Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the  Karamojong region northeast of Uganda, bordering with Kenya and South Sudan.  , the remote, wild and little-visited Kidepo Valley National Park provides refuge to a long list of dry-country species not found elsewhere in the country, including cheetah and greater kudu, while its perennial waters attract large numbers of elephant and thousand-strong buffalo herds, especially during the dry season.

The park is isolated from the Ugandan mainstream by the harsh plains north of Mount Elgon. Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas, a tract of rugged savannah dominated by the 2,750m mount Morungole and transected by the Kidepo and Narus Rivers. Perennial water makes Kidepo an oasis in the semi-desert, reflected in its 86 mammal species, 28 of which are nowhere else in Uganda and almost 500 birds. Predators are available. There is opportunity to see not only lion, cheetah and leopard, but also the delightful bat-eared fox and insectivorous hyena-like aardwolf with a long list of dry country antelopes including the regal greater kudu and beisa oryx.

Vegetation and wildlife in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is  characterized by open grassland, adorned with tall sausage trees (Kigelia africana) known for their massive elongated fruits. On the other hand, the Kidepo Valley sustains drier acacia woodland, with significant stands of Borassus palms lining the watercourses. Additionally, there are patches of montane forest and riparian woodland scattered throughout the park. The park consists of sensational mountain and savannah landscapes.

Kidepo National Park boasts an array of wildlife with 86 mammal species, including 20 predator species such as lions, spotted hyenas, and leopards. Unique species like the bat-eared fox, black-backed jackal, aardwolf, cheetah, and caracal are exclusive to Kidepo. The park also hosts five primate species, including the Patas monkeys.

Other notable animals found in Kidepo include elephants, buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, Bohor reedbuck, oribi, warthogs, oryx, bush baby, and elands. Kidepo is the only park in Uganda harboring populations of cheetahs, greater kudu, lesser kudu, Guenther’s dik-dik, and mountain reedbucks. The localized white-eared kob occasionally ventures from South Sudan into Kidepo.

The park has bird population of 470 species, Kidepo Valley National Park hosts more than 60 birds not found in any other Ugandan national park. It is home to East Africa’s only population of Clapperton’s francolin and the rose-ringed parakeet. Raptors are many and other commonly observed species like the tawny eagle, dark chanting goshawk, pygmy falcon, bateleur, various vultures, secretary bird, common ostrich, white-eyed kestrel, fox kestrel, carmine bee-eater, white-bellied go-away bird, yellow-billed hornbill, little green bee-eater, red and yellow barbet, Abyssinian roller, Jackson’s hornbill, black-breasted barbet, Abyssinian scimitarbill, red-billed hornbill, Karamoja apalis, and purple grenadier.

Activities done in Kidepo Valley National Park

Activities include rewarding game drives, foot safaris across the Narus Valley and enjoying the isolated wilderness. Look out for the Karamojong people with their traditional pastoralists with few cultural affiliations to other East African groups.

Game drives

This is one of the major activities done in Kidepo Valley National Park and it is carried out from two valleys; Narus and Kidepo valley. The park offers 4×4 morning ,evening and night game drives. The morning game drives  begin early  between 6:00am  to 6:30 am as tourists are able to see a beautiful sunrise and sighting a wide range of animals when they are still active.

Some of animals that can be spotted in the morning hours include; elands, oribi, greater and less kudus, klipspringer, Zebras, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, Guenther’s dik-dik, Jackson’s hartebeests and predators like bat eared fox, lions, side stripped jackal, cheetahs and leopards.  Whereas the evening game drive is mostly carried out around the Narus valley which has permanent water thus attracting large concentration animals in dry season.  Night game drive starts between 7:30pm to 9:30 after dinner so as  to spot the nocturnal animals for example leopards, lions, wild dogs, side striped jackals, caracal, hyenas, aardwolf, serval cats and birds like owls.

Nature walks

Kidepo Valley National Park offers visitors an opportunity to explore the park on foot with the help of the park ranger. Nature walks in Kidepo Valley National Park are conducted ion different areas for instance; Namamukweny valley, Narus Valley and the Kidepo plains which leads to Morungole Mountains where you will find the Ik people.  Visitors have the option to have a four-hour hike to the Lomej Mountains or choose a two-hour guided tour. These guided treks offer an opportunity to spot animals like; elephants, buffaloes, Rothschild’s giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, oribi, warthogs, elands, greater and lesser kudu, Guenther’s dik-dik, Bohor reedbuck, and mountain reedbucks.

Birding watching in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a home to more than 470 bird species including the migratory birds, savannah birds, and endemic birds. Bird watching in Kidepo can be done during game drives, nature walk and community tours. Some of the birds that can be spotted include; yellow-billed hornbill, Karamoja apalis, tawny eagle, common ostrich, Abyssinian roller, dark chanting goshawk, Verreaux’s eagle, secretary bird, pygmy falcon, bateleur, various vultures, Egyptian vulture, white-eyed kestrel, fox kestrel, carmine bee-eater, Abyssinian ground hornbill, white-bellied go-away bird, little green bee-eater, red and yellow barbet, Abyssinian roller, Jackson’s hornbill, black-breasted barbet, Abyssinian scimitarbill, red-billed hornbill, and purple grenadier.

How to access the Kidepo Valley National Park

The park can be accessed by either road or air transport. For road transport, the journey from Kampala to Kidepo Valley National Park covers a distance of 563 kilometers and takes approximately 10 hours and 30 minutes. Tourists can access the park through different routes, either eastern or western, with the western route passing through Murchison Falls National Park.

When using the eastern route, there are various entry points. Traveling from Kampala via Mbale- Sironko, Moroto- Kotido- Kabongo to Kidepo National Park covers a distance of 740 km and takes approximately 12 hours. Another option is driving from Kampala via Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, and Kabongo, covering 793 km in about 13 hours.

On the western route, the most commonly used route is driving from Kampala via Karuma, Gulu, Kitgum, and then to the park, covering a distance of 571 km in approximately 10 hours. Another option on the western route is traveling from Kampala via Karuma, Lira, Kotido, Kabongo, and then Kidepo National Park, which spans 705 km and takes around 12 hours. The western route provides an adventurous experience, allowing tourists to visit Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for rhino tracking, Murchison Falls National Park, and Karuma Falls.

For those seeking convenience and speed, air travel provides a seamless option. Tourists can board a chartered aircraft or take the daily scheduled flight from Kajjansi Airfield and Entebbe Airport. The flight takes two hours to reach Kidepo Valley National Park, with Kidepo and Apoka airstrips serving as landing sites. For booking flights to Kidepo Valley National Park, tourists can contact domestic airline offices through emails or telephone calls, or they can go through tour operators.

Entrance fee at Kidepo Valley National Park

Entrance to Kidepo National Park is priced at $30 for foreign residents and $40 for foreign non-residents, payable for each 24-hour period. Additionally, standard vehicle entrance fees apply, but they are a one-time charge per entry. These fees can be conveniently paid at the park entrance.

Accommodation

Kidepo Valley National park offers a wide range of accommodation ranging from budget, middle range and luxury lodges inside and outside the park. Some of theses facilities include; Apoka , Adele, Ngamoru camp and Savannah lodge.