Kidepo Valley National Park

Size: 1,442km²

Kidepo Valley National Park is found in the North Eastern part of Uganda in the district of Kaabong. Kabong is a town found near the border between Uganda and South Sudan. This isolated and remote national park consists of mainly rugged Savannah, hills, and great valleys that are surrounded by the Morungole Mountains. Kidepo was turned into a game reserve in 1958 by the colonial government because of the excess poaching and destruction of vegetation by the Ik and Dodoth as they tried to control the number of Tse Tse flies in the park at the time. Four years later in 1962, the game reserve was turned into Kidepp Valley National Park. 1962 was the year Uganda got her independence. 

The park has two major valleys Narus and Kidepo. Each of these valleys has a river with the same name at its center. The Narus and Kidepo rivers dry off in the middle of the dry season leaving the animals to survive on the remaining small pools (oasis). The semi-arid conditions in Kidepo, mountains, Savannah grasslands, plains, and wildlife combine to make Kidepo the park with the best landscape in Uganda. Kidepo is also the best national park to go to for wildlife viewing because of the great number of wildlife gathering at a single point. CNN Travel has listed Kidepo as among the 3 most attractive national parks in the world. Kidepo’s extremely charming landscape and wildlife (over 76 species of mammals and 474 birds) has made it the only park in Uganda where tourists can go to see the African wilderness the way it used to be before modernity. It is the only park in Uganda with conditions that rival Kenya’s Maasai Mara or the Serengeti In Tanzania. 

 It is the remotest of Uganda’s national parks, located over 600km from Kampala. Reaching Kidepo Valley National Park by road takes no less than 12 hours of drive which is why it is one of the least visited parks in the country leaving it isolated from the popular Uganda safaris and tours circuit. Kidepo Valley National Park is located in the semi-arid region of Karamoja and It is one of the most pristine and least disturbed of Africa’s wildernesses. 

ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK 

Narus Valley Game Drive 

Game drives are mostly done along the Narus Valley since much of the year the park’s wildlife gathers here. This area is well designed with track circuits and from a 4×4 tour car visitors have clear views of herbivores grazing in the short savanna plains. Lions and other cats are often sighted on top of rocks and kopjes looking out for prey in the vast plains. The best time for the game drive is in the early morning when herbivores are grazing and the cats are on the hunt! During the afternoon game drive, you shall find many animals around the water sources. 

Narus Valley contains the only permanent water points in Kidepo Valley National Park. This makes it the perfect location for scouting big games congregating for most of the year. In Narus Valley, you’ll find buffalo, elephants, warthogs, giraffes, lions, and zebras. If you’re lucky, you may even spot a cheetah. 

Most drives follow two 20-kilometre routes through the wildlife-rich Narus Valley. Here, a small amount of water remains even in the dry season, attracting large buffalo herds, thirsty elephants, and antelope. A gathering of herbivores attracts predators, allowing you to see a range of beautiful animals. 

Kidepo Valley game drive. 

Game viewing can also be done along 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. It 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 and comes with more tsetse flies. 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  

Kidepo Valley does not have as much big game as Narus Valley, but it makes up for it with the scenery. While making the drive to Kidepo Valley, the road intersects with the Kidepo River. During the dry season, white sand and a Borassus palm forest are the only remnants of the once-flowing Kidepo River. In Kidepo Valley you can keep an eye out for ostriches and secretary birds 

The drier Kidepo Valley has less wildlife, but it has a wild beauty and is well worth discovering. Use the Kanagorok hot springs, 30 kilometers north of Apoka, as your focus, but do not get blinkered. Drive slowly, crossing the Kidepo River – a wide sand bed in the dry season – and meander across plains framed by the mountains. This is the best place for ostrich and secretary birds, while kudu enjoy the protection of the thicker bush 

Apoka game drives are the best way to explore the far reaches of the park within a short space of time. Coming face to face with large mammals and predators from the safety of your vehicle is an unforgettable experience. 

In the hot, dry season, game drives depart in the early morning and late afternoon. This allows you to witness the animals in their most active state and capture memories when the light Is best for photography. 

 Wildlife Walks and Nature walks 

Nature walks can be done around Apoka camp at any time of the day and visitors can observe several animals such as Zebra, Elephant, Reedbuck, and Buffalo. There are also long trails and circuits where visitors can walk in the early morning to observe species at close range and enjoy the beautiful wilderness. Step out into the wild savannah, leaving the grumbling engine behind 

Step out on a trail and notice the sense of vulnerability that makes every walk a vivid experience. 

Comforted by the knowledge of your guide, you can encounter the wilderness in all its glory. 

Most of the walking trails take 2 to 3 hours and wind their way through the Narus Valley. The walk through the Narus Valley is very popular as its short 5km radius is comfortable for most visitors. It gives you ample opportunity to see an abundance of magnificent mammals and birds within the backdrop of a stunning landscape. 

Birders will often patrol the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys looking for the Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, which is found only in Kidepo. 

For those looking for a greater challenge, a 15-kilometer route follows the ridge line into the hills. While there are many possible trails, some may not have been walked for a long time and will be temporarily closed. 

