You are currently viewing Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park is Located in the North Eastern part of Uganda on the Boarder of Uganda and South Sudan. The park measures a distance of 1,442 sq-km and home to great number of animal species more than any other park in Uganda. Game viewing in Kidepo valley is averagely the best with lots of game with unique sightings to the leopards, and cheetahs. The other game species are as much common like the ostriches in this region.

Kidepo Valley National Park is Located in the North Eastern part of Uganda on the Boarder of Uganda and South Sudan. The park measures a distance of 1,442 sq-km and home to great number of animal species more than any other park in Uganda. Game viewing in Kidepo valley is averagely the best with lots of game with unique sightings to the leopards, and cheetahs. The other game species are as much common like the ostriches in this region.

Kidepo Valley National Park is heaven to hiking adventures with beautiful sceneries like the Lamoj Mountains which is a short drive from the Headquarters of Kidepo, Kanangorok Hot Springs located 11 km from Kidepo river valley are a breathtaking spot to visit with great photographic views of lions on Ant Hills, yet others spots not to be missed, Narus Valley in the south west of the park with great views of hyenas, leopards and a vast number of wildlife.

Species found in Kidepo Valley National Park

The vegetation is dominated by open savanna, with dry mountain forests and acacia forests. The park hosts at least 86 mammal species (elephants, zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, bush pigs), including many predators. like black-backed jackals, African hunting dogs, bat-eared foxes, cheetahs, caracals, lions, and leopards. There are 17 antelope species. The bird checklist includes 475 recorded species, including 56 raptors, like a pygmy falcon, ostriches, tawny eagle, secretary bird, and vultures.

Kidepo is Uganda’s third largest national park, and only Queen Elizabeth National Park contains greater biodiversity.

Kidepo is home to 77 mammal species and the park offers great opportunities for game viewing. 20 species of predator are present, including lionleopard, and spotted hyena.

In Uganda, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, aardwolf, cheetah, and caracal are endemic to Kidepo. The elephant population is over 650 (up from 200 in the mid ‘90s), buffalo are estimated to exceed 10,000, and there are over 50 Rothschild’s giraffes, an internationally important population.

Zebra graze on the plains and both greater and lesser kudu roam around the thick bush. Fortunate adventurers may even see a white-eared kob, more commonly seen in South Sudan and Ethiopia.

The bird list currently numbers 470 species. 60 of these are recorded in no other national park in Uganda. East Africa’s population of Clapperton’s francolin and the rose-ringed parakeet are found only in Kidepo. There are 56 species of raptor, and the park’s vultures are thriving. Kidepo is also the only place in Uganda where bird enthusiasts can encounter the majesty of the Common Ostrich.

Community walks

Karamajong communitys’ in their manyatta huts, traditional karamajong wears, spears, arrows and bows from their home steads can be a captivating moment for all those looking for African Cultural life experience and adventure.

Step out on a trail and notice the sense of vulnerability that makes every walk a vivid experience. Comforted by the knowledge of your guide, you can encounter the wilderness in all its glory.

Most of the walking trails take 2 to 3 hours and wind their way through the Narus Valley. The walk through the Narus Valley is very popular as its short 5km radius is comfortable for most visitors. It gives you ample opportunity to see an abundance of magnificent mammals and birds within the backdrop of a stunning landscape.

Birders will often patrol the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys looking for the Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, which is found only in Kidepo.

For those looking for a greater challenge, a 15-kilometre route follows the ridge line into the hills. While there are many possible trails, some may not have been walked for a long time and will be temporarily closed.

How to get there (Routes to Kidepo Valley National Park)

  • Kampala – Gulu through Kitgum to Kidepo National Park
  • Kampala – Lira through Kotido to Kidepo National Park
  • Kampala – Mbale through Soroti to Moroto – Kidepo National Park
  • Kampala – Mbale – Sironko – Kotido to Kidepo National Park
  • Kampala – Soroti – Kotido via Amuria National Park

Main Activities

Game Viewing; Apoka game drives are the best way to explore the far reaches of the park within a short space of time. Coming face to face with large mammals and predators from the safety of your vehicle is an unforgettable experience.

Most drives follow two 20-kilometre routes through the wildlife-rich Narus Valley. Here, a small amount of water remains even in the dry season, attracting large buffalo herdsthirsty elephants, and antelope. A gathering of herbivores attracts predators, allowing you to see a range of beautiful animals.

In the hot, dry season, game drives depart in the early morning and late afternoon. This allows you to witness the animals in their most active state and capture memories when the light is best for photography.

The drier Kidepo Valley has less wildlife, but it has a wild beauty and is well worth discovering. Use the Kanagorok hot springs, 30 kilometres north of Apoka, as your focus, but do not get blinkered. Drive slowly, crossing the Kidepo River – a wide sand bed in the dry season – and meander across plains framed by the mountains. This is the best place for ostrich and secretary bird, while kudu enjoy the protection of the thicker bush.

Nature Walks:

Step out on a trail and notice the sense of vulnerability that makes every walk a vivid experience. Comforted by the knowledge of your guide, you can encounter the wilderness in all its glory.

Most of the walking trails take 2 to 3 hours and wind their way through the Narus Valley. The walk through the Narus Valley is very popular as its short 5km radius is comfortable for most visitors. It gives you ample opportunity to see an abundance of magnificent mammals and birds within the backdrop of a stunning landscape.

Birders will often patrol the fringes of the Narus and Namamukweny Valleys looking for the Abyssinian Roller, Purple Heron, Abyssinian Ground Hornbill, and Clapperton’s Francolin, which is found only in Kidepo.

For those looking for a greater challenge, a 15-kilometre route follows the ridge line into the hills. While there are many possible trails, some may not have been walked for a long time and will be temporarily closed.

Hiking; Though Karamoja region is generally a flat plain, Kidepo valley national park is a land of contrasting landscapes and land features. From beautiful flat plains bustling with grasslands, to plateaus teaming with woodlands, the dry riverbanks lined with desert palm forests and highlands buzzing with montane forests. Kidepo valley national park is a have-it-all Uganda safari destination. Each landscape has unique wildlife mammals, birds and other wildlife species that capture every traveler’s imaginations, going about their routine. The breathtaking natural settings attract curiosity and raise suspicions amongst visitors on tour of Uganda. Many travelers find it hard to resist the temptation to wander into, explore the wilderness and discover the beauty hidden away from the crowd. Note it is mandatory to get a ranger escort for any hike.