WHAT TO DO IN KIDEPO VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Attractions and Activities in Kidepo Valley National Park

The immense beauty of Kidepo Valley National Park undoubtedly proves why CNN recommended this incredible park among the eight most beautiful national parks in Africa to be visited on any wildlife safari. Embarking on an African safari requires one not to miss having ultimate game drives, cultural tours, and scenery viewing. Guided nature walks, and birding in this magical African safari destination. Have you been dreaming of having a memorable safari adventure in Africa? Kidepo Valley National Park is here for you.

Venturing into the wild region of Uganda, this most isolated national park in the country still emerges as the most undisturbed destination that all wildlife trotters must not miss while on a Uganda safari. It is located in the extreme northeastern corner of the country. Other than its isolated location, Kidepo Valley National Park is home to rare animal and bird species such as cheetahs, lions, ostriches, leopards, buffaloes, and hyenas, to mention but a few. Talk of the elusive Rift Valley endemic species of birds some of which are migratory and thus can be only seen during certain seasons. Seeing migratory birds in Kidepo Valley National Park requires one to book their safari and travel in the right season. This is one of the reasons why you need to travel with an experienced tour operator such as Love Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd.

Why Book a safari to Kidepo Valley National Park?

One might be wondering which African safari destinations he or she should pay a visit to! If you are one of those, let me give you some safari tips, It is high time you visited Kidepo Valley National Park. Situated in northeastern Uganda at the border of South Sudan and Kenya, Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s top reliable safari destinations. The park might not be as vast as the great Murchison Falls National Park but it is unique in its own way. Its isolation and abundance of wildlife species the majority of which are elusive species are reasons enough for you to visit this magical destination.

The moment you endure driving the long distance from Kampala City or Entebbe International Airport to Kidepo Valley National Park – about a 12-hour drive, you will know that the experience is worth your endurance. Do not be discouraged by the park’s long distance from the capital, one can book a domestic flight and get to Kidepo Valley National Park in the shortest time possible.

The park harbors scores of wildlife species summing to more than 75 mammals as well as 475 bird species. This is the true savanna extension to the horizon with beautiful mountains in the background, all making Kidepo one of Africa’s finest parks.

Are you wondering about what safari activities you can do during your Kidepo Valley National Park safari? Read on.

Top things to do in Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is one place that tourists can visit and still leave without exhausting all its amazing attractions and activities. And if you ever hold a Uganda safari to Kidepo Valley National Park, here is a list of the most incredible things you could do in the park.

Game drives in the Narrus Valley

If there is one place to have the best game drive experience in Africa is Kidepo Valley National Park in the Narrus Valley. This is one of the places that offer spectacular views of the surrounding area, lush vegetation beautiful scenery at twilight hours. And more so a breeze of the true African wilderness. The park has less traffic. Since it attracts fewer number tourists compared to other Uganda safari destinations; Lake Mburo National Park, Queen Elizabeth National Park (Uganda’s most visited national park). And Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda’s oldest and largest national park).

Having a morning or evening game drive in the Narrus Valley will introduce you to the park’s predators and prey as each struggles to see the next day. As earlier stated, Kidepo Valley National Park is home to carnivores and great hunters. These include; lions, leopards, cheetahs, and hyenas. On a game drive in the Narrus Valley, you stand a high chance of landing on any of these hunters chasing down prey. On the herbivore side, morning game drives in the Narrus Valley will give you an opportunity to watch them graze the short and tall green grass depending on the season.

Survival for the fittest

Hunting is not an easy road as herbivores such as elephants, gazelles, and buffaloes have adapted fighting skills. Such skills have seen them survive no matter how threatened they have been by the deadly hunters of the park. Some of these skills include using their sense such as smelling and hearing to detect the enemy, running faster than the enemy, and sometimes taking the courage to challenge the enemy. Leopards and elephants rely on a combined effort that is fighting in unison. During the mating and calving seasons, a game drive in the Narrus Valley turns every traveler’s moment into memories. It is an opportunity for you to take your best safari photograph whose memories can’t easily be erased.

Game drives in Kidepo Valley

Covering a total land area of about 1440 square kilometers of sprawling savannas, Kidepo Valley National Park offers the best game drive experiences in Uganda. It is that park where travelers start spotting animals immediately at the start of the drive.

Home to over 75 mammal species gives travelers one of those stunning and close sights. These include; lions, leopards, giraffes, warthogs, elephants, buffaloes, waterbucks, Uganda kobs, oribis, topis etc. It is the only park in Uganda where tourists can spot cheetahs. Cheetahs are the fastest-running land mammal. If it is a Uganda wildlife safari, then it should be one in Kidepo Valley National Park. Much as Kidepo Valley has less wildlife compared to Narrus Valley, game drives here are also equally rewarding.

Talking of game drives in Kidepo Valley National Park,  we mean both day and night game drives. Day game drives (morning and afternoon game drives) provide views of herbivores grazing and drinking water from the water source On the other hand, night game drives provide travelers with a more advanced view. This is the opportunity to dive into the nightlife in the jungle. This is the time of the day when hunters get out of their hiding places. They start setting their traps.  On the other hand, prey get together, lower their voices pay close attention to noise, and warnings from birds. And take advantage of every opportunity in order to be able to see the next day. This is when you get to prove the prime rule of the jungle – Survival of the fittest.

