Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a gem in the north of Uganda bordering Kenya and South Sudan, much as it is far, it has a full package of beauty, those who manage to make it to the park end up with fascinating Uganda Safari experience. The park has un adulating landscape composed of Narus and Namukweny valley, hills of lomej and mount Morungule where the IK people live, these are small group/ tribe in people. It also has a record of about 77 mammal species ,475 bird species, primates in the montane forests of Lonyili mountains, hot springs, valleys and mountains.

Kidepo is open for tourism throughout the year if you are wondering when to visit. During the dry season it is more likely the best as most animals gathers at Narus valley for irrigation, the dry season covers June to September then December to February, the only disadvantage is that it gets too dusty. The dry season is also known as a peak season. During the wet season the roads became impassable. All in all, you need a 4 x 4-wheel safari car to navigate through in the park.

Kidepo national park can be accessed by road, or direct local charter flights. This can be arranged through a tour operator.

Best things to see & Do

Kidepo Valley National park is famous for unique wildlife experience in Uganda. The park is situated in semi arid area between Uganda’s borders with Sudan and Kenya, some 700km from Kampala. Recognized worldwide as a national park in 1962, it has profusion of big game and hosts more than 77 mammal species as well as over 475 bird species.

There are lots of things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park. Here are the must do things on your next safari in Kidepo National Park.

Game Drive and Viewing

One of the top most activities that is quite rewarding in the open plains of Kidepo National Park is game viewing. Guide game drives are best in an open roof 4-wheel drive because of the rugged terrain. On the game drive expect to see lots of different mammal species among them are Lions, kobs, elands, impala, topi, bush buck, Jackson hartebeest, water bucks, pangolins, buffaloes, zebras, Giraffes, warthogs, leopards, stripped jackals, cheetah that cannot be seen anywhere else in any Ugandan savannah park. Along Narus valley you are more likely to spot more of these mammals and also find lions resting on the rocks.

Sight a lot of animals like Hunting dog, Bat-eared Fox, Cheetah, Striped Hyena, Caracal, the aard Wolf, elephants, oribi, burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, bush pigs, bohor reed buck, warthogs, rothschild giraffes, defassa water bucks, cape buffaloes, elands, bush duskier, bush bucks, lions, side-striped jackals, leopards, black-backed jackals, small cats, spotted hyenas among others. The 4×4 safari vehicles with a pop up roof are mostly used to enable visitors have a clear game view and photographing.

Birding

The yet another exciting activity is birding in Kidepo, with over 400 bird species you will spot the most beautiful bird on your safari including the ostrich, the fastest bird in the world.

The park is renowned for its exceptional variety of birds. Out of the 58 recorded birds of prey, fourteen are thought to be specifically endemic to the Kidepo as well as the Karamoja region. Included in these are: the pygmy Falcon, Varreaux’s Eagle plus the Egyptian Vulture, in addition to many other species.

Other bird species among them include Abyssinian Roller, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Purple Heron, Clapperton’s Francolin which is only found here. Most is these bird species are spotted along Namukweny and Narus valley and Apoka Rest Camp. The best time for birding is usually morning and evening time.

Community and Cultural Activities

The local community surrounding Kidepo national park include the Karamojong and the indigenous IK people similar to the Masai mara of Kenya. The only way to know about this is through a guided community or cultural tour to their homesteads. The two communities are known to be pastoral keepers, the IK people leave on mount Morungule, they are small tribe in Uganda, they reside on the flat lands of Mt Morungule 2750 meters above sea level during the community walk you will discover the uniqueness of their culture and traditions.

Nature Walks

The other ultimate way to explore Kidepo national park through nature walk toLamoj hills on foot, the guided nature walks take about 4 hours starting at 7 am. Lamoj Mountain is situated 2 kms form the park’s head quarter. The mountain hiking is only for the clients in need of excising their bodies as some level of fitness in needed.

Also hiking to Narus river from Apoka and on the banks of Kidepo river valley. other nature walks trails include hiking to mt Morungule Mountains to meet the IK group of people.

Nature Safari in Kidepo valley

Visitors may as well go to see 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 visit Kanangorok Hot Springs that are situated just 11 km from the Kidepo river valley.

Cultural Performance in Kidepo National Park

Enjoy cultural entertainments from the local people-Karamanjongs and the Acholi. The performers have a wide range of traditional music, dances and drama. Expect to hear songs like the Emuya of the Nyangia as well as the Naporre ethnic groups along with Larakaraka plus Apiti dances performed by the native Acholi people.

Accommodation facilities

At Kidepo national park accommodation is provided at Apoka lodge and Uganda wildlife authority Banda’s luxury and mid-range respectively. There is an option of camping in the Park.

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