KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK 

Kidepo Valley National Park is a true African wilderness in the rugged, semi-arid region between the borders of Uganda with South Sudan and Kenya. According to CNN, Kidepo Valley National Park is the most picturesque of all the African safari wildlife parks. 

The park is located in at the furthest end of North Eastern Uganda, the park is the remotest national park is Uganda located over 600 kilometers from Kampala and it takes about 12 hours of drive to get there. 

Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the semi-arid region of Karamoja and is the one of the most pristine and least disturbed wildernesses in Africa, the park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers comprising of the sweeping plains of Kidepo and Narus Valley overshadowed by Mount Morungole. The park has two main biome that is savanna/acacia grasslands in the Narus Valley which lies in the Southern area of the park and semi-arid short gsrass area in the Northern Kidepo Valley. 

Kidepo Valley National Park is generally dry throughout the year with only one rainy season of April – September, there are two rivers feeding the park and its ecosystem that is Kidepo and Narus rivers which are seasonal rivers only flowing during the rainy season. During the dry season, water can only be found in wetlands and remnant pools in the Narus Valley. 

History of Kidepo Valley National Park 

Kidepo Valley National Park was initially gazetted as a game reserve in 1958 by the British colonial government to clear the bush as a way to control the tsetse flies as well as protect the large wildlife population from poaching activities. 

Originally, the reserve was at a size of 1,259 square kilometers. In 1962 which is the same year when Uganda was granted its independence. It was extended to its present size of 1,442 square kilometers in 1969.

The name of the park is derived from a derivative of the Karamonjong “akidep” which means “to pick” and this river is frequentd by people visiting the area to correct ripe Borassus palm fruits from the Borassus palm trees that line this seasonal water, these are used for fermenting in the process of making palm beer.

Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park 

Kidepo Valley National Park is home to a healthy population of wildlife including 4 of the Big Five – lions, leopards, elephants and buffaloes. The park is also home to several wildlife species which are found no where else in Uganda such as cheetahs, hyenas, caracals, jackals, Klipspringers, aardwolves, bat – eared foxes, dik-diks, ostriches and greater lesser Kudus.  

Kidepo Valley National Park is home to a total of 77 Uganda mammal species thriving in the drier acacia woodland, stands of Borassus palms lining the water course and patches of montane forest and riparian woodland. 

Kidepo Valley National Park include 

Predators such as lions, side striped jackals, leopards and African wild dogs

Antelopes such as Jackson’s hartebeests, Bohor reedbuck, oribi, Elands, Uganda Kobs, Klipspringer, Guenther’s dik-dik, Greater Kudu, Lesser Kudu, Waterbucks, Bush duiker, Grant’s gazelles, Mountain reedbucks and Bushbucks and an occasional localized white – eared Kob. 

Herbivores such as African buffaloes, African bush elephants, Rothschild giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, warthogs and bush pigs.

Primates such as the local dwelling patas monkeys, baboons, vervet monkeys, red tailed monkeys and black and white colobus monkeys. 

Birdlife in Kidepo Valley National Park 

Kidepo Valley National Park is home to over 475 bird species which is the second – highest population in any Ugandan protected area coming second to Queen Elizabeth National Park, the park hosts about 56 species recorded include Dark chanting goshawk, pygmy, Tawny eagle, Bateleur, eagle and several vultures such as Egyptian vultures, white headed vultures among others. 

Kidepo Valley National Park also hosts the only population of Clapperton’s francolin and the spectacular African rose – ringed parakeet.

Other birds in Kidepo Valley National Park include The Common Ostrich, Secretary Bird, African Swallow-tailed Kite, Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pygmy Falcon, Fox Kestrel, Stone Partridge, Clapperton’s and Heuglin’s Francolins, Yellow-necked Spurfowl, Kori, White-bellied and Hartlaub’s Bustards, Violet-tipped Courser, Black-headed Plover, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-crested Turaco, White-bellied Go-away bird, White-faced Scoops Owl, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars, Little Green Bee-eater, Abyssinian and Rufous-crowned Rollers, the Abyssinian Ground, Eastern Yellow and Jackson’s Hornbills, Red-fronted and Black-breasted Barbets, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Singing Bush lark, Red-winged Lark, Ethiopian Swallow, the Pied, Isabelline and Heuglin’s Wheaters, African Grey Flycatcher, Foxy and Red pate Cisticolas, Karamoja Apalis, White-bellied Tit, Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit, Northern White-crowned and Yellow-billed Shrikes, Slate-coloured Boubou, Fan-tailed Raven, Superb Starling, Red billed Oxpecker, Eastern Violet backed, Pygmy and Beautiful Sunbirds, Rufous and Chestnut Sparrow, Yellow-spotted Petronia, White-headed and White-billed Buffalo Weavers, White-browed and Chestnut- crowned Sparrow Weavers, Grey-capped Social and Speckle-fronted Weavers, the Green-winged, Orange-winged and Red-winged Pytilias, Black-bellied and Black-faded Waxbills, Steel-blue and Strawtailed Whydahs, and the Brown-rumped Bunting among others. 

