Kidepo Valley National Park

Kidepo Valley National Park found in Northeast Uganda bordering Kenya and Sudan covering 1442 sq km. Kidepo is referred to as Uganda’s most remote national park since 1954. It is the least visited park in the region yet it is a remarkable part of the African wilderness. It has magnificent scenery featuring Savannah and mountain landscape and it lies in a rugged, semi-arid valley of Karamoja region.

For any birder Kidepo has over 475 species including East Africa’s rarest and most sought after birds such as Black-breasted Barbet and Karamoja Apallis. The park contains two rivers Kidepo and Narus which disappear in the dry season, leaving just pools for the wildlife.

Kidepo valley habitat is long plus short grass open tree savannas, semi-desert scrub, riparian woodland such as Borassus plus Kigelia woodland, dense miombo like woodland, montane forest, open thorn-scrub, granite out-crops and open thorn-bush.

Commonly used route to Kidepo Valley National Park by road is via Kotido – Kabong – Kanawauat road. Road conditions here are sometimes a challenge and need a four wheel drive vehicle.

By air, there are chartered flights from Entebbe International Airport to Lomej airstrip run by the Civil Aviation Authority approximately 3 km south of the headquarters of the park.

Activities & Attractions in Kidepo Valley National Park :

Wildlife Game Drive

Kidepo National Park has a variety of animals, with some only found here in Uganda. There are 77 different mammal species, including unique ones like the Bat-eared Fox and Klipspringer. You can see big animals like elephants, buffaloes, and zebras. The Narus Valley is great for spotting Oribis, while Guenther’s Dik Dik live in the thorn thickets. At night, you might see Senegal Galago and Sidestriped Jackal near the rest camp, and White-tailed Mongoose on a night drive. The park also has many reptiles.

Bird Watching

Start bird watching at Apoka Rest Camp. You’ll see swallows and seedeaters like the Yellow-rumped Seedeater. At night, Four-banded Sandgrouse come to a water hole, sometimes joined by elephants, buffaloes, and even lions.

Cultural Trip with the Karamajong Tribe

Visit the Karamajong tribe in the northeastern part of Uganda. They are known for herding livestock. Explore their traditional homes called “Manyatta” and see their cattle enclosures and granaries. Meet the Karamajong king to learn about their culture and beliefs. Your trip fee helps build important facilities like clinics in the region.