Kidepo River 

River Kidepo is an intermittent sand river found in the northern part of the park. It stands out because it is lined by Borasus palms which make it appear like an oasis in the Sahara. Many bird species can be found around this Sand bed along River Kidepo. 

The sand bed experience during the dry season on river Kidepo can be very fascinating. One can enjoy the wilderness experience while listening to different bird calls 

While visiting the national park during the dry season, the Kidepo River does not look like a river. Rather, it is a 50-meter-wide bed of white sand that stretches as far as the eye can see on either side. 

The river beds are lined with Borassus palms and the remaining vegetation from the wet season. During the two brief rainy seasons, Kidepo River fills and becomes a refuge for the many animals In the park. 

Kanangorok Hot Springs 

If you are exploring the Kidepo Valley, make sure to continue driving to Kanangorok Hot Springs. The hot springs are located on the South Sudan border of Uganda and provide magnificent views of the mountain ranges. 

Lorokul Cultural Group 

If you want to learn about the Karamojong tribe, a visit to the Lorokul Cultural Group located just outside of Kidepo Valley National Park is a must. Notorious cattle herders, the remote Karamojong tribe have created a welcoming space to share their culture and traditions with visitors to the region. This is one of the most unique tourist attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park. 

 Climbing Mount Morungole & Visit the IK tribe 

Trekking on Morungole Mountain is an attractive activity that leads to the IK people. The great Moroungole expedition which involves a day’s hike through varying vegetation and rocky terrain commanding spectacular views of Kidepo Valley National Park will expose visitors to a variety of dances from the IK, their way of life, their unique settlements and you get to learn their unique migration history. 

At 2,750m, Mount Morungole is the highest point and the source of both the Narus and Kidepo Rivers in Kidepo Valley National Park. 

It is also home to the smallest ethnic group in Uganda, the IK tribe. Planning a hike on Mount 

Morungole offers a chance to see forest vegetation and capture incredible photos of Kidepo Valley National Park. Namamukweny Valley: The Namamukweny Valley is found in the Northwestern part of the game park. The name “Namamukweny” in the Napore dialect means a lonely place with few people or birds. Regarding birds, this is far from the truth. Several species like the 

Abyssinian Roller, Common Bulbul, Eastern Paradise Whydah, Green Wood Hoopoe, and the White-crested Turaco thrive in this isolated valley. 

Lomej Hills: These hills are found near the park headquarters. The hills are perfect for birdwatching and spotting animals like the mountain reedbuck. 

Lonyili Mountain: This Mountain has a great collection of small primates like the Colobus 

Monkeys thrive in its montane forests. The mountain lies between the border of Uganda (Kitgum District) and South Sudan. Unfortunately, the roads leading to the mountain are not well-developed. Visitors need special permission and guidance before hiking the mountains. 

Birdwatching in Kidepo National Park 

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) and an incredible Uganda birding destination. The park is only being discovered by birdwatchers since it has been off the main tourist circuit and more bird species are being added to the checklist of over 475 recorded species. Some of Africa’s rarest and most sought-after birds occur in the park including the Black-breasted Barbet and the Karamoja Apalis. The park is good for semi-arid species which cannot be found in other parts of Uganda such as the Ostrich. It is also outstanding for its bird prey with 58 species recorded in the area. 

Kidepo is home to approximately 475 different species of birds. Some of the birds you will find in the national park are the Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Red-billed Oxpeckers, African Hoopoe, Red-Cheeked Cordon Bleu, Ruppel’s Super Starlings, and Karamoja Apalis among many others. You can also find Clapperton’s Francolin here, which is the only place you will find this bird in Uganda. 

The best places for bird watching are in Narus Valley and Namamukweny Valley in the northeast. Interestingly, in the local language, Namamukweny means “a place with no birds” yet it has some of the best birding opportunities in the park. 

If you’re looking to find Ostriches and the Secretary Bird, make your way to the northern Kidepo 

Valley.Karamajong Community tour 

The Karamajong tribe Is the main local community inhabiting the Karamoja region and neighboring the park. They are some of the most remote people in Uganda who have not embraced modernization. The Karamajong culture and way of life are as undisturbed as Kidepo’s wilderness. Set out for a visit to enjoy their unique cultures, traditional houses called manyatta, and their setting of homesteads, traditional dances, traditional handcraft stools, spears, and hand bungles from beads. 

How to get there 

By road: Most visitors drive from Murchison Falls which takes 7 hours or less on the sealed road. Some visitors choose to break up the journey by spending a night near Sipi Falls. Kampala is located 571km from Kidepo. The 10-hour drive from Kampala via Gulu and Kitgum is a demanding journey and few people choose this route. 

By air: Kidepo is serviced by a couple of light aircraft companies flying into the airstrip close to Apoka. These flights only operate on certain days and require a guaranteed number of passengers to fly, making the flight expensive for couples or small groups traveling on their own, but is not so bad for families or larger groups. Don’t let it put you off though: there is something very special about flying out of Entebbe, circling over the drama of Murchison Falls, before pressing on to the expanse of Kidepo.