Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo National Park has been ranked by CNN Travel in the recent past as one of the 8 best African Safari destinations. Unfortunately, regardless of its high rating, Kidepo is still one of the least visited Uganda safari parks.
This is partly because of its isolated location in the far northeastern corner of Uganda, in the Karamoja region. Kidepo National Park is a hard-to-reach park. But the 10-to-12-hour road trip from Uganda’s Capital, Kampala, or a fairly expensive private charter flight is a small price to pay to discover one of Africa’s genuine hidden gems. It’s the third-largest national park, spanning an area of 1,442km2 divided into sections of Narus Valley and the Kidepo Valley.
Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park
Wildlife
Kidepo National Park is home to four of the Big 5 animals (lion, leopard, buffalo, and elephant), making it an excellent destination for wildlife safaris. It hosts about 1000 elephants and is one of the top parks in Africa for buffalo herds, with a population of over 15000 buffaloes.
Birds
Birdlife in Kidepo National Park is also impressive, with 475 species of Ugandan birds, ranking second to Queen Elizabeth National Park, which hosts over 600 bird species. If you’re planning a birding safari in Uganda, Kidepo is the best park to see arid-region species like the Common Ostrich (the world’s largest non-flying bird) and Kori Bustard (the world’s largest flying bird), both unique to this area. Kidepo is also notable for its birds of prey, with 56 species recorded so far, including Verreaux’s Eagle, White-headed Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Pygmy Falcon, Dark-chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, and Bateleur Eagle.
Other birds that must be regarded as Kidepo specials include White-crested Turaco, Secretary bird, Fox kestrel, Greater kestrel, Abyssinian roller, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, White-billed go-away bird, Northern carmine bee-eater, Red and yellow barbet, Black-breasted barbet, D’Arnaud’s barbet, Karamoja Apalis, Northern red-billed hornbill, Jackson’s hornbill, Rufous chatterer, Purple grenadier, Golden pipit, Chestnut weaver, and Purple Heron.
Culture
The Karamojong & IK people
The Karamojong nomadic pastoralists take a lot of pride in their culture and customs, harbor foreign interference, and, with their traditional lifestyle, view new trends in life, travel, education, technology, dress, fashion, housing, medicines, religion, and several others as unnecessary inconvenience.
The male members of the tribe spend their time looking for greener pastures and fresh water for their cows, while the women stay home in the Manyatta. A manyatta is a village made up of several huts, which in turn are surrounded by a fence made of branches and sharp thorns. These are put up to keep the cattle in and to protect them from thieving rival tribes and wild animals.
Mount Morungole near Kidepo Valley National Park is home to one of the smallest ethnic groups in Africa, of about 10,000 people, a tribe called the Ik. According to folklore, the Ik have wandered through much of East Africa and came from Ethiopia hundreds of years ago.
Today, the IK ranks among the most marginal communities on Earth, having been forced to turn to subsistence farming in response to outside factors such as their eviction from Kidepo National Park.
Activities In Kidepo
Game Drives – Kidepo Valley
Game drives can also be done in the Kidepo Valley, where one can enjoy the sand-bed river, especially during the dry seasons. The sand bed is like an oasis in a desert. The valley is lined with palm trees and has plenty of birds. It is advisable to visit the northern area in the morning as the afternoon is unbearably hot there.
Crossing the sand bed river, another highlight is the Kanangorok Hot Springs, where you enjoy the spectacular landscape and can also picnic near the springs, which the local people believe have magic powers.
Night Game Drives in Kidepo
Night is the only game viewing time that exposes you to the nocturnal animals of Kidepo like leopards, lions, jackals, hyenas, and others. You will have a chance to encounter lions or leopards feeding on their hunted prey. Night drives in Kidepo are done in the company of a ranger guide.
Bird Watching Tours In Kidepo
An amazing 475 species of birds can be spotted in Kidepo Valley National Park, 60 of which are not found anywhere else in Uganda. Of note are the 56 birds of prey with 14 species endemic to Kidepo, including Verreaux’s Eagle, Egyptian Vulture, and Pygmy Falcon.
