The most distant national park in Uganda is Kidepo Valley National Park, which has an area of 1,442 square kilometres and is located in the rough, semi-arid valleys of Karamoja province near the extreme northern border with Sudan. Kidepo Valley National Park may be the most picturesque Park in Africa. Sharing borders with Sudan and Kenya’s Northern Frontier District, it is Uganda’s most beautiful, remote, and least-explored Park. It is one of the best undeveloped areas in East Africa where wildlife can be viewed in spectacular landscapes and great buffalo herds with sprawling savannah and soaring mountains.
Wildlife.
A Uganda safari to Kidepo Valley National Park is a great way to explore the wildlife in this park. There are approximately 80 species of animals in the park, 28 of which are unique to the Karamoja area and are protected inside Kidepo, such as the caracal, stripped hyena, aardwolf, cheetah, bat-eared fox, and hunting dog. Additionally, Kidepo is home to 5 different kinds of primates, including the endemic Kavirondo Bush Baby. The Greater and Lesser Kudu, Chandlers Mountain Reedbuck, Klipspringer, Dikdik, Bright Gazelle, Beisa Oryx, and Roan Antelope are just a few of the unique ungulates found in Kidepo Valley. Crocodiles in Kidepo Valley National Park are extremely tiny, with a maximum length of 2.5 metres as opposed to the Nile crocodiles, which sometimes reach lengths of over 4 metres. It appears that the modest size is a result of the scarcity of food. Elephants, zebras, bush pigs, Rothschild giraffes, elands, Jackson’s hartebeest, buffalo, oribi, lions, leopards, spotted hyenas, black-backed and side-backed jackals, and oribi are some of the common creatures. The greatest park in Africa for a large herd of buffalo is Kidepo.
Tourist Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park
Wildlife Game Drives.
The most breath-taking activity in Kidepo Valley is game viewing, which is primarily done in the Narus Valley, a plain of rising and falling grasslands encircled by distant mountains. Permanent water is provided by this valley, where animals congregates for the most of the year. As a result, there are enough game courses in this location, including 4 loop circuits that explore the valley near to Apoka. The valley is home to a variety of animals, including lions, reedbucks, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribis, buffalo, and giraffes. In lower numbers, you can also spot cheetahs and leopards. Along the Kidepo Valley, where one may appreciate the sand bed river, especially during the dry seasons, one can also go game viewing.
Guided Nature Walks
Visitors may take nature hikes around Apoka Camp at any time of the day and see a variety of species, including Zebra, Elephant, Reedbuck, and Buffalo. Long routes and circuits are also available, which guests may walk in the morning to appreciate the stunning nature and view wildlife up close.
Bird Watching
The second national park in Uganda with regard to birdwatching is Kidepo Valley. The Park is only being discovered by birdwatchers, and the checklist of more than 475 documented species of birds is growing. The Black-breasted Barbet and the Karamoja Apalis are two of the rarest and most sought-after birds in Africa, and both may be found in the park. The park is a fantastic place to witness semi-arid animals that are not present in other areas of Uganda, such the ostrich, which is undoubtedly a sight to behold here. With 58 kinds of birds documented in the region, it is also exceptional for its avian prey.
Karamojong Community Tour.
The primary local group residing in the Karamoja region and close to the park is the Karamajong tribe. They are among Uganda’s most isolated populations and have not embraced modernity. The culture and way of life of the Karamajong are as untouched as the wildness of Kidepo. Set off on a visit to take in their distinct cultures, traditional residences known as Manyattas and their rural settings, traditional dances, and handcrafted items like stools, spears, and beaded bungee cords.
The river Kidepo’s sand bed experience during the dry season can be very fascinating; here, one can take in the outdoors while listening to various bird cries. A sporadic sand river called River Kidepo can be found in the park’s northern region. It stands out because to the Borasus palms that border its perimeter, giving the impression that it is an oasis in the Sahara. In and around this location, there are numerous bird species.
The Kidepo Valley experiences less wildlife throughout most of the year due to a lack of surface water, but it is still worth the drive to visit the dried-up Kidepo River and take a walk along its 50-meter wide bed of white sand between the banks covered in Borassus palms. The name “Kidepo” means “to pick from below,” because people used to walk through this valley to gather fallen Borassus fruits to use in fermenting palm beer. 11 kilometers along the border with Sudan, past the Kidepo River, are the Kanangorok Hot Springs. It’s a wonderful spot to relax and take in the mountains that stretch far beyond the frontier.
The IK people can be reached by hiking on Morungole Mountain, which is a popular activity. The Great Morungole Expedition introduces visitors to a variety of dances from the IK, their way of life, their distinctive settlements, and you get to learn about their distinctive migration history. It entails a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain commanding spectacular views of Kidepo Valley National Park.
Accommodation Facilities in Kidepo Valley National Park
Apoka Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, and kakine self-catering self campground are among the lodging options in Kidepo Valley National Park.
Best Time to Visit
The dry season months of December to March and June to Late August are the best times to visit Kidepo Valley if you want to see wildlife because the animals congregate around water sources during these times. Animals leave the valleys during the rainy seasons and move to higher, drier ground where they are less visible in the months of April to May and September to November.