Uganda Safari Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park 

Game drives 

Kidepo Valley National Park offers some of the remarkable game viewing experiences in Uganda, the park is renowned for its flat terrain with scenic undulating hills and endless savannah grasslands thus making game viewing experience successful. 

Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are offered as morning, afternoon and night game drives which are conducted mainly in Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley. 

The Narus Valley is situated South of Apoka and is the prime game viewing area in Kidepo Valley National Park as it hosts a huge population of wildlife that congregate in the area most especially during the dry season running from January to March when the Narus River is the only reliable water source in the park. Narus Valley is explored along two road loops both around 15 – 20 kiloneters running south from Apoka, these circuits are Kakine Circuit with Kakine rock also known as Lion rock are a remarkable site and frequented by lions. Another circuit is Katurum Circuit. 

During game viewing experience, animals to lookout for include huge herds of elephants, herds of buffaloes, prides of lions, zebras, Rothschild’s giraffes, warthogs, elands, Jackson’s hartebeests, Bohor reedbuchs, oribis and many birds such as African Jacana, yellow – billed storks, egrets and herons among others. 

Night game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park offers a chance to spot nocturnal animals such as lions, leopards, jackals, hyenas among others.

Birdwatching 

Kidepo Valley National Park is a haven for Uganda bird watching tours, the park is home to over 457 bird species with the second highest population of birds in Uganda only coming second to Queen Elizabeth National Park. 

Kidepo Valley National Park offers exciting bird watching safari, some of exciting birds to lookout for include White-bellied and Hartlaub’s Bustards, Violet-tipped Courser, Black-headed Plover, Four-banded Sand Grouse, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Rose-ringed Parakeet, White-crested Turaco, White-bellied Go-away bird, White-faced Scoops Owl, Long-tailed and Standard-winged Nightjars, Little Green Bee-eater, Abyssinian and Rufous-crowned Rollers, the Abyssinian Ground, Eastern Yellow and Jackson’s Hornbills, Red-fronted and Black-breasted Barbets, Brown-backed Woodpecker, Singing Bush lark, Red-winged Lark, Ethiopian Swallow, the Pied, Isabelline and Heuglin’s Wheaters, African Grey Flycatcher, Foxy and Red pate Cisticolas, Karamoja Apalis, White-bellied Tit and Mouse-coloured Penduline Tit among others. 

Hiking and nature walks 

Hiking and nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park offers visitors a chance to experience the authentic Africa wilderness and explore the park’s savannah grasslands on foot, this amazing experience is done along the Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive Borrassus palm forest, the Namamkweny Valley can be reach in a walk of one hour from Apoka. 

There are short and longer nature walks providing visitors a chance to view various wildlife species such as zebras, hartebeests and reedbucks among others. Visitors can also explore the 15 kilometers Rionomoe Trail on the Southern side of the Narus Valley. 

Visitors can also hike Mount Morungole situated outside the park to meet the IK tribe. 

Cultural visits 

Cultural visits in Kidepo Valley National Park offers visitors a chance to experience the authentic culture of the Karamojong and IK people, you will visit the Lorukul Cultural Group located just outside the park. Their main live hood is herding livestock and during your visit, their social and cultural importance will be explained to you by the guides as you walk through the traditional Karamojong manyattas.

On the cultural visits, you will learn how the villagers make several items such as distinctive beads, get a taste of the local cuisine and even meet the Karamojong King who will narrate to you the folklore and beliefs of the tribe. 

When to Visit 

Kidepo Valley National Park is accessible all year round, the park’s general climate differs from the rest of Uganda. The best time to visit and explore the park is during the dry season from December to March, in this season temperatures soar during this time often reaching 40 degrees Celsius. 

During these months, the reduced availability of water sources makes the animals to congregate around reliable water holes thus increasing the chances of sightings. 

Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park 

There are several accommodation options in Kidepo Valley National Park ranging from budget, midrange and luxury options. These include 

Kidepo Apoka Safari Lodge 

Kidepo Savannah Lodge 

Adere Safari Lodge 

Nga Moru Wilderness Camps 

Apoka Rest Camp 

Kakine and Nagusokopire campsites 

How to get to Kidepo Valley National Park 

Kidepo Valley National Park is approximately 320 kilometers north of Kampala and is accessed on the 540 kilometers Gulu – Kitgum road for about 9 to 10 hours. Also, you can take a 792 kilometers Soroti -Moroto road to the park which takes about 13 hours, one of the most rewarding sites on this route is the steep Alekilek Volcano located almost midway between Moroto and Soroti Town. 

On the 700 – kilometers Lira – Kotido road, you will enjoy beautiful scenery of Labwor hills and uncovered Alerek rock. 

There is an option of flying to Kidepo, there are chartered and domestic flights from Entebbe International Airport to Kidepo Airport at Lomej approximately 3 kilometer south of the park’s visitor center. These flights are offered by Bar Aviation and Aerolink.