Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda Safari Activities What To Do

Kidepo Valley National Park the prime Uganda game safari destination is one of the best habitants with more chances of spotting top carnivores of Africa. Although situated in the far North eastern corner of Uganda and the furthest of all Uganda National Parks it is less visited keeping most of its animals still untamed.

Animals to see while on Uganda safari in Kidepo National Park aardwolf, side stripped jackals, leopards, black backed jackal, cheetahs, hyenas, herds of elephants, reedbuck, zebras, Jackson’s hartebeests, klipspringer, great and lesser kudu, waterbucks, Guenther’s dikdik, elands, Rothschild’s giraffe and more.

Uganda birding in Kidepo Valley National Park is rewarding with chances of spotting a high percentage of the over 470 bird species living in the park. Some of the birds of Kidepo Valley National Park include Red Throated bee eaters, Abyssinian scimitarbill, Jackson’s hornbills, Karamoja Apalis, red throated bee eater, yellow-billed hornbills, ostriches and more.

Key Information On Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is a game safari haven in Uganda

The location of Kidepo Valley National Park is in the far Northwestern Part of Uganda with in Kabongo and Kotido districts covering 1442 square kilometers of land.

Kidepo Valley National Park receives all year high temperatures with semi-arid conditions almost the entire year. Mornings and late evenings in Kidepo valley National Park are normally extremely cold so carry some warmers.

Drink Water often while on Uganda safari in Kidepo Valley National Park

Landscape of Kidepo Valley is generally characterized by plain land with a back drop of highlands like the Morungule mountains, and within the park is Narus Valley, Kidepo valley and more. Kidepo valley occupies 1442 square kilometers of mainly open tree savannah grassland. The hilly areas of the park are colonized by mountain forest and acacia forest close to the water sources.

The distance to drive from Kampala or Entebbe to Kidepo Valley National Park is about 740 kilometers depending on the route you take. Flights to Kidepo Valley National Park from Kajjansi or Entebbe are available both scheduled and charter flights can be arranged.

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Activities To Do In Kidepo Valley National Park

Game drive in Kidepo

Early morning or late evening game drive in Kidepo Valley National Park is rewarding as several animals are also emerging from their night hangouts. The Narus Valley close to Narus River it the strongest magnent to most animals in the park as it is the only water source in the park where water never dries up.

While driving the southern end of Katurum loop, Katurum kopje you enjoy the animals that roam the park.

 While driving on the tracks of Kidepo Valley National Park, you may come across animals like hartebeests, klipspringer, chandlers, Burchel Zebras, elands, hyenas, warthogs, Bohor, oribi, bushpigs, lions, leopards, aardwolf and more.

Birding In Kidepo Valley National Park

Birders on a birding safari in Uganda with a Kidepo Valley National Patk as one of the destinations is a rewarding with over 470 bird species confirmed as residents. Some of the birds to see in Kidepo Valley include Ostriches, Abyssinian Scimitarbill, Kori Bustards, yellow billed hornbill, Karamoja Apalis, secretary birds, Abyssinian roller and others.

Kidepo Valley National Parks hosts some of the rare birds of prey including Egyptian Vultures, Verreaux’s eagle, pygmy falcon, and more. The park 14 species of the 56 species of birds of prey known in the world.

It is best to wake up early morning to do birding in Kidepo Valley National Park as the day comes to life with chances of identifying lots of species.

Karamajong Community Visit

A tour to the Karamajong community is like visiting another world because of the way they are still attached to their past customs. While having sometime with the Karamajongs, you may get to participate in cow milking, grazing, craft making, beading, see traditionally crafted knives, stools and more.

The Karamajongs are mainly nomadic pastoralists owning large herds of cattle communally protected. Karamajongs live in homesteads called Manyattas.

Guided Walk To Morungule Mountain

Enjoy the scenery of Kidepo Valley National Park with an escorting ranger guide from Uganda Wildlife Authority. The Morungule range rises beautifully from the plains a tower up and spread a few kilometers north east of Apoka.  

A visit to the Kidepo Valley where the park gets its name is amazing. Drive to the seasonal Kidepo River with white sand on the banks covered with stunning Borassus palm forest.

Best Time To Visit Kidepo Valley National Park

The dry season is the best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park when the grass is generally thinner and lower for better visibility. Even though Karamoja subregion in Uganda is generally known to have semi-arid climate conditions, it experiences shot rainy seasons atleast once a year

Most wild animals of Kidepo Valley tend to congregate in the Narus Valley close to Apoka especially during the extreme dry season of the year.  The tracks in Kidepo Valley are quicker to navigate in the dry season however using a 4×4 wheel drive vehicle is recommended.

The wet season is quite messy for a game drive through the Kidepo Valley National Park and even to get there. It is best to fly to Kidepo Valley National Park when it is the rainy season to avoid getting stuck by the road in case your vehicle gets a mechanical damage as help may be hard to get soon.

How To Get To Kidepo Valley National Park From Kampala or Entebbe

Several routes lead to Kidepo Valley National Park however some of the major routes include:

Kampala Via Karuma to Gulu To Kitgum to Kidepo lasting approximately 571 kilometers

Entebbe or Kampala to Mbale to Soroti to Moroto to Kidepo Valley National Park for about 792 kilometers

Kampala to Karuma to Lira to Kotido to Kidepo for about 705 kilometers

Kampala to Mbale to Sironko to Kotido to Kaabong to Kidepo for about 740 kilometers

Daily domestic flights from Entebbe to Kidepo are available too. Charter flights for more private travel to Kidepo Valley National Park.

Accommodation To Use At Kidepo Valley National Park

There are limited accommodation options to use while on Uganda tour in Kidepo Valley National Park however some include:

Apoka lodge

Uwa cottages

Why Choose A Uganda Safari To Kidepo Valley National Park

• Kidepo valley National park has better chances of spotting carnivores, rare birds while on Uganda safari so in case you are interested in specific animals and birds, this may be the right destination to choose.
• A Uganda safari to Kidepo Valley National Park is more private with fewer tourists expected to visit the park. The wild animals of Kidepo Valley National Park are still timid with visitors in the park presenting their original being.
• If you wish to have less crowds while on an African safari, Kidepo Valley is one of those destinations that do not disappoint as few can endure the long drive or the harsh conditions of this part of Uganda.
• Along list of birds is recorded as inhabitants of Kidepo Valley National Park including rare birds of prey. Ostriches are some of the outstanding resident birds of Kidepo Valley National Park