Kidepo Valley National park Uganda rests nested within the remote northeast corner of Uganda. The park stands on an area of 1,442 km² and survives as a true wilderness that offers the best there is as a great destination. For many travellers, it serves as a place where the word pleasure is redefined by nature. Kidepo park has a unique ecosystem that is crossed by the spectacle of flowing rivers like Kidepo river.
Kidepo has been ranked the best in Africa for spectacular landscapes and great buffalo herds (CNN Travel 2013). Located near Karenga in Kaabong District, the park has an array of excellent wildlife that offers spectacular views during the dry season, featuring some level of endemism; it contains over 48 species that are not found anywhere in the world. These include birds like the Abyssinian roller.
Kidepo has two rivers i.e. Narus River and Kidepo River which are seasonal. This means that in the dry season they dry out, so the only water in the park can be found in the wetlands and remnant pools along the Narus valley. These two rivers cross the 2,750 meters high Morungole mountain, feeding this natural habitant. Stroll along the Kidepo River in the dry season and enjoy its 100m bed of white sand between banks covered by borassus palm trees.
Things to expect and view in Kidepo Valley National Park Uganda.
The best time to visit the park is in the dry season in the months of September to March. Kidepo is however located in a semi-arid region and can be visited throughout the year. The Wet season months (April to August) are pleasantly less hot and bring beautiful scenery. Bird watching is at its best at this time as well. The best time for wildlife viewing is the middle and end of the Dry season (November to February) when animals concentrate around reliable water sources. During the Wet season (April to August) animals disperse from the valleys and move to higher ground, where they are more difficult to locate.
The following are the highlights to expect on a Kidepo safari:
- Endemic species (including cheetah, aardwolf, caracal and black-backed jackal) that don’t occur elsewhere in Uganda
- Excellent birding with over 400 species of birds.
- Scenic landscapes
- Stunning views over the Narus Valley
- The big four: Lions, Elephants, Leopards and Buffalos.
Some the animals to encounter in Kidepo include: lions, cheetahs, bat-eared fox, buffalos, jackals (side-striped and black-backed jackals, caracal, lesser and greater kudus, Günther’s dik-dik, mountain reedbucks, elands, Rothschild’s giraffe, Uganda kobs, oribi, klipspringers and the Jackson’s hartebeest among others. The park is also reported to possess 12 species of antelopes that form part of the 80 mammalian species in the area. All these species occur in great numbers which give visitors a great feel of nature. For example, the buffalos are over 1000. Kidepo is also gifted with 5 primate species that include the patas monkey.
Kidepo Valley has a very impressive bird list of over 470 species, the second-highest population of any Ugandan reserve, following only Queen Elizabeth National Park. Sixty birds on its list haven’t been recorded in any other Ugandan park. No comprehensive survey has been done, so visitors could easily see some species not previously recorded for the park. Kidepo is especially good for spotting raptors, with 56 species on record. Migratory birds are present from November to April.
The birdlife in Kidepo is good year-round, but at its best from March to April for all the specials and the many migrants. November to February has the least rain, while June to August has more. Rain shouldn’t be too much of a problem in this semi-arid part of the country. Migratory birds are in the valley from November to April. For wildlife viewing, the middle and end of the Dry season (November to February) is best.
Activities in Kidepo park include:-
- Game drives along Narus Valley
- Nature walks around Apoka Lodge at any time of day
- Community walks to learn about the Karamajong cultures
- Mountain hiking to view the Morungole Mountain
- Bird watching
The location of Kidepo Valley National Park. (How to get to Kidepo Park.)
The park is approximately 140 miles or 220 kilometres by the road northwest of Moroto. There are several routes and ways taken to reach the gem. The most direct one is through the Kampala-Gulu highway to Lokumoit Gate which takes an estimated 10 hours. Two longer routes pass through the remote Karamoja subregion, arriving at Nataba Gate. Kidepo lies at an elevation of between 999 and 2,349m and reaching it is sometimes a tedious process. However, the best way to get to Kidepo Valley NP is by a scheduled or chartered flight.
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