Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda's most beautiful and remotest park located in the northeastern corner, bordering on South Sudan and Kenya, an estimate of 700km from Kampala. Kidepo has been ranked the best in Africa for spectacular landscapes and great buffalo heards (CNN Travel 2013). The park covers an area of 1,442 square kilometers and has an altitude ranging between 914m and 2,750m.
Kidepo valley national park has been a designated tourist destination for more than five decades, having been gazetted in 1962. Around 75% of this park lies in Bira, inhabited by the Ketebo people, whose language includes the word “Kidebo” which when translated means “Help Us”. These people are found in both South Sudan and in Uganda, in areas such as Kikilai, Petalado,Napotpot and Karenga. Previously pastoralists, these people have now adopted the practice of agriculture, growing maize, sorghum and sesame as the main cash crop, mostly cultivated between April and August. Change of climate and influence from neighbouring communities have been credited for this shift in economic activities.
The park has a semi-arid climate with one rainy season of April - September. The journey from Kampala is long but rewarding as you move along the different vegetations, landscapes and tribal lands. There's just so much to see, ranging from the savanna trees, grass, and shrubs, wildlife, the people and their grass-thatched and dung-plastered Manyattas to the birds. Kidepo valley national park is an open valley, generally flat landscape; comprising open grass savannah of uniform height, which spans through a greater stretch of the park sparse trees therein. The grasses within this valley and of uniform height; usually less than a meter tall. Deciduous trees with a distribution pattern of approximately 3 trees per hectare. Next to this open Savannah grassland is a vegetation pattern so unique; comprising trees that tend to portray similar distribution patterns, growth rates and characteristics. The undergrowth also brings out a different picture; this comprises grasses that barely grow to heights of 0.5m in height above the ground. This is the woodland Savannah vegetation pattern of the park. Surprisingly, this distribution is unique in enabling survival of these animals that roam the park in strife for day to day survival.
The park has two rivers i.e. Narus River and Kidepo River which are seasonal. This means that in the dry season they dry out, as so the only water in the park can be found in the wetlands and remnant pools along the Narus valley. These two river 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.
Kidepo Valley national Park is one of Africa's most magnificent wildernesses. The park boasts of 77 species of mammals including - elephants, Rothschild's giraffes, Burchella's Zebras, elands, hartebeests, lions, hyenas and cheetahs, as well as striped jackals and perhaps Africa's largest single herd of Cape buffalo - roaming grasslands that extend in all directions towards distant ranges. The park also has the endangered Rothschild giraffes, which elegantly roam as though showing off their legs, which appear clad in white socks. Kidepo Valley National Park actually has the second largest population of Giraffe in Uganda with a population of about 50 individuals. Game drives are the parks prime attraction next to bird watching and cultural experiences.
The park is also rich in birdlife with a total of 475 species, some of which in Uganda are found only in Kidepo Valley National Park and in the Karamoja region. The birds to look out for include; Secretary bird, Abyssinian Roler, Purple Heron, Clapperton’s Francolin little Green Bee-eater, Kori Bustard, Pygmy Falcon and Karamoja Apalis. Kidepo is notable for its 58 species of birds of prey including the Verreaux's eagle, Egyptian Vulture, and Pygmy Falcon. For ground speed lovers, the park is also home to the Ostrich, which can accelerate from rest to a speed of 70km/h.
The Karamoja region is known for its rich cultures of the Kalamajong and Ik Tribe - which is the most isolated tribe in Uganda living on top of Morungole Mountain. The Ik is one of the smallest ethnic groups in Uganda, who have a very unique culture, having migrated from Ethiopia centuries ago, with estimates indicating around 10,000. Due to their fragility in contrast to their neighboring tribes, they were raided by the latter on many occasions, thus being marginalized. They are now subsistence farmers who grow and grind their own grain. A visit to the Kalamajong homesteads will give you a glimpse into their pastoral lifestyles, partake of the food, join the dancing, and purchase the crafts like knives, arrows, jewelry and stools.
Kidepo Valley National Park also has the Narus Valley, a grassland plain enclosed by mountains. It always has water, because of which many wild animals such as lions, leopards and oribis gather for a generous drink. Another valley to look out for is the Namamukweny Valley whose name suggests that it is a lonely valley with no birds, but ironically, hosts many birds, such as the Green Wood Hoopoe and the Abyssinian Roller.
You can reach the park from Kampala via Mbale - Soroti - Moroto - Kotido - Kaabong and then Kidepo which is about 780km away from Kampala or Kampala via Gulu - Kitgum - Kidepo which is about 571km away. You can also take scheduled or chartered flight from Entebbe to Kidepo.
The activities in this park include; Game Drives, Mountain Hiking, Cultural Tours, Hot Spring Visits, Bush Walks and Bird Watching.
Safari Example: 4 Days Kidepo Fly In Safari
