Kidepo Valley National park
Kidepo Valley National park
Kidepo Valley National Park is famously known as The True African Wilderness and is the third largest national park. It was first gazetted as a game reserve in 1958 by the British colonial government then it was later established as a national park during the reign of the former president of Uganda who was Apollo Milton Obote in 1962 when Uganda had acquired its independence. It covers 1,442 square km with a semi-arid climate with just one rainy season per year and rainfall is light. The only permanent water in the park is found in the wetlands and remnant pools along the Southern Narus Valley near Apoka and as a result, wildlife concentrates in this area.
The park also comprises of both flora and fauna. The flora is composed of savannah woodlands, mountain forests. Then the fauna is made of wildlife including 77 species of mammals like lions, cheetahs, spotted henya, aardwolf, caracal, leopard, black-backed, side striped jackal and about 475 birds including little green, secretary bird, ostriches, jackson’s hornbill, clapperton’s spurfowl
LOCATION
The national park is located in Kaabong district, Karamoja region, North Eastern corner of Uganda. It borders South Sudan and Kenya. It is about 700km from Kampala.
HOW TO GET THERE
The national park can be reached by both air and road. The fastest way to get to park is by air about 2 hours. Charter flights to Kidepo can be arranged from Kampala at Kajjansi Airstrip or Entebbe with. However road conditions are sometimes difficult and 4WD vehicles are usually very essential. The easier route to the park is Kampala to Luweero to Gulu to Kitgum to Kidepo about 571km and 10hour drive by road transport. However there are other 3 routes that can be used like;
Kampala to Mbale to Soroti to Moroto to Kidepo about 792kms
Kampala to Mbale to Sironko to Kotido to Kaabong to Kidepo about 740kms
Kampala to Karuma to Lira to Kotido to Kidepo about 705kms
TIME TO VISIT
Tourists can visit Kidepo throughout the year however the best time to visit is during the dry season ranging from the months of June, July, August, September, December, January and February . The vegetation is sparse and animals concentrate around water sources, making them easier to spot. The roads are also drier and easier to navigate.
Attractions in Kidepo valley national park
ATTRACTIONS
Kidepo Valley National Park offers a wide range of attractions including wildlife 77 mammal species about which 20 species are predators and over 28 Kidepo endemics. With the big 5 animals in Africa, the national park has 4 of them. About 475 birds species that tourists can see while there during there holiday visit
WILDLIFE
Wildlife animals like elephants, lions, cheetahs, hartebeest, zebras, warthogs, waterbuck, giraffes, black- backed jackals, aardwolves, caracals, buffaloes, orbis, antelopes bushbucks are seen while on a game drive
BIRDS
There are about 475 bird species such as clapperton’s spurfowl, Jackson’s hornbill, ostriches, Karamoja apalis are spotted while on a nature walk
LOCAL PEOPLE
Local people including IK and karamojongs. These people are mainly cattle keepers who are adapting slowly to changes from their traditional way of life. Tourists can visit them tos see there traditions like the customs, stools, spears, head dresses, knives, jewelry, bows and arrows used from ancient times.
THE NARUS VALLEY
The Narus Valley attracts alot of wildlife in the park making it suitable for game drives and game tracks
MOUNTAIN MORUNGULE
Its range rises from the plains a few kilometers north east of Apoka and can be explored on foot with a ranger guide escorted to have a good view
KIDEPO VALLEY
It contains a seasonal river called Kidepo river and stroll along its 50m wide bed of white stand between banks covered with Borassus palm forests
ACTIVITIES
The Park offers a unique and unforgettable experience for visitors with its diverse wildlife, stunning landscape and rich cultural heritage. The park is a must visit desination for nature and adventure lovers. The following are the activities;
GAME DRIVE
Game drives in the Narus valley and Kidepo valley to spot wildlife like cheetahs, lions, elephants, giraffes with park rangers. Most drives follow two 20 km routes through the wildlife rich Narus valley. Game drives can be done in the morning, evening and night providing opportunities to spot various animals
BIRDWATCHING
Birdwatching for love birdwatchers and adventure seekers along the Kidepo River in Narus valley looking for the Abyssininan roller, purple heron, abyssinian ground hornbill,clapperton’s francolin which is found only in Kidepo
NATURE WALK.
There is also guided nature walks in Narus valley comforted by the knowledge of the park ranger of about 2 to 3 hours. It gives you ample opportunity to see aboundance of magnificent mammals and birds within the back drop of a stunning landscape
CULTURAL VISIT
Cultural visits with local communities of Karamojong and IK people to learn about their traditions like traditional instruments like beads, stools, spears, learn how bride price is determined in their culture
