Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park

Location: North Eastern Uganda/ Karamoja region

Size: 1442km. Sq

Elevation: 914m-2749m

Figure 1 Views of Narus Valley

Kidepo Valley National Park is situated in the northeastern corner of Uganda, known locally as Karamoja, after the Karamojong people. It is positioned between the borders of South Sudan to the north and Kenya to the east, about 600km away from Kampala by road.

The park is regarded as Uganda’s most secluded national park due to its remote location and poor road network. Kidepo Valley National Park’s potential has been relatively unexplored because of the prolonged insurgency in northern Uganda. However, efforts by the Uganda Government to restore peace have reignited the park’s allure.

Those who have journeyed through the wild Karamoja region to visit the park agree that it is the most magnificent national park in Uganda. Kidepo Valley National Park is considered one of the finest wilderness areas in Africa.

From Apoka, situated in the heart of the national park, there are sweeping views of the savanna landscape extending in all directions, far beyond the gazetted area, with distant mountain ranges gracing the horizon.

Weather in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo National Park has a semi-arid climate with just one rainy season per year (April-September) and has light rainfall with river Narus Valley in the south of the park receiving about 890mm of rain/year while just 635mm of rain/year falls in the Kidepo valley to the north.

Most rivers in Kidepo National Park are seasonal, they normally dwindle and disappear in the dry season, leaving an impression of a road.

During the dry months, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools along the southern Narus Valley near Apoka.

As a result, most wildlife in Kidepo is concentrated in this area.

This consideration, combined with the valleys, and open African savanna wildlife habitat, make it the park’s prime game viewing location.

This makes it possible to sight a good variety of wildlife in Kidepo by simply scanning the valley with binoculars from the comfort of the Apoka lodge

Figure 2 Wildlife view platform at Apoka

Activities in Kidepo National Park/ Things to do in Kidepo National Park

Figure 3 Thirsty Warthogs seen taking water during a game drive in Kidepo National Park

 Game Drives and Game Viewing

Big African Wildlife in the Narus Valley is most active early in the morning at about 6 am and late afternoon at about 4 pm which are optimum times to set off on game drives.

During your game drive in Kidepo, a ranger guide will help you spot some of the park’s lions that usually prefer sitting on the valley’s various rock outcrops and many other wildlife like that include;  elephants, leopard, bush duiker, jackal, bushbuck, zebra, eland, bush pig,  bush baby, buffalo, ostrich and much more.

Bird Watching

Apoka Rest Camp is a great spot to begin your Kidepo birding-watching experience. Birding in Kidepo can also be done on the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys.

Among the birds that can easily be seen are the Abyssinian Roller, Clapperton’s Francolin, Purple Heron, and Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, found only in Kidepo.

We arrange birding activities both morning and evening. times

Nature Walks/Hiking

The Lomej Mountains can be reached on foot in four hours, and the hike starts at 7 am.

Shorter guided walks of around two hours can be taken through the Narus Valley extending over a 5km radius from Apoka Tourism Centre.

Visitors can also wander along the splendid Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive Borassus palm forests. Namamkweny Valley can be reached in one hour from Apoka.

Visitors can also meet members of the IK tribe during prearranged hikes to the Morungole Mountains outside the park.

Community Cultural walks

The Karamojong are a cattle-herding tribe that occupies northeastern Uganda and together with the Lorokul Cultural Group which is located just outside Kidepo Valley National Park, you will discover the unique culture of this remote tribe.

The Karamojong’s main livelihood is livestock herding, and the social and cultural lifestyle will be explained to you as you walk with the guides to the traditional Karamojong manyattas (homesteads), cattle enclosures, and granaries.

The community cultural walks will introduce you to the lifestyle, culture, dressing style, dancing, and the tools used. You will also learn how this cultural group makes their distinctive beads, sample their local cuisine, and even meet the “Karamojong King”, who will narrate the tribe’s folklore and beliefs.

 

Accommodation in Kidepo National Park/ Where to Stay in Kidepo

Kidepo National Park is endowed with different classes of lodges ranging from low-budget, mid-range, and high-end.

The lodges are spread out in locations that will not only make your stay a memorable one but also give you sweeping views of the Karamoja plains.

Some of the lodges in Kidepo National Park include Kidepo Savannah Lodge, Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Kakine self-catering campsite, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, buffalo base,

How to Get To Kidepo National Park

Getting there by Road

The road distance from Kampala to Kidepo National Park is approximately 600km takes roughly 12 hours to complete, and requires a robust 4×4 vehicle.

Two routes can be used to get to Kidepo National Park; the Western Route and the Eastern Route.

The Western route will drive through Gulu town and Kitgum town connecting through Abiim to Karenga township. From here the park can be accessed through Katurum gate.

While the Eastern route will see you drive through Moroto town where the asphalt road ends, the rest of the drive is dumpy and dusty but richly rewarding with attractions such as the sweeping plains, rocky outcrops, and lone mountains through Kotido and Kabong towns. Entry through this route will be through Nataba gate.

 

Getting to Kidepo by Air

Outback Adventure Safaris has established partnerships with local air charters that operate both scheduled flights and private charters, the aircraft used are usual single-engine Cessna caravans.

Flights take off from Entebbe International Airport and Kajjansi Airstrip near Kampala to Kidepo Airstrip with a flight time of about 2 hours, on your arrival at Kidepo airstrip your waiting driver-guide will transfer you to your pre-booked Lodge.