Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the north eastern corner of Uganda in Kabongo district. The park is composed of the rugged Savannah, semi-arid valleys anddominated by Mount Morungole and also transected by the Kidepo and Narus rivers. It is 560km from Kampala and 287km to Uganda Wildlife Authority headquarters from Moroto city/town which is the nearest largest city.
The park shares borders with Kenya and Sudan, it covers an area of 1,442 square kilometersand it is found in Karamoja region in the north eastern Uganda. It harbors86 species of mammals and 475 species of birds.
Kidepo Valley National Park is the most isolated National Park in Karamoja region or northern Uganda but for those who make their journey to Kidepo realize and witness that it is the most Magnificent and beautiful National Park in Uganda which ranks it among Africa’s finest Wilderness.
The park was gazetted as a game reserve in 1958 by the British Colonial Government and it was before occupied by the Ketebo or Mening Clan in around 1800 and they were the inhabitant farmers and hunters living in this area.
The purpose of the British was both to protect the animals from hunting and to prevent further clearing of bush for tsetse flies’control. So, this resulted into famine and forced the Ketebo clan to migrate to the nearest areas like Bira in South Sudan and it is now occupied by the tribes of Napotpot, Kalo Kudo, Namosingo, Loriwo and Naurkori.
In 1962, the game reserve was converted into Kidepo Valley National Park through the powers of Uganda government under Milton Obote. The first chief warden of the park was Ian Ross, and in 1972, Paul Ssali took over and he was a Ugandan. Their handover and training were the subject of the 1974 American documentary film, ” The Wild and the Brave”.
Kidepo Valley National Park is composed of two water valleys of which they include Kidepo and Narus Rivers. There also exists Kanangorok hot spring which is the only permanent water source in the entire park and as a result it attracts all kind of wild animals to take water especially in the dry seasons hence making it a perfect place for game viewing. The hot spring is located in the extreme north of the park in Lotukei near the south Sudanese boundary.
Narus is a name given by the Ketebo or mening clan referring to the people living in the valley and the area consist of red oat grass, guinea grass, fine thatching grass, red thorn acacias, drumstick trees, sausage trees and fan palms. While on the other hand Kidepo river is an oasis in the semi-desert with dotted palms and higher altitude areas have whistling thorn acacias.
CLIMATE
Kidepo valley National Park is composed of semi-arid climate and characterized by hot temperatures which range from 21.5°C to 34°C annually. It receives rains especially in the month of April to late August and annual rainfall totals to 890mm per year in the southern part of the park in the Narus valley while the northern part of the park receives 635mm per year.
Dry Season:The best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park is from September, October, November, December, January and February.
Rainy Season / Low Season: From April to August is rainy and we recommend 4×4 wheel drive Landcruiser to be used for your safari to Kidepo Valley National Park.
ACCESS / HOW TO GET THERE
BY ROAD TRANSPORT
Kidepo Valley National Park can be accessed from Kampala Via Karuma falls, Gulu, Kitgum and Kaabong high way and from Kaabong you can connect to the park. It takes 561km from Kampala and 10 hours’ drive.
The other option is to drive from Kampala via Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Moroto and Kaabong high way and it will cost you 12 hours’ drive on 566km distance.
BY AIR TRANSPORT
The park can be reached by the domestic flight from Entebbe International airport to Lomej airstrip near Apoka in Kidepo Valley National park. The flights to kidepo operate with a minimum of 4 persons using Aerolink and all these can be organized by the tour operator.
TOURISM / TOURIST ACTIVITIES IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
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Game drives at Narus valley
The ranger guides will escort you and also to help you to spot animals especially on the Narus valleys because animals tend to congregate near the water bodies and it can be done in the morning, evening and also night game drives are common. The 4×4 wheel drive Landcruiser is recommended.
The game drive offers you chances of encountering Elephant, Buffalo, Bush duiker, Bush pig, Bushbuck, Leopard, Lion,Bush babies, Black-backed jackal, Bat-eared fox, Cheetah, Aardwolf and Caracal, Giraffe, Zebra among others.However, drives can also be done through Kidepo valley and Kanangorokhot spring to view and explore the nature around these outstanding attractions.
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Cultural Tours at Kidepo Valley National Park
With the Karimojong and IK tribes who are similar to the Masai tribes in Kenya makes Kidepo Valley National Park aunique place for cultural tours. Lorukul Cultural Group or other cultural groups bordering the park will help you explore all cultural activities of this undiscovered tribes in Kidepo valley National Park. They will take you through their marriage ceremony which is uncopied by other tribes and above all their daily lives which involves cattle keeping.
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Bird watching / Birding at Kidepo Valley National Park
There are experienced ranger guides at Apoka. They will allocate and identify bird species around the park on the dedicated trails. Expect to see Kori bustard, Abyssinian ground hornbill, secretary bird, ostrich, carmine, yellow-billed and Jackson’s hornbills, and ostriches among other birds.
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Hiking / Nature walks at Kidepo Valley National Park
Hiking and Nature walks are common in Kidepo. So, the hikes will take you to Lomej Mountains and Morungole Mountains. It takes 4 hours and you will explore more about the IK tribes while hiking to Lomej Mountains. Nature walks can be done at Narus valley, beautiful Kidepo River Valley between banks of attractive borassus palm forest or Namamkweny Valley which can be reached in one hour from Apoka with the help of ranger guides who will protect you and explain the whole nature and the history of this most beautiful national park.
ACCOMMODATIONS / WHERE TO STAY
HIGH END LODGES / LUXURY FACILITIES AT KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
- Adere Safari Lodge
- Apoka Safari Lodge
MID RANGE LODGE FACILITIES AT KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
- Kidepo Savannah Lodge
- Nga’moru Wilderness Camp
BASIC / BUDGET LODGE FACILITIES AT KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
- Apoka Rest Camp
- Kakine Self-catering Campsite