo National Park, Uganda Kidepo is inaccessible to the majority of Ugandans. They are more familiar with Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Murchison Falls National Parks, which they enthusiastically suggest to their international friends planning a safari.
The Kony insurrection, which occurred between the 1980s and the late 1990s, also had an impact on the park’s global image. Kony rebels frequently crossed the park after plundering and killing people in Northern Ugandan villages. Many foreign embassies labeled the area hazardous for tourists, preventing many potential visitors from arriving. Another reason is that both the present and previous Ugandan governments have unfortunately neglected the park. Kidepo is located in the Karamoja region, and local individuals are rarely assigned to significant government positions.
Important places to visit while on a safari in Kidepo National Park
Apoka Tourism Centre:
This Center is perfectly located overlooking the beautiful Narus Valley. It serves as the central location for all park events. This is where the majority of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) employees are stationed.
There are a few lodges erected around here, some of which are owned by UWA.All armed park guards and guides are stationed here, ready to accompany tourists to the park’s deeper areas for game drives and nature excursions. Craft shops sell drinking water, alcoholic beverages, sodas, books, and other goods.
Those who plan to go camping and want to reserve cooking equipment can do so here. During the dry season, guests can readily view animals at the Apoka Tourism Center as they drink in the Narus Valley and Dam.
The Narus Valley:
Is a well-known gathering place for wildlife in Africa. The valley consists of rolling savannah grassland bordered by steep terrain. The Narus River is situated in the valley. This river dries up during the hottest months of the year, leaving small muddy ponds and the manmade Narus dam as the animals’ only sources of drinking water. Buffaloes, cheetahs, giraffes, Jackson’s hartebeest, leopards, lions, oribris, and reedbucks are some of the wild creatures that can be seen in the Narus Valley.
Kidepo Valley:
The Kidepo Valley is one of the best areas to see wildlife in the park. Unlike the Narus valley, water supplies are quite limited during the dry season. The majority of the Kidepo River dries out, leaving behind a lengthy trail of white stands in the valley.
This location is home to a variety of bird species, including ostriches, and is worth a visit for bird enthusiasts.
Kanangorok Hot Springs:
These hot springs are located beyond the Kidepo valley and river on the border with South Sudan. The hot springs are an excellent site to observe the mountain ranges. Namamukweny Valley is located in the northwestern area of the game park. The name “Namamukweny” in the Napore dialect refers to a lonely place with few people or birds. This is not true for birds. Several species, including the Abyssinian Roller, Common Bulbul, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Green Wood Hoopoe, and White-crested Turaco, survive in this remote region.
Morungule Mountains:
These mountains, which reach heights of 2,750 meters, form one of the park’s limits. The Ik people reside above these mountains. The area surrounding the mountains can be explored on foot with the assistance of a park ranger.
Lomej Hills:
These hills are located near the park headquarters. The hills are ideal for birdwatching and observing wildlife such as the mountain reedbuck.
Lonyili Mountain:
This Mountain boasts a diverse population of tiny primates, including Colobus Monkeys, which thrive in its montane forests. The mountain is located between the borders of Uganda (Kitgum District) and South Sudan. Unfortunately, the roads going to the mountain are not well developed.Visitors must obtain specific authorization and assistance before hiking the mountains.
Things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Africa’s top three national parks, according to CNN Travel. The park’s semi-arid climate, mountains, and hills are ideal for photography. Kidepo receives less than ten visitors each day, leaving many portions of the park very untamed, virgin, and untouched. Kidepo provides a more isolated experience in the African wilderness than most other parks in Africa.
What activities may one do in when visiting Kidepo National Park?
Kidepo Valley National ParkGame drives: Most tourists go on a four-day safari to Kidepo to see the animals and participate in the park is other popular activities. Kidepo offers the best game drives in Uganda. This is primarily due to the large number of creatures and birds that come to feed in the park’s vast valleys.
Though the main park roads are composed of hard murram and are passable all year, the majority of the smaller roads heading to distant locations are difficult to navigate during the rainy season. To navigate the majority of the roads, visitors will require a robust four-wheel drive safari vehicle.
Safari costs in Kidepo National Park
Nature Walks & Hikes:
These walks and hikes can be completed on foot with the assistance of an experienced park ranger.Hiking up the Morungole Mountains is a popular activity in the park. Some people enjoy taking a trek to the dream lodge, which was started by Uganda’s famed tyrant Idi Amin but is still completed.
Birdwatching:
Because some areas of the park are undeveloped and infrequently frequented, the number of bird species found there is unknown. Kidepo Valley National Park is well recognized for its resident birds of prey, including the Egyptian Vulture, Pygmy Falcon, and Verreaux’s Eagle.
These birds are found only in Kidepo and the Karamoja region. The ostrich is the most noticeable and huge bird in Kidepo. In Uganda, this massive bird can only be seen in Kidepo Valley National Park.
The others can be found at the Entebbe Wildlife Center and in various animal reserves throughout the country. To increase their population in the park, the Uganda Wildlife Authority gathers eggs from the bushes and artificially hatches them.
Cultural Encounter in Kidepo National Park Visiting the Karamojong:
The Karamojong are nomadic pastoralists who inhabit in North Eastern Uganda, particularly the districts surrounding Kidepo National Park. The Karamojong are linked to the Maasai of Kenya, and their lives revolve upon their livestock.
