About the park

Kidepo Valley National Park is Uganda’s 2^nd largest national park – 1,442km2 and its altitude is between 914m and 2,750m above sea level. The park contains two rivers – Kidepo and Narus – which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife’s survival.

Gazetted as a national park in 1962, it has a profusion of big game, prolific bird life and hosts over 77 mammal species.

Kidepo is Uganda’s most isolated national park, but the few who make the long journey north through the wild frontier region of Karamoja would agree that it is also the most magnificent for it ranks among Africa’s finest wilderness regions. From Apoka, in the heart of the park, a savannah landscape extends far beyond the gazetted area, towards horizons outlined by distant mountain ranges.

During the dry season, the only permanent water in the park is found in wetlands and remnant pools in the broad Narus Valley near Apoka. These seasonal oases, combined with the open, savannah terrain, make the Narus Valley the park’s prime game viewing location. Kidepo Valley National Park is a wild place of big skies, vast rocky mountains and golden plains dotted with Giraffe, Zebra, Lion, Elephant, Buffalo, Ostrich, and antelope species.

This park has a bird checklist of over 476 species with the common Ostrich, Secretary Bird, Northern Carmine Bee eater, Little Green Bee eater, Abyssinian Scimitar Bill and many more colorful and visible species.

While the game viewing delivers, it is the sense of true isolation that distinguishes this rare slice of remote Africa. The region is home to two distinctive ethnic groups with cherished traditions; the pastoral Karamajong and the Ik, a hunter-gatherer tribe whose survival is threatened.

Activities

Game drives

Kidepo Valley National Park has large concentrations of wildlife hence its exceptional game viewing experiences make it a worthwhile place to visit. Game drives are best conducted in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof. Wildlife that is known to be in this park includes African Bush Elephant, Buffalo, Antelope, Lion, Zebra, Giraffe, Uganda Kob, Waterbuck, Oribi, Bush Pig, Eland, Klipspringer, Reedbuck, Greater and Lesser Kudu, Bat-eared Fox, Jackson’s Hartebeest, Black-backed Jackal, and many bird species including Ostrich and, Secretary Bird. Night game drives are also possible and game you can expect to see includes Leopard, Cheetah, Caracal, Aardwolf, Spotted Hyena, Wild Dog, and Side-striped Jackal among others.

Nature walk

This is an interesting opportunity to explore Kidepo Valley National Park on foot. You will be accompanied by an expert walking guide who is well-versed with the walking trails in the park and an armed park ranger. This offers a chance for wildlife like elephant, warthog, buffalo, reedbuck, etc, and different bird species like ostriches as well as spectacular views of the intriguing scenery.

Birding

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of the best destinations for birding in Uganda and Africa. Birding can be done on game drives and nature walks. Common bird species you should look out for include Yellow-rumped Seed-eater, Karamoja Apalis, Yellow-necked Spur Fowl, Ostrich, Superb Starling, Black-breasted Barbet, Pygmy Falcon, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, Clapperton’s Francolin, Kori Bustard, Purple Heron, Egyptian Vulture, Secretary Bird, Little Green Bee-eater, Marsh Tchagra, Verreaux Eagle, Black Coucal, Purple Grenadier, Red-billed Oxpecker, Steel-blue Whydah, Fox Kestrel, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Abyssinian Scimitar Bill, Rufus Chatterer, Golden Pipit, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, etc.  

Community visits

Cultural encounters in Kidepo Valley National Park offer visitors a chance to interact with the IK or Karamojong people in their communities. The cultural experience here involves exploring and discovering the unique traditions, cultures, dances, and music performances of the Karamojong and IK.

The Ik tribe is the most isolated tribe in Uganda, living on top of Mt. Morungole. It is an extremely strenuous whole day hike to visit the people in this region. They are largely peaceful hunter-gatherers who have retreated to the mountains for protection from the neighboring cattle-raiding tribes.

A visit to the Karamajong homesteads will give you a glimpse into their pastoral lifestyles. You will be able to partake of the food (if you wish), join the dancing, and purchase crafts like knives, arrows, jewelry, and stools. They have the largest manyatta homestead in East Africa. Their main livelihood is herding livestock, and the social and cultural importance will be explained as you walk with the guides to the traditional Karamajong manyattas (homesteads), granaries and cattle enclosures. Learn how the villagers make their distinctive beads, and you may even be lucky enough to meet the Karamajong King, who will narrate the tribe’s folklore and beliefs.

Itinerary ideas

4 days Kidepo National Park

Day 1 – Drive to Kidepo National Park, overnight

Day 2 – Game drives, visit the Karamajong community, overnight

Day 3 – Game walk, game drives, overnight

Day 4 – Drive back to Kampala

5 days Kidepo National Park

Day 1 – Drive to Ziwa Rhino sanctuary, rhino trekking, overnight

Day 2 – Drive to Kidepo National Park, game drive, overnight

Day 3 – Game walk, game drives, overnight

Day 4 – Visit the Karamajong community, night game drive, overnight

Day 5 – Drive to Kampala 

Accommodation

Upmarket: Apoka Safari Lodge

Midrange: Adere Lodge, Savannah Lodge

Budget: Apoka Rest Camp