Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s most spectacular parks and it is located in Uganda’s remote north –eastern corner. It is 1,442 square kilometers and harbours scenery unsurpassed in any other park in East Africa.Kidepo vally National Park consists of asemi-arid climate with one rainy season per year that’s April- September .It receives 890mm of rain fall of the southern part while 635 is received in the north. Tucked into the corner of Uganda’s border with Sudan and Kenya, the park offers breathtaking Savannah landscapes, which end in rugged horizon. A huge latitudinal range and correspondingly wide climatic conditions have evolved an extremely diverse flora. The park has got a variety of animal species which equally abundant including many which are found no where else in Uganda.

The park’s vegetation is described as open tree Savannah which varies in structure and composition. Mountain forest dominates some of the high places, while areas along the Lorupei River support dense Acacia geradi forest. The flora and fauna of the park are more typical of Kenya than the rest of Uganda. The landscape of the park is studded with small hills, rocky outcrops and inselbergs from which one can obtain stunning views in all directions.

Attractions around Kidepo valley National park

Animal watching via Game drives

Game drives are mostly done along the Narus Valley since much of the year the park’s wildlife gather 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 hunt! During the afternoon game drive you shall find many animals around the water sources.

Game viewing can also be done along the Kidepo Valley where one can enjoy the sand bed river especially the dry seasons. The sand bed is like an oasis in a desert. It is lined with palms 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 powers.

The Sand bed along River Kidepo

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

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 that make it appear like an oasis in the Sahara. Many bird species can be found around this area.

Birdwatching

Kidepo Valley National Park is one of Uganda’s Important Bird Areas (IBA). The park is only being discovered by birdwatchers and more bird species are being added to the check list 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 birds prey with 58 species recorded in the area.

Nature walks

Nature walks can be done around Apoka camp at any time of the day and visitors are able to observe a number of animals such as Zebra, Elephant, Reedbuck, Buffalo. There also long trails and circuits which visitors can walk in the early morning to observe species at close range and enjoy the beautiful wilderness.

Climbing Mount Morungole & Visit the IK tribe

Trekking on Morungole Mountain is an attractive activity which 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 variety of dances from the IK, their way of life, their unique settlements and you get to learn their unique migration history.

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 and who have not been embraced modernization. The Karamajong culture and way of life is as undisturbed and 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.