Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park
Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda`s most beautiful national park with its vast plains of grassland. It stretches to the national Frontier with South Sudan and it is endowed with plenty and various species of wildlife. It is Uganda`s most isolated national park but it inhabits the largest number of wildlife than any other park and it allows the best views of wildlife than any other national park in Uganda.
Kidepo lies between the north eastern mountain ranges of Uganda bordering with South Sudan. The vast savannas of the park are not only occupied by wildlife but also the unequalled virgin culture of the Karamajong and Acholi worth a discovery.
The Park boasts at least 86 species of mammals of which 28 species are endemic to this park in Uganda, 475 species birds and 692 species of plants. Some of the unique species of mammals in Kidepo Valley National park include; cheetah, striped hyena, aardwolf, greater and lesser kudu, klipspringer, dik-dik, Chandler’s mountain reedbuck and Bright’s gazelle.
- Best visited in dry season
- Uganda, East Africa
- Mainly Wildlife to see
- Can rain any time
- Good fitness level required
Kidepo Tourist Attractions
The park features the Narus valley which is largely flat and inhabits a variety of wild game such as lions, leopards, cheetah (the world’s fastest animal) and Ostriches (the world’s fastest running bird) can all be spotted in the splendid savannas of Kidepo Valley National park.
The Park also inhabits over 475 species of birds each represented in reasonable numbers. Some of these bird species are East Africa’s endemics such as Ostriches (Word’s largest and fastest terrestrial bird).
The park is bordered by two major tribes namely the Karamajong and the Acholi with their virgin and unveiled cultures. The Karamajong local homesteads
Mountain Murungore is also part of Kidepo Valley National Park where the “Ike tribe” arguably the world’s smallest tribe with a total of about 10,000 individuals, formerly hunters and gatherers. The Ike group of people is believed to have originated from Ethiopia, the first settled in Kenya before they continued to north eastern Uganda.
Things to do in Kidepo Valley
Game Drives
This is the major activity that is done in Kidepo Valley National park. The park features the Narus valley which is largely flat and inhabits a variety of wild game such as lions, leopards, cheetah (the world’s fastest animal) and Ostriches (the world’s fastest running bird) can all be spotted in the splendid savannas of Kidepo Valley National park.
Culture Adventures
The park is bordered by two major tribes namely the Karamajong and the Acholi with their virgin and unveiled cultures. The Karamajong local homesteads (Manyattas) are most liked by many tourists who wish to spend more days in these Manyatta homesteads of the Karamajong while they enjoy the day today lifestyles of the Karamajong which include; grazing herds of animals with arrows and bows, enjoying cultural dramatics and tasting the local delicacy most notably “Kwete” which is brewed with maize.
Bird Watching
The Park inhabits over 475 species of birds each represented in reasonable numbers. Some of these bird species are East Africa’s endemics such as Ostriches (Word’s largest and fastest terrestrial bird).
Ike Tribe Visit
Mountain Murungore is also part of the Park where the “Ike tribe” arguably the world’s smallest tribe with a total of about 10,000 individuals, formerly hunters and gatherers. The Ike group of people is believed to have originated from Ethiopia, the first settled in Kenya before they continued to north eastern Uganda. Currently, their main occupation is subsistence farming and honey production. They have a very virgin culture that is worth your experience.
Accommodation in Kidepo
Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most isolated virgin national parks. Because of this, the economic transformation in the area has not been well addressed compared to other national parks.
Accommodation facilities in thepark are limited with options including Apoka Safari Lodge, Nga Moru Wilderness Camp, Apoka Safari Camp. There are other facilities cropping up with relatively affordable rates.
How to get there
Kidepo Valley National park can be accessed by both road and air. The park is located over 571km from Kampala approximately 10-12hours drive through Gulu, Kitgum and Kaabong districts. While a scheduled flight from Entebbe or Kajjansi to Kidepo airstrip takes about 2hrs: 15 minutes.