The Karamojong believe that they own all cattle on earth. Any cattle not owned by them are thought to have been taken from them at some point in the past. Because of this mentality, the Karamojong invade neighboring tribes for cattle with little guilt, claiming what is rightfully theirs. Their raids became more brutal as they gained control of weaponry during Uganda’s periods of instability in the 1970s and 1980s.
The government has recently disarmed them, making cattle raids less prevalent. A cultural tour to the Karamojong is a fascinating experience because they are one of the few tribes in Uganda that continue to live as they did thousands of years ago. Visiting the Karamojong is an excellent opportunity to experience the way most African tribes lived a century ago.
Visiting the Ik People:
The Ik people live in isolation on top of the Morungole Mountains. The Ik are thought to have initially arrived from Ethiopia before settling in the Kidepo area. Before the Karamojong arrived, the Ik had lived in the Kidepo area for many years. Constant fighting with the Karamojong and other tribes, such as the Dodoth, drove them to flee to the mountain summits to rescue themselves.
The Ik have a distinct language and culture, which are under threat from modern society and a declining population. A cultural visit to the Ik people is regarded as one of the top cultural experiences in Uganda. It introduces one to their old traditions, language, traditional dances, songs, clothing code, and hunting methods.
How to reach Kidepo National Park
Kidepo National Park is located 521 kilometers from Kampala via car. The park is located 219 kilometers from Moroto town. International travelers can get to Kidepo by flight from Entebbe Airport or the Kajjansi airfield on the Entebbe-Kampala Highway.Flights from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kidepo cost approximately $430 and $720 for one-way and two-way tickets, respectively.
When to visit Kidepo Valley National Park
Uganda normally has two seasons: dry and wet.
What is the ideal time to visit Kidepo?
Wildlife watching is best done during the dry months of December through March, and July through August. During this period, the rivers Kidepo and Nurus dry up, leaving behind little oases where animals assemble in large numbers to drink. This animal gathering creates ideal conditions for wildlife watching and photography.
The rains restore the Uganda safari in Kidepo Valley National Park Rivers, and the animals disperse and feed in smaller groups because there is sufficient of food and water available. Although the dry season has many benefits, some visitors may find the heat and dust unpleasant. The short wet season still provides fantastic views of the wildlife. Migratory birds, making this the ideal time to go birding, join the animals. The rains enhance the park’s splendor with breathtaking vegetation that photographers will adore.
The heat is manageable and even cool.Unfortunately, during the wet season, some of the animals retreat to higher ground to avoid getting wet in the rivers and wetlands, forcing travelers to search for them. To have the greatest experience in Uganda, we recommend our 6-day safari in Kidepo and Murchison Falls National Park.
Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park:
Kidepo Valley National Park offers fewer housing choices than Uganda’s other significant parks.
As more people visit the park, we anticipate more individuals and businesses investing in lodges, campsites, and hotels.
Although guests are guaranteed a room in the park, it is recommended that they book a room before arriving on a safari to minimize any problems. The lodges and hotels, like elsewhere, are classified into three categories: budget, midrange, and luxury. All of the hotels and lodges are strategically positioned within the park, allowing visitors to marvel at the magnificent scenery that distinguishes the area.
Apoka Safari Lodge:
This luxury lodge is located in a location where inhabitants can see the Narus River from a distance. The rooms are constructed from local materials and outfitted with huge beds, plush carpets, towels, and duvets. Local art is displayed on the walls of the chamber to give visitors a sense of being outside in nature. The lodge has a shared living room and a large stone bathtub in the back. Both electricity and solar power are available, ensuring that the lights are on at all times.
The lodge has a tiny plane that takes visitors from Entebbe to a local airstrip.
Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp:
Nga’Moru (The Place of Rocks) provides both mid-range and affordable lodgings (safari tents) without sacrificing quality. The camp also faces the Narus Valley of the park, which provides beautiful views of the animals feeding and drinking at the Narus River. A campfire is typically lit in the evening to allow people to socialize and enjoy the lovely African night.
The camp offers laundry services and parking.
Apoka Rest Camp:
This resort has both budget and mid-range accommodations and facilities. The Uganda Wildlife Authority owns the lodge; hence it is relatively inexpensive to stay there. The camp consists of 14 bandas and 16 self-contained cabins.The bandas offer limited facilities and are intended for budget-conscious travelers. If you choose to remain in the bandas, you must bring your own food and drinks.Staff in the park can provide food for tourists who remain for an extended period upon request. Those who want to camp must bring their own tents or rent one from the staff for a fee.
Savannah lodge:
This resort offers both luxury and modest tents near the park’s Kalokudo gate. The luxurious tents are self-contained and provide spectacular views of one of Africa’s last unspoiled wildernesses. The basic tents can be shared and are ideal for tourists traveling on a budget. Tourists in the lodge may see the lovely hills on the border with South Sudan, the Morungole Mountains, and the Narus Valley from their tent or lodge area.
The Ik and Karamojong live nearby and can be seen by appointment. The bar and restaurant serve food and cold drinks, and laundry service is available at any time. The lodge rents out cars and has a huge parking area with security.
Nga’ Moru wilderness camp: This camp is set on a hill overlooking the picturesque Narus Valley near the park’s Kratum gate. In Karamojong, Nga Moru means “place of stones of rocks”. The campsite has tents that can accommodate up to three persons. The tents are erected on wooden platforms, providing a good view of animals such as ostriches roaming the Narus Valley. Aside from tents, there are bandas (with grass roofs), which are self-contained rooms with friendly staff. Other amenities at the lodge include a well-kept garden, a bar, restaurant, lounge, and laundry services. Children pay half as much as adults.
