Kidepo Valley National Park
Located in the distant northeast of Uganda, close by the borders of South Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park is an enthralling place of semi-arid savannah, seasonal rivers and low mountains. Covering 442 square kilometers, Kidepo is the remotest of Uganda’s national parks, located over 600 km from Kampala, a journey of no less than 12 hours of driving, which is why it is one of the least visited parks in the country.
Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the semi-arid region of Karamoja and is one of the most beautiful landscapes. The park hosts two main biomes: savannah/acacia grassland in the Narus Valley, which lies in the Southern area of the park, and a semi-arid short grass area in the northern Kidepo Valley. Generally, the park is dry, experiencing only one rainy season from April to September. It has two rivers, Kidepo and Narus, both of which are seasonal, only flowing during the rainy season. During long dry spells, water can only be found in wetlands and remnant pools in the Narus Valley.
Wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is the third largest national park in Uganda, and only Queen Elizabeth National Park surpasses it in terms of hosting greater biodiversity. Kidepo is home to 77 mammal species and the park offers great opportunities for game viewing; 20 species of predators are present, including lions, leopard and spotted hyenas.
The black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, cheetah and caracals are endemic to Kidepo Valley National Park. Other animals found in the park include Rothschild giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, both greater and lesser kudu, and white-eared kob, among others.
Birdlife in Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is home to 470 recorded species, 60 of which are found in no other national park in Uganda. The park hosts the only populations of Clapperton’s francolin and the rose-ringed parakeet. There are 56 species of raptors and a thriving population of vultures. Furthermore, Kidepo is the only place in Uganda where bird enthusiasts can encounter the majesty of the Common Ostrich.
Things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park
Game Drives
Game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park are mostly done along the Narus Valley since wildlife gathers here for most of the year. This area features well-designed track circuits, allowing visitors in a 4×4 Safari Vehicle to have clear views of herbivores grazing in the short savannah plains.
People often spot lions and other cats atop rocks and kopjes, searching for prey in the vast plains. Game viewing in Kidepo can also be done along the Kidepo Valley, where one can enjoy the sandbed river, especially in the dry seasons. The sand bed is like an oasis in a desert, lined with palm trees and having plenty of birds. It is advisable to visit the northern area in the morning, as the afternoon is unbearably hot there and comes with more tsetse flies. Crossing the sandbedriver is another highlight, as is the Kanangorok Hot Springs, where you enjoy the spectacular landscapes and can also picnic near the springs, which the local people believe have magic.
Nature Walks
With a guide, step out on a trail and explore the park on foot and encounter the wilderness in all its glory.
Most of the walking trails in Kidepo 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 5 km 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.
For birders, you 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 Valley National Park.
For visitors interested in 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.
Climbing Mount Morungole and Visit the IK Tribe
Climbing Mount Morungole is a thrilling experience that leads to the Ik People; the expedition involves a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain, offers spectacular views of Kidepo Valley National Park, exposes visitors to various traditional dances from the Ik, showcases their way of life and unique settlements, and allows participants to learn about their distinct migration history.
Karamojong Community Tour
The Karamajong people are the main local community inhabiting the Karamoja region and neighboring the park. They are among the most secluded communities in Uganda, untouched by modernity and technology.
The Karamojong culture and way of life are as undisturbed as Kidepo’s wilderness. On a Karamojong Community Tour, you will enjoy the unique cultures of the Karamojong people, their traditional houses called manyatta, the layout of their homesteads, traditional dances, and handcrafted items such as stools, spears, and bead bangles.
Best Time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is accessible all year round. However, the park’s 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. Also, this is the best chance to see cheetahs hunting on the short grass plains.
During the wet season (April to August), animals are more difficult to locate since they leave the valleys for higher ground, where sightings are low.
Getting to Kidepo Valley National Park
By Road—Most visitors to Kidepo Valley National Park drive from Murchison Falls National Park, which takes 7 hours or less on a well-maintained road. Some visitors choose to break up the journey by spending a night near Sipi Falls. From Kampala, the journey covers 571 km and takes about 10 hours via Gulu and Kitgum; this route is demanding, leading only a few people to choose it.
By Air—Kidepo Valley National Park is serviced by several 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 a bit expensive for solo travelers as well as couples.