A night game drive experience

Leopards hide their kill up the tree branches while hyenas snatch whatever comes their way. Seeing lions hunt is more like a live animal documentary on National Geographic Channel. See how lions strategize, attack, force mistakes, practice patience, and divide their meal. The table manners are exceptional; starting with the superiors and then the inferiors. Safari game drives in the Park come with opportunities to see the ostrich, the Oryx, cheetahs, and wild dogs. Other species include aardwolf, buffalo, caracal, jackal, Klipspringer, elephants, giraffes, hyenas, mane-less Zebras. Bat-eared foxes, leopards, and lions. The antelope species include Bohor reedbuck, bushbuck, bush duskier, defassa waterbuck, eland, Jackson’s hartebeest, kudu, reedbuck, Uganda kob, and oribis.

Experience the Apoka Tourism Center

During your visit to Kidepo Valley National Park, it is important that you visit the Apoka Tourism Center which has played a fundamental role in the nature conservation of the park. It is here that you can book a ranger who will guide you through your Kidepo Valley game drives. There are quite a number of best accommodation facilities as well as souvenir shops from where you can grab something which will always remind you of the safari.

Mt. Morungole

A visit to Kidepo Valley National Park is not all about game drives. It also involves hiking. Mt. Morungole. This is home to one of the world’s smallest ethnic groups – the Ik. The Ik are natural hunters and fruit gatherers who have been in this area for quite a number of decades. These are believed to have originated from Ethiopia and the lower parts of Egypt. Visiting them will give you an opportunity to try their unique language, and dive into their culture. It is such an amazing cultural experience. The Ik people are too reserved, and primitive but they have a strong desire to preserve their culture and have on several occasions proved to resist civilization. Unfortunately, statistics show that the Ik are illusive and hence on the verge of extinction.

Nature walks

Being an undisturbed remote beauty, Kidepo furnishes extremely amazing opportunities for nature lovers. Walk through the park on foot, having insights into even the slightest wanders that nature hides. From insects, flies, and birds, to mammals, all these can be spotted on a nature walk in Kidepo.

This allows travelers to touch Africa’s nature. They also feel the extensive savanna just right below their feet, an experience that could be one in a lifetime. Tourists are always escorted by an armed ranger as they wander along the dry seasonal river banks just for safety in case of anything. Remember this is a jungle of wildlife animals.

Birding

More than 450 birds call Kidepo Valley National Park home. Beyond seeing the impressive herds of buffaloes, elephants, and pride of lions in the park. There is spotting countless bird species, both the common and special including even the most sought-after Jackson’s hornbill and endemic Karamoja Apalis.

The park is an ideal place to watch and admire some of the world’s most beautiful and rare birds. This birders’ paradise enables sights of the Clapperton’s Francolin. Black Coucal, African Moustached and the Broad-tailed Warblers, Marsh Tchagra. And Crimson-ramped Waxbill plus so many others.

Cultural encounters

These are mostly done in the Karamajong village where the local people of this place were settled. These cattle-keeping people are some of the most remote people in Africa. Just getting exposed to clothes, quite a good number of Karamajong still live a naked life. They  just smear ghee on their skin as a way of sheltering off from the direct sun rays.

They live in small huts locally known as the “Manyatta”. A taste of the local cuisines and brews as well as enjoying the traditional performances of the Karamajong is a guarantee except for the ones who don’t wish to.

Lomej hills, Namamukweny valley, and Lonyii Mountains

All these are the best birding spots that travelers can rely on while paying a visit to Kidepo Valley National Park.

Still while in the Park, tourists can visit the Kanangorok hot springs, scenery viewing, the IK people on the top of Moroto Mountain, and also visit the Pian Upe game reserve. It is surely one perfect destination that if missed, that wouldn’t be just Uganda Safari.

How to get there?

Do not be confused by the fact that Kidepo Valley National Park is an isolated park in Uganda, accessing it can best be done by either road or air transport means. By road, it takes approximately 12 hours to drive from Kampala to Kidepo Valley National Park. This is usually considered a challenging but the best option as the views along the way are worth the perseverance. You enjoy rolling hills, trading centers, lunch stopovers, vegetation, and crossing Karuma Falls, Kitgum, and Gulu City.

By air, you can book a domestic flight with AeroLink and connect to Kidepo Valley National Park. Love Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd is at your disposal to do all your Uganda safari bookings including that of Kidepo Valley National Park. You may not need to do all the donkey work yourself.

Accommodation 

Where to stay while on a safari to Kidepo Valley National Park ranges from budget to mid-range and then luxury. It all depends on what your desires and safari budget it. Some of the options include Apoka Safari Lodge, Apoka Rest Camp, Nga’Moru Wilderness Camp, and Kidepo Savannah Lodge.

When is the best time to visit Kidepo Valley National Park?

Kidepo Valley National Park is an open safari destination throughout the year. However, high-quality game views may come during the dry months of June to September and December to March. This is when the grass is low and the roads are less slippery. Hence may come with a better safari experience in Kidepo Valley National Park.

In a nutshell therefore, While many travelers are getting crowded in other popular destinations. These are; Queen Elizabeth National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, Murchison Falls National Park. Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve, and Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park. You can choose to explore the hidden treasures of Kidepo Valley national park.

Love Uganda Safaris and Tours Ltd is here to do all the bookings for you. All you need is to get in touch and dive into Uganda’s wilderness.