Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo National Park is one of the best National Parks in Uganda that guarantees visitors unmatched wildlife/game viewing experiences in the savanna setting. Kidepo Valley National Park is spectacularly lying in the extreme Northeastern part of Uganda close to Kenya and South Sudan borders. Kidepo was officially gazetted as a National Park in Uganda in the year 1962 and is currently occupying the land area of about 1442 sq. km. This savanna wildlife park lies between elevation of 914 and 2750 meters.

Kidepo Valley National Park boasts of its breathtaking sceneries and its landscape is characterized by the rugged and semi-arid valley. Kidepo features 2 rivers; Kidepo and Narus –the seasonal rivers which often dry up leaving some pools for the wildlife. Like other protected areas, Kidepo is surrounded by the pastoral Karamojong and IK people.

The stunning Kidepo shelters up to 77 species of mammals, 475 bird species, and other wildlife. The abundant wildlife that survives within Kidepo National Park make it a preferred game viewing destination in Uganda.

Wildlife in Kidepo

A huge concentration of wildlife that is of visitor interest on Uganda safaris are all confined in the Kidepo Valley National Park. Over 77 mammal species are distributed across the spectacular Kidepo including the Rothschild giraffes, African elephants, oribis, hartebeest, Bohor reedbucks, Burchell’s zebras, cape buffaloes, leopards, lions, Klipspringers, hyenas, striped jackals, cheetahs, Kudus, eland, white-eared Kobs, and aardwolf. Additional wildlife to see in Kidepo include caracals, bat-eared foxes, wild dog, gazelles, duikers, warthogs, and dik-diks.

Bird species

Over 475 species of birds exist in the Kidepo National Park which makes it an ideal birding destination in Uganda. They include Egyptian vultures, ostriches, verreaux’s eagle, black-breasted barbet, Abyssinian rollers, purple heron, Kori bustards, little green bee-eaters, pygmy falcon, secretary bird, Karamoja apalis, and red-throated bee-eaters. Other birds to identify on bird watching tour in Kidepo National Park include white-bellied go-away bird, fox’s cisticola, ring-necked spurfowl, golden pipit, slate-colored penduline, Emin’s shrike, black-rumped waxbillmay, black-winged pratincole, Taita fiscal, pallid harriers, Jackson’s and African pied hornbills, Northern white-crowned & yellow-billed shrikes.

Kidepo also shelters birds such as the red-winged lark, ox-peckers, slate-colored boubou, superb starling, mouse-colored penduline, fan-tailed raven, piapiac, fox’s weaver bird, hartlaub’s turacos, Abyssinian scimitar bill, Abyssinian rollers, and more. The important bird-watching spots in the Kidepo include the Apoka Rest Camp, Narus and Namamukweny Valleys.

Activities to do in Kidepo National Park

Guided game drives

Game drives are a must-do activity for tourists who visit Kidepo to enjoy a Uganda safari holiday. There are two special sessions of game drives that Kidepo offers in the morning and afternoon. Each of the sessions presents visitors with a great chance to encounter diversity of wildlife in Kidepo. The guided game drives in Kidepo National Park are excellently enjoyed in a 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up and accompanying visitors is an experienced guide.

A game drive in Kidepo takes nature & wildlife lovers on a long day search for their favorite wildlife. The likely wildlife to be encountered on Kidepo game drive include the cape buffaloes, elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, Rothschild giraffes, Kudus, Bush duikers, jackals, caracals, zebras, and birds. The key areas of interest to enjoy the best of the Kidepo game drive include the Narus Valley and Kidepo Valley.

Birding/Bird-watching

Bird watching in Kidepo is a great opportunity to search for some of the 475 bird species in their different habitats/sites including the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valley, etc. The different savanna bird species to expect to come across during the birding tour in Kidepo National Park include the purple heron, Abyssinian ground hornbill, helmeted guinea fowl, fox’s cisticola, ring-necked spurfowl, golden pipit, slate-colored penduline, Emin’s shrike, Karamoja apalis, Clapperton’s francolins, Eurasian rollers, handsome francolins, black-breasted barbet, Egyptian vultures, secretary bird, pygmy falcon, verreaux’s eagles, ostriches, Kori bustards, green wood hoopoe, buffalo weavers, common bulbul, white-crested turacos, white-bellied go-away bird, black-rumped waxbillmay, black-winged pratincole, Taita fiscal, pallid harriers, Jackson’s and African pied hornbills, and more.

Nature walks

If you love walking experiences, Kidepo Valley National Park safari still has you covered. You explore the different wildlife in their varying habitats, and the normal walking excursion can take about 2-4 hours depending on where you are actively involved in the hike/walk. The hikes to the top of Lamoj Mountains last for about 4 hours and visitors begin their walk early in the morning.

Guided nature walks can also be enjoyed for 2 hours along the Narus valleys starting from Apoka Tourism Centre. The Narus Valley walk takes nature enthusiasts on the 5 km long guide walk with an expert. There is also Namamukweny Valley walk which lasts for about 6 hours.

Community Walks & Cultural Tours

The community walks and cultural experiences are a perfect way for visitors to explore the different parts of the Karamoja region where Kidepo lies. The key areas of interest include experiencing the rich cultures of the IK and Karamojong people in their respective communities.

The best time to travel to Kidepo for a safari

Kidepo National Park is an open wildlife park in Uganda all year-round but the best months of the year to enjoy a guided game viewing are July and August. During these months, the weather conditions are favorable making it easier to explore the Narus Valley on guided wildlife safari.

Where to stay in and around Kidepo Game Park

The top accommodation options to consider for overnight stay include Kidepo Savanna Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Adere Safari Lodge, Kakaine Self-Catering Campsite, and Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp.

Access routes to Kidepo National Game Park in Uganda

Kidepo is accessible both by road and air. By road, visitors can drive from the heart of Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto then to Kidepo. Or drive from Kampala-Jinja-Mbale-Sironko-Kotido-Kaabong then to Kidepo.

Alternatively, take the northern route from Kampala via Gulu-Kitgum then get to Kidepo National Park. Depending on the route, driving to Kidepo can take about 10-12 hours. But there is also an option of taking the flight and you can cut down on the long hours. Flying safaris begin from Entebbe Airport to Kidepo Airfields/Airstrip.