Unique to Kidepo is the world’s largest birds, the Ostriches, and from November to April every year, several migratory birds are present. The deserted Namukwweny Valley in the north-west of the park is inhabited by a large number of species like White-crested Turaco, Common Bulbul, Abyssinian Roller and Eastern Paradise Whydah, Green Wood Hoopoe, among others.
Along the dry Kidepo riverbed in Apoka, you can see the African Mustached and Broad-tailed Warblers, Clapperton’s Francolin, Black Coucal, Marsh Tchagra, and Crimson-rumped Waxbill. To date, no comprehensive survey of Kidepo’s bird species has been completed, so it is possible that you can make discoveries.
Nature Walks In Kidepo National Park
A guided nature walk is one of the best ways you can view wildlife and the incredible landscape of Kidepo Valley National Park. Nature walks start in the morning at around 7.00 am and have a variety of spots to choose from. The Narus River Valley is five kilometers from the park headquarters and is a popular walk with visitors. Narus means a “soggy place or muddy ground”.
On the nature walk, there are various waterholes and grazing areas which give you a great chance to see some of the unique wildlife, some of which can only be seen in this Ugandan park, as well as amazing views of Morungole mountain.
The Namukwweny Valley is also another nature walk spot, which is further away than the Narus Valley and is a more immersive walk. Namukwweny means a “place with no birds,” but there are plenty of birds in this place.
Visiting the Karamojong Village
The best way to get the most out of your Uganda safari tour to Kidepo Valley National Park is to participate and immerse yourself in the local culture. A visit to a traditional Karamojong homestead (Manyatta) gives you an unparalleled insight into what life is like for the Karamojong people.
It also gives you a first-hand appreciation of the culture and heritage of the region. You will have the chance to learn about their traditions, see their distinctive housing, ornaments, and handcrafts, and be treated to a traditional dance.
Hiking Mt Morungole To Meet Ik People
Hiking Mount Morungole is an attractive adventure that leads to the Ik people. This great expedition involves a whole-day hike through changing vegetation and rocky terrain. You’ll have breathtaking views of Kidepo Valley National Park. And you will be exposed to a variety of dances from the Ik, their lifestyle, and their unique settlements. You’ll also learn about their unique migration history.
Accommodation in Kidepo
Accommodation in Kidepo Valley National Park ranges from luxury, mid-range, to budget lodges, camps, and hostels. The outstanding lodging and accommodation options of Apoka Safari Lodge, Kidepo Savannah Lodge, and Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, coupled with the cool environment and exceptional views of the Savannah grasslands, attract visitors from far and wide.
How To Access
By Road
Western Route via Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary
This is the most direct route and takes about a 10-hour drive. From Kampala/Entebbe, you travel through Karuma, Gulu, and Kitgum to Kidepo National Park. The trip can be broken up with an overnight stop at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary (home to Uganda’s only wild rhinos), Gulu, or Kitgum.
Eastern Route via Jinja & Karamoja Region
This Uganda road trip through the tribal Karamoja region to get here is a whole adventure in itself. From Kampala or Entebbe, you can drive through Jinja, Mbale, Nakapiripirit, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong to Kidepo Valley National Park, which is about a 740km (approximately 12-hour drive).
You can also drive through Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto, Kotido, and Kaabong to Kidepo, which is] 792km (13 hours’ drive). You’ll have several attractions along this route to break the road trip. You traverse the Mabira rainforest and cross the mighty River Nile at Jinja.
By Air
The fastest way to get to Kidepo National Park is by a scheduled or chartered flight. A flight to Kidepo National Park takes about 2 hours from either Entebbe International Airport or Kajjansi airstrip in Kampala
When is The Best Time To Visit Kidepo Valley National Park?
Kidepo Valley National Park can be visited at any time of the year. However, the best time to visit Kidepo National Park is during the dry season from September to March, when vegetation is sparser and spotting animals near watering holes is easier. July and August are the next best months, as the rainy season transitions to the dry season.
For a detailed tour itinerary to the true African Wilderness, reach us on our email for your customized itinerary info@africasafaristours.com
